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1978 Rose Bowl

American college football game

1978 Rose Bowl

American college football game

FieldValue
year_game_played1978
game_nameRose Bowl
subheader64th Rose Bowl Game
football_season1977
visitor_name_shortWashington
visitor_nicknameHuskies
visitor_schoolUniversity of Washington
home_name_shortMichigan
home_nicknameWolverines
home_schoolUniversity of Michigan
visitor_record7–4
visitor_conferencePac-8
home_record10–1
home_conferenceBig Ten
visitor_coachDon James
home_coachBo Schembechler
visitor_rank_AP13
visitor_rank_coaches14
home_rank_AP4
home_rank_coaches4
visitor_1q7
visitor_2q10
visitor_3q10
visitor_4q0
home_1q0
home_2q0
home_3q7
home_4q13
date_game_playedJanuary 2
stadiumRose Bowl
cityPasadena, California
MVP_labelPlayer of the Game
MVPWarren Moon (Washington QB)
oddsMichigan by 14
refereeOtho Kortz (Big Ten);
(split crew: Big Ten, Pac-10)
attendance105,312
us_networkNBC
us_announcers_linkList of announcers of major college bowl games
us_announcersCurt Gowdy (play-by-play)
John Brodie (color)
Charlie Jones (sideline)
ratings29.2

(split crew: Big Ten, Pac-10) John Brodie (color) Charlie Jones (sideline) The 1978 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game, played on Monday, January 2, and was the 64th Rose Bowl Game. The Washington Huskies, champions of the Pacific-8 Conference, defeated the favored Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, 27–20. Washington quarterback Warren Moon was named the Rose Bowl Player of the Game.

The Huskies led 17–0 at the half and extended it to 24–0 early in the third quarter, then held off a Wolverine comeback with two interceptions deep in their own territory in the last two minutes to win by seven. It was the second of three consecutive losses in the Rose Bowl for Michigan, a two-touchdown favorite entering this game.

The face value of game tickets was $17.50 each.

Teams

Michigan Wolverines

Led by junior quarterback Rick Leach, Michigan began the season ranked second, and were first after four of the first six weeks. However, a stunning 16–0 loss on October 22 at Minnesota dropped them to sixth. A 14–6 win over fourth-ranked rival Ohio State gave the Wolverines the Big Ten title and they came into the Rose Bowl ranked fourth.

Washington Huskies

In their third season under head coach Don James and quarterback Warren Moon, Washington stumbled out of the gate, losing three of their first four games, all out of conference. They then won six of seven, losing 20–12 at UCLA on October 29 (later vacated by the Bruins, due to ineligible players). The Huskies won the Pac-8 title and earned the Rose Bowl berth when UCLA lost its final game on a last second field goal to USC, 29–27. Washington entered the game ranked thirteenth in the AP poll, and tied for fourteenth in the UPI coaches poll.

Scoring

A game ball from the 1978 Rose Bowl

First quarter

  • Washington – Warren Moon 2-yard run (Steve Robbins kick); UW 7–0

Second quarter

  • Washington – Robbins 30-yard field goal; UW 10–0
  • Washington – Moon 1-yard run (Robbins kick); UW 17–0

Third quarter

  • Washington – Spider Gaines 28-yard pass from Moon (Robbins kick); UW 24–0
  • Michigan – Curt Stephenson 76-yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick); UW 24–7
  • Washington – Robbins 18-yard field goal; UW 27–7

Fourth quarter

  • Michigan – Russell Davis 2-yard run (Willner kick); UW 27–14
  • Michigan – Stan Edwards 32-yard pass from Leach (kick failed); UW 27–20

Statistics

:{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" ! Statistics !! Washington!! Michigan

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:Source:

Aftermath

With Notre Dame beating top-ranked and undefeated Texas in the Cotton Bowl, Michigan had hopes that a dominant win over Washington would boost the Wolverines to the national title. The Huskies' dramatic upset ended those hopes, and Notre Dame was voted first in the polls among five one-loss teams; Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, and Penn State were the others. Michigan dropped to ninth in the final AP poll and Washington climbed to tenth; both were a spot higher in the UPI coaches poll.

References

References

  1. Missildine, Harry. (January 2, 1978). "In this corner, Huskies favored". Spokesman-Review.
  2. Jares, Joe. (January 9, 1978). "A perfect Moon shot for the Huskies".
  3. Missildine, Harry. (January 3, 1978). "Jackson rescues Washington". Spokesman-Review.
  4. (January 3, 1978). "Huskies go from rags to roses". Eugene Register-Guard.
  5. Dodds, Tracy. (January 3, 1978). "Bo's rare gamble backfires in Rose Bowl". Milwaukee Journal.
  6. (January 2, 1978). "Rose Bowl pressures mount for Wolverines". Youngstown Vindicator.
  7. (November 29, 1977). "College football polls". Eugene Register-Guard.
  8. (January 4, 1978). "It might not add up, but Irish are clearly No. 1". Eugene Register-Guard.
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