1949 Rose Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1949 Rose Bowl was a college football
bowl game
. It was the 35th Rose Bowl Game
, and the third since the Big Nine Conference
and Pacific Coast Conference
(PCC) agreed to an exclusive agreement to match their conference champions. The Northwestern Wildcats
defeated the California Golden Bears
20-14. Northwestern halfback Frank Aschenbrenner
was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game (although the award was created in 1953 and selections were made retroactively).
The game was memorable largely because the Wildcats were underdogs going into the game but nevertheless pulled off an upset over a conference powerhouse. This Rose Bowl was the Wildcats' first berth even though it had only won a bid to the game because conference rules prevented two-time Big 9 champion Michigan
from going in successive years. California had a perfect record going into the game and had averaged 28 points per game over the course of the season. Although neither team had faced each other before, Coach Waldorf had previously been the Wildcats coach between 1935 and 1946 before leaving for the Golden Bears. NU's Coach Voight was only 33 years old and had been named All-American under Waldorf 11 years earlier.
(0–28) and Notre Dame
(7–12). Northwestern blanked UCLA
19–0, Purdue
21–0, and Syracuse
48–0. NU rallied from three turnovers and a 16 point deficit to defeat Minnesota
19–16 as well as defeating Ohio State
21–7, Wisconsin
16–7, and Illinois
20–7. Big 9 conference rules prevented two-time champion Michigan from making a successive trip to face the PCC champion, so second-place Northwestern won a bid to the Rose Bowl
instead.
ran 73 yards, the longest touchdown return in Rose Bowl history, although the subsequent kickoff was returned 63 yards by Jackie Jensen
for a touchdown. In the second quarter, the Wildcats were awarded a touchdown in a controversial call when Art Murakowski
fumbled the ball entering the endzone, but miss the point-after. Although Jensen is injured early in the third quarter, Cal mounted a 56-yard drive for a touchdown and point-after giving them a one-point lead. In the fourth quarter, with less than 3 minutes and 88 yards to go, the Wildcats launched a historic drive: Aschenbrenner made the only complete pass of the game to Stonesifer
for 18 yards, followed by a 14-yard run by Perricone, a 5-yard penalty against Cal, and then a Statue of Liberty play
and 45-yard run by Ed Tunnicliff for a touchdown. The Bears attempted a passing drive in the last minute, but PeeWee Day intercepted a pass to end Cal's hopes of a title.
Both Aschenbrenner's and Jensen's runs were from scrimmage, not returns. Final touchdown was not a "statue of liberty" play but involved a direct snap from center to a running back (Tunnicliff) from a T-formation set.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
. It was the 35th Rose Bowl Game
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
, and the third since the Big Nine Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
and Pacific Coast Conference
Pacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pacific-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, the older league had a completely different charter and was disbanded in 1959 due to a major crisis...
(PCC) agreed to an exclusive agreement to match their conference champions. The Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
defeated the California Golden Bears
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
20-14. Northwestern halfback Frank Aschenbrenner
Frank Aschenbrenner
-Career:Aschenbrenner played with the Chicago Hornets of the All-American Football Conference in 1949. He had previously been drafted in the sixth round of the 1947 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers....
was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game (although the award was created in 1953 and selections were made retroactively).
The game was memorable largely because the Wildcats were underdogs going into the game but nevertheless pulled off an upset over a conference powerhouse. This Rose Bowl was the Wildcats' first berth even though it had only won a bid to the game because conference rules prevented two-time Big 9 champion Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
from going in successive years. California had a perfect record going into the game and had averaged 28 points per game over the course of the season. Although neither team had faced each other before, Coach Waldorf had previously been the Wildcats coach between 1935 and 1946 before leaving for the Golden Bears. NU's Coach Voight was only 33 years old and had been named All-American under Waldorf 11 years earlier.
NU Wildcats
Northwestern had finished 8-2 in the Big 9 conference, losing only to perennial powerhouses MichiganMichigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
(0–28) and Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
(7–12). Northwestern blanked UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
19–0, Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
21–0, and Syracuse
Syracuse Orange football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
48–0. NU rallied from three turnovers and a 16 point deficit to defeat Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
19–16 as well as defeating Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
21–7, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
16–7, and Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
20–7. Big 9 conference rules prevented two-time champion Michigan from making a successive trip to face the PCC champion, so second-place Northwestern won a bid to the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
instead.
Game summary
Frank AschenbrennerFrank Aschenbrenner
-Career:Aschenbrenner played with the Chicago Hornets of the All-American Football Conference in 1949. He had previously been drafted in the sixth round of the 1947 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers....
ran 73 yards, the longest touchdown return in Rose Bowl history, although the subsequent kickoff was returned 63 yards by Jackie Jensen
Jackie Jensen
Jack Eugene Jensen was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for three American League teams from 1950 to 1961, most notably the Boston Red Sox...
for a touchdown. In the second quarter, the Wildcats were awarded a touchdown in a controversial call when Art Murakowski
Art Murakowski
Arthur Raymond "Art" Murakowski was an American football player. He played fullback for the Northwestern University football team from 1946 to 1949. He was selected as a first-team All-American and won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy in 1948 as the most valuable player in the Big Ten...
fumbled the ball entering the endzone, but miss the point-after. Although Jensen is injured early in the third quarter, Cal mounted a 56-yard drive for a touchdown and point-after giving them a one-point lead. In the fourth quarter, with less than 3 minutes and 88 yards to go, the Wildcats launched a historic drive: Aschenbrenner made the only complete pass of the game to Stonesifer
Don Stonesifer
Donald Humphrey Stonesifer is a former American football wide receiver who played six seasons in the National Football League....
for 18 yards, followed by a 14-yard run by Perricone, a 5-yard penalty against Cal, and then a Statue of Liberty play
Statue of Liberty play
The Statue of Liberty is a trick play in American football, occasionally seen in high school football, college football and the NFL.-Execution of the play:...
and 45-yard run by Ed Tunnicliff for a touchdown. The Bears attempted a passing drive in the last minute, but PeeWee Day intercepted a pass to end Cal's hopes of a title.
Both Aschenbrenner's and Jensen's runs were from scrimmage, not returns. Final touchdown was not a "statue of liberty" play but involved a direct snap from center to a running back (Tunnicliff) from a T-formation set.