1962 Rose Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1962 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1962, was the 48th Rose Bowl Game
. The Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the UCLA Bruins
, 21–3.
Big Ten Conference
champion Ohio State
declined the invitation to play in the Rose Bowl. They were under no contractual obligation to accept the invitation following the demise of the Pacific Coast Conference
after the 1958 college football season
. Minnesota, the second-place team in the Big Ten, was then offered the "at-large" invitation, and accepted.
Minnesota quarterback Sandy Stephens
was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game. It was broadcast on the NBC
television network and was the first national color television
broadcast of a college football game.
, the first African American All-American quarterback. However, he was not the first African-American starting quarterback in a Rose Bowl (this distinction goes to Charles Fremont West
playing in the 1922 Rose Bowl
).
games.
played in both the 1961 and 1962 Rose Bowl games for the Gophers. He later played in the 1967 and 1970 Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs
, winning in 1970.
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...
. The Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the UCLA Bruins
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...
, 21–3.
Big Ten 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...
champion Ohio State
1961 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1961 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1961-1962. The Buckeyes compiled a 8–0–1 record.-Schedule:-1962 Pro draftees:-References:Win/Loss statistics*...
declined the invitation to play in the Rose Bowl. They were under no contractual obligation to accept the invitation following the demise of the 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...
after the 1958 college football season
1958 college football season
The 1958 college football season was the first to feature the two point conversion. On January 13, 1958, the 11-man NCAA Rules Committee unanimously approved a resolution to allow teams to choose between kicking an extra point after a touchdown, or running or passing from the 3 yard line for 2...
. Minnesota, the second-place team in the Big Ten, was then offered the "at-large" invitation, and accepted.
Minnesota quarterback Sandy Stephens
Sandy Stephens
Sanford Emory Stephens II was an African-American football player and civic leader. Stephens was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area city of Uniontown, Pennsylvania and is best known for his career as a college football quarterback at the University of Minnesota...
was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game. It was broadcast on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television network and was the first national color television
Color television
Color television is part of the history of television, the technology of television and practices associated with television's transmission of moving images in color video....
broadcast of a college football game.
University of Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Gophers had come to the Rose Bowl the previous year as the #1 team in the nation and lost to the Washington Huskies. In 1961, the Gophers actually finished in second place in Big Ten Conference play. Minnesota had a loss to Missouri, and a Big Ten loss to Wisconsin in the final regular season game. Ohio State was the Big Ten Champion. However, because of a faculty council dispute to emphasize academics over athletics, Ohio State turned down the Rose Bowl Berth. Minnesota did not have the Buckeyes on their schedule that season. The Gophers were led by Sandy StephensSandy Stephens
Sanford Emory Stephens II was an African-American football player and civic leader. Stephens was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area city of Uniontown, Pennsylvania and is best known for his career as a college football quarterback at the University of Minnesota...
, the first African American All-American quarterback. However, he was not the first African-American starting quarterback in a Rose Bowl (this distinction goes to Charles Fremont West
Charles Fremont West
Charlies Fremont "Pruner" West was an American track star, football player, and respected medical doctor. He was the first African American to play quarterback in the Rose Bowl.- Personal :...
playing in the 1922 Rose Bowl
1922 Rose Bowl
The 1922 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 1922, between Washington & Jefferson College and the University of California, Berkeley...
).
UCLA Bruins
UCLA had lost at both Michigan and Ohio State earlier in the season. They also lost to Washington. They managed to beat USC during one of the few rainy UCLA-USC rivalryUCLA-USC rivalry
The UCLA–USC rivalry is the American college rivalry between the UCLA Bruins sports teams of the University of California, Los Angeles and the USC Trojans sports teams of the University of Southern California ....
games.
Game summary
The weather was sunny. Minnesota wore their home maroon jerseys, with white helmets and white pants. UCLA also wore their home powderkeg blue uniforms with gold pants. Using the single wing offense, UCLA struggled against the Gophers, netting only one field goal. Minnesota would get 21 first downs to UCLA's 8. The Gophers would hold the Bruins to 107 total yards, while going 297 yards on 66 plays. Stephens would rush for 46 yards on 12 carries, including two rushing touchdowns. Stephens also went 7 for 11 in passing for 75 yards.First quarter
- UCLA — Bobby Smith kicks 28-yard field goal. UCLA 3-0
- Minnesota — Sandy Stephens dives over from one-yard line. Tom Loechler kick. MINN 7–3
Second quarter
- Minnesota — Bill Munsey goes over from three-yard line. Loechler kick. MINN 14–3
Fourth quarter
- Minnesota — Stephens runs over from two-yard line. Loechler kick. MINN 21–3
Aftermath
This is Minnesota's only Rose Bowl win. It was also the last appearance for Minnesota in the Rose Bowl game. As of the 2010 season, Minnesota has gone the longest in the Big Ten conference without playing in the Rose Bowl game. Sandy Stephens was named the Most Valuable player, and became the first African American to get the award.Game facts
All-American defensive tackle Bobby BellBobby Bell
Bobby Lee Bell, Sr is a former professional American football linebacker/defensive end. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, and was a member of the Chiefs' team that won Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings.- High school career :He excelled in...
played in both the 1961 and 1962 Rose Bowl games for the Gophers. He later played in the 1967 and 1970 Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, winning in 1970.