1981 Bluebonnet Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1981 Bluebonnet Bowl was a college football
bowl game
, played on December 31, 1981. It was the 23rd Bluebonnet Bowl
game. The Michigan Wolverines
defeated the UCLA Bruins
by a score of 33-14. This was the first bowl game meeting of a Big Ten team and a Pac 10 team outside of the Rose Bowl Game
and was labeled the "mini Rose Bowl". Both teams were in the running to meet in the 1982 Rose Bowl
, but had their seasons spoiled on November 21, 1981 by their arch-rivals.
champion Wolverines, who were the preseason #1, opened with a loss to Wisconsin. This led to the Badgers being ranked afterwards. The Wolverines responded the next week by beating Notre Dame 25-7. Wins over Navy and Indiana led to a cross state showdown at Michigan State, where the Wolverines downed the Spartans 38-20. The next week, Michigan hosted Iowa and lost 9-7. Michigan would win the next four games leading up to the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
football game on November 21. Michigan lost to Ohio State 14-9. Ohio State and Iowa were tied for the Big Ten conference championship. Iowa would go on to the 1982 Rose Bowl
, as Iowa and Ohio State did not play each other, and Ohio State had been to the 1980 Rose Bowl
.
football game, The Rose Bowl was on the line for the third time for Terry Donahue's UCLA Bruins teams against USC. UCLA lost to USC in a 21-20 nailbiter, which put Washington into the 1982 Rose Bowl
. Washington had defeated USC just the week before in what would prove to be the other conference deciding game.
twice: at Michigan Stadium, where UCLA won 31-27, and in the 1983 Rose Bowl
, where UCLA earned a 24-14 victory.
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...
, played on December 31, 1981. It was the 23rd Bluebonnet Bowl
Bluebonnet Bowl
The Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was...
game. The Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
defeated the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
by a score of 33-14. This was the first bowl game meeting of a Big Ten team and a Pac 10 team outside of the 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 was labeled the "mini Rose Bowl". Both teams were in the running to meet in the 1982 Rose Bowl
1982 Rose Bowl
The 1982 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game, played on January 1, 1982. It was the 68th Rose Bowl Game. The Washington Huskies defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes by a score of 28-0. Washington Freshman Jacque Robinson gained 142 yards on 20 carries and set up or scored three of the Huskies' four...
, but had their seasons spoiled on November 21, 1981 by their arch-rivals.
Michigan Wolverines
The defending 1981 Rose Bowl1981 Rose Bowl
The 1981 Rose Bowl was the 67th Rose Bowl game and was played on January 1, 1981 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. The game featured the Michigan Wolverines beating Washington Huskies by a score of 23–6...
champion Wolverines, who were the preseason #1, opened with a loss to Wisconsin. This led to the Badgers being ranked afterwards. The Wolverines responded the next week by beating Notre Dame 25-7. Wins over Navy and Indiana led to a cross state showdown at Michigan State, where the Wolverines downed the Spartans 38-20. The next week, Michigan hosted Iowa and lost 9-7. Michigan would win the next four games leading up to the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
The Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry, also known as The Game, is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Wolverines of the University of Michigan and the Buckeyes of The Ohio State University...
football game on November 21. Michigan lost to Ohio State 14-9. Ohio State and Iowa were tied for the Big Ten conference championship. Iowa would go on to the 1982 Rose Bowl
1982 Rose Bowl
The 1982 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game, played on January 1, 1982. It was the 68th Rose Bowl Game. The Washington Huskies defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes by a score of 28-0. Washington Freshman Jacque Robinson gained 142 yards on 20 carries and set up or scored three of the Huskies' four...
, as Iowa and Ohio State did not play each other, and Ohio State had been to the 1980 Rose Bowl
1980 Rose Bowl
The 1980 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1980. It was the 66th Rose Bowl Game.The USC Trojans, champions of the Pacific-10 Conference, defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes, champions of the Big Ten Conference, 17-16...
.
UCLA Bruins
The Bruins opened the season with wins at Arizona and at #20 Wisconsin. They lost at Iowa, the eventual Big Ten champion 20-9. Even with a 26-23 loss at Stanford and a tie at Washington State, the Bruins were in position to win the Pacific-10 after four straight wins. Going into the 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 ....
football game, The Rose Bowl was on the line for the third time for Terry Donahue's UCLA Bruins teams against USC. UCLA lost to USC in a 21-20 nailbiter, which put Washington into the 1982 Rose Bowl
1982 Rose Bowl
The 1982 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game, played on January 1, 1982. It was the 68th Rose Bowl Game. The Washington Huskies defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes by a score of 28-0. Washington Freshman Jacque Robinson gained 142 yards on 20 carries and set up or scored three of the Huskies' four...
. Washington had defeated USC just the week before in what would prove to be the other conference deciding game.
First quarter
- Michigan — Ali Haji-SheikhAli Haji-SheikhAli S. Haji-Sheikh is a former American football placekicker for the University of Michigan and for three National Football League teams. Haji-Sheikh spent three seasons playing for the New York Giants. He had a superb rookie season, kicking 35 of 42 field goals and setting a then NFL record...
, 24-yard field goal. - Michigan — Anthony CarterAnthony Carter (football)Anthony Carter is a former American football wide receiver. He finished his college career as the University of Michigan's all-time leading receiver, and played professionally for thirteen years in the United States Football League and the National Football League...
, 50-yard pass from Steve Smith. Haji-Sheikh converts.
Third quarter
- UCLA — Jojo Townsell, 17-yard pass from Tom RamseyTom RamseyTom Ramsey is a former professional American football quarterback, who played four seasons in the NFL for the New England Patriots. Earlier he played for the Los Angeles Express and the Oakland Invaders of the USFL....
. Norm Johnson converts. - Michigan —Haji-Sheikh, 47-yard field goal.
Fourth quarter
- Michigan — Butch WoolfolkButch WoolfolkHarold E. "Butch" Woolfolk is a former American football running back and kick returner who played in college for the University of Michigan and in the National Football League for the New York Giants , Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions . Woolfolk attended Westfield Senior High School in...
, one-yard run. Run failed. - UCLA—Tim WrightmanTim WrightmanTimothy Jon "Tim" Wrightman is a former professional American football tight end. He played for two seasons for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Wrightman played college football at UCLA and was drafted in the 3rd round by the Chicago Bears in the 1982 NFL draft...
, nine-yard pass from Ramsey. Johnson converts. - Michigan—Smith, nine-yard run. Haji-Sheikh converts.
- Michigan—B.J. Dickey, five-yard run. Haji-Sheikh converts.
Aftermath
The Bluebonnet Bowl was the first of three meetings between the schools in 367 days. They met during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season1982 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season saw Paul "Bear" Bryant retire as head coach at Alabama with 323 career victories in 38 seasons.The Penn State Nittany Lions won their first consensus national championship, closing out an 11-1 season by defeating Georgia and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel...
twice: at Michigan Stadium, where UCLA won 31-27, and in the 1983 Rose Bowl
1983 Rose Bowl
The 1983 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game, played on January 1, 1983. It was the 69th Rose Bowl game. The UCLA Bruins defeated the Michigan Wolverines by a score of 24-14. Tom Ramsey, UCLA quarterback and Don Rogers, UCLA defensive back, were named the Rose Bowl Players Of The Game...
, where UCLA earned a 24-14 victory.