1988 Rose Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1988 Rose Bowl was a college football
bowl game
played on January 1, 1988. It was the 74th Rose Bowl Game. The Michigan State Spartans
defeated the USC Trojans 20-17. Michigan State Linebacker Percy Snow
was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game. This was the last Rose Bowl game to air on NBC
after a 37-year partnership. ABC Sports picked up rights to broadcast the game the following year.
assistant coach George Perles, had its best team in many years, beat traditional Big 10 powers Michigan and Ohio State, and won the Big 10 by 1½ games over Indiana and Iowa, who tied for 2nd place. The Spartans followed up the USC win by a 31-8 loss at Notre Dame, and then a 31-3 home loss to Florida State. The season got back on track with a 19-14 win at Iowa. A dramatic 17-11 win over in state rival Michigan occurred on October 10. On October 31, the Spartans defeated Ohio State, making this the first season since the 1966 National Championship when the Spartans defeated both Michigan and Ohio State. The Indiana Hoosiers also had beaten Michigan and Ohio State, and the meeting between Michigan State and Indiana on November 14 determined the Big Ten championship. Michigan State won 27-3 to clinch their first Rose Bowl appearance since the 1965 season. Note that they are the only team in college history to not only beat Big 10 powers Ohio State and Michigan in the same season, but also the USC Trojans twice.
at quarterback and Gaston Green
at running back were favored, and led 13-0 at halftime. It could have been worse, as on the last play of the first half, UCLA's Eric Turner intercepted a deflected pass at the UCLA goal line and had nothing but green grass ahead of him as he appeared primed to return it for a touchdown. But USC QB Rodney Peete ran down Turner and tackled him at the 10 yard line as time expired. USC had cut the lead to 13-10, and then midway through the 4th quarter, quarterback Rodney Peete
threw to WR Erik Afholter in the back of the end zone. Afholter juggled the ball atop his shoulder pad as he slid out the end zone; television replays indicated no possession but the referees ruled it a touchdown. Leadingt 17-13, USC then intercepted Aikman as he tried to lead UCLA back and ran out the clock.
The game was a rematch of the season opener in East Lansing, Michigan
, that Michigan State won 27-13. The game was dominated by defense; the story was Michigan State linebacker (and game MVP) Percy Snow
, who had 17 unassisted tackles, and 4 USC turnovers. After USC tied the game early in the 4th quarter at 17, Michigan State marched to a game winning field goal by John Langeloh with 4 minutes to play. The key play of the drive was a 3rd down play in which Michigan State quarterback Bobby McAllister was nearly sacked, then scrambled and at the last instant found receiver Andre Rison
at the sideline for a first down that kept the drive alive. USC had time to try to come back, and Trojan QB Rodney Peete
led USC on a drive to the Spartan 29-yard line with 2 minutes to play. But Peete fumbled the next snap, Michigan State recovered, and the Spartans ran out the clock.
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 January 1, 1988. It was the 74th Rose Bowl Game. The Michigan State Spartans
1987 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 1987 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team went 9–2–1 overall and 7–0–1 in conference play, becoming Big Ten Conference champions. Michigan State beat Southern California to win the 1988 Rose Bowl,...
defeated the USC Trojans 20-17. Michigan State Linebacker Percy Snow
Percy Snow
Percy Lee Snow is a retired American football linebacker who played at Michigan State University and was a first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs. Snow made the College Football All-America Team at Michigan State...
was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game. This was the last Rose Bowl game to air on 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...
after a 37-year partnership. ABC Sports picked up rights to broadcast the game the following year.
Teams
The teams opened the season against each other in East Lansing, MI in a nationally televised game on Labor Day night. Michigan State took advantage of three USC turnovers to defeat the Trojans, 27-13.Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State, led by former Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
assistant coach George Perles, had its best team in many years, beat traditional Big 10 powers Michigan and Ohio State, and won the Big 10 by 1½ games over Indiana and Iowa, who tied for 2nd place. The Spartans followed up the USC win by a 31-8 loss at Notre Dame, and then a 31-3 home loss to Florida State. The season got back on track with a 19-14 win at Iowa. A dramatic 17-11 win over in state rival Michigan occurred on October 10. On October 31, the Spartans defeated Ohio State, making this the first season since the 1966 National Championship when the Spartans defeated both Michigan and Ohio State. The Indiana Hoosiers also had beaten Michigan and Ohio State, and the meeting between Michigan State and Indiana on November 14 determined the Big Ten championship. Michigan State won 27-3 to clinch their first Rose Bowl appearance since the 1965 season. Note that they are the only team in college history to not only beat Big 10 powers Ohio State and Michigan in the same season, but also the USC Trojans twice.
USC Trojans
USC struggled early and was only 4-3 after 7 games, but won its next 3 to set up a showdown with rival UCLA (9-1-0) for the Pac-10 title and Rose Bowl berth. The UCLA Bruins, with Troy AikmanTroy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
at quarterback and Gaston Green
Gaston Green
Gaston Alfred Green III is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1st round of the 1988 NFL Draft. A 5'10", 189-lb. running back from UCLA, Green played in 5 NFL seasons from 1988 to 1992 for the Rams and Denver Broncos...
at running back were favored, and led 13-0 at halftime. It could have been worse, as on the last play of the first half, UCLA's Eric Turner intercepted a deflected pass at the UCLA goal line and had nothing but green grass ahead of him as he appeared primed to return it for a touchdown. But USC QB Rodney Peete ran down Turner and tackled him at the 10 yard line as time expired. USC had cut the lead to 13-10, and then midway through the 4th quarter, quarterback Rodney Peete
Rodney Peete
Rodney Peete is a former American football quarterback from the University of Southern California who played in the National Football League for 16 years. He retired in 2004 and is now in broadcasting.-Early life:...
threw to WR Erik Afholter in the back of the end zone. Afholter juggled the ball atop his shoulder pad as he slid out the end zone; television replays indicated no possession but the referees ruled it a touchdown. Leadingt 17-13, USC then intercepted Aikman as he tried to lead UCLA back and ran out the clock.
Game summary
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, that Michigan State won 27-13. The game was dominated by defense; the story was Michigan State linebacker (and game MVP) Percy Snow
Percy Snow
Percy Lee Snow is a retired American football linebacker who played at Michigan State University and was a first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs. Snow made the College Football All-America Team at Michigan State...
, who had 17 unassisted tackles, and 4 USC turnovers. After USC tied the game early in the 4th quarter at 17, Michigan State marched to a game winning field goal by John Langeloh with 4 minutes to play. The key play of the drive was a 3rd down play in which Michigan State quarterback Bobby McAllister was nearly sacked, then scrambled and at the last instant found receiver Andre Rison
Andre Rison
Andre Previn Rison is a retired American football wide receiver who played professionally for the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and the Canadian Football League's...
at the sideline for a first down that kept the drive alive. USC had time to try to come back, and Trojan QB Rodney Peete
Rodney Peete
Rodney Peete is a former American football quarterback from the University of Southern California who played in the National Football League for 16 years. He retired in 2004 and is now in broadcasting.-Early life:...
led USC on a drive to the Spartan 29-yard line with 2 minutes to play. But Peete fumbled the next snap, Michigan State recovered, and the Spartans ran out the clock.