1902 Rose Bowl
Encyclopedia
Originally titled the "Tournament East-West football game," what is now known as the Rose Bowl Game
was first played on January 1, 1902 in Pasadena, California
, starting the tradition of New Year's Day bowl game
s.
The inaugural game featured Fielding H. Yost's dominating 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team
, representing the East, who crushed a previously 3–1–2 team from Stanford University
, representing the West, by a score of 49–0 after Stanford captain Ralph Fisher requested to quit with eight minutes remaining. Michigan finished the season 11–0 and was considered a national champion
. Yost had been Stanford's coach the previous year.
began in 1890 as a New Year's Day tradition in the City of Pasadena. The city boosters were exploring a way to bring in tourism and money to the area. The Tournament of Roses Association
president, James Wagner, guaranteed $3,500 to cover the expenses of bringing the football teams of the University of Michigan and Stanford University to Pasadena to play. The admission price was 50 cents to $1 to see the game. An additional $1 would be charged to admit a family's horse and buggy to the grounds. The game would be played in Tournament Park, where temporary stands would be built.
Before the Rose Bowl stadium
was built for the 1923 Rose Bowl
, games were played in Pasadena's Tournament Park
, approximately three miles southeast of the current stadium.
Tournament Park is now a private park maintained by the California Institute of Technology
in Pasadena, California
. It was simply known as the "town lot" before being renamed Tournament Park in 1900.
and Reliance Club twice, beating and tying each. They beat Nevada
, 12–0, then lost to Cal
in the eleventh Big Game, 2–0.
The 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team
was nicknamed the "Point-a-Minute" team when they came to Pasadena to play the game. The Wolverines had racked up 501 points while allowing their opponents no points at all. The 49 points they scored in the 1902 Rose Bowl game brought their season total to 550 to 0.
defeated Brown University
in the first annual Tournament of Roses football game
. At Stanford, rugby
replaced football from the 1906 season through the 1917 season.
In record keeping, Neil Snow's five touchdowns are noted along with the "modern" Rose Bowl record of four touchdowns held by Eric Ball, Sam Cunningham
, and Ron Dayne
. Snow was named the Most Valuable Player of the game when the award was created in 1953 and selections were made retroactively.
The initial attendance has varied according to different sources. The ESPN BCS article lists the attendance as 8,500. The Michigan football media guide and Michigan articles list the attendance as 8,000. The Official 2007 NCAA Division I football records book lists the attendance at 8,000.
Tournament park would be the site for the second to eighth Rose Bowl Games from 1916 to 1922 before the Rose Bowl stadium
opened for the 1923 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...
was first played on January 1, 1902 in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, starting the tradition of New Year's Day 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...
s.
The inaugural game featured Fielding H. Yost's dominating 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team
1901 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1901 college football season. In their first year under new head coach Fielding H. Yost, Michigan finished the season undefeated with an 11–0 record, outscored their opponents by the unprecedented total of 550...
, representing the East, who crushed a previously 3–1–2 team from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, representing the West, by a score of 49–0 after Stanford captain Ralph Fisher requested to quit with eight minutes remaining. Michigan finished the season 11–0 and was considered a national champion
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
. Yost had been Stanford's coach the previous year.
Organization of the game
The Tournament of Roses ParadeTournament of Roses Parade
The Tournament of Roses Parade, better known as the Rose Parade, is "America's New Year Celebration", a festival of flower-covered floats, marching bands, equestrians and a college football game on New Year's Day , produced by the non-profit Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.The annual...
began in 1890 as a New Year's Day tradition in the City of Pasadena. The city boosters were exploring a way to bring in tourism and money to the area. The Tournament of Roses Association
Pasadena Tournament of Roses
Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, created by the efforts of Charles Frederick Holder and Francis F. Rowland, is the non-profit organization that has annually produced the New Year's Day Tournament of Roses Parade since 1895 and the Rose Bowl Game, since 1902...
president, James Wagner, guaranteed $3,500 to cover the expenses of bringing the football teams of the University of Michigan and Stanford University to Pasadena to play. The admission price was 50 cents to $1 to see the game. An additional $1 would be charged to admit a family's horse and buggy to the grounds. The game would be played in Tournament Park, where temporary stands would be built.
Tournament Park
Rose Bowl (stadium)
The Rose Bowl is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pasadena, California, U.S., in Los Angeles County. The stadium is the site of the annual college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day. In 1982, it became the home field of the UCLA Bruins college football team of the Pac-12...
was built for the 1923 Rose Bowl
1923 Rose Bowl
The 1923 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1923, was an American Football bowl game. It was the 9th Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 14-3. Leo Calland, a USC guard, was named the Rose Bowl Player of the Game when the award was created in 1953 and selections were...
, games were played in Pasadena's Tournament Park
Tournament Park
Tournament Park is a private park maintained by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. It was simply known as the "town lot" before renamed Tournament Park in 1900. It is best known for being the site of the first Rose Bowl Game in 1902, and the second to eighth Rose Bowl...
, approximately three miles southeast of the current stadium.
Tournament Park is now a private park maintained by the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. It was simply known as the "town lot" before being renamed Tournament Park in 1900.
Teams
Stanford had played the Olympic ClubOlympic Club
The Olympic Club is a San Francisco, California, athletic club and private social club with three golf courses located at San Francisco's border with Daly City, California. The club's main "City Clubhouse" is located in downtown San Francisco. The club's "Lakeside Clubhouse" is located just north...
and Reliance Club twice, beating and tying each. They beat Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack football
The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA...
, 12–0, then lost to Cal
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...
in the eleventh Big Game, 2–0.
The 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team
1901 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1901 college football season. In their first year under new head coach Fielding H. Yost, Michigan finished the season undefeated with an 11–0 record, outscored their opponents by the unprecedented total of 550...
was nicknamed the "Point-a-Minute" team when they came to Pasadena to play the game. The Wolverines had racked up 501 points while allowing their opponents no points at all. The 49 points they scored in the 1902 Rose Bowl game brought their season total to 550 to 0.
Game summary
- The playing field was 110 yards long
- Touchdowns counted five points, field goals five, and conversions one
- The game was divided into two thirty minute halves
- A team had to make five yards in three downs to make a first down
- Forward passes were not allowed
- Substitutions were used infrequently as 11 men usually played the entire game
- The game ended with eight minutes remaining on the clock upon request of Stanford captain Ralph Fisher and by agreement with Michigan team captain Hugh White.
First half
- Michigan – Neil SnowNeil SnowNeil Worthington Snow gained renown as an all-around athlete at the University of Michigan from 1898–1902, where he competed in American football, baseball, track and field, and tennis. He was an All-American player in 1901, and was the Most Valuable player in the 1902 Rose Bowl, where he...
5-yard run (Bruce ShortsBruce ShortsBruce Carman Shorts was an American football player and coach. He played as a tackle for the University of Michigan from 1900 to 1901. He later served as the head football coach at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1904 and at the University of Oregon in 1905.-Athlete:Shorts attended high school...
kick) 6–0 - Michigan – Everett SweeleyEverett SweeleyEverett Marlin Sweeley was an American football player and coach. He played fullback, halfback and end for the University of Michigan from 1899 to 1902 and was a member of Fielding H. Yost's 1901 and 1902 "Point-a-Minute" teams...
20-yard field goal 11–0 - Michigan – Curtis ReddenCurtis ReddenCurtis Gerald "Cap" Redden was an American football player. He was the starting left end for the University of Michigan's football team from 1901–1904. He played for Michigan's "Point-a-Minute" teams and was unanimously selected as an All-Western player in 1903. Redden died of pneumonia...
25-yard punt return (Shorts kicks) 17–0
Second half
- Michigan – Snow 2-yard run (kick failed) 22–0
- Michigan – Redden 25-yard fumble recovery (Shorts kick) 28–0
- Michigan – Snow 8-yard run (kick failed) 33–0
- Michigan – Snow 17-yard run (kick failed) 38–0
- Michigan – Snow 4-yard run (Shorts kick) 44–0
- Michigan – Albert E. HerrnsteinAlbert E. HerrnsteinAlbert Ernest Herrnstein was an American football player and coach. He played at the University of Michigan as a halfback and end from 1899–1902 and was the head football coach at the Haskell Indian School , Purdue University , and Ohio State University .-University of Michigan:A native of...
21-yard field goal (kick failed) 49–0
Game records
| Team | Performance vs. Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing yards | 503, Michigan vs. Stanford | 1902 |
Aftermath
The game was so lopsided that for the next 15 years, the Tournament of Roses officials ran chariot races, ostrich races, and other various events instead of football. But, on New Year's Day 1916 football returned to stay as Washington State UniversityWashington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
defeated Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in the first annual Tournament of Roses football game
1916 Rose Bowl
Originally titled the "Tournament of Roses football game," the second of what is now known as the Rose Bowl Game was played on January 1, 1916...
. At Stanford, rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
replaced football from the 1906 season through the 1917 season.
In record keeping, Neil Snow's five touchdowns are noted along with the "modern" Rose Bowl record of four touchdowns held by Eric Ball, Sam Cunningham
Sam Cunningham
Samuel Lewis "Sam" Cunningham, Jr is a retired American football fullback. The media referred to him as Sam "Bam" Cunningham.-College career:...
, and Ron Dayne
Ron Dayne
Ron Dayne is a former American football running back who is currently a free agent. He holds the NCAA record for career rushing yards, and he won the 1999 Heisman Trophy.-Early life:...
. Snow was named the Most Valuable Player of the game when the award was created in 1953 and selections were made retroactively.
The initial attendance has varied according to different sources. The ESPN BCS article lists the attendance as 8,500. The Michigan football media guide and Michigan articles list the attendance as 8,000. The Official 2007 NCAA Division I football records book lists the attendance at 8,000.
Tournament park would be the site for the second to eighth Rose Bowl Games from 1916 to 1922 before the Rose Bowl stadium
Rose Bowl (stadium)
The Rose Bowl is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pasadena, California, U.S., in Los Angeles County. The stadium is the site of the annual college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day. In 1982, it became the home field of the UCLA Bruins college football team of the Pac-12...
opened for the 1923 Rose Bowl
1923 Rose Bowl
The 1923 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1923, was an American Football bowl game. It was the 9th Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 14-3. Leo Calland, a USC guard, was named the Rose Bowl Player of the Game when the award was created in 1953 and selections were...
.
Books
- Maxwell Stiles - The Rose Bowl: A Complete Action and Pictorial Exposition of Rose Bowl Football, Sportsmaster Publications (1946), ASIN: B0007FBNU4
- America's New Year Celebration (The Rose Parade & Rose Bowl Game). Albion Publishing Group Santa Barbara, CA 1999. ISBN 1-880352-62-1
- The Rose Bowl Game by Rube Samuelsen. Doubleday Company and Inc. 1951. ASIN: B0007DZXFC
External links
- Summary at Rosebowlhistory.org
- Bowl Championship Series - 1902 - Michigan 49, Stanford 0 by Dan O'Sullivan, ESPN.com/BCSfootball.com, December 13, 2002
- Summary at Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History