1976 Rose Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1976 Rose Bowl was a college football
bowl game
played on January 1, 1976. It was the 62nd Rose Bowl Game. The UCLA Bruins
defeated the number one ranked and undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes
23-10. UCLA quarterback John Sciarra
was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game. This was the first post season that football teams from the Big Ten Conference
and Pacific-10 Conference could appear in other bowl games since the Rose Bowl agreement was signed for the 1947 Rose Bowl
. This game marked Ohio State coach Woody Hayes' last appearance in the Rose Bowl game.
. After the game, Woody Hayes
prophetically told his team that they would be facing UCLA again in the Rose Bowl. UCLA was the only opponent to score more than 14 points in a game all season against Ohio State, and they did it twice.
brought an undefeated team featuring two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin
to Pasadena. It was the record fourth consecutive appearance for Hayes. It was also eighth and final appearance in the Rose Bowl for Hayes. It was a record fourth and final Rose Bowl start for Griffin. Until Brian Cushing
of USC started in his fourth Rose Bowl in the 2009 Rose Bowl
, Griffin was the only player to start in four Rose Bowls. Ohio State capped an undefeated regular season by defeating Michigan 21-14 in Ann Arbor for Woody's last outright Big Ten championship, and also his last victory over Michigan in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
. The Wolverines held the Buckeyes 30 minutes without a score. Tied at 14-14, the Wolverines needed a win to advance to the Rose Bowl. Freshman Michigan quarterback Rick Leach threw an interception caught by Ray Griffin
, which was run to the 3 yard line. Big Pete Johnson ran it in for the winning touchdown. Michigan, which finished the regular season 8-1-2, was invited to the Orange Bowl to face #3 ranked Oklahoma.
in only his second season coaching at UCLA
. He would leave to coach the Philadelphia Eagles
after the season. In addition to the 41-20 Ohio State loss, UCLA had also lost at home to Washington 17-13 and was tied by Air Force 20-20, but managed to win all their other Pac-8 games, including a fumble-plagued 25-22 win over cross town rival USC in the UCLA-USC rivalry
to clinch the Rose Bowl berth. In that Friday night after Thanksgiving game, UCLA fumbled 11 times and lost 8 of them, but their maligned defense bailed them out time and time again. UCLA ended up tied with California for the Pac-8 championship, but advanced to the Rose Bowl on the strength of their 28-14 win in an October matchup with the Golden Bears. The 1975 USC-UCLA game was legendary coach John McKay's final game at the Coliseum.
In the game itself, Ohio State dominated the first half but could only muster the 3 points that it got on its opening possession. UCLA did not even pick up a first down until late in the 2nd quarter, but a couple of Ohio State turnovers and a key stop on 4th and 1 by the Bruin defense kept them in the game.
The second half saw UCLA open up its offense, utilizing play action and passing on first down. This helped open up their veer option rushing attack, and on their first possession of the 3rd quarter, UCLA marched to a tying field goal. After stopping Ohio State, UCLA then marched for a touchdown and a 9-3 lead (the extra point was missed). After stopping the Buckeyes again, the Bruins struck for the big play, a 67 yard touchdown pass from John Sciarra to speedy flanker Wally Henry. Suddenly the 15½ point underdog Bruins were up 16-3. Ohio State, which inexplicably began passing the ball with regularity, returned to its dominating ground attack and scored early in the 4th quarter to cut UCLA's lead to 16-10. Ohio State got the ball right back, but again tried to resume an air attack. Quarterback Cornelius Greene was intercepted by Pat Schmidt, and on the ensuing possession with just under 5 minutes to play, running back Wendell Tyler took an option pitchout, sped up the sideline, cut back at the perfect instant, and held the ball aloft as he crossed the goal line on a 54 yard run to clinch the game, 23-10. Another Greene interception killed any chance of a Buckeye last gasp comeback attempt. Woody Hayes then trudged across the field to congratulate Vermeil before the game was over.
, Rick Leach, and the rest of the Michigan Wolverines from reaching the Rose Bowl ever again. Dick Vermeil was able to move to the Philadelphia Eagles, whom he would lead to the Super Bowl in five years. This was the second time UCLA had defeated the #1 team in the Rose Bowl after having lost to that same team during the season. The other time was in the 1966 Rose Bowl
vs. Michigan State. In The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia, this loss is listed as one of the most devastating setbacks in Ohio State football history.
By the 1982 college football season, UCLA would make the Rose Bowl their home stadium, moving from the Los Angeles Coliseum. As of 2008, the attendance of 105,464 still stands as the largest crowd to ever watch a UCLA football game in the Rose Bowl stadium. It is a record that is not likely to be broken, as the Rose Bowl seating has been reduced to 91,136 for UCLA Bruins Football and 92,542 for the Rose Bowl Game
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, 1976. It was the 62nd Rose Bowl Game. 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...
defeated the number one ranked and undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
23-10. UCLA quarterback John Sciarra
John Sciarra
John Michael Sciarra is a former professional American football safety in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1978 to 1983. He also played quarterback for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League...
was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game. This was the first post season that football teams from the 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...
and Pacific-10 Conference could appear in other bowl games since the Rose Bowl agreement was signed for the 1947 Rose Bowl
1947 Rose Bowl
The 1947 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game. It was the 33rd Rose Bowl Game. The Illinois Fighting Illini defeated the UCLA Bruins, 45–14. Illinois halfbacks Claude "Buddy" Young and Julius Rykovich shared the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game award. They were named the Rose Bowl Players...
. This game marked Ohio State coach Woody Hayes' last appearance in the Rose Bowl game.
Teams
This was the second meeting between the two schools that season. Ohio State handed UCLA its first loss of the season, 41-20, on October 4, 1975 at the Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
. After the game, Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
prophetically told his team that they would be facing UCLA again in the Rose Bowl. UCLA was the only opponent to score more than 14 points in a game all season against Ohio State, and they did it twice.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeye coach Woody HayesWoody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
brought an undefeated team featuring two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin
Archie Griffin
Archie Mason Griffin is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner...
to Pasadena. It was the record fourth consecutive appearance for Hayes. It was also eighth and final appearance in the Rose Bowl for Hayes. It was a record fourth and final Rose Bowl start for Griffin. Until Brian Cushing
Brian Cushing
-Houston Texans:Cushing was drafted with the 15th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.He scored his first career points on October 4, 2009 when he recorded a safety against the Oakland Raiders. The safety was the first recorded by a Texan since the 2002 season.Cushing was...
of USC started in his fourth Rose Bowl in the 2009 Rose Bowl
2009 Rose Bowl
The 2009 Rose Bowl, the 95th edition of the annual game, was a college football bowl game played on Thursday, January 1, 2009 at the same-named stadium in Pasadena, California. Because of sponsorship by Citi, the first game in the 2009 edition of the Bowl Championship Series was officially titled...
, Griffin was the only player to start in four Rose Bowls. Ohio State capped an undefeated regular season by defeating Michigan 21-14 in Ann Arbor for Woody's last outright Big Ten championship, and also his last victory over Michigan in 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...
. The Wolverines held the Buckeyes 30 minutes without a score. Tied at 14-14, the Wolverines needed a win to advance to the Rose Bowl. Freshman Michigan quarterback Rick Leach threw an interception caught by Ray Griffin
Ray Griffin
Raymond Griffin is a former American football cornerback. He is the younger brother of former two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, and also played college football with the Ohio State Buckeyes and pro football for the Cincinnati Bengals.Ray set up the winning touchdown in the 1975...
, which was run to the 3 yard line. Big Pete Johnson ran it in for the winning touchdown. Michigan, which finished the regular season 8-1-2, was invited to the Orange Bowl to face #3 ranked Oklahoma.
UCLA Bruins
It was the only Rose Bowl appearance for Dick VermeilDick Vermeil
Richard Albert "Dick" Vermeil is a former American head coach for the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles , St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs...
in only his second season coaching at UCLA
1975 UCLA Bruins football season
The 1975 UCLA Bruins football team represented UCLA in the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. Coached by Dick Vermeil, he led the Bruins to their first conference championship in 10 years, and a win in the Rose Bowl over an undefeated and number 1 ranked Ohio State team.-Regular season:Ohio...
. He would leave to coach the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
after the season. In addition to the 41-20 Ohio State loss, UCLA had also lost at home to Washington 17-13 and was tied by Air Force 20-20, but managed to win all their other Pac-8 games, including a fumble-plagued 25-22 win over cross town rival USC in the UCLA-USC rivalry
UCLA-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 ....
to clinch the Rose Bowl berth. In that Friday night after Thanksgiving game, UCLA fumbled 11 times and lost 8 of them, but their maligned defense bailed them out time and time again. UCLA ended up tied with California for the Pac-8 championship, but advanced to the Rose Bowl on the strength of their 28-14 win in an October matchup with the Golden Bears. The 1975 USC-UCLA game was legendary coach John McKay's final game at the Coliseum.
Game summary
Both teams wore their home uniforms, Ohio State in scarlet jerseys, and UCLA in powderkeg blue jerseys. The weather was clear and 60 degrees.In the game itself, Ohio State dominated the first half but could only muster the 3 points that it got on its opening possession. UCLA did not even pick up a first down until late in the 2nd quarter, but a couple of Ohio State turnovers and a key stop on 4th and 1 by the Bruin defense kept them in the game.
The second half saw UCLA open up its offense, utilizing play action and passing on first down. This helped open up their veer option rushing attack, and on their first possession of the 3rd quarter, UCLA marched to a tying field goal. After stopping Ohio State, UCLA then marched for a touchdown and a 9-3 lead (the extra point was missed). After stopping the Buckeyes again, the Bruins struck for the big play, a 67 yard touchdown pass from John Sciarra to speedy flanker Wally Henry. Suddenly the 15½ point underdog Bruins were up 16-3. Ohio State, which inexplicably began passing the ball with regularity, returned to its dominating ground attack and scored early in the 4th quarter to cut UCLA's lead to 16-10. Ohio State got the ball right back, but again tried to resume an air attack. Quarterback Cornelius Greene was intercepted by Pat Schmidt, and on the ensuing possession with just under 5 minutes to play, running back Wendell Tyler took an option pitchout, sped up the sideline, cut back at the perfect instant, and held the ball aloft as he crossed the goal line on a 54 yard run to clinch the game, 23-10. Another Greene interception killed any chance of a Buckeye last gasp comeback attempt. Woody Hayes then trudged across the field to congratulate Vermeil before the game was over.
Third quarter
- UCLA: Brett White, 33-yard field goal.
- UCLA: Wally HenryWally HenryWallace Henry is a former professional American football wide receiver.-NFL career:Henry played in the National Football League for six seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles...
, 16-yard pass from John Sciarra. White kick failed. - UCLA: Henry, 67-yard pass from Sciarra. White converts.
Fourth quarter
- Ohio State: Giovanni Strassini, 8-yard Pass from Greene. Klaban converts.
- UCLA: Wendell TylerWendell TylerWendell Avery Tyler , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 3rd round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 5'10", 198 lbs...
, 54-yard run. White converts.
Aftermath
Woody Hayes had a very short meeting with the press in which he stated, "We got outcoached and just got beat." Aware of the Buckeye loss, the 1975 Oklahoma Sooners played for the number 1 ranking in the 1976 Orange Bowl, with Alabama lurking after already beating Penn State in the Sugar Bowl 13-6. Texas A&M, ranked #2 at the end of the regular season, lost to Arkansas for the Cotton Bowl berth, and then to USC in the Liberty Bowl. Oklahoma would finish #1 in the AP poll after defeating Michigan 14-6 in the Orange Bowl. Ohio State would finish 3rd , and UCLA Fifth. Woody Hayes would finish with a 4-4 record in the Rose Bowl, and would be denied by Bo SchembechlerBo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
, Rick Leach, and the rest of the Michigan Wolverines from reaching the Rose Bowl ever again. Dick Vermeil was able to move to the Philadelphia Eagles, whom he would lead to the Super Bowl in five years. This was the second time UCLA had defeated the #1 team in the Rose Bowl after having lost to that same team during the season. The other time was in the 1966 Rose Bowl
1966 Rose Bowl
The 1966 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1966 was the 52nd Rose Bowl Game. The UCLA Bruins defeated the #1 ranked Michigan State Spartans by a score of 14–12. UCLA defensive back Bob Stiles was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game.-Teams:...
vs. Michigan State. In The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia, this loss is listed as one of the most devastating setbacks in Ohio State football history.
By the 1982 college football season, UCLA would make the Rose Bowl their home stadium, moving from the Los Angeles Coliseum. As of 2008, the attendance of 105,464 still stands as the largest crowd to ever watch a UCLA football game in the Rose Bowl stadium. It is a record that is not likely to be broken, as the Rose Bowl seating has been reduced to 91,136 for UCLA Bruins Football and 92,542 for the Rose Bowl Game