1955 Rose Bowl Explained

Year Game Played:1955
Game Name:Rose Bowl
Subheader:41st Rose Bowl Game
Football Season:1954
Visitor Name Short:USC
Visitor Nickname:Trojans
Visitor School:University of Southern California
Home Name Short:Ohio State
Home Nickname:Buckeyes
Home School:Ohio State University
Visitor Record:8 - 3
Visitor Conference:PCC
Home Record:9 - 0
Home Conference:Big Ten
Visitor Coach:Jess Hill
Home Coach:Woody Hayes
Visitor Rank Ap:17
Visitor Rank Coaches:11
Home Rank Ap:1
Home Rank Coaches:2
Visitor 1Q:0
Visitor 2Q:7
Visitor 3Q:0
Visitor 4Q:0
Home 1Q:0
Home 2Q:14
Home 3Q:0
Home 4Q:6
Date Game Played:January 1
Stadium:Rose Bowl
City:Pasadena, California
Mvp:Dave Leggett (Ohio State QB)
Odds:Ohio State by 14 points [1]
Referee:Edward Wagner (AAWU;
split crew: AAWU, Big Ten)
Halftime:K. Massey & Archie Whatley
Attendance:89,191
Us Network:NBC
Us Announcers Link:List of announcers of major college bowl games
Us Announcers:Mel Allen

The 1955 Rose Bowl was the 41st edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Saturday, January 1. The top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference defeated the USC Trojans of the Pacific Coast Conference, 20–7.[2] [3] [4]

Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes came into his first Rose Bowl tied for the national championship with PCC champion UCLA. However, #2 UCLA was locked out of the game because of the PCC's "no-repeat" rule,[5] enacted after California's third consecutive appearance in January 1951.

Teams

Ohio State

See main article: 1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football team. Ohio State quarterback Dave Leggett threw eleven passes, completing six, one a touchdown pass to Robert Archbald Watkins Jr. Halfback Hopalong Cassady ran for 92 yards and led the Buckeyes to 304 yards on the ground and an overall advantage of 360-206 yards in total offense.

USC

See main article: 1954 USC Trojans football team. The only touchdown by USC was an 86-yard punt return by Aramis Dandoy.

Game summary

The teams played in the first rainstorm to hit Pasadena during a Rose Bowl in more than 50 years.[6] The fans were under umbrellas, and it rained during the entire game, turning the field to mud.[7]

Scoring

First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter

Third quarter

No scoring

Fourth quarter

Aftermath

Game notes

Notes and References

  1. News: Ohio State 2 TD favorite over Southern Cal . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Associated Press . January 1, 1955 . 11.
  2. News: Ohio State subdues USC, 20-7 . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington) . Associated Press . January 2, 1955 . 1, sports.
  3. News: Buckeyes drub USC 20-7 . Eugene Register-Guard . United Press . January 2, 1955 . 1C.
  4. http://www.rosebowlhistory.org/rose-bowl-1955.php Rose Bowl 1955
  5. Book: Boyles , Bob . Paul Guido . 50 Years of College Football: A Modern History of America's Most Colorful Sport . Skyhorse Publishing Inc . 2007 . 58 . 978-1-60239-090-4.
  6. 2011 Rose Bowl Historic Media Guide, Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, December 2011
  7. Lesmirises, Doug - Buckeyes Rose Bowl Rewind: National championship glory in the mud of 1955. Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 16, 2009 Quote: "Through mud, slime, murk and driving rain, Ohio State's dauntless Buckeyes today reached the all-time zenith of the University's football history. Ploughing through muck in the fog and semi-darkness, the Buckeyes vanquished Southern California, 20 to 7, in the worst weather conditions of Rose Bowl history."