The Bowl Game Experience – Issue 6

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF

NOVEMBER 2019 | ISSUE 6

MOMENTS IN TIME

Personal Reflections of Some of the Most Memorable Moments in Bowl Game History

"For me, it's the 1984 Orange Bowl. No one gave Miami — before it was known as 'the U' — much of a chance against the mighty, top-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers. But the fifth-ranked Hurricanes jumped out to a 17-0 lead, then held on to win, 31-30, when Coach Tom Osborne went for two points and Miami defensive back Ken Calhoun tipped away Turner Gill's pass in the end zone.

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"That was my first and only year on the Hurricanes' beat for The Miami Herald. How fortunate was I to cover such an iconic team — and one of the classic bowl games of all time?"

— CHRISTINE BRENNAN, USA TODAY "Very tough to pick out one.

But if I had to, I would say the 1996 Rose Bowl involving Northwestern and USC. The Rose Bowl always says 'bowl game' like no other. And for long-suffering Northwestern people to enjoy that moment… wow. So many people made that trip from frozen Chicago to the promised land [of California] — with tears in their eyes as they took in the spectacle of it all."

— HERB GOULD, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES [RETIRED], THE MEDIA GUIDES

CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL

O

ver the years, many memorable contests have taken place within the bowl game structure. Whether it's a specific game or the atmosphere in and around a specific bowl, our country's foremost sports journalists have covered any number of them. FBA Communications asked several for their personal reflections.

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF

NOVEMBER 2019 | ISSUE 6

"My favorite memories are from the Orange Bowl.

I covered at least 12 of them and stayed in all kinds of hotels, some on the beach, some downtown when there were riots going on down the street. I always loved the Orange Bowl because of all the big games played in that old stadium. The Orange Bowl stadium didn't have any amenities but it was like it was built for classic football games. There was a magical feeling every time I walked into that place, just thinking about the ghosts and the great moments that happened there."

— TOM SHATEL, OMAHA WORLD-HERALD "For me it has always been the Sugar Bowl. Great city that provides the perfect atmosphere for a game where there is usually a lot on the line. I love college football history and a lot of it has been made at the Sugar Bowl."

— TONY BARNHART, SEC NETWORK "From the time I arrived at the old Mountain Shadows resort late at night to discover that a Steak Fry had suddenly created a crisis, the 1987 Fiesta Bowl was unlike any bowl experience before or since. The made-for-TV move to January 2, a Friday night, altered all the normal New Year’s Day bowl rhythms.

"The pregame rhetoric between Penn State and Miami players seemed more suited for professional wrestling than a college athletic event, and my initial reaction was that if this is what No. 1 vs. No. 2 is like, you can have it. That mindset overlooked two truths: The adversarial atmosphere helped create a Penn State victory in one of the most tense and memorable games in college football history. And the annual pursuit of what was once called the “mythical national championship” would never be the same."

— MALCOLM MORAN, THE NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, IUPUI SPORTS CAPITAL JOURNALISM PROGRAM

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"I covered more than 40 Rose Bowls through the years, and none of them compared to the 2006 game between Texas and USC for the National Title. For tension, suspense and pure artistry, it was hard to beat. You had two Heisman Trophy winners in Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush for the Trojans, and the incomparable Vince Young running for 200 yards and passing for 267 more at quarterback for the Longhorns.

"USC’s Pete Carroll was going for his third consecutive national title and his team came into Pasadena with a 34-game winning streak. Fittingly, the momentum on this night flowed back and forth and just when the Trojans’ offense, maybe the finest all-around offense in school history, seemed ready to put the game away, Young and Texas rallied. As only a game like this could, it came down to the final seconds when Young scrambled 8 yards for the touchdown that won it, 41-38, and sent a shower of confetti into the cool Arroyo Seco sky.

"The best game in Rose Bowl history? It would certainly get my vote. The greatest game in college football history? That’s a tougher question, but I’ll tell you this much: It certainly belongs in the conversation."

— STEVE BISHEFF, LOS ANGELES HERALD-EXAMINER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER [RETIRED]

66 AND COUNTING… Art Spander has Literally Seen Everything in the Modern Era of the Rose Bowl

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BY DOUG KELLY

“

I have been blessed to have seen first-hand some of the greatest games of all time.”

#BIGGERTHANTHEGAME

CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL

t started when he sold game programs, Washington, to the present day with one continued through his college career at UCLA, exception, and he had an excellent reason to and extends to the present day as a longtime not work the 2017 game.

San Francisco Bay Area "I was fortunate enough journalist. to be inducted into the Art Spander has been Rose Bowl Hall of Fame an eyewitness to the last [class of 2016] and rode in 66 Rose Bowl games. His the Rose Parade. I was at streak began with the 1954 the game, of course, but game when UCLA played not writing that day."

Michigan State and he'll Spander's game observe No. 67 this coming credentials over the years January 1. have borne the names "I grew up in the Oakland Tribune, San Baldwin Hills area Francisco Chronicle, of Los Angeles and San Francisco I'd signed up to sell Examiner as well as programs and did news outlets from so for two years. My around the USA father dropped me and overseas, who off near the stadium employed him on that first year." a freelance basis.

Spander recalls.

Spander continues to Spander enrolled at write, now for Maven UCLA in 1956 and began his Sports among others. writing career at the student "The Rose Bowl over the newspaper, the Daily Bruin. decades has been such a "I passed out stats in the huge part of the overall ART SPANDER press box in '57 and '58, history of college football," spent the '59 contest as a spectator, but I was he says. "I have been blessed to have seen firstback in the box in '60." hand some of the greatest games of all time."

After graduation, Spander worked first at UPI then for the Santa Monica Evening Outlook.

Doug Kelly is Director of Communications for the Football He's covered every game from the 1964 Bowl Association. He has worked within the bowl industry since 2002. contest, when Dick Butkus and Illinois defeated

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THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF

NOVEMBER 2019 | ISSUE 6

IMPROBABLE

HEROES

Some of the Best Bowl Performances Came From Players Making the Most of an Opportunity

BY OLIN BUCHANAN

T

he name “Roland Sales” draws quizzical looks from even the most avid college football fans.

Well, except in Fayetteville, Ark., where some still speak with reverence about a memorable performance in an otherwise forgettable career.

More than four decades later, it still seems improbable that Sales, a seldom-used sophomore running back, would emerge as Most Valuable Player of the 1978 Orange Bowl for leading Arkansas to a shocking 31-6 victory over No. 2 Oklahoma, which was playing for a national title.

Sales was an unsung hero who attained legend status with an

ROLAND SALES

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iconic moment. He is not alone; there are others who have risen from relative obscurity with memorable plays or performances in bowl games.

South Carolina running back Ryan Brewer rushed for only 66 yards in 2000. But Brewer — a former “Mr. Ohio” football who wasn’t recruited

by Ohio State — ran for 109 yards, caught three passes and scored three touchdowns in a 24-7 upset of Ohio State in the 2001 Outback Bowl.

Georgia freshman Terry Hoage did not play at all during the 1980 regular season.

But in a Sugar Bowl showdown with Notre Dame with the national title on the line, he blocked a Notre Dame field goal attempt, which led to a Georgia field goal. Notre Dame lost a fumble BRETT RATLIFF on the ensuing kickoff to set up a Georgia touchdown and the Bulldogs went on to clinch the national championship with a 17-10 win.

Kentucky’s Walt Yowarsky, who had barely played all season, started in the 1951 Sugar Bowl. He recovered two fumbles, made a key stop on third down and

was named MVP in a 13-7 victory over Oklahoma To further complicate matters, Sales experienced that ended the Sooners’ 31-game winning streak. flu-like symptoms the day before the game.

Notre Dame freshman defensive back Steve But as the Razorbacks awaited the kickoff in their Cichy returned a blocked punt 33 yards for a locker room, Calcagni recalled how the typically touchdown to spark a fourth quarter rally from a quiet Sales stood to address his teammates.

22-point deficit as the Irish “We were biding our stunned Houston 35-34 in time,” recalled Calgagni, the 1979 Cotton Bowl. now a middle school coach Brett Ratliff passed for in Conway, Ark. “Coach just 642 yards as Utah’s Holtz did some magic backup quarterback tricks. (Defensive end) Dan in 2005. But 381 of Hampton said some things. those yards and four “Then, Roland stands up touchdowns came in a and says, “I tell you, boys, 38-10 Emerald Bowl victory I’ve been so sick. But I’m over Georgia Tech ready to play. I’m going to Sales, though, is the play to the best of my Godultimate example. At one given ability and give you time not even expected to my all.’ ” play, he rushed for a thenThat was more than Orange Bowl record 205 enough. Calcagni ran the yards on just 20 carries. option to perfection, and He scored touchdowns Holtz had devised a plan to on runs of 1 and 4 yards. keep the Sooners’ defense He averaged more than off-balance.

11 yards per carry on his “We were so prepared,” CHARLIE FISS other 18 attempts.

Calcagni said. “We had a “Roland just had a phenomenal game. He just ran wrinkle in our scheme that gave them a false key. up and down the field,” recalled Cotton Bowl Vice They were playing an over-shifted defense. Lou President of Communications Charlie Fiss, who was Holtz had me so prepared we called plays at the line an Arkansas student at the time. “After the game, of scrimmage and went away from their strengths.” all he talked about was the La-Z-Boy recliner he was Sales routinely bursts through gaping holes at promised as the game MVP.” the line of scrimmage or took option pitches and NCAA rules prevented Sales from receiving the juked tacklers for big gains. recliner until his college career was complete. He did, Sales never duplicated his Orange Bowl success. though, immediately earn a place in Arkansas lore.

Two more seasons at Arkansas were unspectacular.

Sales wasn’t expected to play a significant role in He briefly played pro football in Canada before the Orange Bowl. He was stuck on the depth chart settling into a career as a postal worker. behind all-conference running back Ben Cowins, That did not diminish his legacy. On one great who led the Razorbacks with 1,192 rushing yards. night, he was a great player.

But 10 days before the game Arkansas coach Lou “You know how sometimes songwriters have Holtz suspended Cowins and two others. those one-hit wonders?” Calcagni said. “He had one.

Suddenly, Sales was thrust into the starting lineup It was a big, big night.” for the first time in his career against the Sooners.

Olin Buchanan is a member of the Football Writers Association of Earlier that day, No. 1 Texas fell to Notre Dame in America. He is a columnist for TexAgs.com and has also written the Cotton Bowl. Therefore, No. 2 Oklahoma could for Rivals.com, Yahoo.com, the Austin American-Statesman and the Bryan-College Station Eagle. claim the national championship with a victory.

“

#BIGGERTHANTHEGAME

CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Roland just had a phenomenal game. He just ran up and down the field.”

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