1983: UCLA, 24 vs. Michigan, 14

The UCLA Bruins prevailed in a 24-14 victory over the Michigan Wolverines in the 69th Rose Bowl Game.

UCLA held a 10-0 lead at halftime over the Wolverines, thanks to a 1-yard touchdown sneak by quarterback Tom Ramsey in the first quarter and a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter.

In what proved to be one of the turning points of the game, Michigan lost quarterback Steve Smith in the middle of the second quarter, when he separated his shoulder on an 8-yard run. Prior to losing Smith, Michigan was dealt another blow, losing starting tackle Rich Strenger on the third play of the game. Michigan missed Smith’s playmaking ability and Strenger’s ability to create holes for its running game.

It was asking a lot of seldom-used backup quarterback David Hall to carry out Michigan’s offensive plans, wrote Michael Wilbon of the Washington Post.

“Dave Hall has never really played,” Michigan Head Coach Bo Schembechler said. “You yank this kid off the bench and tell him, ‘Go win the Rose Bowl.’ It’s hard to do.”

“Our turnovers, failure to run the ball, and failure to convert on third-down conversions, which kept us from sustaining any long drives, were the keys,” Schembechler said. “I’m not here to make alibis. The loss of Rich Strenger and the loss of Smith hurt. It took us out of our option and bootleg series.”

Michigan scored midway through the third quarter on a Hall touchdown pass to fullback Eddie Garrett, but the Bruins answered on the ensuing drive, with Danny Andrews taking a sweep into the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown run and a 17-7 lead entering the fourth quarter.

UCLA’s defense provided the clincher in the fourth quarter, when linebacker Blanchard Montgomery intercepted a pass by Hall intended for Anthony Carter and returned it for a touchdown.

“When Hall threw it, I was wondering whether or not I could jump high enough to catch it,” Montgomery said. “The next thing I knew, I was running into the end zone.”

Michigan managed one more score on a fourth-down pass from Hall to fullback Dan Rice in the end zone, but the game was already out of reach.

The Bruins held the Wolverines to 110 yards rushing, well below Michigan’s average of 240.

“I felt there were three critical factors in this game:” said UCLA Head Coach Terry Donahue. “1) The loss of Smith, 2) Blanchard Montgomery’s return of the intercepted pass for a touchdown, 3) Our drive after Michigan had scored making the score 10-7.”

“It’s very difficult to weigh the loss of Smith, to their offense and to Anthony Carter,” Donahue added. “It would be like us trying to play without Tom Ramsey. The second-string quarterback is not the option-type quarterback. And when a Michigan team doesn’t have that threat, it’s easier to defend against, quite frankly.”

Attendance
104,991

Weather
Clear and Sunny; 70 degrees

Scoring
First Quarter
UCLA – Ramsey, 1-yard run (Lee kick good)

Second Quarter
UCLA – Lee, 39-yard field goal

Third Quarter
Mich – Garrett, 1-yard pass from Hall (Haji-Sheikh kick good)
UCLA – Andrews, 9-yard run (Lee kick good)

Fourth Quarter
UCLA – Montgomery, 11-yard pass interception return (Lee kick good)
Mich – Rice, 4-yard pass from Hall (Haji-Sheikh kick good)

Coaches
UCLA: Terry Donahue
Michigan: Glenn Edward “Bo” Schembechler

Fun Fact
In 1983, NFL and College Football Hall of Fame lineman Merlin Olsen, who announced the game with Dick Enberg for NBC, also served as the tournament’s Grand Marshal.

Individual Stats
Rushing
UCLA: Nelson 11-48; Ramsey 10-25; Andrews 12-42; Bruno 3-14; Cephous 8-46; Wiley 2-5
Mich: Rice 4-8; Ricks 23-88; S. Smith 3-15; Rogers 2-12

Passing
UCLA: Ramsey 18-25-162
Mich: S. Smith 6-9-54; Hall 13-24-155

Receiving
UCLA: Townsell 4-45; Bruno 2-11; Bergmann 6-48; Young 1-9; Nelson 1-14; Carney 2-33
Mich: Dunaway 5-110; Rice 4-17; Ricks 2-4; Carter 5-59; Rogers 1-6; Bean 1-12

Punting
UCLA: Buenafe 6-193
Mich: Bracken 6-242