1989: Michigan, 22 vs. USC, 14

In what seemed like a certain victory for USC at halftime, Bo Schembechler rallied his Michigan team to defeat the Trojans, 22-14, in the 1989 Rose Bowl Game to extend USC’s post-season losing streak to four games.

After Michigan took the lead on a first-quarter field goal, USC moved ahead 14-3 on two Rodney Peete rushing touchdowns going into halftime. However, five turnovers by the Trojan offense and poor tackling throughout the game gave Michigan life.

Early in the third quarter, at least three USC defenders appeared to have Michigan’s John Kolesar trapped for as much as a 12-yard loss. Instead, Kolesar eluded the USC defense and turned the play into a 16-yard gain. Moments later, quarterback Demetrius Brown passed to Chris Calloway to cut the Trojans’ lead to 14-9. A two-point conversion attempt failed, but Michigan had the momentum.

“It seemed like we thought we had the game won,” USC Head Coach Larry Smith said. “Lots of times we had their running game stopped for losses, but we didn’t wrap them up and they made the big plays.”

Michigan fullback Leroy Hoard became the first running back to rush for more than 100 yards against the Trojans, totaling 142 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, which led to Hoard being named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Hoard scored on the first play of the fourth quarter. Peete then went to the air to move the Trojans to the Michigan 38 midway through the quarter, but the drive stalled and placekicker Quin Rodriguez eventually missed a 47-yard field goal attempt with 5:28 to play.

After it appeared linebacker Junior Seau had trapped Hoard for a loss, Hoard exploded for a 61-yard run to set up Michigan’s final touchdown.

Seven plays later, Hoard scored on a gutsy fourth-down call, when Michigan elected not to settle for a field goal and give the ball back to USC with 1:52 to play.

“We figured to give the ball to Hoard,” Schembechler said. “I knew he’d score, and if he didn’t, if they could move the ball down for a field goal, then they deserved it.”

With time running out in the game and the USC season, Peete was forced to go to the air, completing passes of 12 yards to John Jackson and 36 and 11 yards to Gary Wellman, before penalties and an interception by Michigan linebacker John Milligan ended USC’s hopes.

“We came out flat (in the second half) and didn’t play,” Peete said. “We forgot to show up. Our defense played a great game, but our offense left them out on the field too long.”

Attendance
100,000

Weather
Sunny; 65 degrees

Scoring
First Quarter
Mich – Gillette, 49-yard field goal

Second Quarter
USC – Peete, 1-yard run (Rodriguez kick good)
USC – Peete, 4-yard run (Rodriguez kick good)

Third Quarter
Mich – Calloway, 6-yard pass from Brown (Hoard run for 2-point conversion failed)

Fourth Quarter
Mich – Hoard, 1-yard run (D. Brown pass to Calloway for 2-point conversion failed)
Mich – Hoard, 1-yard run (Gillette kick good)

Coaches
Michigan: Glenn Edward “Bo” Schembechler
USC: Larry Smith

Fun Fact
In honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Rose Bowl Game, the Chrysler Corporation Court of Champions, a monument to Rose Bowl Game players and coaches, was created. Howard Jones, Woody Hayes, Jim Plunkett and Bump Elliott were the first inductees into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.

Individual Stats
Rushing
Mich: D. Brown 11-1; Hoard 19-142; Boles 14-49; Kolesar 1-16
USC: Peete 9-42; Emanuel 16-55; Ervins 5-8; Holt 9-33

Passing
Mich: D. Brown 11-24-144
USC: Peete 15-21-158

Receiving
Mich: McMurtry 2-25; Hoard 1-4; Kolesar 3-49; Boles 1-6; D. Walker 3-54; Calloway 1-6
USC: Jackson 3-23; Ervins 1-3; Affholter 5-56; Emanuel 1-6; Holt 2-12; Galbraith 1-11; Wellman 2-47

Punting
Mich: Gillette 4-139
USC: Sperle 4-201