The 12th Rose Bowl

Matthew DiBiase historian, podcaster and author of multiple gridiron books including Lords of the Gridiron, joins us to chat about this 12th Rose Bowl between Washington and Alabama.

The 12th Rose Bowl Game was held on January 1, 1926, in Pasadena, California. The game is known by many as "The Game That Changed The South." The game featured the East's Alabama Crimson Tide, making their first bowl appearance, against the Washington Huskies of the West. The Washington offense was potent, led by veteran runner George Wildcat Wilson. The Tide had their own stalwart in the backfield of Johnny Mack Brown. The Huskies jumped to a 12-0 lead by the half as Coach Enoch Bagshaw seemed to have his troops ready to play. Alabama had an excellent sideline boss of their own in the legendary Wallace Wade. The Tide brass used the halftime to regroup and focus their attack. The Crimson Tide scored 20 points in the third quarter and held off a late Washington charge to put Southern football on the map in a 20-19 victory. Johnny Mack Brown was retroactively awarded the MVP honors in 1953. The Rose Bowl made its radio broadcast debut, with Charles Paddock, a sports writer, and former Olympian as the first person to call the game over the airwaves. 

A Very Special thanks to information obtained from the following brilliant internet sites: 1926 Rose Bowl. (2022, November 19). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1926_Rose_Bowl, the Sports Reference's family of website databases & Stathead.com.

Matthew's book Lords of the Gridiron: College Football's Greatest Coaches.

Banner photo is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons of the 1926 Rose Bowl stadium during the game

The other photo above is also from Wikimedia Commons and is of 1926 Rose Bowl, and a third quarter Alabama TD, taken by an unknown.