The 2014 Rose Bowl game also happened to be the 100th Rose Bowl game ever played. The Rose Bowl, nicknamed “The Granddaddy of Them All” featured the winner of the Pac-12 conference and winner of the Big Ten conference. This year featured a great matchup. Pac-12 victor No. 5 Stanford, making its second Rose Bowl appearance in as many years squared off against Big Ten champ, No. 4 Michigan State. Besides the national championship game (which was also at the Rose Bowl five days later) this game matched two of the highest caliber teams in the country against each other.
This was the fourth year I attended the Rose Bowl and I was excited to see a new team from the Big Ten in town (Wisconsin was in the previous three years). As Stanford University is only about five hours outside Pasadena, the common thought was that a majority of the fans in attendance would be in favor of Stanford.
Surprisingly, this was not the case, as most of the fans were indeed Michigan State Spartan fans. Upon talking to some of them, I was amazed at how many of them made the trip from East Lansing, MI to the other side of the country.
The way they explained it made sense. Michigan State haven’t attended a Rose Bowl since 1988 (which they won 20-17 against USC). The common consensus was they didn’t know when the Spartans would make another Rose Bowl trip. If it was only going to be once every 26 years, this was a trip they were willing to make. Once inside, I was sitting in a section I could only describe as a sea of green. Someone behind me mentioned Stanford couldn’t even sell all the tickets they had been appointed. Looking across at the stadium where the Cardinal fans were sitting was one gigantic section of green.
The game started off in Stanford’s favor early, as they went up 10-0 in the first quarter thanks to a 16-yard touchdown run by Tyler Gaffney. After a 47-yard run by Gaffney to put Stanford in position, they kicked a field goal to get another three points and make it a two-possession game. The second quarter went more of Michigan State’s way, as they were able to outscore Stanford 14-7, but Spartans Quarterback Connor Cook through a costly interception. Stanford linebacker Kevin Anderson took it 40 yards to the house for a pick six. At halftime Stanford held the lead 17-14.
The third quarter was a quiet offensive quarter, as the only points scored were a field goal by Michigan State. After the end of three quarters, dead tie, 17-17. The final quarter was another quiet one as both teams only scored once, but Michigan State settled for seven while Stanford only netted a field goal. After a 26-year dry streak, the Spartans could bring a Rose Bowl title back to East Lansing with a 24-20 final score.
Overall the 100th edition of the “Granddaddy of Them All” was worth the $185 ticket price. Both teams played excellent football and this proved to be one of the closest and most competitive bowl games played this year.
After winning the Big Ten, Rose Bowl and being one loss (by only four points) away from the National Championship, Michigan State is starting to look like a football powerhouse. They have established themselves as a Top 5 team and will have all eyes on them last year as they battle Ohio State to repeat as the Big Ten’s representative in the Rose Bowl.
Stanford didn’t have the same success as they did in 2012, or win the Rose Bowl,, but they still had a great season. After being able to defeat Oregon they cemented themselves as the best team this season that the Pac-12 had to offer.
But with Oregon returning multiple starters, including Quarterback Marcus Mariota, many analysts will put Oregon as the team to win the Pac-12. Regardless of who wins the Pac-12 or Big Ten next year, only one thing is certain: I will be in Pasadena on New Years Day to see the 101st edition of the Rose Bowl.
Connor Anthony can be reached at connor.anthony@spartans.ut.edu