Rose Bowl
1972
Stanford 13
Michigan 12
Quarterback Don Bunce and the defenses famous "Thunderchickens" gave
Stanford coach John Ralston his second consecutive Rose Bowl victory in
a thrilling come-from-behind win over Bo Schembechler’s previously
undefeated Michigan Wolverines.
Stanford, for the second straight season, came into the game with an 8-3
record and played the undefeated Big-10 champs - this time the 11-0
Wolverines. And, once again, the underdog Indians pulled out a win.
Bunce, named the game's Most Valuable Player, completed 24-of-44 for 290
yards, including a five-for-five effort on Stanford's final drive of the
game. But it was the Indian defense that held the mighty Michigan
offense to just 12 points, enabling Stanford to pull out the win. Down
12-10 after a Michigan safety with 3:18 remaining in the game, it looked
as though the Big 10 champs would go home with the win. But, after the
Wolverines were forced to punt after gaining possession on the safety,
Stanford had one last chance to put up a score. And Bunce and the rest
of the offense did not disappoint.
Stanford took over on their own 22-yard line with 1:48 remaining in the
game. Bunce hit on five consecutive passes, moving Stanford to the
Michigan 17-yard line with 22 seconds remaining. Two plays, three yards
gained and two timeouts later, the Indians' Rod Garcia entered the field
to attempt a game-winning 31-yard field goal.
With 12 seconds left in the game, Garcia s field goal went through the
uprights, giving Stanford its second straight Rose Bowl win (video).
Michigan took a 3-0 lead into the locker room at halftime after Dan Coin
booted a 30-yarder early in the second quarter. Garcia tied the score at
3-3 with a 42-yard field goal in the third quarter. Michigan jumped back
on top 10-3 when Fritz Seyferth scored from a yard out.
The Indians tied the score at 10-10 by using a bit of trickery Stanford
had a fourth down on their own 33-yard line and was lined up in punt
formation when Ralston called for a fake. Brown took the short snap and
raced 31 yards to the Michigan 36, giving his team new life. Five plays
later, Brown scored on a 24-yard touchdown run to knot the game at
10-10.
Michigan took a two-point lead with 3:18 left in the game when Ed
Shuttlesworth tackled Stanford's James Ferguson in the end zone for a
safety. Coins 46-yard field goal attempt fell short for the Wolverines
and Ferguson, who was standing in the end zone, decided to return the
kick. Shuttlesworth, however, did not let Ferguson get out of the end
zone before tackling him for safety. The Wolverines took the ensuing
kick on their own 45-yard line and had just 3:13 to run off the clock.
But, the Indian defense forced Michigan to punt after three plays and
Stanford had one last chance with 1:48 to go. Bunce and Co. did the
rest.
Fritz Seyferth scores Michigan's only touchdown
Attendance- 103,154
Scoring Summary
Second Quarter
UM- FG Coin 30
Third Quarter
Stan- FG Garcia 42
Fourth Quarter
UM- Seyferth 1 run (Coin kick)
Stan- Brown 24 run (Garcia kick)
UM- Safety: Shuttlesworth tackled Ferguson
Stan- FG Garcia 31
Individual Statistics
Rushing
Stan- Brown 6-60, Sanderson 5-16, Winesberry 4-15,Bunce 8-2
UM- W.Taylor 32-82,
Shuttlesworth 13-62, Doughty 11-56, Slade 13-41, Rather 2-17
Passing
Stan- Bunce 44-24-290
UM- Slade 10-3-26
Receiving
Stan- Winesberry 8-112, Scott 5-55, Brown 5-30, Moore 3-52, Sanderson
3-45
UM- Doughty 2-13, Seymour 1-13
