W&J Presidents' football team that competed in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, 1922, in Pasadena, Calif.
10 facts about W&J’s first and only Rose Bowl appearance
-
Small Wonder: With an enrollment of 450 students, W&J was the smallest school ever to play in the Rose Bowl.
-
Against the Odds: The University of California Golden Bears were favored to beat the undefeated Presidents by 14 points.
-
Dead Presidents: Sportswriter Jack James of the San Francisco Examiner famously said, “All I know about Washington and Jefferson is that they are both dead.”
-
Breaking the Bank: Athletic Director Bob “Mother” Murphy mortgaged his house to make the cross-country train ride to California.
-
Double Duty: Head Coach Earl “Greasy” Neale doubled as a Major League Baseball outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds.
-
Staying Power: The same 11 players stayed on the field the entire game, playing both offense and defense.
-
History Makers: Charles West was the first African-American quarterback to play in the Rose Bowl, while Herb Kopf was the game’s first freshman.
-
Controversial Call: W&J halfback Wayne Brenkurt’s 35-yard touchdown run was called back by an offside penalty.
-
Ground Control: The Presidents rushed 114 yards to the Golden Bears’ 49, and held Cal to zero yards passing and two first downs.
-
O Captain, My Captain: Named Most Outstanding Player, W&J’s team captain Russ Stein went on to play for the NFL and was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1991.