1932 Rose Bowl

1932 Rose Bowl
18th Rose Bowl Game National championship game [1]
USC Trojans Tulane Green Wave (9–1) (11–0) PCC SoCon 21 12 Head coach:  Howard Jones Head coach:  Bernie Bierman
1 2 3 4 Total USC 0 7 14 0 21 Tulane 0 0 6 6 12
Date	January 1, 1932
Season	1931
Stadium	Rose Bowl Stadium
Location	Pasadena, California
MVP	Erny Pinckert (HB) – USC
Attendance	75,562
Rose Bowl  < 1931   1933 >  College football championship game   1933 >

The 1932 Rose Bowl was the 18th Rose Bowl game, an American post-season college football game that was played on New Year's Day 1932 in Pasadena, California. It featured the Tulane Green Wave against the USC Trojans. ^[2] The Trojans had six All-Americans in their lineup: tackle Ernie Smith, guards Johnny Baker and Aaron "Rosy" Rosenberg, halfback Erny Pinckert and quarterbacks Orville Mohler and Gaius Shaver. ^[3]

The game was a true national championship game, with Tulane ranked No. 1 and USC No. 2 in the preliminary ballot of the Erskine poll of 250 sportswriters. ^[1] It was decided that their matchup in the Rose Bowl would determine the result. ^[1] The Albert Russel Erskine Trophy was presented to victorious USC on the field following the game. ^[4] The Dickinson System's Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy also went to the winner of the game. ^{[5] [6]}

Background

Tulane won all eleven games of the regular season, shutting their opponents out seven times while allowing just 35 total points on the season to win the Southern Conference for the third straight year. Captain for the team was Jerry Dalrymple, the only unanimous All-American in the country that year.

USC started their season with a loss to Saint Mary's in Los Angeles. However, they won the next nine games to prevail as champions of the Pacific Coast Conference for the fourth time in five seasons, having six shutouts (notably scoring 69 on Montana and 60 on Georgia).

Game summary

To protect his kidney injury, Tulane captain Jerry Dalrymple wore a special pad during the game. It was reported that USC captain Stan Williamson told the referee to allow Dalrymple as much time as he needed to adjust the pad during a timeout in the name of sportsmanship.

Second quarter

• USC – Ray Sparling, 5-yard run (Baker kick good) 9:34 7-0 USC

Third quarter

• USC – Erny Pinckert, 30-yard run (Baker kick good) 12:26 14-0 USC
• USC – Erny Pinckert, 23-yard run (Baker kick good) 8:32 21-0 USC
• Tul – Haynes, 15-yard pass from Don Zimmerman (Don Zimmerman kick failed) 2:56 21-6 USC

Fourth quarter

• Tul – Wop Glover, 2-yard run (Point after failed) 9:34 21-12 USC

References

1. Written at New York. "Rose Bowl Winner Will be Awarded Erskine Trophy". The Tampa Times. Tamp, Florida. December 26, 1931. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
2. 2009 Kickoff Luncheon and Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Induction program
3. Rose Bowl Game Timeline Archived May 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine , Pasadena Tournament of Roses
4. "Trojans Get Erskine 1931 Grid Award". Los Angeles Times. January 2, 1932. Retrieved May 17, 2022. Southern California's 21–12 victory over Tulane brought the Trojans the Albert Russell Erskine football trophy and the national grid championship for 1931. Presentation of the trophy was made in front of the Trojan rooting section following the game by William R. Moorehouse, member of the Erskine award board. The Erskine award brought a Studebaker President eight sedan to Coach Howard Jones, an engraved cup to the University of Southern California and a scroll signifying the national championship to the Trojan team.
5. Written at Champaign, Illinois. "Trojans Request Delay — Rockne Memorial Trophy to Be Accepted After Tulane Game". The Oregonian . Portland, Oregon. Associated Press. December 15, 1931. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
6. Written at Los Angeles. "USC Will Be Awarded Rockne Cup — Dr. Frank G. Dickinson to Present Trophy to Rose Bowl Winners". The Tacoma Daily Ledger . Tacoma, Washington. Associated Press. January 4, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2024. The ratings made long in advance of the Tournament of Roses game New Year's day placed Southern California first and Tulane second but when these two teams met in a 'natural' Rose bowl game, it was decided that if Tulane could overrule Dickinson's rating, he would stand corrected and give the trophy to the New Orleans lads.