I can remember 35-years ago this week on Jan. 2, 1978 the University of Washington coached by Don James beating the 4th ranked Michigan Wolverines coached by Bo Schembechler in the Rose Bowl. Michigan was still in the hunt for a National Title until the Huskies shocked the nation with a 27-20 victory.
I was only seven-years old at the time and this was my first introduction to college football. First I thought the Rose Bowl was like the Super Bowl and thought Husky's were Seattle's second NFL team. Once I got it straight that the Husky's were a college team, I fell in love with college football. I was already learning about football with the Seahawks and was excited that I had another local team to cheer for.(I would learn by next season that Washington had another college team just not as good called the Cougars.)
The game was not as close as the final score indicated. UW was up 24-0 until Michigan finally scored with five minutes left in the third quarter. With just over two minutes left in the game and Michigan down by a touchdown and about to score, Husky's defender Michael Jackson would intercept the ball on the 6-yard line. Husky's would go three and out on their next series and have to punt the ball. Michigan with under a minute left in the game and one last chance to tie had the pass intercepted by Nesby Glasgow to secure the Husky win. Both Jackson and Glasgow would at sometime in their careers go onto play with the Seahawks.
The Rose Bowl MVP was UW quarterback Warren Moon who passed for 188 yards and scored the first UW touchdown on the day with a two yard run. Even with the good season and his performance in the Rose Bowl he would still go undrafted and have to play in CFL.
This one game is what got me hooked on college football and I have been a fan ever since. I have provided a link to highlights of the 1977 Husky season and Rose Bowl win compiled by UWTV.
Below is a list of some of the players from the 1977 Husky team to go on to play in the NFL. The only one to make it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame was the undrafted Warren Moon. I also noted if they played with the Seattle Seahawks and what seasons:
Dave Browning
Blair Bush Seahawks (83-88)
Nesby Glasgow Seahawks (88-92)
Michael Jackson Seahawks (79-86)
Warren Moon would play 6 seasons in the Canadian Football League before getting a chance to play in the NFL. Seahawks (97-98)
Great retrospective of the 1977 Husky season and the 1978 Rose Bowl win:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtzpP-5lkkQ
