2017 Rose Bowl Game

     I am a member of the Temple Sha'arey Shalom Board of Trustees by virtue of my having been the Temple President from 1998 to 2000. I am able to attend meetings and vote because I show up, passing the mandate that the By-Laws have set. I attend the meetings regularly--tonight was one that I missed for a reason. As is tuned out, a very, very good reason.

     My daughter's alma mater, The Pennsylvania State University, had its football team, the winner of the Big 10 Championship game versus the University of Wisconsin, playing in the Rose Bowl against the Trojans from the University of Southern California, representing the Pac 12 Conference. Tradition had the winners of the Big 10 facing the winners of the Pac 12--until the College Football Playoff format came into existence. Thus, the best teams from each conference might not meet in the Rose Bowl--the University of Washington team who won the Pac 12 title went to the 4 team playoff, as did The Ohio State University eleven even though they did not win the Big 10 crown and actually lost to Penn State.

     But this year, precedent sort of held true at least as with Penn State. USC certainly would be a formidable opponent sent to Pasadena to represent the Pac 12. Two very traditional football powers, each scarred from scandals involving a legendary coach at Penn State, Joe Paterno, and the guy people love to hate, Pete Carroll, who was very successful while at USC, but left Los Angeles for his current gig as the Seattle Seahawks head coach in the National Football League when it was clear he had bent the rules too much.

     Many fans have not forgiven Penn State and the immorality of its abuser during the Paterno era--Jerry Sandusky. Under Coach Bill O'Brien, now the head coach of the playoff-bound Houston Texans in the NFL, the school and the team survived the loss of scholarships and players. James Franklin, the brash coach at Vanderbilt University, who engineered winning teams at the consistent loser within the Southeastern Conference, took Penn State further, and 5 years removed from the scandal, improbably to the Rose Bowl.

     USC, a multi-winner of mythical National Championships, righted itself under the guidance of Pat Haden, a star quarterback of much renown, who left the practice of law to resurrect the Trojans. It took a number of coaches, but this team, mentored by Clay Helton, who rose from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator to interim head coach before the title was made permanent.

     So here we were, 100,000 jammed into the Pasadena oval, half seemingly clad in red for USC, and white for the Nittany Lions. The pageantry of the day is some of the beauty of the Rose Bowl, which followed the Rose Parade through the streets of Pasadena earlier in the day. While the weather was cool and damp, with only brief hints of sunshine, this game would outshine all others.

     After the 3 Olympic Grand Marshals joined in the coin toss (won by Penn State as the PSU side of the commemorative coin landed for them), the game went on in resounding fashion. Led by incomparable redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Darnold, the Trojans raced out to a quick 13-0 lead.

     Opposing quarterback Trace McSorley of the Nittany Lions, managed to keep PSU within hailing distance, aided by some circus catches and the fleetness of  Saquon Barkley, the heralded New Jersey running back.

     The halftime score was 27-21 in favor of USC. Penn State had dodged a missed Trojans field goal at the end of the first half. Darnold had ungodly passing yardage and seemed to be unflappable and maybe unbeatable.

     USC received the ball to start the 3rd quarter. They could not move the ball. Penn State took over. Did they ever.

     Aided by miscues and missed tackles, McSorley, Barkley and Penn State managed to score 4 touchdowns on 4 consecutive offensive plays from the 2nd quarter into the 3rd quarter. Suddenly it was 42-27 PSU.

     Darnold was not done. He led the Trojans to a score and they made the two point conversion, making the score 42-35. PSU countered with another score and it was 49-35 entering the final stanza.

     On two incredible drives, USC rallied to tie the score on a Darnold pass with 1;20 left to play. Penn State had the ball.

     Mc Sorley attempted two passes. The first was almost intercepted. the second, nearly in the same vicinity, was  picked off and the return put USC, out of time outs, within field goal range. Deftly managing the clock until :05 was left, kicker Matt Boermeester had a chance to redeem himself for two prior missed field goals. As time expired, he split the uprights and USC emerged the winner of a hard-fought game worthy of the oldest bowl game in the United States.

     The individual efforts of Darnold--over 400 yards passing on 33 completions in 53 attempts for 5 touchdowns; McSorley hitting on 18 of 29 passes for 254 yards and 4 scores; and Barkley, who rushed for 194 yards, scoring 2 TD's and accumulating 55 more yards on passes with 1 more TD to his credit.

     Individual and team efforts were remarkable in this game that lasted to nearly 9:30 E.S.T. Someone had to win and it was USC. Penn State should hold its head high. This was a game for the ages.

     I recall the 1963 Rose Bowl game--#1 USC behind Pete Beathard defeated Ron Vander Kelen and the #2 Wisconsin Badgers in the first Rose Bowl between the top tow ranked teams. That was my standard. Emphasis on was. the 2017 edition is now the best Rose Bowl game I have seen. Amen.