Michigan Football Classics - 1998 vs. Washington State
Wolverines Stake Claim to National Title with Rose Bowl Victory
Michigan claimed its 11th national title with a 21-16 victory over Washington State at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 in front of 101,219 in Pasadena, Calif. U-M (12-0) finished the season undefeated and untied for the first time since the 1948 national championship season.
Quarterback Brian Griese was named the Rose Bowl Most Valuable Player after throwing a Michigan Rose Bowl record three touchdown passes. He completed 18 of 30 passes for 251 yards.
The Wolverines' No. 1-ranked defense held the high-powered Cougars' offense to their lowest scoring output of the season. Dhani Jones recorded two sacks and a team-high 10 tackles. Tommy Hendricks totaled seven tackles (five solo, two assists), while James Hall, Marcus Ray and Andre Weathers each contributed five stops. Offensively, Tai Streets caught four passes for 127 yards and two TDs, Chris Howard gained 70 yards rushing on 19 carries, and Anthony Thomas contributed 20 yards on seven carries. Michigan gained 128 yards rushing and 251 passing for a game total of 379 total offense.
Charles Woodson helped lead Michigan to the 1997 national championship as he became the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy. He earned unanimous All-American honors during the 1997 season and claimed the Heisman, Walter Camp Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and the Jim Thorpe Award. He was voted by his teammates as the Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player of the 1997 football team and the conference coaches voted him recipient of the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Ten's MVP. In the Rose Bowl victory over Washington State, Woodson collected an end zone interception and tied a then-Rose Bowl record with four pass breakups.
During Lloyd Carr's 13 years as the Wolverines' head coach, he achieved a 122-40 record, captured five Big Ten Conference titles and the 1997 national championship -- the school's first in 49 years. Carr was at the helm for the 21-16 Michigan victory over Washington State in the 1998 Rose Bowl that clinched a share of the national title.
Michigan Football Classics
Each Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET, from Sept. 12-Oct. 17, Learfield IMG College will rebroadcast classic Michigan football games on Detroit's 97.1 FM The Ticket. From "The Catch" against Notre Dame in 1991 to the Wolverines' 10-7 victory over rival Ohio State in 1971, Michigan Football Classics will let fans relive some of the memorable moments in the history of Michigan football. Audio broadcast replays will also be available at MGoBlue.com/watch.
