1959 Rose Bowl

1959 Rose Bowl
45th Rose Bowl Game
1234 Total
Iowa 713126 38
California 0066 12
DateJanuary 1, 1959
Season1958
StadiumRose Bowl
LocationPasadena, California
MVPBob Jeter (Iowa HB)
FavoriteIowa by 18 points[1]
RefereeJack Sprenger (Pacific Coast;
split crew: Pacific Coast, Big Ten)
Halftime showHawkeye Marching Band, University of California Marching Band
Attendance98,297
United States TV coverage
NetworkNBC
AnnouncersMel Allen and Chick Hearn
Rose Bowl
 < 1958  1960

The 1959 Rose Bowl was the 45th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Thursday, January 1. The heavily-favored and second-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten Conference defeated the #16 California Golden Bears of the Pacific Coast Conference, 38–12. Iowa's star halfback Bob Jeter was named the Player of the Game.[2][3] Iowa improved to 8–1–1 and California fell to 7–4 for the season.

Iowa, 7–1–1, was behind undefeated LSU in the two major polls. LSU was ranked No. 1 in both major polls since week 6 of the season, and was awarded the national championship by the Associated Press (AP) and the Coaches' Poll (UPI). Iowa finished first in the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) poll.

Future Berkeley, California city mayor Tom Bates was a member of the California Golden Bears team.

It was the sixth straight Rose Bowl win for the Big Ten, and the twelfth of the last thirteen.[3] The PCC disbanded in the spring and five of its members formed the new AAWU (Big Five), while the other four competed as independents for several years. It is the last time Cal has appeared in the Rose Bowl.

  1. ^ Sargis, Joe (January 1, 1959). "Iowa picked by 18 in Rose Bowl". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). UPI. p. 19.
  2. ^ "Hawkeyes humble Bears, 38–12, in Rose Bowl". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 2, 1959. p. 3B.
  3. ^ a b Missildine, Harry (January 2, 1959). "Jeter flies as Hawkeyes crush Bears". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 16.