Oregon gets 1st Rose Bowl win since 1917
Running back De'Anthony Thomas #6 of the Oregon Ducks runs for a 91-yard touchdown in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers. (Jan. 2, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
PASADENA, Calif. -- Oregon's "Quack Attack'' offense of rapid-fire plays, so effective until the postseason, finally showed up in one of the wildest Rose Bowl games ever, one that broke scoring records and in the end broke Wisconsin's heart.
The Ducks had the ball 11 minutes less than the Badgers, but if they trailed in time of possession they didn't on the scoreboard, opening 2012 with a 45-38 win Monday night in the 98th version of what has been nicknamed "The Granddaddy of them All.''
"It's awesome, it's been 95 years since you can say the Oregon Ducks are Rose Bowl champs,'' said a gleeful Chip Kelly, the Oregon coach,
The Ducks won the 1917 Rose Bowl over Penn, then lost the next four in which they played, including 2010 against Ohio State.
With its 1-2 punch of LaMichael James (who rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown) and De'Anthony Thomas (155 and two TDs) sprinting loose on an afternoon when the temperature reached 82 degrees, Oregon finished with 621 yards total offense.
Another Duck, wide receiver Lavasier Tuinei, with eight receptions for 158 yards and two touchdowns, was chosen offensive player of the game.
Oregon (12-2), famous for its multiplicity of uniforms created by Nike, showed up in a shade of green with black numerals, almost unreadable from the stands, where 91,245 were jammed, and chrome-dome helmets that reflected the sun and later -- in early evening -- the lights.
The 83 total points were the most in a Rose Bowl, breaking the mark of 80 set in Washington's 46-34 win over Iowa in 1991.
"Well, No. 6 six is special,'' Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said, referring to Thomas. "Obviously, LaMichael is very special.''
After Wisconsin went in front 14-7 with 5:55 to play in the first quarter, Thomas, who grew up in Los Angeles about 20 miles from the Rose Bowl, dashed 91 yards to score on the final play of the period.
"We talked about tackling,'' Bielema said, "but on a couple of those plays, you look at the 98-yarder, or whatever that was, nobody put a hand on him. Obviously, a couple of mental breakdowns whether it be read keys, reactions, we didn't even challenge them on two or three of their scores, and nobody can win doing that."
Thomas provided an encore the third play of the second half, running 64 yards to give Oregon its first lead of the game, 35-28.
"I'm not sure how,'' Thomas said. "Just great blocking from the offensive line.''
The Badgers moved in front again 38-35 on a pass from Russell Wilson to Nick Toon, son of former Jets receiver Al Toon, but Darron Thomas threw to Tuinei in the end zone, and it was Oregon's game.
