Game Summary
This was the second meeting between the two schools, the first being a 28–20 victory for the Spartans over the Bruins in the 1954 Rose Bowl. In a Sports Illustrated article preceding the 1956 Rose Bowl, UCLA coach Red Sanders was quoted as saying "Sure, winning isn't every thing, It's the only thing."
The Spartans wore their green home jerseys and the Bruins wore their white road jerseys.
Jim Decker of UCLA intercepted a pass from Michigan State quarterback Earl Morrall on the first play from scrimmage. Decker returned 4 yards to the MSU 16 yard line. Four plays later, Bob Davenport scored on a 2-yard run over left guard to give the Bruins a 7-0 lead.
Midway through the second quarter, Michigan State put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive to pull even at 7. Walt Kowalczyk's 30-yard run to the UCLA 17 set up Morrall's 13-yard touchdown toss to Clarence Peaks. On the second play of the fourth quarter, the Spartans took their first lead at 14–7 on Peaks’ 67-yard TD pass to John Lewis, who caught the ball on the 50 and took it the distance. Five minutes later, The UCLA Bruin passing game produced a big play as UCLA quarterback Ronnie Knox connected with Jim Decker with a 47-yard pass play to the Spartan 7-yard line. Three plays later, Doug Peters scored on a 1-yard plunge at center. Morrall directed an 11-play, 59-yard drive to the UCLA 24, but Gerald Planutis missed a 41-yard field-goal attempt.
Five penalties were called in the closing minutes and field position shifted in Michigan State's favor when UCLA was whistled for three-straight penalties. UCLA was called for an intentional grounding infraction which pushed the ball back to its own one-yard line. The Bruins' punt gave the Spartans the ball at the UCLA 40-yard line. The Bruins were cited for interference with the kick returner on the punt play and the Spartans received the ball at the Bruin 19-yard line. Replacing Gerald Planutis, Dave Kaiser of Michigan State converted his first career field-goal attempt, a 41-yard kick, with seven seconds remaining in the game to give the Spartans a 17–14 win.
Read more about this topic: 1956 Rose Bowl
Famous quotes containing the words game and/or summary:
“Vanessa wanted to be a ballerina. Dad had such hopes for her.... Corin was the academically brilliant one, and a fencer of Olympic standard. Everything was expected of them, and they fulfilled all expectations. But I was the one of whom nothing was expected. I remember a game the three of us played. Vanessa was the President of the United States, Corin was the British Prime Minister—and I was the royal dog.”
—Lynn Redgrave (b. 1943)
“Product of a myriad various minds and contending tongues, compact of obscure and minute association, a language has its own abundant and often recondite laws, in the habitual and summary recognition of which scholarship consists.”
—Walter Pater (1839–1894)