Similarities between '98 Rose Bowl and 2024 CFP Championship
I can't help but notice the similarities between the 1998 Rose Bowl and the 2024 CFP Championship:
-Both games were between Michigan and a team from the State of Washington. (Washington State and Washington)
-Both Washington teams had Heisman QB finalists (Ryan Leaf and Michael Penix Jr.) Let's hope Penix has a better NFL career than Leaf.
-Both Washington teams were held to under 70 yards of rushing in the game.
-Both Washington teams featured a high flying passing offense and both Michigan teams had a top notch defense with an excellent D line.
-Both Washington teams lost their head coach to Alabama (Mike Price in 2003 and Kalen DeBoer in 2024)
(You may remember that Price was fired soon after starting after he visited a strip club in Pensacola, FL and an unknown woman charged $1,000 to his hotel room.)
-Both games were the last year before a change was made to a playoff system (BCS in 1999 and the 12 team CFP in 2024)
-And of course Michigan clinched the national title (split in 1998) and outright this year based on the end result.
Any other similarities to add for those that can remember the '98 Rose Bowl?
January 13th, 2024 at 12:28 PM ^
Time is a flat circle.
January 13th, 2024 at 12:41 PM ^
History doesn't repeat--it rhymes.
January 13th, 2024 at 12:44 PM ^
Michigan was undefeated National Champions after both games with a Rose Bowl Trophy also added to their collection!
January 13th, 2024 at 1:08 PM ^
Some say the Earth is, too.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:18 PM ^
What about the earth???
/asking for Kyrie
January 13th, 2024 at 1:43 PM ^
wait until they tell you about the earth
January 13th, 2024 at 12:31 PM ^
Let's hope DeBoer's run at Bama is a little different than Price's ...
January 13th, 2024 at 12:48 PM ^
Let's hope it's very similar. I hope he and Bama crash and burn scandalously.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:43 PM ^
I don't want to wish any ill will on anyone, however I could really enjoy a non-dominant Bama
January 13th, 2024 at 2:45 PM ^
I would settle for successful but not dominant.
January 13th, 2024 at 2:37 PM ^
What was the $1,000 for? Some kind of room service?
January 13th, 2024 at 3:01 PM ^
Two bags of almonds and one of those tiny liquor bottles from the minibar.
January 13th, 2024 at 3:49 PM ^
He was involved with a topless bar...I assume it was for tops?
January 13th, 2024 at 12:35 PM ^
It's like deja vu all over again!
January 13th, 2024 at 1:33 PM ^
Thanks Yogi!! 👍
January 13th, 2024 at 12:40 PM ^
Both featured an outstanding CB wearing #2 making a critical interception.
The main RB for each opponent was dinged up and tried to play through pain.
January 13th, 2024 at 12:40 PM ^
#2 in blue made a big time play in both games.
January 13th, 2024 at 12:42 PM ^
Both teams featured a cornerback wearing #2 who made a pivotal interception in the game
January 13th, 2024 at 12:45 PM ^
Two *similar* Michigan big plays served as defining moments (Griese to Streets x2, Edwards x2)
Both Washington opponents were held under 1/2 of their season average in points.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:24 PM ^
The joke is on us. The 1998 Rose Bowl has been considered by us to be the ultimate Lloyd-ball obsolete dinosaur game. Run the ball over and over, punt and play defense. You can't win championships like that anymore.
And yet . . . every single Michigan touchdown in the 1998 Rose Bowl was a long pass down the field. It is actually the current 2024 National Championship game that is the epitome of "obsolete dinosaur manball," 70+% runs. Not a single touchdown pass. Won the game on shut down defense after punting over and over (and over).
Who'd a thunk it?
January 13th, 2024 at 1:44 PM ^
There was a sense of, "wow, where was that all year?" I know Tai Streets was working through some injuries but most of Griese's passes all season were play action, the rare times we did throw. I really can't think of time that year where he even attempted a bomb. The second touchdown in the Rose Bowl, I think he just threw it as hard as he could.
January 13th, 2024 at 5:22 PM ^
Stepping forward with all possible momentum. One draft expert suggested that Griese had a running start.
January 14th, 2024 at 7:50 AM ^
I always thought Griese was a work in progress that whole season. He continually improved, and adding the deep ball came late in his development. The Brian Griese who started the season would not have been drafted, but he developed into a 3rd round draft pick, and he kept developing in the NFL to the point where he made the pro bowl one season.
January 13th, 2024 at 3:50 PM ^
The more things change...
January 13th, 2024 at 1:33 PM ^
Both of those players had statistically disappointing seasons prior to the big breakout plays in the postseason too. Edwards’ struggles have been well-documented. But Streets was playing hurt most of ‘97 and didn’t really have the kind of season Michigan was used to getting from previous WR1s like Desmond, Alexander, Toomer, et al. Yet, like Edwards, he made up for it with those two long TDs in the championship game.
January 13th, 2024 at 12:47 PM ^
The WSU run game was hobbled by injury to its running back, probably second quarter. Similar to injury to D Johnson. One difference: our defense was challenged early, then tightened up later.
January 13th, 2024 at 12:53 PM ^
We won
January 13th, 2024 at 1:06 PM ^
1998 Rose Bowl we had to come back from behind; 2024 CFP we led the whole game.
1998 Rose Bowl went to the final second; 2024 turf was well in hand
1998 Rose Bowl on grass; 2024 CFP on turf
1998 we had to wait for people to vote; 2024 the trophy was instantaneous
Washington State had a loss; Washington was undefeated
Washington State entered the game #8; Washington #2
1998 we had Keith Jackson; 2024 Keith lives only in our threads
January 13th, 2024 at 1:12 PM ^
2024 Keith lives only in our threads
Wait...what?!?
January 13th, 2024 at 5:24 PM ^
He means Keith isn't calling the Rose Bowl anymore.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:10 PM ^
I was at both games! 🌹🏉
January 13th, 2024 at 1:15 PM ^
Damn I think you win the thread.
January 13th, 2024 at 2:10 PM ^
Me too! And rose bowl this year. I’ll take this year’s rose bowl as the best of the three.
January 13th, 2024 at 4:56 PM ^
Me too! 2024 was less stressful. M more or less in control the whole way and no poll voting drama.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:11 PM ^
Both teams had defensive stars that wore #2.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:13 PM ^
Neither team allowed a single opponent to score 25 or more points all season.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:14 PM ^
I know what wasn't similar, we didn't line up for a 47 yard FG. Then proceed to direct snap it to our kicker to punt the ball with a 5 point lead and less than a minute on the clock. A kicker who would go on to play 14 years in the NFL.
It was a hell of a 23 yard punt by Feely though, arguably the greatest 23 yard punt of all time as WSU came up 26 yards short of winning. Albeit with the help of some of the worst officiating I have ever seen.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:20 PM ^
God damn that is so Lloyd Carr.
How many wins did ultra conservative Lloyd cost us?
January 13th, 2024 at 1:55 PM ^
The MSU game in 1997, when Charles Woodson made the Superman interception, something we'll probably never see in football again, Lloyd called three running plays up the middle which got 5 yards and Kraig Baker did a field goal attempt...which was wide left. Lloyd later admitted that even his own wife questioned him on those calls.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:59 PM ^
The answer is definitely a non-zero number.
January 13th, 2024 at 2:53 PM ^
That number might even be around 10.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:16 PM ^
I have always had fond memories of the 1997 Michigan National Championship. But it has been in a faded, sepia-toned way. There is no relevance to today, I thought. Just fond memories of a bygone era, like the glamour and elegance of air travel.
You can't win National Championships like that anymore, by running the ball and relying on your defense. Manball is long dead. National Championship teams need to look like 2019 LSU - phenomenal QBs passing the ball all around the house.
But by damn, if Michigan didn't win a NATONAL CHAMPIONSHIP by playing Lloyd-ball, running the ball 70+% of the time and relying on a shut-down defense. I never thought this would be possible again.
Was it an anachronism drawing one last breath? Or will we look back on it as a historical inflection point in the way the game is played going forward?
January 13th, 2024 at 1:19 PM ^
U of M >>>> State of Washington
January 13th, 2024 at 1:47 PM ^
W is just a drunk M
January 13th, 2024 at 2:04 PM ^
....or the Michigan of the Great Northwest
January 13th, 2024 at 1:22 PM ^
The 97 team also had a rising star at DT with a wrestling background -- the great Rob Renes.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:26 PM ^
I knew I shouldn't have read this thread 4 days ago.
https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/crazy-national-championship-coincidences
I'm going to pass on this thread and wait another 4 days to read the next thread.
After all, the third time's the charm.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:30 PM ^
Still can’t believe they fired Price for a standard Bama recruiting visit.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:41 PM ^
No doubt, Pitino would have gotten a pay raise and a major award 😜