Three Stars Shine in Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Induction
This year’s ROSE BOWL Hallo of Fame Class brought out some of the best with offense and class. Head coach Mark Dantonio, LaMichael James, and Reggie Bush led their teams in different ways.
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
This year’s ROSE BOWL Hallo of Fame Class brought out some of the best with offense and class.
Head coach Mark Dantonio, LaMichael James, and Reggie Bush led their teams in different ways.
During the 2013 season, Dantonio led Michigan State to The Granddaddy of Them All 100th edition. They were a physical team and knocked off Coach David Shaw and #5 Stanford 24-20. won a school-record 13 games, finished No. 3 in the national polls, and claimed the school’s eighth Big Ten Championship during the 2013 season that culminated with the victory over the Cardinal in Pasadena.
“You start playing football, you start watching games on TV, and you’re going to see the Rose Bowl,” said Dantonio. “You’re going to figure out that it’s pretty iconic and it represents so many different people. It’s such a big moment I think in people’s lives, to get here and play in it, and to be here and watching it. It’s a celebration.
“So many people are involved in these things, top to bottom, all the different players, all the different coaches and staff, administration – there’s a lot that goes into it. I’m just honored and very humbled by the whole thing.”
Beyond his record for most victories at MSU, Dantonio won more Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (six) than any other coach in school history, while also ranking first with 12 bowl appearances. His .639 (69-39) winning percentage in Big Ten games is a school record, while he stands tied for first in AP Top 25 finishes (seven) and second in Big Ten wins (69), home wins (67) and AP Top 25 wins (21).
After a storied 13 seasons as head coach of the Michigan State football program, Dantonio announced his retirement on Feb. 4, 2020. He finished his career with a record of 114-57 (.667) in East Lansing and 132-74 (.641) in 16 seasons overall (2004-19).
Dantonio is now the third Spartan in the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, joining All-America running back Lorenzo White, who led MSU to a win in the 1988 Rose Bowl over USC, and Dave Kaiser, who kicked a game-winning 41-yard field goal in the final seconds of the 1956 Rose Bowl over UCLA.
LaMichael James was a Roadrunner type of back for Oregon from 2009 until 2011, leading the DUCKS to a 34-6 record and a trip to the BCS title game under head coach
He led the DUCKS to a thrilling 45-38 win over Russell Wilson and Wisconsin in the 2012 version of the RBG. The speedster ran for 159 yards on 25 carries while scoring a touchdown.
”When I stepped on the field there was something about the smell of the Rose Bowl grass. It smelled different, it was different when you made a cut on it”, said James.
“Wow, what a year full of so many accomplishments,” James told Oregon Ducks on SI reporter Bri Amaranthus. “I never started this journey to make it to any Hall of Fames, let alone, the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.”
James was really humble when speaking about the enshrinement. “My goal was to be the best version of myself and that was good enough,” James continued. “That version got me into the ‘Grand Daddy of Them All.’ I want to say thank you to every single person who was a part of my journey. I’ll never take the credit for saying ‘I’ made it – it will always be ‘we’ made it. Football is the ultimate team sport and it takes a village to have success. Go Ducks.”
James is the sixth Duck player, coach, or administrator selected to the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, joining: Jack Crabtree, Shy Huntington, John Robinson, Hollis Huntington, and Danny O’Neil.
James is one of the most beloved and accomplished Ducks of all time. He won the Doak Walker Award in 2010 and was a finalist again in 2011 He was. named first team all American both seasons. Last December, James was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023.
Reggie Bush was a straight kick-ass generational talent from USC that had a career record of 32-2 including 30 consecutive
Bush appeared in two Rose Bowls during his three seasons at USC. In the 2004 game against Michigan, Bush rushed for 83 yards in a 28-14 victory that gave the Trojans the national championship. Two years later against Texas, he tallied 177 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in a 41-38 loss to Texas in what was known as one of the greatest college games ever. During his career, he racked up 4,470 yards and 38 touchdowns!
Bush was a three-time all- All-American. A freshman All-American in 2003. In 2004 a consensus, 2005 a unanimous first-team All-American.A Heisman winner in 2005. He was the Walter Camp. Sporting News and AP Player of the Year.
During his induction Bush talked about today’s college NIL by players: “You hear about the success stories when you talk about the transfer portal,” Bush said. “But you don’t hear about the athletes who don’t make it out. It’s not fair to have 18-year-olds making decisions that will change their lives.”
He also mentioned: “I want to be a coach someday. It’s something I think I really would want to do.”
USC’s 34 Rose Bowl appearances and 25 victories are by far the most of any school. However, after playing in five Rose Bowls in six years between 2004 and 2009.
The Rose Bowl Hall of Fame was established in 1989 to pay tribute to individuals who have contributed to the history and excitement of the Rose Bowl Game, and those who embody the highest level of passion, strength, tradition, and honor. It includes 146 inductees over the last 35 years.
