Rose to Power

Photographs by Jack Liu

“We just hit ’em and they hit us. We hit ’em a little harder, though.” That’s how halfback John Parsons summed up the University of Oregon’s 1917 14–0 Rose Bowl win over the University of Pennsylvania. The 2011–12 Oregon team—the next to win the “granddaddy of them all”—had a more sophisticated game plan, but in a tense, back-and-forth battle, it was the ability of the Ducks to hit just a little harder with their high-powered offense that led to the 45–38 victory over the University of Wisconsin. The UO finished the season 12–2 and ranked fourth in the nation.