Go bowling with the Cougs

Sports writer Jacob Thorpe is taking a look back at previous bowl appearances by Washington State. Read more on spokesman.com/sportslink.

 In 1916, the Rose Bowl was known as the Tournament East-West Football Game, and didn’t officially become known as the Rose Bowl until 1922. It was played as part of the Tournament of Roses starting in 1916. 

However, the 1916 game was actually the second East-West Football Game. The first was played in 1902. Football returned to the Tournament of Roses after the organizers decided that the chariot races that had taken its place were too dangerous.

Washington State, coached by William Henry “Lone Star” Dietz, entered the game undefeated with a 6-0 record on the season. The Brown Bruins, coached by Eddie N. Robinson, entered the game 5-3-1. Brown also had a running back by the name of Fritz Pollard, who was the first African-American to play in the Rose Bowl.

The first half ended 0-0, but in the third quarter Ralph Boone put the Cougars on the board with a 3-yard touchdown run. Carl Dietz, the game’s MVP, added a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal WSU’s 14-0 victory.

Dietz rushed for 105 yards on 33 carries.