The Rose Report

THE WORD

“The scariest thing to me right now is our (the Cougars) special teams stopping their (the Wolverines) special teams from making a big play. If they can do that, I think they can win the game.”

William Pellum, WSU receiver, 1987-88

“You can’t look at one aspect of the game and say the other half doesn’t exist. The offense is going to have to step up in this game. That’s going to be a big factor. We can’t let Washington State stay on the field and run our defense down.”

Chris Howard, Michigan senior tailback

LOOK BACK

For reasons unexplained in newspaper accounts of the game, Alabama coach Wade Wallace started his second string against Washington State in the 1931 Rose Bowl.

Late in a scoreless first quarter, Wallace inserted his regulars - including All-American tackle Freddie Sington, and the Crimson Tide went on to score three second-quarter touchdowns en route to a 24-0 win.

It was the last Alabama game for Wallace, who had decided during the regular season to take a job at Duke.

QUICK COUG

Ryan McShane

Age: 22

Hometown: Lafayette, Calif.

Position: Right offensive tackle. Hobbies: Collects movies.

Favorite band: The Doors.

Favorite game: Liars Dice (party game).

Secret that people would be surprised to know: Has memorized the scripts for “Revenge of the Nerds,” “Fletch” and “Vacation.” “I kind of like Cousin Eddy,” McShane said. “REAL tomato catsup?”

FANS FOEVER

Gail Gleason

Teacher Gail Gleason has a bulletin board in her classroom that reads: “Have a Merry Cougar Christmas and a Rose Bowl New Year.”

Gail Gleason is sure to.

Her son, Cougars starting linebacker Steve Gleason, has created quite a following.

When Gleason signed to play for the Cougars two years ago out of Gonzaga Prep, Gail Gleason called St. Louis to tell her aunt, Dotti Anderson, a 1963 graduate. Anderson’s response: “We’re going to the Rose Bowl.”

Anderson will join Gail Gleason along with Steve Gleason’s dad, brother, grandparents, aunts and uncles and scores of friends. For those who can’t make it to the game, there will be Steve Gleason Fan Club Rose Bowl Parties all over the world. After the Rose Bowl, a tape of the game will be flown to Florence, Italy to Josh Harnet, a Gonzaga Prep classmate of Gleason’s. Harnet will watch the tape with several other G-Prep alums in Florence.

2 Graphics: 1. Key Matchup: Leon Bender vs. Steve Hutchinson 2. Gamebreakers