Sports

Charles White, Archie Griffin, Jim Plunkett Named Finalists for Rose Bowl Game All-Century Class

White is among four players to twice be selected as the Rose Bowl's Player of the Game.

By City News Service

Heisman Trophy winners Charles White, Archie Griffin and Jim Plunkett were announced Sunday as finalists from the 1970s for the Rose Bowl Game All-Century Class.

White was the leading rusher in USC's 1977, 1979 and 1980 Rose Bowl victories. He ran for 114 yards on 32 carries and a fourth-quarter touchdown in place of the injured Heisman Trophy runner-up Ricky Bell in the Trojans' 14-6 victory over Michigan in the 1977 Rose Bowl.

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White was named the Player of the Game in USC's 17-10 victory over the Wolverines in the 1979 Rose Bowl, running for 99 yards and a disputed touchdown on 32 carries. White ran three yards for a touchdown in the second quarter on a play the umpire signaled he lost on a fumble, but the call was reversed by the head linesman after a conference with his fellow officials.

White, the 1979 Heisman Trophy winner, was also named the Player of the Game in the Trojans 17-16 victory over Ohio State in the 1980 Rose Bowl, running for 247 yards on 39 carries, both records, including a one-yard touchdown run with one minute, 32 seconds to play. White rushed for 71 of USC's 83 yards on its eight-play game-winning drive.

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White is among four players to twice be selected as the Rose Bowl's Player of the Game. His 460 rushing yards and 103 carries are both Rose Bowl career records.

Griffith, the 1974 and 1975 Heisman Trophy winner, is one of two players to have started in four consecutive Rose Bowl Games. He ran for 149 yards and a touchdown in Ohio State's 42-21 victory over the Trojans in the 1974 Rose Bowl.

Plunkett, the 1970 Heisman Trophy winner, was the Player of the Game in Stanford's 27-17 upset victory over Ohio State in the 1971 Rose Bowl Game, completing 20 of 30 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown.

A set of players and coaches representing each decade selected by a committee of members of the Football Writers Association of America will be announced each Sunday throughout the remainder of college football's regular season in connection with the 100th Rose Bowl Game.

The committee will select one representative from each decade for the All-Century Class, which will be announced Dec. 8, along with one player and one coach selected as the greatest in the history of college football's oldest bowl game.


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