O.J. Simpson Among Finalists of Rose Bowl Game All-Century Class

By City News Service

Former USC football coach John McKay, O.J. Simpson and former Wisconsin quarterback Ron VanderKelen were announced Sunday as finalists from the 1960s for the Rose Bowl Game All-Century Class.

McKay's five Rose Bowl Game coaching victories tied the record set by another Trojan coach, Howard Jones. His eight appearances as a coach ties the late Ohio State coach Woody Hayes for second behind the late Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, who made 10.

Simpson was named Player of the Game in the 1968 Rose Bowl when he ran for 128 yards and two touchdowns in USC's 14-3 victory over Indiana, which gave the Trojans the 1967 national championship.

Simpson ran for 171 yards on 28 carries in USC's 27-16 loss to Ohio State in the 1969 Rose Bowl.

VanderKelen set Rose Bowl Game records for passing yards, (401), completions (33) and attempts (48) in the Badgers 42-37 loss to the Trojans in 1963. Wisconsin trailed 42-14 with 14 minutes to play when VanderKelen began Wisconsin's comeback effort in the first bowl game matching the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams.

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.