Rose Bowl: Victory means national title for Michigan, fame for Washington State.

By ROBYN NORWOOD

Jan. 1, 1998 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Only one team stands between No. 1 Michigan and its first national championship since 1948.

And only one team stands between Washington State’s players and the dream they can deliver to the seven survivors of the team that played in the 1931 Rose Bowl--a victory at last.

In the 84th Rose Bowl game today--a game that wants for nothing--unbeaten Michigan and Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson will try to fend off once-beaten and eighth-ranked Washington State and the full-on assault of quarterback Ryan Leaf and his Fab Five receivers.

It will be Tradition versus the Upstart--Mighty Michigan against little Wazzou, the Cinderella of the Palouse.

Should Michigan win, the victory figures to give the Wolverines their first national championship since the 1948 season and render all but moot the alliance’s Orange Bowl matchup between No. 2 Nebraska and No. 3 Tennessee in Miami on Friday.

Sentiment for retiring Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne or not, no team has gone into the postseason ranked No. 1, won its bowl game and failed to secure a national title.

“We know what is at stake,” Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said. “We also know that’s something that really is a side issue. The most important thing is winning this game. I hope our focus is on what we need to do to beat Washington State.

“We know what’s there. To get to that prize, we have to go through Washington State.”

What pressure there is lies squarely on Michigan, not the Cougars, whose last appearance in the Rose Bowl was a 24-0 loss to Alabama in that 1931 game.

“I don’t see the pressure,” Leaf said. “Sixty-seven years deflates the pressure.”

Woodson says you can call it pressure. Or opportunity.

“To win a national title, that would be the greatest thing we could do,” he said. “That’s what you look for, play for, practice for.”

With the Rose joining the alliance next year, this is the final Rose Bowl guaranteed to match the champions of the Pacific 10 and the Big Ten, and it is a grand one.

Michigan is the first No. 1 team in the Rose Bowl since 1980, when No. 1 Ohio State was beaten by No. 3 USC, 17-16.

The last time the Rose Bowl produced an Associated Press national champion was the 1972 season, when No. 1 USC defeated No. 3 Ohio State, 42-17.

This game has not only the Heisman winner--multiple-threat cornerback Woodson--but also the second runner-up in Leaf, who passed for 33 touchdowns and 326 yards a game this season.

Leaf is the engine that runs the second-ranked offense in the nation, a one-back, multiple-receiver set that averages 42 points.

Woodson is the flashiest piece of machinery in Michigan’s No. 1-ranked defense--a unit that allows only 8.9 points a game.

“If we don’t shut that Washington State offense down, it won’t rank anywhere,” Woodson said. “This will be the best offensive team we’ve faced because they spread out five receivers and it will be hard for us to contain them. We’re going to have to work hard.”

There could hardly be two more contrasting programs than Michigan and Washington State.

The Wolverines are making their 17th appearance in the Rose Bowl.

The Cougars have only played in six bowls by any name, and are making their third appearance in the Rose. Their first appearance was in 1916.

Michigan routinely plays in front of 106,000 or more at Michigan Stadium.

Washington State drew 40,306 to Martin Stadium for its largest home crowd of the year and beat UCLA in front of only 26,000.

Washington State has a great but rough-hewn quarterback in Leaf. Michigan has Brian Griese, the pedigreed son of Hall of Famer Bob Griese.

Washington State Coach Mike Price, asked if there are any similarities between the two schools, thought of only one: “The similar thing is the weather back home,” he said.

Price was laid low by a flu bug Wednesday and missed a morning news conference. But he was able to make it for the team photo at the Rose Bowl and aides said Price will definitely be there today for the Cougars’ once-in-67-years appearance in the Rose Bowl game.

By the way, Carr doesn’t put much stock in that Moo U. poor-mouthing that Price enjoys.

“Washington State, they weren’t given the Pac-10 championship. They earned it,” he said. “A team that scores 42 points a game is capable of winning any game.”

The pressure to win is on Michigan. So is the pressure to stop an unconventional attack. Washington State, playing a version of the offense made famous by Jack Elway, spreads the field with as many as five receivers, then counters with one running back--and a good one, 1,000-yard rusher Michael Black.

“We’re going to have to establish some offense because if it’s three and out, three and out, our chance to win is going to be very small,” Carr said.

Washington State doesn’t know whether it will be seeing a lot of nickel-and-dime coverages--and some inexperienced defensive backs--or face an all-out blitzing attack.

“I don’t have a clue,” Price said. “What I do have is 18 years of experience running this offense, and I’ve seen just about anything.

“We may have to adjust on the move and Ryan may have to make some audibles. . . . We just have to protect him long enough to get the ball off.

“I’m surprised a little bit by the aggressiveness and style of play Coach Carr has gone to, but boy, is it effective. You never know where Charles Woodson is going to line up, corner, safety, wherever.

Leaf has said he won’t be shy about throwing in Woodson’s direction, setting up a volatile confrontation with a player who intercepted seven passes this season.

“A lot of teams have tried to go at Charles Woodson and that’s their mistake,” said Eric Mayes, Michigan’s injured defensive captain.

Countered Woodson: “I’ve never been out there at any time by myself. You’ve got to give a lot of credit to our defensive line. They make quarterbacks make a lot of bad throws.”

Washington State must also keep an eye on Woodson on the other side of the ball. He caught 11 passes for 231 yards--a 21-yard average--and two touchdowns this season and returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown against Ohio State.

“We have a Woodson watch on defense,” Washington State defensive coordinator Larry Lewis said. “As soon as No. 2’s in, our guys will be yelling, ‘Woody’s in! Woody’s in!’ I don’t think he’s going to sneak onto the field.”

Washington State’s defense was built with a number of players who were overlooked or snubbed because of academic difficulty. Now their moment is here.

“Leon Bender, Dorian Boose, Brandon Moore, those guys were not born with a golden spoon,” Price said. “They weren’t highly recruited out of high school. They’ve had disadvantages they’ve fought through. They’re not going to let this opportunity pass them by, I guarantee you, without a fight.”

Washington State’s players haven’t played in the Rose Bowl game before--but most of them have at least played in the Rose Bowl against UCLA.

“I don’t think we’re overwhelmed,” Price said. “We want to make sure we’re calm and confident. We’ve played in this stadium before, although we probably didn’t have as many people cheering for us as we will [today].”

Michigan hasn’t played in the Rose Bowl game since 1993, so this is the first visit for the Wolverine players.

No so for Carr, a Michigan assistant since 1980 who became head coach in 1995. He was on the staff for six Rose Bowls and knows the excitement of running onto the field.

Until today, Price could only imagine it.

‘I’ve got a lot of experience with the Rose Bowl--watching it on TV, dreaming about it for years,” he said. “I called Ryan while I was watching the Rose Bowl, and said, ‘We can be there, in the Rose Bowl together.’ Heck yeah, I believed it.

“But it certainly isn’t just making it. It’s we’ve got to win. It’s winning the Rose Bowl, not just getting there.

“When I dream of this game, I’ve always seen myself shaking the hand of the Big Ten coach after the game with a smile on my face. Now I know what he looks like. He looks like Lloyd Carr.”

Times staff writer Helene Elliott contributed to this story.

THE ROSE BOWL

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 8 Washington St.

Time: 2 p.m.

TV: Channel 7

Radio:

AM 1150

XTRA 690

Records:

Michigan (11-0),

Washington St. (10-1)

TODAY’S OTHER GAMES