1919 Rose Bowl

[5] The Marines were handicapped to an extent by illness and injuries, however, with star backs Dick Hanley, Benton Bangs, and Bill Steers as well as lineman Nate Shanedling, hampered by influenza or physical incapacity.

[8] In the estimation of the reporter of the San Francisco Chronicle, the teams were more evenly matched than the score indicated, with the Bluejackets making somewhat surprising effective use of the forward pass, given the expectation that they would "depend on straight football for their gains.

"[8] Writing in the Los Angeles Times, William M. Henry declared that "Great Lakes won because it had Paddy Driscoll calling signals and running back punts, because Reichle and Halas, the two ends, are wonders, and because Coach McReavy had a defense against the forward pass that was too deep for the Marines to solve.

"[9] The lack of quarterback and captain Dick Hanley, stricken by influenza, was a contributing factor to the Marines' loss, he opined, adding of the more or less evenly matched squads, "it was a game of football the score of which might almost as well have been reversed without changing teams.

"[9] Game MVP and future Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and Chicago Bears owner George Halas holds the Rose Bowl record for the longest non-scoring pass interception return of 77 yards.