Huskies Vs. Hawkeyes

HUSKIES VS.

HAWKEYES

THE ESSENTIALS

THE GAME: 77th annual Rose Bowl, matching the Pac-10 champion Washington Huskies (9-2) against Big Ten champion Iowa Hawkeyes (8-3), 2:18 p.m.

WHERE: Rose Bowl, in Pasadena, capacity 104,091.

COACHES: Don James, 58, has a 131-54-2 record in his 16th season at Washington; he is 156-73-3 in his 19th year as a head coach; he is 1-0 against Iowa; 2-1 in the Rose Bowl. Hayden Fry, 61, is 90-49-4 in his 12th season at Iowa; he is 179-138-8 in his 29th season as a head coach; he is 0-1 vs. Washington and 0-2 in the Rose Bowl.

SERIES: Tied at 2-2. Washington beat the Hawkeyes in the 1982 Rose Bowl game, 28-0, and in 1937 in Seattle, 14-0. Iowa won in 1963 in Seattle 17-7 and in 1964 at Iowa City, 28-18.

LAST MEETING: In the 1982 Rose Bowl game, won by Washington, 28-0. Jacque Robinson became the first freshman to be named player of the game when he rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Steve Pelluer completed 15 of 29 passes for 142 yards. The Huskies intercepted three Iowa passes and never allowed the Hawkeyes to advance past the Washington 29-yard line.

THE LINE: Washington by 9.

THE BROADCASTS

TELEVISION: ABC (Channel 4) will televise with Keith Jackson calling the play-by-play and Bob Griese doing the analysis.

RADIO: KOMO radio (AM 1000), with Bob Rondeau (play-by-play), Sam Adkins (color) and Bill Swartz (sideline). NBC radio (KING, AM 1090), with Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and Jack Snow (color).

BENCHMARKS

-- Washington broke Pac-10 scoring record with 340 points in conference games in 1990 and averaged 35.8 points per game. Iowa's offense established season records for yards rushing, 2,560, and rushing touchdowns, 34.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

WHEN HUSKIES HAVE THE BALL: Senior tailback Greg Lewis, the Pac-10's offensive player of the year (1,279 yards on 229 carries), has been recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery but has appeared physically ready in practices.

Sophomore quarterback Mark Brunell, so-so as a passer (118 for 253 - 47 percent), is an outstanding runner (444 yards, 10 touchdowns).

Split end Mario Bailey has been the most consistent receiver with 40 catches. He is the only Husky who caught a pass in every game. Lewis is No. 2 with 20 receptions.

WHEN HAWKEYES HAVE THE BALL: Tailback Nick Bell and quarterback Matt Rodgers are the keys to the Iowa offense. Bell, 6 feet 3 and 255 pounds, is considered a top pro prospect. He rushed for 945 yards on 155 carries - a 6.1 average - while sharing playing time with Tony Stewart (823 yards on 150 carries).

Rodgers, 6-4 junior, has completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,032 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Wingback Danan Hughes and tight end Michael Titley lead the team with 28 receptions each.

NOTABLE

-- With 70 points, Mark Brunell became the first player other than a kicker to lead the Huskies in scoring since Joe Steele did it with 74 points in 1979. Brunell became the first quarterback to lead the Huskies in scoring since Bob Schloredt in 1959.

-- Iowa's Nick Bell was one of eight finalists for the Doak Walker Award won by Washington's Greg Lewis. The award went to the player voted the best in the country.

-- Purdue was the only common foe of Washington and Iowa. The Huskies beat the Boilermakers 20-14 Sept. 15; the Hawkeyes did it 38-9 Nov. 17.

-- Huskies celebrating birthdays today are tailback Beno Bryant, who turned 20, and punter Channing Wyles, 23. Coach Don James turned 59 yesterday.

-- Washington's 10th Rose Bowl appearance (4-5-1) and first since 1982 (28-0 win over Iowa). Iowa's fifth Rose Bowl appearance (2-2) and first since 1986 (UCLA won 45-28).

INJURIES

HUSKIES: No player on either of the first two units is hurt.

HAWKEYES: Jim Johnson, starting right tackle on defense and an All-Big Ten choice, is out as a result of a knee injury suffered late last week. Jeff Nelson, a sophomore, will start for Johnson.