America in the weeks following the attack on Pearl Harbor was a nation in turmoil. With the U.S. Pacific Fleet either sunk or away on defensive patrol, many feared the West Coast was under imminent threat of Japanese attack. Because of this, large gatherings, including sporting events, were prohibited from California to Washington. This caused the nation’s premier college football game, Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, to be cancelled. Luckily, Duke University, located far away and safe in Durham, North Carolina, stepped up to host the game. Several area universities came together to contribute their bleachers, which were cobbled together to almost double the 35,000 capacity of Duke Stadium. So, with the can-do attitude that would become commonplace in the coming war effort, the Rose Bowl went forward. The 1942 game pitted home team Duke against Oregon State College. The new war also caused a more personal problem for Oregon – one of their players, Japanese-born Jack Yoshihara, was unable to travel more than 35 miles from his home due to recently mandated restrictions placed on Japanese-born residents.
The hard fought game saw Oregon State prevail, 20-16.
This stately Rose Bowl trophy was awarded to Oregon State player Robert J. Saunders. The gilt metal trophy features a football emblazoned with “ROSE BOWL GAME” sitting atop a column engraved with “PLAYED AT DURHAM, N.C. NEW YEARS DAY 1942 ROBERT J. SAUNDERS.” Measuring 18 ½” tall and 12” wide, the art deco-style trophy shows good wear from age and display. A tremendously rare trophy from the only time in the Rose Bowl’s 116-year history that the game was not held in Pasadena.