The MacArthur Bowl is a trophy awarded annually by the National Football Foundation to the NCAA Division I-FBS college football team or teams determined to be the national champion. The trophy was the gift of an anonymous donor in honor of General Douglas A. MacArthur, one of the founders of the National Football Foundation. The trophy was first presented in 1959, and has been presented annually ever since. General MacArthur was known to have a keen interest in college football, Army Cadet Football in particular. The trophy features his famous quote: "There is no substitute for victory.”
The trophy itself is made of 400 ounces of silver and is fashioned in the shape of a football stadium 25 inches by 18 inches on its base and 10 inches tall. There is only one MacArthur Bowl Trophy, much like the Stanley Cup, and it is kept by the winning institution for one year. An accompanying plaque, such as the one presented here is awarded to the institution to keep. The MacArthur Bowl award represents one of several national championship acknowledgements awarded in NCAA Division I-FBS college football because the NCAA itself does not sanction a championship tournament as it does in most other sports. It is a separate award from the AFCA National Championship Trophy, the Crystal Football trophy, awarded at the conclusion of the BCS National Championship Game.
Offered here is the 1974 USC Trojans National Championship “The MacArthur Bowl” Trophy Plaque, which measures 11.5” wide by 14” high. The 1974 Trojans, coached by John McKay, finished the season with an overall record of 10-1-1 that included a thrilling a 55-24 thrashing of No. 5-ranked Notre Dame at home on November 30. An exciting 18-17 win over Ohio State in the Rose Bowl provided the icing on the cake of the Trojans’ National Championship season! This is a hugely significant college football award, the likes of which is rarely seen in the public marketplace.
Includes Letter of Provenance from the Newport Sports Museum. The founder of the museum, John Hamilton, is a USC alum and chairman of the USC Athletic Hall of Fame. Hamilton himself was enshrined in 2015 for his role in developing the USC Hall of Fame in 1994 as well as his many charitable endeavors, including the museum.