FROM THE ARCHIVES: Huskies crush Michigan 34-14

FROM THE ARCHIVES: This story appeared in the Tribune on Jan. 2, 1992, following the Washington Huskies' victory in the Rose Bowl over Michigan. The Huskies ended up sharing the national title that year with Miami. Washington and Michigan will play tonight in the national championship game.

PASADENA, Calif. - Washington completed a perfect season with a practically perfect performance Wednesday. Now the Huskies must wait to find out if it was perfect enough to win their first national championship.

Washington's dominating defenders shut down Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard and the rest of Michigan's high-powered attack, and Billy Joe Hobert sparked the Huskies' offense by throwing for two touchdowns and running for another in a 34-14 Rose Bowl rout.

The Huskies, ranked second behind Miami in The Associated Press writers' poll and tied for first with the Hurricanes for the national title by posting their first unblemished record (12-0) in 76 years and mauling a fourth-ranked Michigan team that had won eight straight games.

All-American defensive tackle Steve Emtman, who shared player of the game honors with Hobert, said the Huskies deserve to be No. 1.

"We proved we can play with anyone in the country," said Emtman, who overcame the flu and helped the Huskies hold Michigan to 205 total yards. "We're 12-0 and I think we deserve a ring."

Michigan coach Gary Moeller agreed.

"I can't imagine there being a better football team than this one," Moeller said of the Huskies. "But I also thought we'd do better than we did."

Washington coach Don James walked into the interview wearing a shirt that read, "1991 National Champions."

"I got a new shirt on, guys," he said, "I don't know if it will work or not."

Hobert, relegated to backup status in last year's Rose Bowl victory over Iowa, was one of Washington's stars this time. He completed 18 of 34 passes for 192 yards and scored the Huskies' first touchdown on a 2-yard run.

His backup, Mark Brunell, also played well, completing seven of eight passes for 89 yards and one touchdown. Brunell was the MVP of last year's Rose Bowl, but lost his starting job after undergoing knee surgery in the spring.

"I don't know anybody in the country who has the depth that we have," Hobert said.

The Huskies, who led 13-7 at halftime, broke the game open with touchdowns on three of their first four possessions in the second half. Hobert's 5-yard pass to freshman Mark Bruener and a two-point conversion pass to tight end Aaron Pierce made it 21-7 with 5:27 left in the third quarter.

The Huskies then put the game away with two TD passes during a 69-second span early in the fourth period. The first was a 2-yard toss from Hobert to Pierce and the second was a 38-yarder from Brunell to Mario Bailey.

Bailey, an All-American receiver who was overshadowed by Howard in the pregame publicity, celebrated his diving catch by imitating the stiff-arm Heisman Trophy pose that Howard struck after a 93-yard punt return against Ohio State.

"He's invited over to my house to look at the real thing," Howard said.

Howard, who scored a school-record 23 touchdowns this season, didn't reach the end zone against Washington's highly touted defense. He caught only one pass for 35 yards, ran once for 15 yards and had 60 yards in kickoff and punt returns.