The last time the University of Georgia played in the Rose Bowl, the world was at war.

In 1942 Georgia had lost just one game — ironically, to Auburn. However, the Bulldogs, led by stars Frankie Sinkwich and sophomore sensation Charlie Trippi, were playing UCLA in “The Granddaddy of Them Al”’ — and for the national championship no less. 

Georgia was a slight favorite to beat the Bruins, even though Sinkwich’s availability was doubtful due to a sprained ankle. He’d returned for the final few practices, but ran with a limp. No one ever questioned his toughness — he’d played much of the 1941 season with a broken jaw.

Ohio State had also suffered only one loss in 1942, 17-7 at Wisconsin after several players became sick by drinking contaminated water on a train. The Buckeyes weren’t permitted to play in a postseason bowl under Big Ten rules, and AP voters declared them No. 1 in the final poll.

That might have been the birth of the Big 10/SEC rivalry.

“Where does Ohio State get that way, being ranked on top?” Georgia end Lamar “Racehorse” Davis asked reporters. “The Big Ten’s just a bush league.”

One of the greatest stories from the game didn’t occur on the field. Georgia player Dick Richardson made national headlines when actress Betty Grable invited him to lunch.

It seems some of Richardson’s teammates sent a telegram to Grable as a prank before the Bulldogs left Athens: “I am a tackle on the University of Georgia Rose Bowl team. I was recently chosen the most handsome man on the campus. Would like a luncheon date with you at your convenience some time between December 23 and January 3. If it can be arranged please answer collect.”

When Grable’s studio publicist received the telegram, he contacted a reporter in Atlanta to determine whether it was authentic, who contacted the young man. Richardson told the reporter the telegram was a joke.

“But you wouldn’t mind a date with Miss Grable, would you?” the reporter asked.

“Nope, sure wouldn’t,” Richardson replied.

“Who’s your favorite movie actress?” the reporter asked.

“Miss Grable, of course,” Richardson said.

So, a few days after the Bulldogs arrived in California, Grable invited Richardson to her studio for lunch. The starlet even gave him a good-luck kiss before he left.

“Anytime my friends want to work another gag on me, I’m ready,” Richardson coyly told reporters after.

When game day finally arrived on New Year’s Day 1943, “Racehorse” Davis nearly returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown but was pulled down from behind. It was the most excitement of the first three quarters. The Bulldogs dominated the Bruins in front of a crowd of more than 93,000 fans, but had little to show for it.

The game was scoreless until the fourth quarter, when Georgia’s Willard “Red” Boyd blocked Bob Waterfield’s punt through the end zone for a safety. Waterfield, who was also UCLA’s quarterback, went on to marry actress Jane Russell later that year.

Sinkwich didn’t start the game, but scored the only touchdown on a 1-yard run to seal the Bulldogs’ 9-0 victory. Georgia had 25 first downs to UCLA’s five. Trippi carried the ball 25 times for 130 yards, completed six passes for 96 yards and played 58 of 60 minutes on both offense and defense. Trippi was named MVP of the 1943 Rose Bowl retroactively in 1953.

As the seconds ticked away on the clock, UGA coach Wally Butts cleared his bench to allow reserves a chance to play in the Rose Bowl. When 18-year-old guard Robert Poss stepped on the field, the referee reached into his pocket for a pistol to fire to signal the end of the game.

“The ref was fixin’ to shoot that pistol,” recalled Poss’ son, Bobby, who played football at Georgia from 1969-71. “But my daddy said, ‘Hold on, sir, I’m fixin’ to run this play so I can tell my grandchildren I played in the Rose Bowl.’”

The referee waited one more play to fire his pistol. Bobby Poss said his dad talked about his one play in the Rose Bowl so much that his friends called him “Rosie” until his death in 1996.

Immediately after the game, many of UGA’s players reported for duty as soldiers. Some of them never came home. William Burt of Macon was shot down over Italy on May 25, 1944. Walter “Chief” Ruark of Bostwick was shot in the chest by a sniper and died in Aachen, Germany, on Nov. 22, 1944. Winfred Goodman of Atlanta was reported missing while leading an air/sea rescue in the Philippines in January 1945.

At 96 years young and a WWII veteran himself, Trippi is the last member of the 1942 UGA national championship team still with us.

“You get a chance to play in the Rose Bowl, you don’t ever want to come out,” Trippi said. “You want to stay in there for 60 minutes and don’t ever get tired. You hate to see it end. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

Trippi’s health won’t allow him to travel to the 2018 Rose Bowl from his Athens home, but says if Georgia wins and plays in the national championship game the next week nothing on this earth will keep him from attending.

Being the last Bulldog here who played in that Rose Bowl some 75 years ago, I can only pray he gets that chance. 

(the author thanks Sports Illustrated for elements of this story)