In college football lore, it’s hard to miss Nebraska’s infamous decision back in 1915. The Cornhuskers, with coach Ewald “Jumbo” Stiehm at the helm, had a golden ticket: an invitation to the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena.
Instead, the Faculty Board of Athletics voted it down, and honestly, the fallout was brutal. The program lost out on national recognition and, some would argue, set itself back for decades.
Let’s dig into what many folks still call the dumbest mistake in Nebraska football history.
The Rise of the 1915 Nebraska Cornhuskers
Under Ewald “Jumbo” Stiehm, Nebraska football was on fire. Stiehm wasn’t just a coach—he was an idea guy, mixing in a bit of industrial engineering with his playbook.
His teams ran fast, trained harder than most, and used a shift offense that confused just about everyone. By the end of 1915, Nebraska had stacked up a 34-game unbeaten streak and five straight Missouri Valley titles, never dropping a conference game.
Key Players and Achievements
The 1915 squad was loaded. Guy Chamberlin, a 200-pound end and halfback, became Nebraska’s first consensus All-American.
Chamberlin scored 15 touchdowns and almost hit 1,000 all-purpose yards that year. He was a force—really, the kind of player coaches dream about.
- 34-game unbeaten streak
- Five consecutive Missouri Valley titles
- Guy Chamberlin: First consensus All-American
The Missed Opportunity: The 1915 Rose Bowl
In late 1915, the Tournament of Roses folks wanted to bring back their postseason game after a 14-year break. They reached out to Nebraska and Washington State—easily the two most dominant undefeated teams around.
This was the only bowl game out there at the time. For teams outside the East Coast, it was pretty much the only shot at national attention.
The Faculty Board’s Decision
But Nebraska’s Faculty Board of Athletics said no. Officially, they blamed travel costs and missed class time, but that wasn’t the whole story.
Underneath it all, the faculty worried the football program was getting too big and powerful. They were scared a trip to California would turn Nebraska football into something too professional, too fast.
So, Nebraska stayed home. The Rose Bowl invite went to Brown University instead—even though Brown had three losses. Washington State beat them 14-0 and got credit for the national title. Nebraska’s unbeaten season? It just faded away.
The Long-Term Impact
The fallout didn’t stop in 1915. Stiehm, who’d brought in a financial surplus, asked for a small raise.
The university turned him down flat. Even when local businesses offered to chip in, the administration refused.
Stiehm, feeling pretty unappreciated, took off for Indiana University. Nebraska’s unbeaten streak ended the next season, and things just weren’t the same after he left.
The Legacy of Ewald Stiehm
Stiehm’s story is kind of heartbreaking. He died at 37 from stomach cancer, leaving behind a huge “what if” for Nebraska fans.
The team wouldn’t see another bowl game until the 1941 Rose Bowl—a 25-year drought. By then, the AP Poll era had started, and the whole way of picking national champs had changed.
- Stiehm’s departure
- 25-year gap before next bowl appearance
- AP Poll era began during this period
The Rebuilding Phase
When Bob Devaney showed up in 1962, he wasn’t just facing tough opponents on the field. He was up against a half-century-long story that Nebraska didn’t belong with the big dogs.
That old narrative traced right back to the 1915 Rose Bowl snub. The shadow of that decision hung over the program for ages.
Devaney’s Success
Devaney changed everything. He led Nebraska to two national championships in the ’70s and finally shook off that old stigma.
But man, it took a long time to get there. It’s hard not to wonder what could’ve happened if Nebraska had just packed their bags for Pasadena in 1915.
Want the whole story? Check out Corn Nation for the deep dive.
Conclusion
The 1915 decision to turn down the Rose Bowl invitation still echoes in college football history. It’s a classic “what might’ve been” story that’s hard for Nebraska fans to forget.
Skipping that train ride to Pasadena didn’t just cost them a game—it set the program back for years. Nebraska eventually found its way, but you can’t help but wonder how different things could’ve been if they’d just said yes.
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