50 DAYS TO SUPER BOWL 50
A DAY-BY-DAY, SUPER BOWL-BY-SUPER BOWL LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF BLACK COLLEGE PLAYERS ON SUPER BOWLS I THRU 49 AS WE COUNT DOWN THE 50 DAYS TO SUPER BOWL 50
DAY 17 - Wednesday, January 6 Super Bowl XVII Washington 27, Miami 17 January 30, 1983 - Rose Bowl, Pasadena
12 Black College Players
Miami Dolphins (4) Larry Cowan RB Jackson State Cleveland Green OT Southern Vince Heflin WR Central State William Judson DB South Carolina State
Washington Redskins (8) Perry Brooks DT Southern Charlie Brown WR South Carolina State Rich Caster TE Jackson State Fred Dean OG Texas Southern Don Laster OT Tennessee State ICONIC PHOTO: Washington RB Tony McGee DE Bishop John Riggins (#44) runs thru the Miami defense in Super Bowl XVII. Mike Williams TE Alabama A&M Otis Wonsley RB Alcorn State
STORYLINE: After reaching double-figures in all but two of the first 17 Super Bowls, the 12 black college players on rosters in Super Bowl XVII was the last time in the history of the game that the number of black college players reached double-figures. Washington wide receiver Charley Brown (South Carolina State) led all receivers with six receptions and 60 receiving yards and one touchdown while running back John Riggins carried 38 times for 166 yards and scored on a 43-yard run to lead their team to a 27-17 win over Miami in Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Washington Otis Wonsley, RB (Alcorn State) One special teams’ tackle and one kickoff return in wn over Miami. - Made tackle on opening kickoff, stopping L. Blackwood after 17-yard return. - Returns second-half kickoff 13 yards. Charlie Brown, WR (South Carolina State) Led Washington with six (6) receptions for 60 yards including a 6-yard TD catch that closed the scoring in Washington win. - Catches 11-yard screen pass in Washington’s first possession. - Catches 4-yard screen pass from Theismann in second quarter. - Hauls in 26-yard pass two plays before halftime. - Catches 4-yard screen pass on last play of third quarter. - Catches 9-yard pass on rollout to left in fourth quarter. - Theisman rolls out right, hits Brown for 6-yard TD pass in first play after two-minute warning. Tony McGhee, DE (Bishop) One tackle in win over Miami. - Tackles Vigorito after 4-yard run around right end late in fourth quarter. Fred Dean, OG (Texas Southern) Started at guard for Washington in Super Bowl win.
Miami William Judson, DB (South Carolina State) One special teams’ tackle in loss to Washington. - Made tackle on Mike Nelms on 39-yard kickoff return after Miami’s first touchdown in first quarter. Vince Heflin, WR (Central State) Two special teams’ tackles in loss to Washington. - Penalized 5 yards on second half kickoff for facemask penalty. - Stops Nelms on 12-yard punt return in third quarter - Stops Nelms on 8-yard punt return after next Miami possession.
MVP - John Riggins, RB, Washington - 38 carries, 166 yards, 1 TD (43).
KEY FACTS: Washington ran for 276 yards averaging 5.3 yards per carry and won despite QB Joe Theismann throwing two interceptions. Meanwhile the Washington de- fense held the Miami passing attack to four completions in 17 attempts for just 95 yards and the rushing attack to 96 yards on 29 carries.
JUMPING FOR JOY: Washington wide receiver Charlie Brown (#87, South Carolina State) celebrates after hauling in a late fourth-quarter 6-yard scoring pass from quarterback Joe Theismann that was the clinching score in a 27-17 victory in Super Bowl XVII. The score came with just 1:55 left in the game with Washington leading just 20-17.
CLEAR SAILING: Washington running back John Riggins (#44) streaks down the left sideline en route to his 43-yard fourth-quarter touchdown run that gave his squad a 20-17 lead with ten minutes left in Super Bowl XVII.