Junk collector finds trophy from 1942 Rose Bowl in trash (Video)
In the 100-game history of the Rose Bowl, the game has only been played outside of Pasadena, California, one time: 1942. That year’s game, just weeks after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, was moved to Duke University due to the fear of more attacks.
Now, more than 72 years later, a piece of history from that game emerged in an unlikely place. According to WTVD in Durham, a junk collector found a trophy that he believes to be a coach’s trophy from that 1942 Rose Bowl. The man said he found the trophy when going through items another man was getting ready to throw away.
Though Duke lost the game 20-16 to Oregon State, the team’s coaches were still given trophies. Duke already has one of the trophies, which sits in the North Carolina Museum of History in the state’s Sports Hall of Fame. That particular trophy belonged to assistant Ellis Hagler.
“E. Cameron” is engraved on the trophy found by the man. Though it has not been verified, the name is believed to be Eddie Cameron, the Blue Devils’ backfield coach at the time. Cameron, also Duke’s basketball coach at the time, went on to become Duke’s head football coach and athletic director from 1951 to 1972.
Once his tenure as athletic director ended, the school’s basketball arena was named Cameron Indoor Stadium in his honor.
The man who found the trophy plans to sell it and said he will give Duke the first chance to purchase it from him. Ultimately, it will go to “the highest bidder.”
For more Duke news, visit DevilsIllustrated.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
