Griese an unlikely, but deserving MVP

PASADENA, Calif. - Brian Griese stood on the podium, receiving an award that was a mere dream a year ago. As the eyeblack dripped down his face and a smile erupted, reaching ear to ear, the nation smiled back and Griese stood on top of the world.

The Michigan quarterback led the Wolverines to a 21-16 victory over Washington State in the 1998 Rose Bowl, culminating in Michigan's first-ever 12-0 season and its first national title since 1948. Griese completed 18 of 30 passes for a 251-yard performance, including three touchdown passes, to earn Rose Bowl MVP honors. The fifth-year senior, who just a year ago was a pooch punter and almost opted not to return to school, was the Rose Bowl's unlikely hero.

WARREN ZINN/Daily Michigan quarterback Brian Griese outshined his Washington State counterpart Ryan Leaf, a Heisman Trophy finalist, and earned MVP honors in the Rose Bowl.

"I have been through so much, and to win the game and the national championship is my ultimate goal and the team's," Griese said.

In the press box stood Bob Griese, Brian's father, legendary quarterback for Purdue and the Miami Dolphins and now an ABC college football analyst. Until last Thursday, Bob was the one with the Rose Bowl title, the Super Bowl ring and the accolades. Now Brian had the one award that his father had never won.

"Did his old man ever win this trophy?" asked Michigan coach Lloyd Carr as Brian Griese received the MVP trophy on the podium in front of the sellout crowd of 101,219.

The question sparked a hefty laugh and the response, "I knew that was coming," from Griese's father in the press box. It also prompted a few tears from the man who had remained rather emotionless and objective while broadcasting Michigan games all season and in years past.

Afterwards, Griese found his father for an embrace.

"I was kind of choked up," Brian Griese said. "I gave him a hug and I said I loved him, and he said he loved me."

Last Thursday, Griese outshined everyone else on the field, including teammate and Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson and highly-touted Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf, both of whom are expected to be taken in the top five of this year's NFL Draft.

Griese made key play after key play and engineered the Wolverines' last drive, arguably their best of the season, which ate up 6:56 of the remaining 7:25 minutes on the game clock.

Griese silenced critics who said he had a weak arm with two perfectly placed touchdown passes to receiver Tai Streets, one for 53 yards and one for 58 yards, and another 23-yarder to tight end Jerame Tuman on a rollout, which proved to be the game winner.

"I knew Brian could throw that ball," said Streets of the 58-yard pass. "He's been a great quarterback."

But the play which probably sealed the award for Griese was his 11-yard carry on the Wolverines' key last drive. Faced with a third and 11 from the Michigan 18-yard line, Griese eluded a tackler, who had wrapped up his legs, and scampered left for the first down which kept the drive alive.

"I broke one tackle and ran for my life," Griese said.

Griese has come a long way in his career at Michigan. He arrived as a walk-on in 1993 and was redshirted. He was a kick holder in 1994 and then nabbed the starting quarterback spot after playing in the fifth game of the 1995 season, a 38-19 victory over Miami (Ohio).

Then the trouble began.

Carr suspended Griese from spring

drills following the 1995 season after Griese was arrested for throwing a chair through a window of a local Ann Arbor bar. He was reinstated but spent the season, his senior year, as a pooch punter and holder.

Junior Scott Dreisbach was the starting signal caller until he left midway through the last game of the regular season against Ohio State with an arm injury. Griese stepped in and led the Wolverines to a victory and then quarterbacked the team in its Outback Bowl loss to Alabama. Afterward, he almost didn't return for his fifth year of eligibility.

"I'm sure glad he did comeback because we couldn't have done it without him," Michigan offensive guard Zach Adami said.

The urge to help Michigan bounce back from four straight four-loss seasons and earn a Rose Bowl berth prompted Griese to return.

"I wanted to come back," Griese said. "I don't know if I believe in fate; I believe in never giving up. I never wanted to be an All-Star quarterback. I just wanted to be part of this team, to be part of something special."

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