Football's "Champions Weekend" To Honor 1986 and 1996 Pac-10 Champions
Weekend will be a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the 1986 Rose Bowl team and the 10th anniversary of the 1996 Rose Bowl team.
June 28, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University Vice President for Athletics Lisa Love announced today that the school will recognize the accomplishments of the 1986 and 1996 Pacific-10 Conference Champion Sun Devil football teams with "Champions Weekend", taking place November 10-11, 2006.
Scheduled in conjunction with ASU's football game against Washington State University at Sun Devil Stadium on November 11, the weekend will be a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the 1986 Rose Bowl team and the 10th anniversary of the 1996 Rose Bowl team.
Former Sun Devil head football coaches John Cooper (1986) and Bruce Snyder (1996) have been contacted and have committed to attend the weekend's festivities.
The 1986 Sun Devils captured the Pac-10 title and culminated their season with a 22-15 victory over Michigan in the 1987 Rose Bowl. It was the first Rose Bowl appearance in ASU history. The team would finish its season with a 10-1-1 record.
The 1996 Sun Devils had an undefeated regular season before falling to Ohio State in the 1997 Rose Bowl. Highlights of the year included shutting out top-ranked and two-time defending national champion Nebraska 19-0 on Sept. 21, 1996 and overcoming a three-touchdown deficit to beat UCLA on the road.
Events for "Champions Weekend" are currently being planned. Former players from the 1986 and 1996 squads are encouraged to contact Donnie O'Neal of the Sun Angel Foundation for more information at 480-727-6644.
