United Press called the 1927 Rose Bowl "the football championship of America", and the game was considered the most exciting in the series up to that time. The crowd of 57,417 set an attendance record. Stanford'sGeorge Bogue missed an 18-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter, then threw a touchdown pass toEd Walker and kicked the point after to put Stanford up, 7-0. Stanford held that lead through most of the rest of the game, but in the final minutes, they were forced to punt on fourth down.Frankie Wilton's kick was blocked, and Alabama took over 14 yards from goal. Alabama running back Jimmy Johnson carried the ball in for the touchdown. The two-point conversion, and overtime, were decades in the future. Stanford's only hope was to block the point after, but Alabama ran the play quickly andHerschel Caldwell's kick tied Stanford, and took away a Stanford victory in the final minute.[2]
