1920s Trio Named to Rose Bowl All-Century Class

Written by City News Service

Elmer Layden, the fullback in Notre Dame's famed "Four Horsemen" backfield, Stanford standout Ernie Nevers and eventual movie star Johnny Mack Brown were announced today as finalists from the 1920s for the Rose Bowl Game All-Century Class.

Layden returned two interceptions for touchdowns and ran three yards for a third score in the Fighting Irish's 27-10 victory over Stanford in the 1925 Rose Bowl, Notre Dame's lone Rose Bowl appearance.

Nevers was named co-player of the 1925 Rose Bowl with Layden, rushing for a then-Rose Bowl Game record 114 yards on 34 carries, despite having casts taken off two broken ankles just 10 days earlier.

Brown, a halfback, caught the final two touchdown passes in the third quarter in Alabama's 20-19 victory over Washington in the 1926 Rose Bowl, overcoming the Huskies 12-0 halftime lead.

Brown returned to the Rose Bowl for the 1927 game as an assistant backfield coach for the Crimson Tide, was asked to take a screen test, which led to a nearly 40-year career in acting, making more than 160 movies, including 127 Westerns.

A set of players and coaches representing each decade will be announced each Sunday throughout the remainder of college football's regular season in connection with the 100th Rose Bowl Game.

A committee of members of the Football Writers Association of America will select one representative from each decade for the All-Century Class, which will be announced Dec. 8, along with one player and one coach selected as the greatest in the history of college football's oldest bowl game.