Rose Bowl Hero Marks 40th Anniversary

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the network television apearance of cousin Bob Stiles of Los Angeles, who played himself in a 1970 episode of the Emmy-winning "Bracken's World" starring Lee Majors. Stiles re-created his true life persona as the most valuable player of the 1966 Rose Bowl victory of the underdog UCLA Bruins over the #1-ranked Michigan Spartans.

Bob, the grandson of the late Max Fieg of Milford, PA, is remembered as a key component of the undersized California upstarts who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat as more than 100,000 New Year's Day football fans looked on at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA.

Bob was credited with saving the game after he literally knocked himself unconscious to prevent a game-breaking score as the final seconds ticked off. A story in the Los Angeles Times written in 2000 said, "The game film shows (Bob) Apisa, a 212-pound (Michigan) sophomore fullback from Honolulu, running parallel to the line of scrimmage, fighting off defenders Dallas Grider and Jim Colletto, then getting tackled by a flying Stiles, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound junior, who slams into Apisa's upper body and brings him down."

According to Wikipedia, "Michigan State was a two touchdown favorite and the consensus #1 ranked team, but the undersized Bruins held their own through a scoreless first quarter. In the second quarter, UCLA recovered a muffed punt inside the Michigan State 5 yard line; QB Gary Beban eventually took it in from one yard out to give the Bruins a surprising lead over the stunned Spartans. Then UCLA coach Tommy Prothro went into his bag of tricks and called for an onside kick. Kicker Kurt Zimmerman executed it perfecty and Dallas Grider fell on the ball. UCLA QB Gary Beban then threaded a pass between 3 Spartan defenders to Kurt Altenbeg, who made a great catch that put UCLA on the 1 yard line. Beban then scored on a short run to make it 14-0. UCLA's undersized defense continued to play well, but the larger Spartans were beginning to wear them down and began picking up bigger and bigger chunks of yardage on the ground. Midway through the 4th quarter, Michigan State finally broke through for a touchdown, but failed on the try for a 2-point conversion and UCLA led 14-6. Michigan State got the ball back and began to march down field in the waning moments. With under a minute to play the Spartans scored again, and trailing 14-12, lined up for a two point conversion attempt. They pitched out to their large Samoan fullback, Bob Apisa, and as he turned the corner, it appeared he would fall into the end zone to tie the game. But UCLA defensive back Bob Stiles ran full speed and threw himself into Apisa, keeping Apisa out of the end zone and knocking himself out in the process." The photo of Bob being carried off the field unconscious is courtesy of Sports Illustrated.

Bob today is the proprietor of the Hana Sushi Restaurant on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles and also in Ketchum, ID.