The Alabama Crimson Tide returned to the Granddaddy of Them All after a four-year absence, and today on Rose Bowl Friday we take a look at that triumphant visit. This time, the bullies from the South took on the Washington State Cougars, themselves in Pasadena for the first time in a long time. The matchup itself didn’t amount to much pregame hype or in-game drama, as the Tide won 24-0 in front of a “small” crowd.

Only 60,000 people or so showed up for this Rose Bowl, down from the peak high of 72,000 or so the year before when the local USC Trojans played the Pittsburgh Panthers. Maybe it was too hard for the good people of the Pacific Northwest to come down, even for a WSC team that was 9-0 coming into the matchup—including eight wins over major-college competition. The Cougars were a Top 10 team in the SRS, too.

Meanwhile, Big Bad ‘Bama was also 9-0 with the same eight victories over real schools. In fact, the Tide were ranked No. 2 in the overall SRS, having played the No. 8 SOS in the country. Only two teams had scored against Alabama, for a total of 13 points. That alone should have attracted a lot of curious viewers in person, although the Cougars’ narrow 7-6 win over the Trojans earlier may have soured some local fans.

Either way, it took the Crimson Tide a little while to shake off the travel malaise that often impacted the East representative in this game, but by halftime, Alabama had scored three touchdowns in the second quarter to take control of the game. The Crimson Tide added a field goal in the third quarter and cruised to their 10th win of the season to finish undefeated. Somehow, that defense finished only second in the nation.

Washington State itself had only coughed up 20 points total to major competition in 1930, but the Cougars had no answer for Alabama’s offense. In fairness, maybe the long journey from Pullman to Pasadena (a 35-hour train ride today) had an effect on the WSU team, too. That’s not easy traveling, although it was a much shorter journey that the one from Tuscaloosa to Southern California (51 hours today by train). Who knows?

Interestingly, the Cougs had played at Villanova in late November, their final regular-season game. That journey could have taken some of the zest out of the players, too, before having to turn around somewhat quickly over the holidays to then go to Los Angeles, too. It’s just a theory, but … hey, it sounds legit to us. Occupational hazards for those who would be university employees, eh? Certainly, free rides ain’t free.