Rose Bowl Hall of Fame
1940 Rose Bowl Game
2002 Inductee
USC running back Ambrose “Amblin’ Amby” Schindler entered the 1940 Rose Bowl Game against Tennessee knowing his team had a somewhat daunting task. Tennessee had won 23 straight games and had scored 212 points to their opponents’ zero that ’39 season.
Schindler’s unique running style, which was described as “running with his knees clear up to his chin,” made it hard to bring him down, and when tacklers tried, they were dragged several yards. That style helped bolt him over All-America guard Bob Suffridge for USC’s first touchdown after a 70-yard drive in the second quarter. Later, he threw a surprise 2-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. USC won 14–0.
Schindler was drafted by the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, but chose to coach at the high school and college levels instead. He also officiated games, working for years in the AFL. He was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions and the USC Athletic Hall of Fame. He died in 2018 at the age of 101.
