Bobby Kennedy Reflects On The 2006 Rose Bowl Game With Texas

Earlier today, Griz Football Head Coach Bobby Hauck announced his retirement leaving the state of Montana in shock. The University announced that Wide Receivers Coach Bobby Kennedy would take over at the helm.

We chatted with Coach Kennedy back on August 20, 2025 as apart of our "Meet the Griz" series.

Here was the original story:

Original Sory (8/20/2025)

Meet the Griz is a series that tells the stories of Montana Grizzlies athletes, coaches, and contributors.

Meet the Griz: New Wide Receivers Coach, Bobby Kennedy

No, not THAT Bobby Kennedy.

After former Griz WR coach Bryce Erickson stepped down on July 28, Coach Hauck needed to fill a key spot on his coaching staff.

Hauck turned to an old friend.

"You know Bobby's a good friend, and we've been close for a long time," said Coach Bobby Kennedy. "I've really respected and always followed what he has done at Montana, and I knew it was a great football place... So I decided to [take the job]."

Kennedy and Hauck met back in 2002 at the University of Washington. Hauck coached the defensive backs, and Kennedy coached the receivers.

"We'd go against each other every day in one-on-one, and I just remember how intense he was," Kennedy said of Hauck.

"It was good to kick his butt every day in one-on-ones."

READ MORE: Meet the Griz - Star Eli Gillman

2006 Rose Bowl: The Greatest College Football Game Ever Played

Fast forward a few years, and Coach Kennedy wound up on one of the best programs in the 2000s: Texas. Under Head Coach Mack Brown, Kennedy coached some of the great college receivers of that decade.

Kennedy also coached in arguably the greatest college football game ever played.

The 2006 Rose Bowl between Texas and USC.

"I do believe it was the greatest game in college football history - at least championship game," Kennedy said of the 2006 Rose Bowl.

Kennedy's Texas Longhorns came out on top of the college football world after defeating the USC Trojans 41-38 on January 4, 2006, in the National Championship at the Rose Bowl.

READ MORE: Griz To Play In NFL Stadium In FCS National Championship Rematch

During our conversation, Kennedy shared an example of why you don't celebrate before the clock hits zero.

USC scored to make it a 38-26, two-possession game with under 7 minutes to play. Kennedy observed USC's sideline prematurely anointing themselves as champions.

"I remember the SC guys on the sideline. The equipment man started handing out, we saw this, the equipment man started handing out their championship hats," Kennedy shared.

Texas would stop star USC running back Lendale White on a 4th and 1 to ice the game, and then Longhorns quarterback Vince Young would score one of the most famous plays in college football history to win the game.

"To overcome that situation, and to keep fighting when all the chips are against you, it was a great moment."

What an incredible game to be witness to, let alone coach in.

For the full conversation with Coach Kennedy, check out The Daily Drive w/Ace Sauerwein podcast above.

We discussed his quick move to Missoula, all of his stops during his coaching career, who the best wide receiver he ever coached was, and more.