NBC Sports From the Vault will present over 20 hours of historic sports events this weekend on NBCSN, beginning tonight at 7 p.m. ET with presentations of two Fiesta Bowls (1987 and 1989 editions) and the 1984 Orange Bowl. Saturday features three Rose Bowls (1975, 1985 and 1988), with Tiger Woods‘ back-to-back victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and THE PLAYERS in 2001 spotlighting Sunday’s programming on NBCSN.
Over the course of the weekend, classic sports events programming will span nearly half a decade, featuring the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl and PGA TOUR. Former athletes and coaches that will be interviewed throughout the weekend include:
- Pro Football Hall of Famer and former USC All-American Ronnie Lott
- Former Notre Dame quarterback Tony Rice
- Former USC and Los Angeles Rams head football coach John Robinson
- Former Penn State quarterback John Shaffer
- 12-time PGA TOUR winner and current NBC Sports lead golf analyst Paul Azinger
The broadcasts will include a specialized ticker featuring live tweets. Fans can tweet #NBCSNVault for the chance to see their tweets live on air. Programming will also stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.
TONIGHT – FIESTA BOWL AND ORANGE BOWL
Three national championship games from the 1980s will be presented tonight. The 1989 Fiesta Bowl victory marks the most recent Notre Dame national championship. The vaunted Miami Hurricanes are featured in Friday evening’s other two matchups, defeating top-ranked Nebraska in the 1984 Orange Bowl after a failed Cornhuskers’ final-minute, two-point conversion attempt, but losing to Joe Paterno and Penn State in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl.
NBC Sports host and lead play-by-play voice of Notre Dame Football Mike Tirico hosts coverage on Friday.
| EVENT | TIME (ET) | NETWORK |
| No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 3 West Virginia (1989 Fiesta Bowl) | 7 p.m. | NBCSN |
| No. 2 Penn State vs. No. 1 Miami (1987 Fiesta Bowl) | 9:30 p.m. | NBCSN |
| No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 5 Miami (1984 Orange Bowl) | 12:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
NO. 1 NOTRE DAME VS. NO. 3 WEST VIRGINIA (1989 FIESTA BOWL) AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The top-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish clashed with the No. 3 West Virginia Mountaineers in a battle between two independents playing for the national championship. Led by quarterback Tony Rice, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for a two-point conversion, the Fighting Irish beat the Mountaineers, 34-21. With the victory, Notre Dame claimed its 11th national title.
Throughout the matchup, Tirico interviews the former Fighting Irish quarterback Rice.
Dick Enberg (play-by-play) and Merlin Olsen (analyst) called the matchup at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
NO. 2 PENN STATE VS. NO. 1 MIAMI (1987 FIESTA BOWL) AT 9:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The top-two teams in the nation faced off in the national title game at the 1987 Fiesta Bowl. The Miami Hurricanes, coached by Jimmy Johnson, were led by 1986 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Vinny Testaverde and future NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin, while the underdog Nittany Lions were coached by Joe Paterno and featured All-American running back D.J. Dozier.
The game was a defensive affair that featured five interceptions of Testaverde and seven total turnovers by Miami. While the Hurricanes outgained the Nittany Lions 445 yards to 162, Penn State’s Dozier and quarterback John Shaffer each ran for touchdowns for a 14-10 advantage. With less than 20 seconds left, Testaverde had a final chance to win the game, but was intercepted in the end zone by Penn State, earning the Nittany Lions’ second national championship in five years.
During the matchup, Tirico interviews the former Nittany Lions quarterback Shaffer.
Charlie Jones (play-by-play), Jimmy Cefalo (analyst) and Bob Griese (reporter) called the 1987 Fiesta Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium.
NO. 1 NEBRASKA VS. NO. 5 MIAMI (1984 ORANGE BOWL) AT 12:30 A.M. ET ON NBCSN
The 50th annual Orange Bowl featured the top-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers against the Miami Hurricanes. The Hurricanes were underdogs to the Tom Osborne-coached Cornhuskers, who were led by Heisman Trophy-winning running back Mike Rozier and second team All-American quarterback Turner Gill.
Behind the play of quarterback Bernie Kosar, a future Super Bowl XXVIII champion with the Dallas Cowboys, the Hurricanes led 31-17 in the fourth quarter. The Nebraska offense then rallied to come within one point of Miami in the final minute of the game. Instead of kicking the extra point to tie the score, Osborne elected to go for two and win the game. The Hurricanes stopped the conversion attempt to win the thrilling matchup, 31-30.
Don Criqui (play-by-play) and John Brodie (analyst) called the matchup at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla.
SATURDAY, MAY 2 – ROSE BOWL
Saturday highlights three memorable appearances by the USC Trojans against Big Ten opponents in the Rose Bowl, starting at 8 p.m. ET. The 1975 Rose Bowl marked the third consecutive year that USC and the Ohio State Buckeyes matched up in the bowl game, and featured a thrilling conclusion with a USC touchdown and successful two-point conversion with just over two minutes remaining. 1985’s edition of the bowl game saw the underdog Trojans defeat the Buckeyes, and in 1988, the Michigan State Spartans edged USC.
NBC Sports host Liam McHugh introduces Saturday’s Rose Bowl coverage.
| EVENT | TIME (ET) | NETWORK |
| No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 5 USC (1975 Rose Bowl) | 8 p.m. | NBCSN |
| No. 8 Michigan State vs. No. 16 USC (1988 Rose Bowl) | 10 p.m. | NBCSN |
| No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 18 USC (1985 Rose Bowl) | 1 a.m. | NBCSN |
NO. 3 OHIO STATE VS. NO. 5 USC (1975 ROSE BOWL) AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The 1975 Rose Bowl featured the Ohio State Buckeyes and USC Trojans for the third consecutive year, following a USC win in 1973 and an Ohio State victory in 1974. In a close affair, USC drew within a point of Ohio State following a touchdown pass from quarterback Pat Haden. Rather than attempting a game-tying kick with just over two minutes remaining, Trojans head coach John McKay went for two. Haden successfully passed for the two point-conversion, giving USC the 18-17 win. The victory marked the fourth national title for coach McKay.
During the matchup, McHugh interviews Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, who reflects on playing in the 1980 Rose Bowl and defeating Ohio State. McHugh also interviews the former head coach of Lott at USC, John Robinson.
Curt Gowdy (play-by-play), Al DeRogatis (analyst) and Ross Porter (reporter) called the 1975 Rose Bowl at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif.
NO. 8 MICHIGAN STATE VS. NO. 16 USC (1988 ROSE BOWL) AT 10 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
‘The Granddaddy of Them All’ in 1988 pitted the Michigan State Spartans against the USC Trojans. In the opening week of the regular season, the Spartans defeated the Trojans 27-13 at home in East Lansing, Mich.
At the Rose Bowl, Michigan St. was led offensively by All-American running back Lorenzo White, who rushed for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, the Spartans, led by linebacker Percy Snow‘s 17 unassisted tackles, limited the Trojans offensive attack by forcing five takeaways, including on USC’s final possession. Snow was awarded the Rose Bowl MVP in Michigan State’s 20-17 victory.
Enberg and Olsen called the historic matchup at Rose Bowl Stadium.
NO. 6 OHIO STATE VS. NO. 18 USC (1985 ROSE BOWL) AT 1 A.M. ET ON NBCSN
On New Year’s Day in 1985, the Ohio State Buckeyes faced the USC Trojans in the 71st edition of the Rose Bowl. Behind two touchdown passes from quarterback Tim Green, USC led 17-3 in the second quarter. Ohio State kicker Rich Spangler, who registered three field goals in the contest, kicked a then-Rose Bowl record 52-yard field goal in the third quarter to cut the Buckeyes deficit to 17-9. Ultimately, the Trojans held on for the 20-17 win, behind the play of Green and linebacker Jack Del Rio, who earned co-MVP honors.
Enberg and Olsen called the action at Rose Bowl Stadium.
SUNDAY, MAY 3 – PGA TOUR (THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP AND ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL)
The final night of NBC Sports From the Vault features back-to-back tournament victories by Tiger Woods in 2001. Coverage begins with a memorable final round duel between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, where Woods dramatically birdied the 72nd and final hole for his 25th career win on the PGA TOUR. The following week at THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass, Woods surged from six-strokes behind at the midway point and needed a Monday finish to ultimately defeat Vijay Singhby one stroke to capture his first PLAYERS Championship and 26th PGA TOUR win.
GOLF Channel and NBC Sports play-by-play host Dan Hicks introduces the final night of NBC Sports From the Vault coverage on Sunday.
| EVENT | TIME (ET) | NETWORK |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational (2001) | 8 p.m. | NBCSN |
| THE PLAYERS Championship (2001) | 11 p.m. | NBCSN |
2001 ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
Sunday’s final round at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in 2001 featured an iconic showdown between the world’s two top-ranked golfers – Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Heading into the final round, Woods held a one-stroke lead over Sergio Garcia, but it would be Mickelson who chased down Woods in the final round, overtaking Woods on the 11th hole. The back-nine duel between Woods and Mickelson included Woods making a two-putt birdie on 16 – after his drive landed two feet from being out of bounds and a dramatic finish on the 72nd hole. Woods’ drive on 18 hit a spectator, which protected his tee shot from going out of bounds. He took a drop from the cart path and hit a 5-iron to 15 feet, where he made the birdie putt with Arnold Palmer watching just off the green to win by one over Mickelson to become the first player since Loren Roberts to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational back-to-back.
Broadcast Team: Dan Hicks (play-by-play), Johnny Miller (lead analyst), Gary Koch (tower announcer), Bob Murphy (tower announcer), Roger Maltbie (on-course reporter), Mark Rolfing(on-course reporter), and Jimmy Roberts (interviews).
2001 THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP AT 11 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The following week, the PGA TOUR traveled to TPC Sawgrass for THE PLAYERS Championship, the PGA TOUR’s crown jewel event. Woods needed an extra day to capture his first PLAYERS Championship, as play was suspended during Sunday’s final round due to inclement weather. Heading into Sunday’s final round, he was tied for the lead with Vijay Singh and Jerry Kelly. He started his round birdie-eagle, eventually taking the lead on the ninth hole with a birdie prior to play being suspended. When play resumed on Monday, Singh made a charge, but Woods extended his lead, ultimately defeating Singh by a single shot to capture his first PLAYERS Championship and second win in a row. Two weeks later, he won the Masters. Having won the three previous major championships in 2000, he became champion of all four majors at the same time, now known as the Tiger Slam. With his PLAYERS Championship win, Woods is the only player in history to have won all four major championships and PLAYERS Championship titles in succession.
Broadcast team: Dan Hicks (play-by-play), Johnny Miller (lead analyst), Gary Koch (tower announcer), Bob Murphy (tower announcer), Ed Sneed (tower announcer), Roger Maltbie (on-course reporter), Mark Rolfing (on-course reporter), Jimmy Roberts (interviews).
NBCSN will enhance both telecasts with Hicks interviewing NBC Sports lead golf analyst and 12-time PGA TOUR winner Paul Azinger, who competed in both tournaments in 2001.
Below is each night’s highlighted content throughout the weekend:
- Friday, May 1: Fiesta Bowl and Orange Bowl
- Saturday, May 2: Rose Bowl
- Sunday, May 3: PGA TOUR (THE PLAYERS Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational)
