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15JULYAUGUST2013toughestmatchupvs.GeorgiaTechJohnMackBrownranbackapunt55yardsfortheonlyscore.OnenewspapernotedJohnnyMackBrownScrawlsNameinBoldReliefonRollofGridironValorinBamasGreatVictory.ThreeweekslaterheledBamatoa34-0victoryoverFloridaduringwhichheranfor133yardscaughta61yardTDreturnedtwopuntsfor53yardsandinterceptedapass.TheBirminghamsportswriterZippNewmanwroteTherewasnocatchingtheDothanAntelope.ThisledtoaninvitationforAlabamatoplayinPasadenasRoseBowlonJanuary11926againstthenumber1teaminthenationtheUniversityofWashington.TheplayersfromAlabamawereinaweofbeinginvitedtoplayintheRoseBowl.Howevertheyhadtoendurea2800milefourdaytraintrip.Johnsgirlfriendwhohehadmetincollegejoinedthetrainexcursion.JohnaskedCorneliaConnieFostertomarryhimontheWestboundtrain.ConnietoldhimshedgivehimanansweraftertheRoseBowlasshewantedJohntofocusonlyonthegame.ItwasthefirstopportunityforaSouthernuniversitytobeinvitedtoplayaWestCoastteamintheRoseBowl.PreviouslyonlyNortheastteamshadbeeninvited.TheEastCoasthadanobviousbiasagainstSouthernuniversities...somethoughtthestudentswereunsophisticatedilliterateandorunworthy.InresponsetheSouthernsportswritersusedthemomentasarallyingcalltoshowthemallandavengethelossoftheConfederacyHoweverthescoreboardatthegamefortheNationalChampionshipathalftimereadWashington12Alabama0.JohnMackBrowninthesecondhalfrushedfor63yardsreturnedapuntfor40yardscaught3passestwoofwhichwentfortouchdowns61and38yardsandmadeaTDsavingtackleofGeorgeWilsontheHuskiesAllAmericanhalfback.ThefinalscorewasWashington19Alabama20BrownwastheMVPfortheCrimsonTideandWilsonMVPforWashington.TheheadrefereeWalterJ.EckersallremarkedNoplayereverdelightedafootballcrowdinhistoryasJohnnyMackBrownofAlabamaintheRoseBowlNewYearsDay1926.AlabamawontheNationalChampionshipaswellwitha100season.HoweverevenamorevaluedprizeinJohnMackBrownsopinionConnieagreedtobehisbride.Earlierinthe1925footballseasonJohnMackBrownhadmetactorGeorgeFawcettwhowasinattendanceataBamagameduringafilmshootinBirmingham.HeencouragedthestarathletetoconsideracareerinHollywood.JohnrepliedWhythanksthatsawfulniceofyoubutImnotanactor.GeeIdbescaredtodeathoutthere.Youdontneedme.AllIcandoisrunaroundwithapigskin.FawcettcontactedJohnwhenhewasinCaliforniafortheRoseBowlandintroducedhimtomotionpicturescoutChampPickens.AscreentestwasscheduledandMGMsignedJohnMackBrowntoafilmcontractat75.00perweek.Johnstartedhisfilmcareerin1927inSlideKellySlide.ThebaseballstoryfeaturedWilliamHainesandHarryCarey.JohnMackBrownwasjoinedbyanothersuperbathletefutureHallofFameMLBprofessionalbaseballplayerTonyLazarri2ndBasemanwiththeNYYankees.ThenfollowedafewbitpartshoweverJohnMackBrownsoongothisfirstleadingmanrolewithMarionDaviesinTheFair-Coed1927.SimilarrolesfollowedwithJoanCrawfordinMGMsOurDancingDaughters1928ALadyOfChoice1928costarringNormaShearerandthefirstoftwofilmswithGretaGarboAWomanOfAffairswithherreallifeparamourJohnGilbert.JohnsfirstbreakoutrolewaswhenhewascastwithMaryPickfordintheformerstageplayoftwostarcrossedloversCoquette1929.ThealltalkingmoviethefirstforMaryPickford