Junk collector finds 1942 Rose Bowl trophy in the garbage

A junk collector may have stumbled upon a valuable piece of college football history that was headed for the garbage dump, when he spotted a coach's trophy from the 1942 Rose Bowl between Oregon and Duke among a pile of trash.

A junk collector may have stumbled upon a valuable piece of college football history that was headed for the garbage dump, when he spotted what appears to be a coach's trophy from the 1942 Rose Bowl between Oregon and Duke.

The 1942 Rose Bowl is notable for being the only time the contest was played outside of Pasadena, Calif., after the Pearl Harbor attacks a month before the game led to the showdown being moved from the west coast to Duke University.

ABC 11 news in Raleigh, N.C., reports that trophies were handed out to the Duke coaches despite the team losing to Oregon State 20-16. The name on the recently discovered award, E. Cameron, matches up with then Duke assistant coach Eddie Cameron, who is best known today as the namesake of the school's Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The man who found the trophy said he plans to give Duke the first chance to purchase the trophy once it is appraised and authenticated.

- Brendan Maloy