history (1915 2019) - 2 Cal Poly Football History -- 101 Years of Gridiron Tradition al Poly football celebrated its 100th season in 2018. Ever since that first 1915 team took the field, Cal Poly football has played with pride and tradition. CFrom the stars of yesterday like Perry Jeter, Alex Bravo, Stan Sheriff, Bobby Beathard, Ted Tollner, John Madden, Mel Kaufman and Louis Jackson, to the stars of recent years like Chris Thomas, Kamil Loud, Seth Burford, Steve Prejean, Adam Herzing, David Richardson, Darrell Jones, Jordan Beck, Chris Gocong, Courtney Brown, Kyle Shotwell, Ramses Barden, Asa Jackson and Deonte Williams, Cal Poly has earned its place in college football history. An undefeated and unscored-upon team in 1933, The 1941 team was Cal Poly’s first as a four-year school and posted a 5-3-1 record. a perfect record in 1953, Division II playoff trips in 1978 and 1990, a national title in 1980 and the school’s first four trips to the national ranking in 1997, reaching as high as 16th following a win over Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Northern Iowa at home as the team went 10-1 that year. After eight years in are just some of the many memories that have made Cal Poly football the the Great West, Cal Poly moved to the Big Sky Conference in 2012. pride of the campus and community. Several alumni have earned their place Hallmarks of the 21st century include a No. 14 national ranking by the in the professional ranks, including Super Bowl champions, NFL front office 2003 squad after a 3-0 start; a 9-2 record, No. 5 ranking and inaugural Great management and coaching as well as in the television booth. West championship in 2004; another Great West title in 2005, advancement Now in its 102nd season of football, the program continues its excellence to the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs, a 9-4 record and No. 6 ranking under first-year head coach Beau Baldwin and his coaching staff, ready for in the polls; an 8-3 mark, another Great West title, a national ranking as high the school’s 27th season of play in the Football Championship Subdivision. as No. 3 and another FCS playoff berth in 2008; a share of the Big Sky title After competing in the American West Conference for two years (and win- in Cal Poly’s first year in the conference, a No. 11 national ranking, a second- ning the conference title in 1994), Cal Poly was a I-AA Independent for eight round FCS playoff berth and a 9-3 record in 2012; and the Mustangs’ fourth seasons. The success didn’t stop there as the Mustangs earned their first FCS playoff berth in 2016. 1915 Through the 1940s Above, Ted Tollner (center) hands off to Carl Bowser (left) and Ray Porras. Tollner was head coach at USC and San Diego State while Bowser was a long-time coach at Bakersfield College. Porras died in the 1960 plane crash. At right, Alex Bravo turns the corner for yardage. At left, Bob Lawson was an All-CCAA fullback in 1952 and 1953. Cal Poly played mostly high school and college the fifth game of the season. Coach O’Daniels returned to the helm in 1946 and freshman teams in the first 16 seasons. Cal Poly officially became a four-year school guided the Mustangs to a 6-2-1 mark. Then head coach Howie O’Daniels established during the 1941 season and posted a 5-3-1 record Quarterback “Pinky” Bebernes of Santa a little history in his first year at the helm in 1933. under Coach O’Daniels. A 32-13 win over San Maria, along with teammates Marshall Samuels, His Mustangs enjoyed an undefeated season and Diego State in ‘41 followed by a 51-0 win over Dave Cool, Joe Griffin and Al Weimers helped did not allow a single point, something only 30 San Francisco State highlighted the season. lead the Mustangs to a 21-13 upset win over San teams in the history of college football have The Mustangs did not play football in 1943 and Diego State in 1946. Bruisers Jim Yates and Bud accomplished. The Mustangs continued their 1944 due to World War II. Ronnie Henderson MacDougal provided the offensive punch much defense in 1934, not giving up a single point until coached Cal Poly to a 1-5-1 mark in 1945 before of that year. 3 1950s 1950-59 Combined Record: 67-29-1 1953 . .9-0 1957 . .8-1 1958 . .9-1 Above left are George Cockerton (54) and Vic Buccola (57), who was an All-CCAA linemen in 1952 and 1953. Buccola later was AD at Cal Poly. Above right, the Mustang offensive line in 1963 was anchored by Bob Cardoza (52), team captain Gil Stork (51) and Frank Blakemore (55). Coach Roy Hughes replaced Chuck Pavelko in all year and only 175.8 yards per game. 1950 and vowed, “In three years, we’ll be tough.” In Beathard’s astute knowledge and leadership abili- 1953 he lived up to his promises with an undefeated ties later helped him as a scout in the NFL and as part season. The Mustangs were of the front office for seven Super Bowl teams, led by All-American Stan including four winning squads. He retired as General Sheriff along with Don Manager of the San Diego Chargers and more recent- Adams, Vic Buccola and ly served as an advisor for the Atlanta Falcons. quarterback Bob Neal while Madden, a bruising tackle, went on to coach the backs Perry Jeter and Alex Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl triumph. After four Bravo led the nation in scor- seasons as color analyst for Monday Night Football ing. on ABC, Madden moved over to NBC for its Sunday Some consider the 1958 Night Football telecasts. Madden, who retired in team the best Mustang squad 2009 has been honored with 14 Emmys for his work ever. Led by quarterbacks Bobby with all four major networks. He also was a catcher Bobby Beathard and Tom on the Cal Poly baseball team in the late 1950s. Beathard Klosterman, they were as In the decade of the 1950s, Cal Poly compiled a tough as they come. Defensive linemen John 67-29-1 record. All 10 teams were coached by Madden and Pat Lovell helped lead the team to 53 Hughes and the Mustangs beat such teams as San Perry Jeter scampers for yardage forced fumbles while allowing just eight touchdowns Diego State, Fresno State and Colorado State. during the undefeated 1953 season. 1960s Tragedy struck the 1960 Cal Poly football team following a game at Bowling Green State University on Saturday, October 29, 1960. Immediately following takeoff at Toledo Airport, the plane carrying the team crashed and killed 22 people, including 16 Mustang football players, the team manager and a booster. On May 1, 1998, the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, IN, dedicated new bronze plaques honoring the Cal Poly men killed in the plane crash along with the victims of plane crashes involving football teams from Wichita State (1970) and Marshall Uni- versity (1978). Dr. Everett Chandler, Dean of Students at Cal Poly at the time of the crash, helped unveil and dedicate the plaques. Mounted at the Hall of Fame, the plaques immortalize these individuals’ belief in the sport of football and how it symbolizes American society. The names of the deceased are listed for each univer- Ted Tollner sity on separate plaques. In 2001, Cal Poly announced plans to change the name of Mustang Stadium to Mustang Memorial Field at Alex G. Spanos Stadium. The Memorial Plaza project was completed in 2006 and formally dedicated on Sept. 29, 2006 (see inside back cover). After Cal Poly won just 22 of 67 games in seven seasons fol- lowing the plane crash, Joe Harper was hired as the Mustangs’ Fred Whittingham (66) and Gil Stork (51) were members of Cal Poly’s 1960 head coach in 1968 and produced 7-3 and 6-4 marks in his first football team. Stork survived the crash; Whittingham was not on the plane. two seasons. 4 October 29, 1960 -- Cal Poly Plane Crash "On Thanksgiving morning this year in the Coliseum, a 'Mercy Bowl' benefit game will be played to help San Luis Obispo write off its obligations to the tragedy victims, the children they left behind them, and the survivors. My feeling is, it is not only their obligation. It is the obligation of all of us interested in athletics. I can think of no better way to give thanks on that day that we are here and healthy, than to contribute to those who are alone with only memories of that day." — Jim Murray Los Angeles Times, 1961 Front Row (L-R): Don O’Meara, Don Adams, Russell Woods, Benny Martin (not on trip), Coach Roy Hughes, Marshall Kulku, Bob Johnson, Bill Stewart, Gary Van Horn. Second Row (L-R): Dick McBride, John Reardon (not on trip), Mike Young (did not make trip), Dean Carlson, Roy Scialabba, Jim Ledbetter, Brent Jobe, Doug Minton (not on trip), Clark Tuthill (not on trip), John Bell, General Owens. Third Row (L-R): Ted Tollner, Norton Engen, Walt Shimek, Gil Stork, Al Marinai, Lynn Lobaugh, Guy Hennington, John Ramsey (not on trip), Wayne Sorenson, Rob Baughn, John Brennan, Fred Brown. Fourth Row: (L-R): Terry Betterton (trainer, not on trip), Wendel Miner (manager), Joe Copeland, Curtis Hill, Larry Austin, Roger Kelly, Bill Ross, Ray Porras, Bill Dauphin, Carl Bowser, Skip Stratton (not on trip), assistant coach Walt Williamson.