1973 Cal Poly Mustangs football team

1973 Cal Poly Mustangs football
CCAA champion
Conference	California Collegiate Athletic Association
Ranking
Coaches	No. 9 (UPI small college)
AP	No. 8 (small college)
Record	9–1 (4–0 CCAA)
Head coach	Joe Harper (6th season)
Home stadium	Mustang Stadium
Seasons ←  1972 1974  →

1973 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 8/9 Cal Poly $	4	–	0	–	0			9	–	1	–	0
UC Riverside	3	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Cal State Fullerton	1	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Cal Poly Pomona	1	–	3	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
Cal State Northridge	1	–	3	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP/UPI small college polls

The 1973 Cal Poly Mustangs football team represented California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) during the 1973 NCAA Division II football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Joe Harper, Cal Poly compiled an overall record of 9–1 with a mark of 4–0 in conference play, winning the CCAA title for the fifth consecutive season. The Mustangs were ranked No. 8 by the Associated Press and No. 9 by the United Press International in the final small college rankings. Cal Poly played home games at Mustang Stadium in San Luis Obispo, California.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 15		at Cal State Northridge		Devonshire Downs Northridge, CA	W 65–20	3,300	[1]
September 22		Idaho State *	No. 8	Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA	W 20–10	6,929	[2]
September 29		at UC Riverside	No. 7	Highlander Stadium Riverside, CA	W 26–17	3,500	[3]
October 13		Cal Poly Pomona	No. 5	Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA	W 41–0	6,780	[4]
October 20		Cal State Fullerton	No. 4	Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA	W 21–7	6,749	[5]
October 27		Fresno State *	No. 3	Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA	W 28–14	7,459	[6]
November 3		at Cal State Hayward *	No. 3	Pioneer Stadium Hayward, CA	W 58–0	3,200	[7]
November 10		at Cal Lutheran *	No. 4	Mt. Clef Field Thousand Oaks, CA	W 63–14	5,000	[8]
November 17		at No. 11 Boise State *	No. 4	Bronco Stadium Boise, ID	L 10–42	13,885	[9]
November 24	1:00 p.m.	Long Beach State *	No. 10	Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA	W 31–7	3,086	[10]
*Non-conference game Rankings from UPI Poll released prior to the game All times are in Pacific time

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References

1. "Coulson Leads Cal Poly SLO to Runaway Victory, 65-20". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 16, 1973. p. III-14. Retrieved February 8, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
2. "Cal Poly eludes Bengals 20–10". Idaho State Journal. September 23, 1973. Retrieved December 16, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
3. "Long Beach State Still Without Win -- Ties North Texas St., 0–0". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 30, 1973. p. III-14. Retrieved February 8, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
4. "49ers Remain Winless, Lose to Pacific, 10-6". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 14, 1973. p. III-14. Retrieved February 20, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
5. Earl Gustkey (October 21, 1973). "Cal Poly Tops Titans to Win CCAA Crown". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. III-17. Retrieved February 8, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Fresno jinx dies 28–14 death at hands of unbeaten Poly". The Fresno Bee. October 28, 1973. Retrieved December 16, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Cal Poly rips Pioneers, 58–0". Oakland Tribune. November 4, 1973. Retrieved December 16, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
8. "Aztecs Beat 49ers, 17-2, on Freitas Passes". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. November 11, 1973. p. III-15. Retrieved February 22, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
9. "2015 Boise State Football Media Guide". Boise State University Athletics. 2015. p. 157. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
10. "49ers' Dismal Season Ended by 31-7 Loss". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. November 25, 1973. p. III-15. Retrieved February 8, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
11. "Final 1973 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Cal Poly)". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 12, 2022.
12. "History (1915–2023)" (PDF). Cal Poly Athletics. p. 25. Retrieved May 26, 2025.