Year-by-year results
 | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2012) |
| San Francisco Dons football | |
|---|---|
| First season | 1917 |
| Last season | 1982 |
| Stadium | Kezar Stadium |
| Location | San Francisco, California |
| NCAA division | Division II |
| Conference | Division II Independent |
| All-time record | 134–180–20 (.431) |
| Bowl record | 0–0 (–) |
| Colors | Green and gold [1] |
| Website | USFDons.com |
The San Francisco Dons football program were the intercollegiate American football team for University of San Francisco located in San Francisco, California. The team competed in NCAA Division II as a Division II Independent football program. The school's first football team was fielded in 1917. [2] The program disbanded in 1982.
Compared to local rivals Santa Clara and Saint Mary's, USF's football teams were historically not as strong. However, the 1951 Dons entered college football lore by fielding a team that would go undefeated and produce three National Football League (NFL) Hall of Famers (Gino Marchetti, Ollie Matson, Bob St. Clair), (Dick Stanfel, also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, having been a senior the year prior bringing the total for the 1950 team to four members enshrined), five who were selected to the Pro Bowl in their careers and eight in total who played in the NFL. [3] The Sugar, Orange and Gator Bowls all considered inviting the Dons. However, all three were located in the South. Only the Orange Bowl was willing to invite the Dons, and then on the condition that Matson and Burl Toler, the Dons' only black players, were excluded. [3] Although the football program was in severe financial straits (it was shut down after the season), the Dons turned down the bid. As a result, USF's finest football team ever was to be its last in Division I. Football made a brief comeback as a Division II sport from the 1960s to the early 1980s, but USF has not fielded a varsity team since 1982.
The coach, Joe Kuharich, at times, would delegate recruiting responsibilities to his freshman coach, Brad Lynn. Lynn had little to offer prospective players in the way of scholarship inducements beyond tuition and room and board in an old ROTC barracks. However, Lynn would take recruits to the highest hill on campus and gesture out towards the sweeping panorama of San Francisco saying, "THIS is your campus." Only a handful of players from that 1951 team had been considered blue-ribbon prospects in high school. Two of the team's best players, Toler and guard Louis (Red) Stephens, had not even played high school football. Marchetti was a high school dropout who had played only sparingly when he was in school.
The 1951 Dons were honored during the 2008 Fiesta Bowl and were the subject of the 2014 documentary '51 Dons .
| 1951 San Francisco Dons football | |
| Record | 9-0-0 (Final AP Poll ranking: 14) |
| Head coach | Kuharich |
| Assistant coaches | Brad Lynn, Ryan, Kerr, Daly, Zanazzi |
| Players |
|
| Sports information officer | Rozelle |
Walter Camp Man of the Year Award
| Walter Camp Man of the Year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Name | Position at USF | Career at USF | |
| 1969 | Pete Rozelle | Student/Athletic News Director | 1948-1950 | |
The Walter Camp Man of the Year is given to the "Man of the Year" in the world of college football. The criteria for the award are "success, leadership, public service, integrity, and commitment to American heritage and Walter Camp's philosophy."
National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award
| National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Name | Position at USF | Career at USF | |
| 1990 | Pete Rozelle | Student/Athletics News Director | 1948-1950 | |
Every year, the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame pays tribute to a select few with awards of excellence for exhibiting superior qualities of scholarship, citizenship and leadership. Additionally, the Foundation also recognizes individuals who demonstrate outstanding support for promoting the game of amateur football. The Distinguished American Award is presented on special occasions when a truly deserving individual emerges, the award honors someone who has applied the character building attributes learned from amateur sport in their business and personal life, exhibiting superior leadership qualities in education, amateur athletics, business and in the community.
| Reds Bagnell Award | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Name | Position at USF | Career at USF | |
| 1989 | Pete Rozelle | Student/Athletics News Director | 1948-1950 | |
The Reds Bagnell Award is presented annually to an individual for their contributions to the game of American football. The award is presented by the Maxwell Football Club. It is named for longtime Club president and College Football Hall of Fame member Reds Bagnell.
| Pop Warner Trophy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Name | Position at USF | Career at USF | |
| 1951 | Ollie Matson | Halfback | 1949-1951 | |
The Glenn "Pop" Warner Memorial Trophy was awarded annually by the Palo Club to the most valuable senior player on the West Coast. It was awarded from 1949 to 2004. [4] [5] Notably, all but 5 recipients played for Pac-10 institutions. Ollie Mateson was the third recipient of the award.
| College Football Hall of Fame | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | Years at USF | Inducted | |
| Ollie Matson | HB | 1949-1951 | 1976 | |
In 1951, Matson's senior year at USF, he led the nation in rushing yardage and touchdowns en route to leading the Dons to an undefeated season. He was selected as an All-American and finished ninth in Heisman Trophy balloting that year. [6] Despite its 9–0 record, the 1951 San Francisco team was not invited to a bowl game. Matson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1976.
| Pro Football Hall of Fame | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | Years at USF | Inducted | |
| Pete Rozelle | NFL Commissioner | 1948–1950 | 1985 | |
| Ollie Matson | HB | 1949-1951 | 1972 | |
| Gino Marchetti | DE/OT | 1947 | 1972 | |
| Bob St. Clair | DT/OT | 1949-1951 | 1990 | |
| Dick Stanfel | OG | 1948-1950 | 2016 | |
Pete Rozelle was an American businessman and executive. Rozelle served as the commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) for nearly thirty years, from January 1960 until his retirement in November 1989. He is credited with making the NFL into one of the most successful sports leagues in the world. [7] [8] He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985, while still serving a Commissioner of the NFL. Rozelle attended USF as a student publicist in 1948-1949 and worked as the schools Athletic News Director for the Dons in 1950.
Matson was drafted in the first round of the 1952 NFL draft by the Chicago Cardinals, third pick overall. He went on to share 1952 Rookie of the Year honors with Hugh McElhenny of the San Francisco 49ers. Matson was a 6× Pro Bowl (1952, 1954–1958), elected to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, enshrined in the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame and the Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor. Matson was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972.
Gino Marchetti was a defensive end and offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played in 1952 for the Dallas Texans and from 1953 to 1966 for the Baltimore Colts. He was a 11× Pro Bowl (1954–1964), the 1960 NFL sacks leader and 2 time NFL Champion in 1958 and 1959 wit the Baltimore Colts. He is enshrined in the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor and the Indianapolis Colts have retired his No. 89. In 1969, Marchetti was named to the National Football League 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. In 1994, Marchetti was named to the National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. In 2019, he was unanimously named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972.
Bob St. Clair may be the only player in NFL history to have spent nearly all of his entire playing career in the same city, playing in the same stadium at all levels. St. Clair attended San Francisco's Polytechnic High School (located across the street from the stadium) and the University of San Francisco, and was part of USF's undefeated 1951 team. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1953 and played his entire professional career in San Francisco until his retirement prior to the 1964 season. In 2001, as a tribute for playing a total of 17 seasons and 189 home games at Kezar Stadium, the city of San Francisco renamed the stadium's field in honor of St. Clair. He was a 5× Pro Bowl (1956, 1958–1961), elected to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame and the San Francisco 49ers retired his No. 79. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Dick Stanfel was a 2× NFL champion (1952, 1953) with the Detroit Lions, 5× Pro Bowler (1953, 1955–1958), elected to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team and the Detroit Lions All-Time Team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
Notable alumni include:
| | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2012) |
Alvin Ray "Pete" Rozelle was an American businessman and executive. Rozelle served as the commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) for nearly thirty years, from January 1960 until his retirement in November 1989. He became the youngest commissioner in NFL history at just the age of 33. He is credited with making the NFL into one of the most successful sports leagues in the world.
Robert Bruce St. Clair was an American professional football player who played 11 seasons as a tackle for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). Known for his intelligence and towering size, at 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) tall, St. Clair earned All-Pro honors nine times and is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He played college football for the San Francisco Dons and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
Joseph Lawrence Kuharich was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of San Francisco from 1948 to 1951, and at Notre Dame from 1959 to 1962, compiling a career college football record of 42–37. Kuharich was also the head coach of the Chicago Cardinals in 1952, the Washington Redskins from 1954 to 1958, and the Philadelphia Eagles from 1964 to 1968, achieving a career coaching record of 58–81–3 in the National Football League (NFL).
Ollie Genoa Matson II was an American Olympic medal winning sprinter and professional football player. He played as a halfback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) from 1952 to 1966 for the Chicago Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the San Francisco Dons and was selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 1952 NFL Draft.
Gary Lynn "Big Hands" Johnson was an American professional football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was a four-time All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowl selection. He played the majority of his NFL career with the San Diego Chargers, and he was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame.
The 1952 National Football League Draft was held on January 17, 1952, at Hotel Statler in New York. Selections made by New York Yanks were assigned to the new Dallas Texans.
Burl Abron Toler Sr. was an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) for 25 seasons from 1965 to 1989. He was a field judge and head linesman throughout his career and is most notable for being the first African-American official in the NFL. He also officiated in one Super Bowl, Super Bowl XIV in 1980, and wore the uniform number 37 for most of his career, except for the 1979–81 period, when officials were numbered by position. Toler wore number 18 for those three seasons.
Charles Edward Brown was an American professional football player who was a quarterback and punter in the National Football League (NFL).
Richard Anthony Stanfel was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played as a guard, and his college and professional career spanned more than 50 years from 1948 to 1998. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player in 2016. He was also named to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team.
Gerald J. Tubbs was an American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. He was selected by Chicago Cardinals in the first round of the 1957 NFL Draft. After his retirement, he stayed with the Cowboys as an assistant coach for 22 years. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma.
David Wayne Parks was an American football wide receiver and tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He was the first overall selection in the 1964 NFL Draft out of Texas Technological College. Parks was selected to three Pro Bowls, and was an All-Pro selection two times. In 1965 he captured the "triple crown" of receiving, leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. In 2008 Parks was selected to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
James Michael LeClair was an American football player and coach. He played professionally as a linebacker for 12 seasons, from 1972 to 1983, in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cincinnati Bengals and two seasons, from 1984 to 1985, in the United States Football League (USFL) with the New Jersey Generals. LeClair played college football at University of Minnesota Crookston and the University of North Dakota. He served as the head football coach at Mayville State University in Mayville, North Dakota from 1986 to 1988. LeClair was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1999.
The San Francisco Dons is the nickname of the athletic teams at the University of San Francisco (USF). The Dons compete in NCAA Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as members of the West Coast Conference (WCC), of which USF is a charter member.
Billy Wilson was an American football wide receiver who played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1951 to 1960. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times.
Louis "Red" Edmund Stephens was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He was a member of the famous 1951 San Francisco Dons who went undefeated (9-0) but were denied an invitation to the Orange Bowl because they refused to not include their two African-American star players: Ollie Matson and Burl Toler. The squad had ten future NFL players, five future NFL Pro-Bowlers, and three future NFL Hall of Famers – a record for a single college team.
William R. Dando was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at John Carroll University in 1964 and at the University at Buffalo from 1977 to 1989, compiling a career college football record of 63–68–1. Dando began his college playing career at the University of San Francisco. He was a member of the 1951 Dons who were uninvited to a bowl game that year because they had two African American players on the team: Ollie Matson and Burl Toler. The University at Buffalo Alumni Association inducted Coach Dando into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. Bill Dando, UB's 19th head football coach, whose commitment to the program and the great athletes and students that he produced are credited with creating the base for the university's rise to Division I-A. When hired as head coach in 1977, Dando had to rebuild a program, at the Division III level, that the university had dissolved at the Division I level in 1970. Among the highlights of Dando's 13 seasons with the Bulls are the 1983 team, which posted a record of 8–2 and whose offense recorded numbers that still stand as UB records, and the 1986 team, which posted a record of 9–2, finishing fifth in the East and 20th in the NCAA Division III poll.
The University of San Francisco (USF) is a private Jesuit university in San Francisco, California. The university's main campus is located on a 55-acre (22 ha) setting between the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park. The main campus is nicknamed "The Hilltop" and is split into two sections within a block of each other. Part of the main campus is located on Lone Mountain, one of San Francisco's major geographical features. Its close historical ties with the City and County of San Francisco are reflected in the university's traditional motto, Pro Urbe et Universität.
'51 Dons is a 2014 American documentary film directed by Ron Luscinski and written by Luscinski, Tom Davis and Danny Llewelyn. Narrated by Johnny Mathis, it covers the 1951 San Francisco Dons football team and its unique stand against racism. The team, including future NFL players and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Bob St. Clair and Gino Marchetti, declined an invitation to play in the Orange Bowl that would have required them to leave their African-American players Ollie Matson and Burl Toler home. This act was one of the contributing factors that led to the end of organized football at the University of San Francisco. The university's athletic news director, Pete Rozelle, went on to become the commissioner of the NFL, where he reshaped American football.
The 1951 All-Pacific Coast football team consists of American football players chosen by the Associated Press (AP) and the United Press (UP) as the best college football players by position in the Pacific Coast region during the 1951 college football season. The AP selections included separate offensive and defensive units and were based on the consensus views of "football experts and coaches throughout the Pacific Coast." The UP selections did not include a separate defensive unit and were made by the region's coaches.
The 1951 San Francisco Dons football team was an American football team that represented the University of San Francisco as an independent during the 1951 college football season. In their fourth season under head coach Joe Kuharich, the Dons compiled a 9–0 record, outscored opponents by a total of 338 to 86, and were ranked No. 14 in the final AP Poll. The team was ranked at No. 27 in the 1951 Litkenhous Ratings.
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