San Francisco State Gators football

Last updated
San Francisco State Gators football
San Francisco State Gators (logo).jpg
First season1931
Last season1994
Stadium Cox Stadium
(capacity: 5,000)
Field surfaceGrass
Location San Francisco, California
Conference Northern California Athletic Conference
Bowl record0–3 (.000)
ColorsPurple and gold [1]
   

The San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State University (formerly San Francisco State Teacher's College) from the 1931 through 1994 seasons. The Gators originally competed as an independent prior to World War II, then as a member of the Far West Conference from 1946 until the conference changed its name to become the Northern California Athletic Conference, where they remained through the 1994 season. San Francisco State played its home games at multiple stadiums throughout its history with the most recent being Cox Field in San Francisco. San Francisco State was known as the "Cradle of Coaches", having produced coaching greats such as Mike Holmgren, Andy Reid, Bob Toledo, and many others. [2]

Contents

History

Early years

San Francisco State Teachers College was first coached by Dave Cox, who had previously coached at Polytechnic High, starting in the 1931 season. Dave Cox coached the team- then known as the "Golden Gaters"- for four seasons before announcing his resignation due to ill health on August 31, 1935. [3] He was replaced by his two assistants, Dan Farmer who had played and coached at Chico State, and Hal Hardin from Oregon State. Farmer coached the backs while Hardin worked with the linemen. Farmer took over the head coaching position and was described in the Berkeley Daily Gazette as "one of the greatest athletes ever to graduate from Chico," [4] He also coached the "Gaters'" basketball team. During the 1935 season, veteran halfback Ralph Nathan was injured for two weeks but returned to the backfield to join quarterback Keith Cox against San Francisco Junior College. [5] In most newspaper accounts from 1935–1940, the team was referred to as the "Staters".

Farmer was later honored by Golden Gater rival Chico State, his alma mater, with a trophy bearing his name that was contested between the two schools. [6] After spending six seasons coaching the football team, Farmer was replaced by former St. Mary's All-American halfback Dick Boyle in October 1938. [7] During the 1940 season, Boyle's Staters scrimmaged throughout the week in preparation for matches against military sides like the Moffett Field Air Corps Eleven, and over half of his playbook consisted of passing plays to make use of "capable tossers" including Reno Cardoni, John Verducci, Dick Chin, and Fred Hinze. [8]

The outbreak of World War II caused a flurry of change for the "Staters" football program. By this time, publications were referring to the team as the "Gaters". Dick Boyle became a lieutenant in the navy after the 1941 season and was replaced by Ray Kaufman in June 1942. [9] Kaufman's tenure was to be a short one, however, as it was announced that Dan Farmer would return to replace Kaufman, who entered the Navy as a gunnery officer, in October of the same year. [10] San Francisco State did not field a team in 1943 or 1944 and played a limited schedule at the "Gators" in 1945. While Farmer remained with the State College through the decade in various capacities including head coach of the basketball program, he stepped down from football upon Boyle's return from service in the Navy for the 1946 season. Boyle's second stint as head coach in the late 1940s is remembered by his successful protest of the "deadman" trick play, which was outlawed in a "gentlemen's agreement" between Far Western Conference schools after used by Southern Oregon to defeat State College 13–7 in the 1947 season. [11]

The Fruit Bowl

San Francisco State met the Southern University Jaguars in the 1948 Fruit Bowl in San Francisco, finding themselves completely outclassed on a muddy field and shut out 30–0 in front of 5,000 fans. [12] The Fruit Bowl game is noteworthy for being the first interracial bowl game played in the United States. [13]

The Verducci era

The arrival of Joe Verducci to San Francisco State from St. Mary's College was rather unexpected; after all, St. Mary's was a team that had defeated Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl in 1939, and followed it up with appearances in the Sugar Bowl and the Oil Bowl in 1946 and 1947. [14] San Francisco State was coming off a shutout loss to Southern. Verducci must have made a difference, as St. Mary's did not return to another bowl while SF State became a Far West powerhouse in the next decade. Verducci's time with the Gaels was indeed short, having replaced "Irish Jimmy Phelan" (who became the mentor of the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America conference), in April 1948. [15] Verducci had been a quarterback with the University of California, and had coached Polytechnic High to a record of 35–6–6 from 1938–1943. [15]

The 1950 season, Verducci's first, was successful for the Gators. This was the first winning season in San Francisco State football history, as the team went through the regular season with only a single loss (to Whittier on October 13). They met Lewis & Clark in the Pear Bowl at Medford on Thanksgiving day, losing by a score of 61–7. [16]

Verducci's San Francisco State team went undefeated in 1959, then had only one loss in 1960. He was named Northern California Coach of the Year in November 1960, angering fans of Humboldt State whose coach Phil Sarboe had taken the Lumberjacks to a 9–0 record and an 18-game winning streak, including handing Verducci and the Gators their lone loss in 1960. [17] Students at Humboldt State college burned three dummies representing sports writers in effigy.

Verducci had announced his retirement from coaching on May 27, 1960, effective at the end of the 1960 season. He remained at San Francisco State as athletic director. College President Glenn S. Dumke named Vic Rowen, line coach for the previous six seasons, as his successor. [18] In eleven years under Verducci, the Gators had a record of 74–31, for a winning percentage of .704. Verducci's teams won the conference title six times.

The Rowen era

Vic Rowen coached the team for the next 29 seasons. Under Rowen the Gators compiled a record of 130–165–10, a .443 winning percentage. His teams won the conference championship five times (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, & 1967), and they appeared in one bowl game during his tenure (the 1967 Camellia Bowl).

The 1985 season showed promise behind quarterback Rich Strasser, who was described by the coach of the opposing Santa Clara Broncos as "the Division II Doug Flutie". [19] In an early season matchup in September against Cal Lutheran, the combination of Strasser and receiver Ron Teitel could not overcome the clock in the final seconds, but managed to impress the Los Angeles Times staff writer nonetheless. [20]

After Rowen

Dennis Creehan came to San Francisco State after a turmoil-filled day in March 1990 when Creehan was named the linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, only to have the team rescind the appointment the next day once Steelers coach Chuck Noll discovered that Creehan was the headman at SFSU, instead of an assistant coach at UC Berkeley as he had been led to believe. [21] The Steelers hired Bob Valesente for the position and Creehan remained at San Francisco State, but argued that his opportunity to work in the National Football League (NFL) was stolen by the newspapers in Pittsburgh, claiming to have had his career ruined and his family humiliated by reporters at the Post-Gazette . [22]

Following Hamilton, Creehan, and Rowan as the fourth coach in as many years was Dick Mannini, announced for the position on July 21, 1992. [23] Mannini had served as the defensive coordinator at Stanford from 1984–1988, and had been the head coach of the St. Mary's Gaels from 1977–1983. [23] He coached the Gators for their final three seasons until president Robert A. Corrigan killed the program on March 8, 1995. [24]

San Francisco State Football did not have a winning season after 1973, and only a single winning season after 1967; but they won eight conference titles between 1954 and 1967 and had a run of 11 straight winning seasons. [25]

Head coaches

TenureCoachYearsRecordPct.
1931–1934 Dave Cox 48–19–4.323
1935–1938 Dan Farmer & Hal Hardin (co-coaches)47–19–3.293
1939–1941 Dick Boyle 37–13–3.369
1942 Ray Kaufman 1/20–4.000
1942, 1945 Dan Farmer 1 1/20–4.000
1946–1949 Dick Boyle 47–13–3.397
1950–1960 Joe Verducci 1174–31.704
1961–1989 Vic Rowen 29120–163–10.427
1990 Dennis Creehan 14–7.363
1991 Harold Hamilton 13–7.300
1992–1994 Dick Mannini 36–22.214
Totals11 coaches62236–302–23 [26] .441

Records

Bowl results

DateBowlLocationW/LOpponentPFPA
December 5, 1948 Fruit Bowl San Francisco, California L Southern 030
November 27, 1950 Pear Bowl Medford, Oregon L Lewis & Clark 761
December 9, 1967 Camellia Bowl Sacramento, California L San Diego State 627
Total3 bowl games0–313118

Gators in the pros

In the NFL

San Francisco State University has 14 alumni who were drafted into the National Football League. [27] Among those drafted into the NFL, Floyd Peters would go on to become a standout defensive tackle for the Baltimore Colts, earning a bid to the Pro Bowl three times. Likewise, Elmer Collett had a ten-year career with the San Francisco 49ers as well as the Baltimore Colts, making it to the Pro Bowl in the 1969 season.

Another NFL figure, Bill Baird, was drafted into the American Football League and started for the New York Jets from 1963 to 1969. Baird was a part of the Jets team that played in Super Bowl III in 1969 that defeated a heavily favored NFL Baltimore Colts team to give the AFL their first (and the Jets to date only) Super Bowl victory.

Several NFL coaches were on the staff of San Francisco State. Dirk Koetter, former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was the Gators' offensive coordinator in 1985 and Andy Reid, current head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and former head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, was the Gators' offensive line coach from 1983-1985. [28]

In other professional leagues

In addition to the players that competed in the NFL, there have been several former Gators that have made careers in other professional football leagues. Former Gator defensive end Nick Kukilica earned a place among the All-Stars of the short-lived Continental Football League in 1969, playing for the Sacramento Capitols. [29] Likewise, several Gators found success with the Canadian Football League; Doug Parish had a career with the Edmonton Eskimos, [30] while Ken Hailey played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. [31]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galen Hall</span> American football player and coach (born 1940)

Galen Samuel Hall is a retired American college and professional football coach and player. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and an alumnus of Penn State University, where he played college football. Hall was previously the offensive coordinator at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Florida, and the head coach of the University of Florida, the Orlando Thunder, the Rhein Fire, and the XFL's Orlando Rage. He most recently served as the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Penn State.

Victor Rowen was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at Defiance College from 1951 to 1953 and at San Francisco State University from 1961 to 1989, compiling a career college football record of 132–173–10. His tenure of 28 years as head coach San Francisco State spanned over half of the length of time college football was played at the school. Rowen was also the head basketball coach at Defiance from 1951 to 1954 at and San Francisco State for a season in 1957–58, tallying a career college basketball mark of 54–34.

Reginald Gerard McGrew is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons during the late 1990s and early 2000s. McGrew played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the San Francisco 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL.

Teryl Austin is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was previously the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions from 2014 to 2017 and the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco State Gators</span> Athletic teams of San Francisco State University

The San Francisco State Gators are the athletic teams that compete at San Francisco State University in San Francisco, California. The nickname applies to the college's intercollegiate NCAA Division II teams. The nickname was published in the student newspaper, "The Leaf", but was long referred to in media alternatively as the "Staters" and the "Golden Gaters". The use of Gaters eventually evolved into the Gators as known today.

The 1967 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State College—now known as San Francisco State University—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1967 NCAA College Division football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Vic Rowen, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 9–2 with a mark of 6–0 in conference play, winning the FWC for the fifth time in seven years. For the season the team outscored its opponents 235 to 134. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The 1968 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State College—now known as San Francisco State University—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1968 NCAA College Division football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Vic Rowen, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 3–3 in conference play, tying for third place in the FWC. For the season the team was outscored by its opponents 195 to 125. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The 1969 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State College—now known as San Francisco State University—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1969 NCAA College Division football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Vic Rowen, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 3–7 with a mark of 1–4 in conference play, placing fifth in the FWC. For the season the team was outscored by its opponents 305 to 151. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The 1960 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State College—now known as San Francisco State University—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1960 college football season. Led by Joe Verducci in his 11th and final year as head coach, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 9–1 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, placing second in the FWC. For the season the team outscored its opponents 247 to 47. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The 1958 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State College—now known as San Francisco State University—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1958 college football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Joe Verducci, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 7–3 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, winning the FWC title for the third consecutive season. For the season the team outscored its opponents 184 to 146. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The 1956 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State College—now known as San Francisco State University—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1956 college football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Joe Verducci, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, sharing the FWC title with the Cal Aggies and Humboldt State. For the season the team was outscored by its opponents 177 to 168. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The 1955 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State College—now known as San Francisco State University—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1955 college football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Joe Verducci, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 3–2 in conference play, placing third in the FWC. For the season the team outscored its opponents 171 to 142. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The 1954 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State College—now known as San Francisco State University—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1954 college football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Joe Verducci, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 8–2 with a mark of 5–0 in conference play, winning the FWC title. For the season the team outscored its opponents 253 to 120. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The 1953 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State College—now known as San Francisco State University—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1953 college football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Joe Verducci, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 5–3 with a mark of 0–1 in conference play. For the season the team outscored its opponents 180 to 159. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The 1952 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State College—now known as San Francisco State University—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1952 college football season. Led by third-year head coach Joe Verducci, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 4–5 with a mark of 1–0 in conference play, placing third in the FWC. For the season the team was outscored by its opponents 219 to 211. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The 1951 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State College—now known as San Francisco State University—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1951 college football season. Led by second-year head coach Joe Verducci, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 8–2 with a mark of 2–0 in conference play, placing second in the FWC. For the season, the team was outscored by its opponents 246 to 167. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The 1950 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State College—now known as San Francisco State University—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1950 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Joe Verducci, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 6–2 with a mark of 4–0 in conference play, winning the FWC title, the program's first conference championship. As champion of the FWC, the Gators qualified for the fifth annual Pear Bowl in Medford, Oregon. San Francisco State lost the game to Lewis & Clark, 61–7. For the season the team outscored by its opponents 260 to 180. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The 1948 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State College—now known as San Francisco State University—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1948 college football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Dick Boyle, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 3–5 with a mark of 2–2 in conference play, placing third in the FWC. For the season the team was outscored by its opponents 137 to 63. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The 1990 San Francisco State Gators football team represented San Francisco State University as a member of the Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC) during the 1990 NCAA Division II football season. Led by Dennis Creehan in his first and only season as head coach, San Francisco State compiled an overall record of 4–7 with a mark of 1–4 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for fourth place in the NCAC. For the season the team was outscored by its opponents 253 to 237. The Gators played home games at Cox Stadium in San Francisco.

The history of California Golden Bears football began in 1886, the team has won five NCAA recognized national titles - 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1937 and 15 conference championships, the last one in 2006.

References

  1. ↑ "Color System | Identity System | San Francisco State University" . Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  2. ↑ Fool, Betting (March 9, 2004). "Local sports disappearing, Bay Area pros can help". SF Gate. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Dave Cox Resigns as Staters Coach". Berkeley Daily Gazette. August 31, 1935. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Golden Gaters to Meet Chico State". Berkeley Daily Gazette. October 13, 1939. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  5. ↑ "State Backfield Chosen for Game". Berkeley Daily Gazette. October 10, 1935. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Schools to Honor Coach". Berkeley Daily Gazette. October 16, 1940. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Dick Boyle Named S.F. State Mentor". Berkeley Daily Gazette. October 15, 1938. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Staters to Face Air Corps Eleven". Berkeley Daily Gazette. September 9, 1940. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Alumnus Is Named Head Football Coach at S.F. State". San Jose Evening News. United Press. June 2, 1942. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Dan Farmer Named to Succeed Ray Kaufman". Berkeley Daily Gazette. October 27, 1942. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  11. ↑ "'Deadman' Trick Play Outlawed in West". The Pittsburgh Press. January 12, 1948. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Jaguar Cats Win Fruit Bowl Game". The New York Times. December 5, 1948. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Deaths (Part 2 of 2)". The Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana). August 29, 2006. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Saint Mary's Bowl History". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 13 December 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  15. 1 2 "Joe Verducci Named Grid Coach for the Gaels". Warsaw Daily Union. April 2, 1948. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Pear Bowl Game Set at Medford". The Bulletin. November 21, 1950. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Humboldt Sore Over Selection". Spokane Daily Chronicle. November 16, 1960. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Verducci to Retire". Eugene Register-Guard. May 27, 1960. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Strasser Worries Broncos, Malley calls him Division II Flutie". San Jose Mercury News. November 2, 1985. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  20. ↑ Henson, Steve (September 28, 1985). "Strasser-Teitel Show Still Gets Rave Reviews". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Steelers hire ex-Pitt coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 10, 1990. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  22. ↑ Bouchette, Ed (March 14, 1990). "Creehan: Newspapers ruined me". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  23. 1 2 "New SFSU Coach". Lodi News-Sentinel. July 22, 1992. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  24. ↑ Leef, Ralph (March 10, 1995). "MANDATES KILLED SF STATE FOOTBALL". Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  25. ↑ Curtis, Jake (March 9, 1995). "Long-Time SF State Coach 'Heartbroken' At Demise of Football". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  26. ↑ "San Francisco St. (CA) Records by Year". Archived from the original on February 18, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  27. ↑ "National Football League: NFL Draft History – by School". NFL.com. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Peter King Monday Morning QB: Raider-Cowboy dream". mmqb.si.com. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Continental Football League (1965–1969)" . Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  30. ↑ "1993 Jogo CFL Football Cards". Ab D. Cards. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  31. ↑ "1985 Jogo CFL Football Cards". Ab D. Cards. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.