Pacific Tigers football

History

The 1943 Pacific Tigers football team was an independent during the 1943 college football season. In their 11th season under head coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, the Tigers compiled a record of 7–2 and finished the season ranked No. 19 in the AP poll. The Tigers played home games at Baxter Stadium in Stockton. The Tigers beat a strong UCLA Bruins team, the No. 20 ranked Cal Bears and No. 10 ranked Saint Mary's Gaels. This led the 1943 Tigers defensive kine to be rated the strongest in the west. The team was at one time ranked No. 6 in the nation by the Associated Press. The 1943 team produced Pacific's 1st All-Americans in tackle Al McCaffrey and running back John Podesto. Amos Alonzo Stagg was also named "Coach of the Year" by the American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America

The 1949 Pacific Tigers football team was an independent during the 1949 college football season. In their third season under head coach Larry Siemering, the Tigers compiled an undefeated and untied 11–0 record, were ranked No. 10 in the final AP poll, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 575 to 66. The Tigers' victories included wins over Cincinnati, San Diego State, San Jose State, Fresno State, Nevada, Hawaii, and Utah.

Quarterback Eddie LeBaron was selected by both the Associated Press and International News Service as a first-team player on the 1949 All-Pacific Coast football team. Don Campora and Eddie LeBaron were both selected in the following 1950 NFL draft

Conference affiliations

• 1895–1921: Independent
• 1922–1923: California Coast Conference
• 1924: Independent
• 1925–1942: Far West Conference
• 1943–1945: Independent
• 1946–1948: California Collegiate Athletic Association
• 1949–1968: Independent
• 1969–1995: Pacific Coast Athletic Association / Big West Conference

Conference championships

Bowl games

The Pacific Tigers played in six bowl games total, but only three sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with a record of 2–1.

† Not an NCAA-sanctioned bowl game

Home stadiums

;Notes

Stagg Memorial Stadium

thumb|200px|View of the stadium in 1961 Previously known as "Pacific Memorial Stadium", it was a 28,000-seat outdoor stadium located on the campus of the University of the Pacific in Stockton. Constructed in 1950 for football, it was the home venue for the Pacific Tigers football team, and later hosted women's soccer; it was closed in 2012 and demolished two years later.

The stadium originally seated 35,975 with room for expansion to over 44,000, but renovations reduced the capacity to a configuration of 28,000. It was the venue for a 1997 friendly soccer match between Brazil and Honduras; notable striker Ronaldo scored six goals and Brazil won 8–2.

On February 26, 2012, the university announced it would close Stagg Memorial Stadium to conduct a feasibility study to assess needed repairs, upgrades and changes required to make the facility meet modern standards in conjunction with a financial assessment to determine if the stadium could be repaired or if it should be replaced.

In April 2022 the "Stagg Memorial Plaza" was dedicated and open to the public on the grounds of the old stadium. The 9,000 sq. ft. plaza, located off of Larry Heller Drive across from the Alex G. Spanos Center, is "envisioned as a gathering place for alumni and students who will learn of the storied history of Pacific Football through the stories and statues encircling the plaza. The plaza will also serve as a campus destination hosting several tailgates and gatherings annually associated with athletic and campus events."

Rivalries

San Jose State

Main article: Victory Bell (Pacific–San Jose State)

The now defunct, nearly 100 year, rivalry match up between the SJSU Spartans and the Pacific Tigers began in January 1896 and ended in 1995 when Pacific dropped its football program. The 'Spartan-Tiger Football Game' was played 72 times between 1896 and 1995.

Due to the "private vs. public" institutional competitiveness and the close geographical proximity of the two schools, a natural "cross-town" rivalry was born. University of the Pacific was founded in 1851 in Santa Clara, California, and claims to be the first institution of higher education in California. San José State University was founded in 1857 and is California's first public institution of higher education.

In 1949, in a game which drew national attention, the Victory Bell was unveiled. The Victory Bell would go to the winner of subsequent Tiger-Spartan games. The bell was two feet tall and waist-high on a rolling cart. The bell was half black with an orange "P" for Pacific and half blue with a gold "SJ" for San Jose.

The Spartans led the series 43–23–6 when the rivalry ended at the close of the 1995 season.

Fresno State

Fresno State and Pacific first met in 1963 in Stockton, CA with a Bulldogs victory 29-7. Due to the 2 campuses close proximity, within 134 miles, and just over a 2-hour drive straight on California State route 99, bragging rights for the best team in the San Joaquin Valley were at stake when these 2 football programs collided on the gridiron.

At the end of 1995 season when Pacific dropped its football program the Bulldogs won the 25 game series 17-8.

Sacramento State

Sacramento State and Pacific first met in 1973 in Stockton, CA. Due to the 2 campuses close proximity, within 51 miles, and just under an hour drive straight on I-5, bragging rights for the best team in the San Joaquin Valley were at stake when these 2 football programs collided on the gridiron.

At the end of 1995 season when Pacific dropped its football program the Tigers led the 20-year series 7-2.

Final AP Poll rankings

National and conference award winners

• Pop Warner Trophy 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. Notably, all but 5 recipients played for Pac-8/Pac-10 institutions. The award is distinguished from the unaffiliated W. J. Voit Memorial Trophy, presented annually from 1951 to 1978 to the top player on the Pacific Coast regardless of class-year.

• Eddie LeBaron, was the inaugural Pop Warner Memorial Trophy recipient in 1949.
• National Football Foundation Gold Medal

The National Football Foundation recognizes individuals who demonstrate outstanding support for promoting the game of amateur football. The NFF Gold Medal is the highest award offered by the National Football Foundation.

• AFCA Coach of the Year

• Football Writers Association of America Coach of the Year

• Corbett Award

This honor is awarded annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). It is presented "to the collegiate administrator who has most typified Corbett's devotion to intercollegiate athletics and worked unceasingly for its betterment."

• National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Award

Individual honors

Retired numbers

College Football Hall of Fame

Pro Football Hall of Fame

All-Americans

Notable players and alumni

• Pete Carroll
• Hue Jackson
• Walt Harris
• Ron Turner
• Greg Robinson
• Jon Gruden
• Ed Donatell
• Dante Scarnecchia
• Bruce Coslet
• Greg Seamon
• Brad Seely
• John Fassel
• Chester Caddas
• Bob Lee
• Jack Myers
• Tom Flores
• Mike Merriweather
• Nick Holt
• Eddie LeBaron
• Don Campora
• Bob Cope
• Eddie Macon
• Amos Alonzo Stagg
• Wayne Hardin
• Dick Bass
• Willard Harrell
• Troy Kopp
• Willie Hector
• John Nisby
• Wayne Hawkins

Gallery

File:Pacific football team 1915.jpg|1915 team file:Pacific tigers 1964 football roster.jpg|1964 team file:Pacific football game 1971 (3).jpg|1971 game file:Pacific football game 1972 (1).jpg|Offensive formation in 1972 File:Pacific football game 1972 (7).jpg copia.jpg|Coach Chester Caddas (left) during a 1972 game Pacific football game 1972 (6).jpg|1972 game Pacific football game 1973 (2).jpg|1973 game File:Pacific tigers football 1976 roster.jpg|1976 team

References

References

1. (20 December 1995). "Pacific Decides to Drop Football".
2. Gilbert, Lori. "Ten years ago, the final horn sounded for Pacific".
3. Marvin, Joe. (May 2001). "Stagg at Pacific (1943-1946)". [[LA84 Foundation]].
4. "Pacific Football Reunion and Hall of Fame Weekend".
5. (November 25, 1949). "Carpenter Draws Most Votes in Winning Position ON Associated Press' 25th All-Coast Selection". The Corvallis Gazette-Times.
6. Joe St. Amant. (November 22, 1949). "Bears Pace All-Pacific Coast Football Eleven". El Paso Herald-Post.
7. (December 22, 1946). "Last-second pass whips Staggmen". The Los Angeles Times.
8. (December 14, 1947). "Pacific Tigers capture Grape Bowl, 35 To 21". The Fresno Bee.
9. (January 2, 1948). "College of Pacific beats Wichita in Raisin Bowl". Wilmington Morning News.
10. (December 12, 1948). "COP, Hardin–Simmons play to 35–35 tie". Valley Morning Star.
11. (January 2, 1952). "Tech defeats Pacific in Sun Bowl, 25–14". The El Paso Times.
12. (January 2, 1953). "Pacific scores smashing Sun Bowl victory, 26 to 7". The Record.
13. "Archived copy".
14. [https://www.recordnet.com/picture-gallery/news/2014/04/19/stagg-memorial-stadium-demolition-continues/713204007/ Stagg Memorial Stadium demolition continues] on recordnet.com, 18 Apr 2014
15. [https://www.capradio.org/articles/2014/02/24/university-of-the-pacifics-stadium-to-be-torn-down/ University Of The Pacific's Stadium To Be Torn Down] by Rich Ibarra at capradio.org. February 24, 2014
16. "Stagg Stadium to Close While University Conducts {{as written". Pacifictigers.com.
17. "FPacific Football Legacy Project". Pacific.edu.
18. "Pacific's Mission".
19. Mountjoy, Nicole Grady. (2021). "The Campus History Series: The University of the Pacific". Arcadia.
20. "Spear the Spartans".
21. Pac-12 Conference Mar 3, 2005. (2005-03-03). "J.J. Arrington Wins Pop Warner Award". Pac-12.
22. (26 January 1955). "Shaw receives Warner Trophy". Madera Tribune.
23. [https://pacifictigers.com/sports/2020/5/4/retired-numbers-jerseys.aspx RETIRED NUMBERS/JERSEYS] at Pacifictigers.com