The Pacific Tigers football team represented the University of the Pacific in NCAA Division I-A (now FBS) college football. The team competed in the Big West Conference during their last season in 1995. They played their home games at Stagg Memorial Stadium in Stockton, California. On December 19, 1995, the Board of Regents voted to disband the team in order to save money for the athletic program, which was reported to have gone over $400,000 in debt. All scholarships were honored for current players of the team.
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 line 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 1923 California Coast Erwin Righter 7–0–0 4–01936 Far West Amos Stagg 5–4–1 4–01938 Far West Amos Stagg 7–3 4–0 1940 Far West Amos Stagg 4–5 2–01941 Far West Amos Stagg 4–7 3–01942 Far West Amos Stagg 2–6–1 2–01947 California Collegiate Larry Siemering 10–1 5–0
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.
1946 Amos Stagg Optimist Bowl North Texas State L 13–14 1947 Larry Siemering Grape Bowl Utah State W 35–21 1947 Larry Siemering Raisin Bowl Wichita W 26–14 1948 Larry Siemering Grape Bowl Hardin–Simmons T 35–35 1951 Ernie Jorge Sun Bowl Texas Tech L 14–25 1952 Ernie Jorge Sun Bowl Mississippi Southern W 26–7 † Not an NCAA-sanctioned bowl game
Home stadiums Period Stadium Location Capacity 1895–1899 Cyclers' Park San Jose n/a 1919–1922 C.O.P. Field San Jose n/a 1923–1928 College of the Pacific Field Stockton n/a 1929–1949 Baxter Stadium Stockton 12,000 1948–1949 KJ Stadium Areana Lodi 18,000 1950–1995 Stagg Memorial Stadium Stockton 28,000 Notes
Stagg Memorial Stadium
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.Stagg Memorial Stadium demolition continues on recordnet.com, 18 Apr 2014University Of The Pacific's Stadium To Be Torn Down by Rich Ibarra at capradio.org. February 24, 2014
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
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 1943 No. 191949 No. 10
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.
Pop Warner Trophy Year Name Position 1949 Eddie LeBaron QB
Eddie LeBaron, was the inaugural Pop Warner Memorial Trophy recipient in 1949. National Football Foundation Gold Medal National Football Foundation Gold Medal Year Name Position 1960 Amos Alonzo Stagg Head Coach 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 AFCA Coach of the Year Year Name Position 1943 Amos Alonzo Stagg Head Coach
Football Writers Association of America Coach of the Year Football Writers Association of America Coach of the Year Year Name Position 1943 Amos Alonzo Stagg Head Coach
Corbett Award Corbett Award Year Name Position 2000 Cedric Dempsey Athletic Director 2015Carl Miller Athletic Director 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 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award Year Name Position 1979 Bruce Filarsky DL
Individual honors
Retired numbers
Pacific Tigers retired numbers No. Player Pos. Tenure No. ret. Ref. 22 Dick Bass HB 1955–1958 September 1984 39 Willard Harrell RB 1971–1974 May 1986 40 Eddie LeBaron QB 1946–1949 March 1950 RETIRED NUMBERS/JERSEYS at Pacifictigers.com 41 Eddie Macon HB 1949–1951 April 2008
College Football Hall of Fame College Football Hall of Fame Name Position Year Inducted Amos Stagg Coach 1933–1946 1951 Eddie LeBaron QB 1946–1949 1980 Wayne Hardin QB / HB / Coach 1946–1948, 1949, 1952 2013
Pro Football Hall of Fame Pro Football Hall of Fame Name Position Year Inducted Tom Flores Quarterback, coach 1957–1958 2021
All-Americans 1943 Art McCaffray DT CO-1st Team/ NYS-1st Team/ UP-2nd Team 1943 John Podesto FB LK-1st Team/ NYS-1st Team/ AP-3rd Team 1943 John Podesto HB SS-1st Team 1949 Eddie LeBaron QB INSD- 1st/ NEA-1st Team/ UP-2nd Team 1953 Ken Buck DE FWAA-1st Team 1958 Dick Bass RB AP-2nd Team/ UPI-2nd Team/ NEA-2nd Team/ Time 1973 Willie Viney G AP-3rd Team 1974 Willard Harrell RB AP-2nd Team 1981 Kirk Harmon LB GSN-2nd Team 1981 Mike Merriweather LB NEA-2nd Team 1985 Nick Holt LB Honorable Mention
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
References
External links
Year-by-year record at Sportsreference.com Stripes of the Tiger (documentary film website)