The 1976 California Golden Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Berkeley in the Pacific-8 Conference during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. Under fifth-year head coach Mike White, the Golden Bears compiled an overall record of 5–6 and 3–4 in conference.
The leader of the previous season's team was quarterback Joe Roth, a junior college transfer, who was a Heisman Trophy candidate as a senior in 1976. Roth had a great start, however halfway through it his performance started to drop. Unknown to almost everyone, he was diagnosed with melanoma the most dangerous form of skin cancer; only head coach White and his closest friends knew about it. With Roth continuing to play, he still had a strong season and was named an All-American. His last game was in January 1977 at an all-star game in Japan and he died several weeks later in Berkeley. His former locker is dedicated in his honor and the annual home game against UCLA or USC is known as the Joe Roth game.
Schedule
Roster OT Ted Albrecht LB Jeff Barnes QB Fred Besana PK Jim Breech TE George Freitas DB Anthony Green LB Phil Heck DB Ken McAllister OG Greg Peters LB James Reed QB Joe Roth LB Burl Toler WR Wesley Walker
Draft picks Six Golden Bears were selected in the 1977 NFL draft. Ted Albrecht Offensive tackle 1 15 Chicago Bears Wesley Walker Wide receiver 2 33 New York Jets Fred Besana Quarterback 5 115 Buffalo Bills Jeff Barnes Linebacker 5 139 Oakland Raiders Phil Heck Linebacker 11 297 Denver Broncos Greg Peters Offensive guard 12 332 Dallas Cowboys
References