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Joe Roth (American football)
Encyclopedia
Joe Roth was a college football
player, an All-American quarterback
at the University of California, Berkeley
. Roth played the 1976 season with melanoma
and died 3 months after his last regular season game (and just weeks after an all-star game in Japan), in February 1977. Later that year, Roth's number 12 jersey was retired, the only number currently retired by the Cal Football program.
in San Diego
, Roth led Grossmont College
of El Cajon
to an undefeated season and state title in 1974, and transferred to University of California, Berkeley
in 1975.
role in the fourth game of the 1975 season, and led the California Golden Bears
to the Pac-8 title as co-champions. The 1975 team had such stars as running back Chuck Muncie
and wide receiver Wesley Walker
. Cal led the nation in total offense, remarkably gaining the same yardage both passing and rushing with 2,522 yards respectively.
In 1976, Roth was a pre-season favorite for the Heisman Trophy
. The season was more tumultuous, and towards the end of the year Joe's performance started to drop, but he was named an All-American and would finish ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting, won by Tony Dorsett
.
After the season ended, he revealed that he had played the last half of the season with melanoma, the recurrence of a previously removed tumor. Despite his deteriorating physical condition, he honored his commitments to play in both the Hula Bowl and the Japan Bowl. During the Japan Bowl festivities, according to a friend of his, Roth agreed to sit for a thirty-minute autograph session. But at the end of the agreed upon half-hour, there were hundreds of smiling Japanese kids still waiting. So he sat patiently and signed autograph after autograph until there were no more kids in line. Then he went outside, fell to his knees, and threw up in the bushes. He died shortly thereafter in his Berkeley
apartment on February 19, 1977 at the age of 21.
Posthumously, Roth received the Berkeley Citation, which is awarded to a wide range of distinguished people, academic or nonacademic, whose attainments significantly exceed the standards for advancement in their fields and whose contributions to the university are manifestly "above and beyond the call of duty." He was also inducted into the University of California Athletic Hall of Fame.
Several awards are named in honor of Roth, including the Joe Roth Award for the high school player in the San Diego area that best demonstrates courage, the Joe Roth Memorial Award which is given to the San Diego County junior college football player that best exemplifies high academic standards and athletic excellence, and the Joe Roth Award which is given to the Cal football player who best demonstrates courage, attitude & sportsmanship.
Berkeley designates each year's home game against either USC or UCLA
as the Joe Roth Memorial Game.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
player, an All-American quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. Roth played the 1976 season with melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
and died 3 months after his last regular season game (and just weeks after an all-star game in Japan), in February 1977. Later that year, Roth's number 12 jersey was retired, the only number currently retired by the Cal Football program.
High school career
A 1973 graduate of Granite Hills High SchoolGranite Hills High School (El Cajon, California)
Granite Hills High School is a public, comprehensive high school located in El Cajon, California and serves students in grades nine through twelve. Opened in 1960, Granite Hills is one of thirteen high schools in the Grossmont Union High School District. GHHS is the home of the Eagles...
in San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, Roth led Grossmont College
Grossmont College
Grossmont College is a community college located in El Cajon, California, in the county of San Diego. The campus sits in the Fletcher Hills community of El Cajon and is bordered by the cities of San Diego and Santee. Grossmont College is one of the two colleges that make up the Grossmont-Cuyamaca...
of El Cajon
El Cajon, California
-History:El Cajon is located on the Rancho El Cajon Mexican land grant made in 1845 to María Antonia Estudillo, wife of Miguel Pedrorena. In 1876 Amaziah Lord Knox , a New Englander who had recently moved to California, established a hotel there to serve the growing number of people traveling...
to an undefeated season and state title in 1974, and transferred to University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1975.
College career
Originally a back-up, he won the startingStarting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
role in the fourth game of the 1975 season, and led the California Golden Bears
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
to the Pac-8 title as co-champions. The 1975 team had such stars as running back Chuck Muncie
Chuck Muncie
Harry Vance "Chuck" Muncie is a former American football running back who played for the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League from 1976 to 1984...
and wide receiver Wesley Walker
Wesley Walker
Wesley Darcel Walker is a former professional American football wide receiver for the New York Jets in 1977 - 1989....
. Cal led the nation in total offense, remarkably gaining the same yardage both passing and rushing with 2,522 yards respectively.
In 1976, Roth was a pre-season favorite for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
. The season was more tumultuous, and towards the end of the year Joe's performance started to drop, but he was named an All-American and would finish ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting, won by Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
.
After the season ended, he revealed that he had played the last half of the season with melanoma, the recurrence of a previously removed tumor. Despite his deteriorating physical condition, he honored his commitments to play in both the Hula Bowl and the Japan Bowl. During the Japan Bowl festivities, according to a friend of his, Roth agreed to sit for a thirty-minute autograph session. But at the end of the agreed upon half-hour, there were hundreds of smiling Japanese kids still waiting. So he sat patiently and signed autograph after autograph until there were no more kids in line. Then he went outside, fell to his knees, and threw up in the bushes. He died shortly thereafter in his Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
apartment on February 19, 1977 at the age of 21.
Honors
Several awards are named in honor of Roth, including the Joe Roth Award for the high school player in the San Diego area that best demonstrates courage, the Joe Roth Memorial Award which is given to the San Diego County junior college football player that best exemplifies high academic standards and athletic excellence, and the Joe Roth Award which is given to the Cal football player who best demonstrates courage, attitude & sportsmanship.
Berkeley designates each year's home game against either USC or UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
as the Joe Roth Memorial Game.