San Francisco State Gators football
Encyclopedia
The San Francisco State Gators
football
team represented San Francisco State University
(Formerly San Francisco State Teacher's College) from the 1931
through 1995 seasons
. The Gators originally competed as a member of the Far West Conference from 1931 until the conference changed its name to become the Northern California Athletic Conference
, where they remained through the 1995 season
. San Francisco State played its home games at multiple stadiums throughout their history with the most recent being Cox Field
in San Francisco
, California
. 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.
team. During the 1935 season, veteran halfback
Ralph Nathan was injured for two weeks but would return to the backfield to join quarterback
Keith Cox against San Francisco Junior College.
Dan Farmer would later be honored by Golden Gater rival Chico State, his alma mater, with the naming of a perpetual trophy bearing his name would be contested between the two schools. After spending six seasons coaching the football team, Farmer would be replaced by former St. Mary's
all-American halfback
Dick Boyle
in October 1938. 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.
The outbreak of World War II
caused a flurry of change for the "Staters" football program, as Dick Boyle would become a lieutenant in the navy and be replaced by Ray Kaufman in June of 1942. 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. While Farmer would remain with the State College through the decade in various capacities including Head Coach of the basketball program
, he would step down from football with Dick Boyle's return from service in the Navy. Boyle's second as HC in the late '40's 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.
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. San Francisco State was coming off a shutout loss to Southern. Verducci must have made a difference, as St. Mary's would not return to another bowl while SF State would become 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. 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.
The 1950 season, Verducci's first, would be unprecedented for the Gators. Going through the season undefeated and untied, they met the Pioneers of Lewis and Clark
in the Pear Bowl at Medford
on Thanksgiving day. Lewis and Clark included a 200-pound candidate for little all-American, while the Gators were handicapped by injuries to halfback Rudy Smith, quarterback Tom Riper and tackle Bob Williamson.
Verducci would be named Northern California Coach of the Year
in his final season in November of 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. Students at Humboldt State college burned three dummies representing sports writers in effigy.
Verducci announced his retirement from coaching on May 27, 1960, and 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.
as "the Division II Doug Flutie". 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.
, 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 California-Berkeley has he had been led to believe. The Steelers hired Bob Valesente
for the position and Creehan remained at San Francisco State, but would argue that his opportunity to work in the 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.
Following Hamilton, Creehan, and Rowan as the fourth coach in as many years would be Dick Mannini, announced for the position on July 21, 1992. 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. He coached the Gators for their final three seasons until president Robert A. Corrigan
killed the program on March 8, 1995.
San Francisco State Football would not have a winning season after 1973, and only a single winning season after 1967; but in the Gator's heyday, they would win eight conference titles between 1954 and 1967 including a run of 11 straight winning seasons.
|-
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:80%;"
|-
! style="background:purple;"| Tenure
! style="background:purple;"| Coach
! style="background:purple;"| Years
! style="background:purple;"| Record
! style="background:purple;"| Pct.
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1931–1935 || Dave Cox || 5 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1935–1938 || Dan Farmer || 3 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1938–1942 || Dick Boyle || 5 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1942 || Ray Kaufman || 1 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1942–1945? || Dan Farmer || 2 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1945?–1950 || Dick Boyle || 6 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1950–1960 || Joe Verduci || 11 || 74–31 || .704
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1960–1989 || Vic Rowen || 29 || 130–165–10 || .443
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1990–1991 || Dennis Creehan || 1 || 4–7 || .363
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1991–1992 || Harold "Budgie" Hamilton || 1 || 3–7 || .300
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1992–1994 || Dick Mannini || 3 || 6–22 || .214
|-
! style="background:purple;"| Totals
! style="background:purple;"| 11 coaches
! style="background:purple;"| 63
! style="background:purple;"| 234–201–19
! style="background:purple;"| .439
|}
|- style="background:purple; text-align:center;"
| Date || Bowl || Location || W/L || Opponent || PF || PA
|- align=center
| December 05, 1948 || Pear Bowl || Medford, Oregon
|| L || Southern University Jaguar Cats
|| 0 || 30
|- align=center
| November 27, 1950 || Fruit Bowl || San Francisco, California
|| L || Lewis and Clark Pioneers
|| 7 || 61
|- align=center
| December 09, 1967 || Camelia Bowl || Sacramento, California
|| L || San Diego State Aztecs
|| 6 || 27
|- style="background:grey; text-align:center;"
| Total || 3 bowl games || || 0–3 || || 13 || 118
|}
.
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:70%;" text-align:"center"
|-
! style="background:purple;"|Name
! style="background:purple;"|Position
! style="background:purple;"|Year
! style="background:purple;"|Overall Pick
! style="background:purple;"|Team
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Floyd Peters
|| DT || 1952 || 93 || Baltimore Colts
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Charley Fuller || HB || 1961 || 220 || Oakland Raiders
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Elmer Collett
|| G || 1966 || 208 || San Francisco 49ers
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Lyle Baucom
|| OT || 1967 || 431 || Washington Redskins
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Terry Oakes
|| DE || 1967 || 377 || San Francisco 49ers
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Jim Schmidt || DB || 1968 || 437 || Atlanta Falcons
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Joe Koontz || WR || 1968 || 234 || New York Giants
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Dennis Pete || DB || 1972 || 178 || Oakland Raiders
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Robert Sparks
|| DB || 1976 || 376 || Minnesota Vikings
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Rick Faulk || Pk || 1976 || 410 || Minnesota Vikings
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Frank Duncan || DB || 1979 || 321 || San Diego Chargers
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Doug Parish || DB || 1991 || 175 || New York Jets
|}
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 oft-remembered Jets team that played in Super Bowl III
in 1969, giving the AFL their first Super Bowl
victory.
Nick Kukilica earned a place among the All-Stars of the short-lived Continental Football League
in 1969, playing for the Sacramento Capitols. Likewise, several Gators found success with the Canadian Football League
; Doug Parish had a career with the Edmonton Eskimos
, while Ken Hailey played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
.
San Francisco State Gators
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 and club sports...
football
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...
team represented San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
(Formerly San Francisco State Teacher's College) from the 1931
1931 college football season
The 1931 college football season saw the USC Trojans win the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy as national champion under the Dickinson system. Rockne, who had coached Notre Dame to a championship in 1930, had been killed in a plane crash on March 31, 1931. For the first time, the champion under the...
through 1995 seasons
1995 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first year of the Bowl Alliance and was a relatively calm year compared to the early 1990s.Tom Osborne led Nebraska to its second straight national title with a victory over Florida in the Fiesta Bowl....
. The Gators originally competed as a member of the Far West Conference from 1931 until the conference changed its name to become the Northern California Athletic Conference
Northern California Athletic Conference
The Northern California Athletic Conference , a former NCAA-affiliated Division II college athletic association that sponsored American football, was formed in 1925...
, where they remained through the 1995 season
1995 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first year of the Bowl Alliance and was a relatively calm year compared to the early 1990s.Tom Osborne led Nebraska to its second straight national title with a victory over Florida in the Fiesta Bowl....
. San Francisco State played its home games at multiple stadiums throughout their history with the most recent being Cox Field
Cox Field
Cox Field is a city-owned, public-use airport located six nautical miles east of the central business district of Paris, a city in Lamar County, Texas, United States. It is owned by the city of Paris but is operated and maintained by J.R...
in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. San Francisco State was known as the "Cradle of Coaches", having produced coaching greats such as Mike Holmgren
Mike Holmgren
Michael George Holmgren is a former professional football coach and current President of the Cleveland Browns. He served as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 1998, and the Seattle Seahawks from 1999 to 2008...
, Andy Reid
Andy Reid
Andrew Walter "Andy" Reid is the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL, a post he has held since 1999. Since 2001, he has also been the team's executive vice president of football operations...
, Bob Toledo
Bob Toledo
Bob Toledo is a former American football coach and player. Toledo served as the head coach at University of California, Riverside , the University of the Pacific , the University of California, Los Angeles , and Tulane University...
, and many others.
The 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 "Staters"- for several seasons before announcing his resignation due to ill health on August 31, 1935. He would be replaced by his two assistants, Dan Farmer who had played and coached at Chico State, and Hal Hardin from Oregon State. Farmer would coach the backs while Hardin worked with the linemen. Farmer would take over the Head Coaching position and is described in the Berkeley Daily Gazette as "one of the greatest athletes ever to graduate from Chico," would also coach the "Gaters'" basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team. During the 1935 season, veteran halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
Ralph Nathan was injured for two weeks but would return to the backfield to join 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...
Keith Cox against San Francisco Junior College.
Dan Farmer would later be honored by Golden Gater rival Chico State, his alma mater, with the naming of a perpetual trophy bearing his name would be contested between the two schools. After spending six seasons coaching the football team, Farmer would be replaced by former St. Mary's
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
all-American halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
Dick Boyle
1929 College Football All-America Team
The 1929 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1929 college football season...
in October 1938. During the 1940 season
1940 college football season
The 1940 college football season ended with the Gophers of the University of Minnesota being named the nation’s #1 team and national champion, and the Stanford University Indians in second, with the two teams receiving 65 and 44 first place votes respectively...
, Boyle's Staters scrimmaged throughout the week in preparation for matches against military sides like the Moffett Field Air Corps Eleven
Moffett Federal Airfield
Moffett Federal Airfield , also known as Moffett Field, is a joint civil-military airport located between northern Mountain View and northern Sunnyvale, California, USA. The airport is near the south end of San Francisco Bay, northwest of San Jose. Formerly a United States Navy facility, the former...
, 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.
The outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
caused a flurry of change for the "Staters" football program, as Dick Boyle would become a lieutenant in the navy and be replaced by Ray Kaufman in June of 1942. 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. While Farmer would remain with the State College through the decade in various capacities including Head Coach of the basketball program
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
, he would step down from football with Dick Boyle's return from service in the Navy. Boyle's second as HC in the late '40's 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.
The Fruit Bowl
San Francisco State met the Southern University Jaguar Cats in the Fruit Bowl in San Francisco, finding themselves completely outclassed on a muddy field and shut out 30–0 in front of 5,000 fans. The Fruit Bowl game is noteworthy for being the first interracial bowl game played in the United States.The Verducci era
The arrival of Joe Verducci to San Francisco State from St. Mary's CollegeSaint Mary's College Gaels
The Saint Mary's Gaels are the athletic teams that compete at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, California. The nickname applies to the college's intercollegiate NCAA Division-I teams and club sports. The nickname was given to the school's football team in 1926 by a writer for the now...
was rather unexpected; after all, St. Mary's was a team that had defeated Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
in the Cotton Bowl in 1939, and followed it up with appearances in the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
and the Oil Bowl
Oil Bowl
Oil Bowl was a college football bowl game played at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas, in 1944, 1946, and 1947. Muddy conditions for the first and freezing temperatures for the third game doomed future contests....
in 1946 and 1947. San Francisco State was coming off a shutout loss to Southern. Verducci must have made a difference, as St. Mary's would not return to another bowl while SF State would become 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. 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.
The 1950 season, Verducci's first, would be unprecedented for the Gators. Going through the season undefeated and untied, they met the Pioneers of Lewis and Clark
Lewis & Clark College
Lewis & Clark College is a private institution of higher learning located in Portland, Oregon. Made up of an undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences, a School of Law, and a Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Lewis & Clark is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges with athletic...
in the Pear Bowl at Medford
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
on Thanksgiving day. Lewis and Clark included a 200-pound candidate for little all-American, while the Gators were handicapped by injuries to halfback Rudy Smith, quarterback Tom Riper and tackle Bob Williamson.
Verducci would be named Northern California Coach of the Year
Coach of the Year
Many sports leagues, sportswriting associations, and other organizations confer "Coach of the Year" awards.Some of these are:*AFCA Coach of the Year *Annis Stukus Trophy...
in his final season in November of 1960, angering fans of Humboldt State whose coach Phil Sarboe
Phil Sarboe
-External links:...
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. Students at Humboldt State college burned three dummies representing sports writers in effigy.
Verducci announced his retirement from coaching on May 27, 1960, and remained at San Francisco State as athletic director. College President Glenn S. Dumke
Glenn S. Dumke
Glenn S. Dumke was a historian and chancellor of the California State University system from 1962 to 1982 – most of its first twenty years...
named Vic Rowen
Vic Rowen
Vic Rowen is a former American football player and 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...
, line coach for the previous six seasons, as his successor.
The Rowen era
The 1985 season showed promise behind quarterback Rich Strasser, who was described by the coach of the opposing Santa Clara BroncosSanta Clara Broncos
The Broncos are various sports teams of Santa Clara University. The athletic program currently has 19 varsity sports, 9 men's sports and 10 women's. Additionally there are 18 club sports teams that compete intercollegiately. The school colors are red and white...
as "the Division II Doug Flutie". 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
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
staff writer nonetheless.
After Rowen
Dennis Creehan came to San Francisco State after a turmoil-filled day in March of 1990 when Creehan was named the linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, only to have the team rescind the appointment the next day once Steelers coach Chuck Noll
Chuck Noll
Charles Henry "Chuck" Noll is a former professional American football player and coach, and a member of the Sid Gillman coaching tree. He served most notably as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League from 1969 to 1991...
discovered that Creehan was the headman at SFSU, instead of an assistant coach at California-Berkeley has he had been led to believe. The Steelers hired Bob Valesente
Bob Valesente
Bob Valesente is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at Ithaca College and spent more than 35 years as a football coach...
for the position and Creehan remained at San Francisco State, but would argue that his opportunity to work in the 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.
Following Hamilton, Creehan, and Rowan as the fourth coach in as many years would be Dick Mannini, announced for the position on July 21, 1992. Mannini had served as the defensive coordinator at Stanford from 1984–1988, and had been the head coach of the St. Mary's Gaels
Saint Mary's College Gaels
The Saint Mary's Gaels are the athletic teams that compete at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, California. The nickname applies to the college's intercollegiate NCAA Division-I teams and club sports. The nickname was given to the school's football team in 1926 by a writer for the now...
from 1977–1983. He coached the Gators for their final three seasons until president Robert A. Corrigan
Robert A. Corrigan
Robert A. Corrigan has served as the 12th president of San Francisco State University since September 1988. He previously served nine years as chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Boston.Corrigan received his A.B...
killed the program on March 8, 1995.
San Francisco State Football would not have a winning season after 1973, and only a single winning season after 1967; but in the Gator's heyday, they would win eight conference titles between 1954 and 1967 including a run of 11 straight winning seasons.
Head coaches
{| border="0" style="width:100%;"|-
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:80%;"
|-
! style="background:purple;"| Tenure
! style="background:purple;"| Coach
! style="background:purple;"| Years
! style="background:purple;"| Record
! style="background:purple;"| Pct.
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1931–1935 || Dave Cox || 5 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1935–1938 || Dan Farmer || 3 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1938–1942 || Dick Boyle || 5 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1942 || Ray Kaufman || 1 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1942–1945? || Dan Farmer || 2 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1945?–1950 || Dick Boyle || 6 || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1950–1960 || Joe Verduci || 11 || 74–31 || .704
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1960–1989 || Vic Rowen || 29 || 130–165–10 || .443
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1990–1991 || Dennis Creehan || 1 || 4–7 || .363
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1991–1992 || Harold "Budgie" Hamilton || 1 || 3–7 || .300
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1992–1994 || Dick Mannini || 3 || 6–22 || .214
|-
! style="background:purple;"| Totals
! style="background:purple;"| 11 coaches
! style="background:purple;"| 63
! style="background:purple;"| 234–201–19
! style="background:purple;"| .439
|}
All-time bowl results
{| class="wikitable"|- style="background:purple; text-align:center;"
| Date || Bowl || Location || W/L || Opponent || PF || PA
|- align=center
| December 05, 1948 || Pear Bowl || Medford, Oregon
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
|| L || Southern University Jaguar Cats
Southern University
Southern University and A&M College is a historically black college located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Baton Rouge campus is located on Scott’s Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in the northern section...
|| 0 || 30
|- align=center
| November 27, 1950 || Fruit Bowl || San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
|| L || Lewis and Clark Pioneers
Lewis & Clark College
Lewis & Clark College is a private institution of higher learning located in Portland, Oregon. Made up of an undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences, a School of Law, and a Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Lewis & Clark is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges with athletic...
|| 7 || 61
|- align=center
| December 09, 1967 || Camelia Bowl || Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
|| L || San Diego State Aztecs
San Diego State Aztecs football
The San Diego State football team represents the San Diego State Aztecs in college football. The Aztecs, a Division I FBS team and a member of the Mountain West Conference, play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The field is natural grass and has a maximum capacity of...
|| 6 || 27
|- style="background:grey; text-align:center;"
| Total || 3 bowl games || || 0–3 || || 13 || 118
|}
In the NFL
San Francisco State University has 12 alumni who were drafted into the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:70%;" text-align:"center"
|-
! style="background:purple;"|Name
! style="background:purple;"|Position
! style="background:purple;"|Year
! style="background:purple;"|Overall Pick
! style="background:purple;"|Team
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Floyd Peters
Floyd Peters
Floyd Charles Peters was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League and went to three Pro Bowls during his 13 year career. He played college football at San Francisco State University and was drafted in the eighth round of the 1958 NFL Draft.Later, Peters was an...
|| DT || 1952 || 93 || Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Charley Fuller || HB || 1961 || 220 || Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Elmer Collett
Elmer Collett
Charles Elmer Collett is a retired firefighter with the Kentfield Fire District and former professional American football player. He played eleven seasons in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Colts. Notably, he is an actual gold mining "ex-49er" and owner...
|| G || 1966 || 208 || San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Lyle Baucom
1967 NFL Draft
The 1967 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft in the first year in which the NFL and AFL held a joint draft of college players on March 14–15.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
|| OT || 1967 || 431 || Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
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| Terry Oakes
1967 NFL Draft
The 1967 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft in the first year in which the NFL and AFL held a joint draft of college players on March 14–15.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
|| DE || 1967 || 377 || San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
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| Jim Schmidt || DB || 1968 || 437 || Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
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| Joe Koontz || WR || 1968 || 234 || New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
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| Dennis Pete || DB || 1972 || 178 || Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
|- style="text-align:center; background:gold;"
| Robert Sparks
Robert Sparks
Robert Earl Sparks is an American former handball player who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics and in the 1976 Summer Olympics.He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey....
|| DB || 1976 || 376 || Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
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| Rick Faulk || Pk || 1976 || 410 || Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
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| Frank Duncan || DB || 1979 || 321 || San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
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| Doug Parish || DB || 1991 || 175 || New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
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Among those drafted into the NFL, Floyd Peters
Floyd Peters
Floyd Charles Peters was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League and went to three Pro Bowls during his 13 year career. He played college football at San Francisco State University and was drafted in the eighth round of the 1958 NFL Draft.Later, Peters was an...
would go on to become a standout defensive tackle for the Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, earning a bid to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
three times. Likewise, Elmer Collett
Elmer Collett
Charles Elmer Collett is a retired firefighter with the Kentfield Fire District and former professional American football player. He played eleven seasons in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Colts. Notably, he is an actual gold mining "ex-49er" and owner...
had a ten-year career with the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
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
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
and started for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1963 to 1969. Baird was a part of the oft-remembered Jets team that played in Super Bowl III
Super Bowl III
Super Bowl III was the third AFL-NFL Championship Game in professional American football, but the first to officially bear the name "Super Bowl". This game is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history...
in 1969, giving the AFL their first Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
victory.
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 endDefensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Nick Kukilica earned a place among the All-Stars of the short-lived Continental Football League
Continental Football League
The Continental Football League was a professional minor American football league that operated in North America from 1965 through 1969. It was established following the collapse of the original United Football League, and hoped to become the major force in professional football outside of the...
in 1969, playing for the Sacramento Capitols. Likewise, several Gators found success with the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
; Doug Parish had a career with the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
, while Ken Hailey played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
.