UC Riverside Highlanders football

UC Riverside Highlanders football represented the University of California, Riverside from the 1955 through the 1975 college football seasons. The Highlanders originally competed as an Independent before they joined the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in 1969. They played their home game at Highlander Stadium in Riverside, California. During their 21 years of competition, the Highlanders compiled an all-time record of 84 wins, 83 losses and 8 ties (84–83–8).

UC Riverside Highlanders football
First season1955 (1955)
Last season1975 (1975)
Head coachBob Toledo (final coach)
StadiumHighlander Stadium
Field surfaceGrass
LocationRiverside, California
ConferenceCCAA
All-time record84–83–8 (.503)
Bowl record0–0–0 (–)
ColorsBlue and gold[1]
   

History

In 1954, former California All-America Rod Franz was hired to serve as the first head coach of the Riverside program.[2] After only one season, Franz resigned, and Carl Selin was hired as head coach. Selin remained in his position through the 1958 season when he resigned to become an assistant coach at the Coast Guard Academy.[3]

After Gil Allan served as head coach for only the 1964 season, in March 1965, former Highlanders quarterback Pete Kettela was named head coach.[4] Kettela resigned in 1970 after he compiled an overall record of 23 wins, 19 losses and 2 ties (23–19–2) during his five-year tenure.[5] He resigned his position as he felt the school was not expending appropriate resources on the football program.[5]

After serving as an assistant coach for five seasons, in February 1970 Gary Knecht was promoted to head coach.[5] He compiled an overall record of six wins, thirteen losses and one tie (6–13–1) from 1970 through the 1971 season.[6] Knecht resigned as head coach in March 1972, just as coach Kettela had done previously, as the university had not placed enough resources into the football program.[7] Wayne Howard was hired in 1972, and prior to his resignation in December 1973 to become the head coach at Long Beach State, led the Highlanders to a record of seventeen wins and three losses (17–3).[8] Under Howard, the 1972 squad finished the season with a record of nine wins and one loss (9–1) to capture a share of the first conference championship for the Highlanders.[9]

On December 21, 1973, Bob Toledo was hired as the Highlanders' head coach.[10] As head coach, Toledo led the Highlanders to an overall record of fifteen wins and six losses (15–6) and consecutive conference championships in 1974 and 1975.[11][12]

Disestablishment of program

On December 4, 1975, the football program was discontinued by the university with a general lack of attendance and poor gate receipts cited for its being discontinued.[11][12] Then-UCR chancellor Ivan Hinderaker noted that football used more than half of the athletic department's total $305,000 budget and averaged 3,869 fans in attendance for the four home games during the final season, unable to fill the 5,500-seat stadium.[13]

Toledo and his staff remained under contract until July 1, 1976.[12]

Head coaches
Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1955Rod Franz11–3-1.000
1956–1958Carl Selin34–13–3.275
1959–1963Jim Whitley517–21–2.450
1964Gil Allan12–7–0.222
1965–1969Pete Kettela523–19–2.545
1970–1971Gary Knecht26–13–1.325
1972–1973Wayne Howard217–3–0.850
1974–1975Bob Toledo215–6–0.714
Totals 21 84–83–8 .503

All-time seasons

During their 21 years of competition, the Highlanders compiled an all-time record of 84 wins, 83 losses and 8 ties (84–83–8).[14]

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Rod Franz (Independent) (1955)
1955 UC Riverside 1-3-1——
Franz: 1-3–1
Carl Selin (Independent) (1956–1958)
1956 UC Riverside 1–6——
1957 UC Riverside 1–4–1——
1958 UC Riverside 2–3–2——
Selin: 4–13–3
Jim Whitley (Independent) (1955)
1959 UC Riverside 5–2——
1960 UC Riverside 7–0–1——
1961 UC Riverside 1–7–0——
1962 UC Riverside 3–5–0——
1963 UC Riverside 1–7–1——
Whitley: 17–21–2
Gil Allan (Independent) (1964)
1964 UC Riverside 2–7——
Allan: 2–7
Pete Kettela (Independent/California Collegiate Athletic Association) (1965–1969)
1965 UC Riverside 6–1——
1966 UC Riverside 4–5——
1967 UC Riverside 4–4–1——
1968 UC Riverside 5–1–1——
1969 UC Riverside 3–60–14th——
Kettela: 23–19–20–1
Gary Knecht (California Collegiate Athletic Association) (1970–1971)
1970 UC Riverside 4–60–25th——
1971 UC Riverside 2–7–10–25th——
Knecht: 6–13–10–4
Wayne Howard (California Collegiate Athletic Association) (1972–1973)
1972 UC Riverside 9–13–0T-1st——
1973 UC Riverside 8–23–12nd——
Howard: 17–36–1
Bob Toledo (California Collegiate Athletic Association) (1974–1975)
1974 UC Riverside 8–34–01st——
1975 UC Riverside 7–34–01st——
Toledo: 15–68–0
Total:84–83–8
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Highlanders in the NFL

UC Riverside has seven alumni that have played in the National Football League (NFL).[15][16]

Name Position Year Overall Pick Team
Michael BasingerDE1973Free AgentGreen Bay Packers
Russ Bolinger[A 1]G/T197668Detroit Lions
Dan Bunz[A 2]LB197824San Francisco 49ers
Butch JohnsonWR197687Dallas Cowboys
Frank Johnson1974102Los Angeles Rams
Calvin Sweeney[A 3]WR1979110Pittsburgh Steelers
Derek Williams1974221Los Angeles Rams

Notes
  1. After he started his college career at Riverside, Russ Bolinger transferred after the 1973 season to follow head coach Wayne Howard to Long Beach State.[17]
  2. After he started his college career at Riverside, Dan Bunz transferred to Long Beach State.[18]
  3. After he started his college career at Riverside, Calvin Sweeney transferred to USC.[19]

References
  1. "UCR Colors | Brand Identity". June 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  2. "Rod Franz gets Riverside job". Lodi News-Sentinel. Lodi, California. UP. July 8, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  3. "CG Academy announced varsity backfield coach". The Day. New London, Connecticut. 11. August 22, 1959. p. 11. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  4. "Riverside coach Gil Allan resigns". Los Angeles Times. March 27, 1965. p. A4.
  5. "Gary Knecht grid boss at Riverside". Lodi News-Sentinel. Lodi, California. UPI. February 26, 1970. p. 11. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  6. "Coach resigns". The Gadsden Times. Gadsden, Alabama. AP. March 11, 1972. p. 25. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  7. "Football ranks No. 3, So UCR coach resigns". Los Angeles Times. March 6, 1972. p. D2.
  8. "Howard named Cal State grid coach". The Daily Record. Ellensburg, Washington. UPI. December 22, 1973. p. 5. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  9. "Howard new football coach at L. B. State". Los Angeles Times. December 22, 1973. p. C7.
  10. "Toledo Named Coach at UC Riverside". Los Angeles Times. December 22, 1973. p. OC A6.
  11. "Gives up collegiate football". The Daily Record. Ellensburg, Washington. UPI. December 5, 1975. p. 10. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  12. "UC Riverside quits football". Los Angeles Times. December 5, 1975. p. G20.
  13. "Riverside giving up football". San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. UPI. December 5, 1975. pp. A6.
  14. "University of California, Riverside". College Football Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  15. "California-Riverside Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  16. "California-Riverside Draft History". NFL.com. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  17. "Long Beach St. continues its bounce". Los Angeles Times. September 5, 1975. p. E7. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  18. "Dan Bunz goes from 49ers to 49ers". Los Angeles Times. May 3, 1978. p. G3. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  19. "USC signs 21 players". Los Angeles Times. February 29, 1976. p. C9. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
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