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Cal Poly Mustangs football
File:Calpolylogosports.png
First season 1915
Head coach Tim Walsh
Home stadium Alex G. Spanos Stadium
Stadium capacity 11,075
Stadium surface Natural Grass
Location San Luis Obispo, CA
Conference Big Sky Conference
All-time record 467–365–20
Postseason bowl record 4–4–0
Claimed national titles 1 (Division II - 1980)
Conference titles 5
Consensus All-Americans 0
Colors Green and Gold            
Fight song Ride High You Mustangs
Mascot Musty the Mustang
Marching band Cal Poly Mustang Band
Rivals UC Davis Aggies
Fresno State Bulldogs

The Cal Poly Mustangs are the football team representing California Polytechnic State University located in San Luis Obispo, California. The team plays its home games in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. The current head coach is Tim Walsh, who began his tenure in 2009.

Current coaching staff (2012)[]

Name Position Years at
Cal Poly
Tim Walsh Head Coach 4
Bryan Cook Co-Offensive coordinator
Quarterbacks
4
Saga Tuitele Co-Offensive coordinator
Offensive Line
4
Josh Brown Defensive coordinator
Defensive backs
3
Juston Wood Wide receivers 4
Aristotle Thompson Running backs 4
Jamar Cain Assistant Coach
Defensive Line
4
Josh Brown Defensive coordinator
Linebackers
3
Steve Cox Outside Linebackers 2
Matt Crivello Halfbacks Coordinator 7
Pat Johnston Defensive Assistant 5
Neil Fendall Assistant Coach
Defensive Backs
1
Joe Harper Offensive Quality Control Coach 2
Nick Hill Defensive Quality Control Coach 2
Russell Oka Defensive Quality Control Coach 2

History[]

Football was first played on the Cal Poly campus in 1916. At that time, Cal Poly was a vocational school as it did not become a four year college until 1941.

1915 Through the 1940s[]

The California Polytechnic School played mostly high school teams and college freshmen teams for its first 16 seasons. In 1933, Mustangs enjoyed their first undefeated season under coach Howie O'Daniels. During the 1933 campaign, The Mustangs did not allow a single point during that season. Cal Poly officially became a four-year school in 1941 and posted a 5-3-1 record under Coach O'Daniels. Football was put to a halt during World War II ('43 and '44) and resumed in 1945.

1950s[]

Under coach Roy Hughes, Cal Poly experienced its second undefeated season in 1953. In the decade of the 1950s, the Mustangs posted a record of 67-29-1. During this decade, future NFL Hall of Fame inductee, John Madden play for the Green and Gold and was known as a bruising tackle. Upon graduation, Madden was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. Joining Madden on the Cal Poly squad was quarterback and defensive back, Bobby Beathard, who would later gain NFL fame as the architect and general manager responsible for building the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers respectively into Super Bowl winning and contending teams.

1960s[]

Tragedy struck in 1960 following a game at Bowling Green State University on Saturday, October 29, 1960 when a plane leaving Toledo Airport crashed killing 22 people. This included 16 Mustang football players and the team manager. The next seven seasons produced a 22-45 record. Then Joe Harper was hired in 1968 and produced a 7-3 and 6-4 season to end the decade.

1970s[]

In 1972 under head coach, Joe Harper, Cal Poly produced a 8-0-1 record and received a trip to the Camellia Bowl to play for the NCAA Division II National Football Championship. They would end up losing to the University of North Dakota. In 1978, The Mustangs would make it to the NCAA Division II playoffs but lost to Winston-Salem State. Each of the 10 Mustang football teams in the 1970s posted a winning season.

1980s[]

1980 would be one of the most memorable seasons for the Cal Poly Mustangs as they went on to win the NCAA Division II National Football Championship under coach Joe Harper. Cal Poly defeated Eastern Illinois in the championship game and would finish the season with a 10-3 record that included a win over D-IAA national champion, Boise State. Never before or since has a D-II team defeated the eventual D-IAA national champion and won a D-II national title in the same year.

1990s[]

The winning continued in the 90s and in 1990, coach Lyle Setencich would lead the Mustangs to another playoff appearance before losing in the second round to North Dakota State. In 1994, Cal Poly would make the jump to Division I-AA (now FCS) football with coach Andre Patterson at the helm. The Mustangs would see instant success posting a 7-4 record. In 1997, Larry Welsh took over the program and led the Mustangs to a 10-1 record and a national ranking of 16. However, the team was not extended an invitation to the national playoffs. Larry Welsh would follow that season with 3 3-8 seasons.

The Rich Ellerson era[]

In 2001, first-year coach Rich Ellerson led the Mustangs to a 6–5 season. Coach Ellerson would emphasize defense and in 2004, linebacker Jordan Beck won the Buck Buchanan Award for best defensive player of the year in the NCAA Division I Football Championship. During the next two years, Cal Poly would experience another NCAA first as two more players would win the award: Chris Gocong in 2005 and Kyle Shotwell in 2006. In 2005, the Mustangs saw their first FCS playoff berth and a 35–21 win over Montana. 2008 would prove to be another exciting season for the Mustangs as they had one of the most productive offenses in the country. They went on to beat FBS San Diego State as well as experience a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison 36-35. The 2008 Mustangs made the playoffs and but lost a shootout in the first round against Weber State. Wide receiver Ramses Barden was drafted by the New York Giants. After the season, coach Rich Ellerson accepted a coaching offer to become the head coach of the Army Black Knights.

Season-by-season records[1][]

Year Coach Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
D.W. Schlosser (1915–1917)
1915 D.W. Schlosser 1-0-1 0-0-0
1916 D.W. Schlosser 1-2-0 0-0-0
1917 D.W. Schlosser 2-1-0 0-0-0
D.W. Schlosser: 4-2-1 0-0-0
Flu Epidemic (1918–1918)
1918 No Games 0-0-0 0-0-0
H. Hess (1919–1920)
1919 H. Hess 3-0-0 0-0-0
1920 H. Hess 1-4-0 0-0-0
H. Hess: 4-4-0 0-0-0
Al Agosti (1921–1932)
1921 Al Agosti 3-1-1 0-0-0
1922 Al Agosti 1-3-0 0-0-0
1923 Al Agosti 3-3-0 0-0-0
1924 Al Agosti 1-5-0 0-0-0
1925 Al Agosti 4-5-0 0-0-0
1926 Al Agosti 5-4-0 0-0-0
1927 Al Agosti 2-4-1 0-0-0
1928 Al Agosti 3-4-2 0-0-0
1929 Al Agosti 3-5-0 0-0-0
1930 No Games 0-0-0 0-0-0
1931 Al Agosti 3-5-1 0-0-0
1932 Al Agosti 4-4-0 0-0-0
Al Agosti: 32-44-5 0-0-0
Howie O'Daniels (1933–1941)
1933 Howie O'Daniels 7-0-0 0-0-0
1934 Howie O'Daniels 6-2-0 0-0-0
1935 Howie O'Daniels 5-2-1 0-0-0
1936 Howie O'Daniels 5-4-0 0-0-0
1937 Howie O'Daniels 4-2-2 0-0-0
1938 Howie O'Daniels 7-2-0 0-0-0
1939 Howie O'Daniels 4-4-1 0-0-0
1940 Howie O'Daniels 6-3-0 0-0-0
1941 Howie O'Daniels 5-3-1 0-0-0
Howie O'Daniels: 45-22-5 0-0-0
Bob Dakan (1942)
1942 Bob Dakan 4-2-1 0-0-0
Bob Dakan: 4-2-1 0-0-0
World War II (1943–1944)
1943 No Games 0-0-0 0-0-0
1944 No Games 0-0-0 0-0-0
Ronnie Henderson (1945)
1945 Ronnie Henderson 1-5-1 0-0-0
Ronnie Henderson: 1-5-1 0-0-0
Howie O'Daniels (1946–1947)
1946 Howie O'Daniels 6-2-1 0-0-0
1947 Howie O'Daniels 1-9-0 0-0-0
Howie O'Daniels: 56-33-6 0-0-0
Chuck Pavelko (1948–1949)
1948 Chuck Pavelko 3-5-0 0-0-0
1949 Chuck Pavelko 4-6-0 0-0-0
Chuck Pavelko: 7-11-0 0-0-0
LeRoy Hughes (1950–1961)
1950 LeRoy Hughes 3-7-0 0-0-0
1951 LeRoy Hughes 5-4-1 0-0-0
1952 LeRoy Hughes 7-3-0 0-0-0
1953 LeRoy Hughes 9-0-0 0-0-0
1954 LeRoy Hughes 6-4-0 0-0-0
1955 LeRoy Hughes 7-3-0 0-0-0
1956 LeRoy Hughes 7-3-0 0-0-0
1957 LeRoy Hughes 8-1-0 0-0-0
1958 LeRoy Hughes 9-1-0 0-0-0
1959 LeRoy Hughes 6-3-0 0-0-0
1960 LeRoy Hughes 1-5-0* 0-0-0
1961 LeRoy Hughes 5-3-0 0-0-0
LeRoy Hughes: 73-37-1 0-0-0
Sheldon Harden (1962–1967)
1962 Sheldon Harden 4-5-0 0-0-0
1963 Sheldon Harden 2-8-0 0-0-0
1964 Sheldon Harden 0-10-0 0-0-0
1965 Sheldon Harden 2-8-0 0-0-0
1966 Sheldon Harden 6-4-0 0-0-0
1967 Sheldon Harden 3-7-0 0-0-0
Sheldon Harden: 17-42-0 0-0-0
Joe Harper (1968–1981)
1968 Joe Harper 7-3-0 0-0-0
1969 Joe Harper 6-4-0 0-0-0
1970 Joe Harper 8-2-0 0-0-0
1971 Joe Harper 6-5-0 0-0-0
1972 Joe Harper 8-1-1 0-0-0 L Camellia Bowl
1973 Joe Harper 9-1-0 0-0-0
1974 Joe Harper 5-4-1 0-0-0
1975 Joe Harper 6-4-0 0-0-0
1976 Joe Harper 7-1-1 0-0-0
1977 Joe Harper 6-4-0 0-0-0
1978 Joe Harper 7-3-0 0-0-0
1979 Joe Harper 7-3-0 0-0-0
1980 Joe Harper 10-3-0 0-0-0 3-0 Div. II national champions
1981 Joe Harper 4-5-0 0-0-0
Joe Harper: 96-43-4 0-0-0
Jim Sanderson (1982–1986)
1982 Jim Sanderson 6-5-0 0-0-0
1983 Jim Sanderson 5-6-0 0-0-0
1984 Jim Sanderson 6-4-0 0-0-0
1985 Jim Sanderson 4-7-0 0-0-0
1986 Jim Sanderson 5-5-0 0-0-0
Jim Sanderson: 26-27-0 0-0-0
Lyle Setencich (1987–1993)
1987 Lyle Setencich 7-3-0 0-0-0
1988 Lyle Setencich 5-4-1 0-0-0
1989 Lyle Setencich 5-5-0 0-0-0
1990 Lyle Setencich 10-2-0 0-0-0 1-1 Div. II quarterfinals
1991 Lyle Setencich 4-6-0 0-0-0
1992 Lyle Setencich 4-5-1 0-0-0
1993 Lyle Setencich 6-4-0 0-0-0
Lyle Setencich: 41-29-2 0-0-0
Andre Patterson (1994–1996)
1994 Andre Patterson 7-4 3-0 1st
1995 Andre Patterson 5-6 2-1
1996 Andre Patterson 5-6 0-0
Andre Patterson: 17-16 5-1
Larry Welsh (1997–2000)
1997 Larry Welsh 10-1 0-0
1998 Larry Welsh 3-8 0-0
1999 Larry Welsh 3-8 0-0
2000 Larry Welsh 3-8 0-0
Larry Welsh: 19-25 0-0
Rich Ellerson (2001–2008)
2001 Rich Ellerson 6-5 0-0
2002 Rich Ellerson 3-8 0-0
2003 Rich Ellerson 7-4 0-0
2004 Rich Ellerson 9-2 4-1 1st
2005 Rich Ellerson 9-4 4-1 T-1st
2006 Rich Ellerson 7-4 2-2 3rd
2007 Rich Ellerson 7-4 2-2 3rd
2008 Rich Ellerson 8-3 4-0 1st
Rich Ellerson: 56-34 16-6
Tim Walsh (2009–present)
2009 Tim Walsh 4-7 1-3 5th
2010 Tim Walsh 7-4 2-2 3rd
2011 Tim Walsh 6-5 3-1 T-1st
2012 Tim Walsh 9-3 7-1 T-1st
Tim Walsh: 26-19 13-7
Total: 467–365–20
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title
Indicates BCS bowl, Bowl Alliance or Bowl Coalition game. #Rankings from final Coaches' Poll.
*Last 3 games of the season cancelled after plane crash killed 16 players in Toledo, OH

Coaching history[]

No. Coach Tenure Seasons Win Loss Tie Pct. Bowls/Playoffs
1 D.W. Schlosser 1915-17 3 4 3 1 .563 0
2 H. Hess 1919-20 2 4 4 0 .500 0
3 Al Agosti 1921-32 11 32 44 5 .425 0
4 Howie O'Daniels 1933-41, 46-47 11 56 33 6 .621 0
5 Bob Dakan 1942 1 4 3 0 .571 0
6 Ron Henderson 1945 1 1 5 1 .167 0
7 Chuck Pavelko 1948-49 2 7 11 0 .389 0
8 Roy Hughes 1950-61 12 73 37 1 .662 0
9 Sheldon Harden 1962-67 6 17 42 0 .288 0
10 Joe Harper 1968-81 14 96 43 4 .662 2
11 Jim Sanderson 1982-86 5 26 27 0 .491 0
12 Lyle Setencich 1987-93 7 41 29 2 .583 1
13 Andre Patterson 1994-96 3 17 16 0 .515 0
14 Larry Welsh 1997-00 4 19 25 0 .432 0
15 Rich Ellerson 2001-08 8 56 34 0 .622 2
16 Tim Walsh 2009–Present 4 26 19 0 .578 0
   Totals   1915–present   93  445  353  20 .556  5

Bowl and Playoff history[]

Bowl and Date Winning team Losing team Result
Camellia Bowl Dec 9, 1972 North Dakota 38 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 21 Lost
NCAA Division II National Football Championship Dec 13, 1980 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 21 Eastern Illinois 13 Won

Current NFL Players[]

Current CFL Players[]

Other Notable Players[]

References[]

External links[]

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