Tigers Return Home to Celebrate Raisin Bowl Championship Reunion
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2008) – It was nearly 60 years ago that Occidental College used a 21-point second half to erase a 14-0 halftime deficit and capture a 21-20 victory over Colorado A&M at the 1949 Raisin Bowl held in Fresno, Calif.
On January 1, 1949, the 33-man squad traveled to Ratcliffe Stadium for the fourth annual Raisin Bowl where both teams were appearing in the first Bowl game in the history of their respective programs.
Entering the game, Occidental was one of 12 teams across the nation that finished the regular season unbeaten and without any ties, as they recorded an 8-0 record. The last time before 1948 that Oxy football went undefeated was in 1916. Additionally, the Tigers claimed their first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title since 1929.
Occidental also entered the game as one of the top six small college teams in the nation according to the National Collegiate Athletic Bureau. A large reason why the Tigers were ranked sixth was their total offensive numbers for the season. An offense that rushed 301.9 yards per game was ranked fifth in the country while their total yardage per game was sixth in the nation with 387.9 yards per game.
Halfback Johnny Trump was nationally ranked in 1948 with 100 carries for 495 yards in eight games as he earned Little All-Coast and First Team All-SCIAC recognition for the third time of his career. Chip Armstrong (center), Bill Pearson (right end) and Bob Ingersoll (fullback) also earned First Team All-SCIAC honors that year.
Johnny Sanders ran the ball 86 times, gaining 423 total yards, which earned him Second Team All-SCIAC. Joining Sanders on the Second Team were Vic Schwenk (left end), Bob Chilcott (left tackle), Bud Ingersoll (right guard) and Bob Frieze (right halfback), who led all Tigers with 7.4 yards per carry.
Chuck Schlegel was right behind Frieze with 7.2 yards per carry. The passing game was led by Joe Johnson who completed 23 of 67 attempts for 485 yards and eight touchdowns in 1948. Steve Smith was a solid kicker for the Tigers, going 16-for-16 in PAT chances.
The Oxy defense was ranked 11th allowing just 152 yards per game. The Tigers recorded 15 interceptions during the regular season and held opponents to 55-for-180 passing, which also ranked 11th. Garth Carter was a defensive threat, playing each backfield position, and playing it well, adding 19 carries for 119 yards. Paul Huebner did not earn All Conference recognition, but among his teammates he was highly regarded.
Leading the way for the pack at the Raisin Bowl was backup quarterback Don Ross who used a trio of second half touchdown passes to preserve the Tigers’ undefeated season after playing primarily on defense during the regular season.
In addition to winning the game, Occidental was featured in the movie “Yes, Sir, That's My Baby” as Universal Studio was granted permission to film the game.
During the 1948 season, 47 men suited up in black and orange. This weekend, 13 of those men will be back on campus to celebrate the reunion of that special season, share stories and attend the final regular season game of 2008. The Tigers on today’s squad look to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and remain undefeated this season as they play towards their own Bowl appearance in the coming month, which will be held in Salem, VA, at the Division III National Championship Stagg Bowl.
On that roster 60 years ago were:
Veryl Alexander, James Anderson, John Andrews, Charles Armstrong, Leo Arranga, Joseph Buchanan, Thomas Bushey, Ted Calderone, John Campbell, Garth Carter, Robert Chilcott, Victor Cuccia, James Else, Louis Evans, Robert Frieze, George Goff, Rodney Henney, Paul Huebner, Bud Ingersoll, Robert Ingersoll, Roy Jae, Joseph Johnson, Lloyd Stanford Johnson, Robert Levin, Don Levitan, Lynn Lomen, Samuel McClung, William Pearson, Robert Peterson, Edward Rudolph Rall, William Rheinschild, Don Ross, John Sanders, Charles Schlegel, Mel Scholssman, Victor Schwenk, Stephen Smith, Theodore Stevens, John Stinstrom, Richard Stinstrom, Robert Sutton, Hugh Tassey, Douglas Tillotson, John Trump, James Tunney, Arthur Walker and Howard Wheeler.
The support staff consisted of Head Coach Roy Dennis, Line Coach Al Walz, Trainer Harold Baker, Equipment Manager Sheldon Hentschke, Senior Manager Walter “Jack” Hesnault and coach Ed Simmons.
Once more, the Occidental community would like to take this special opportunity, on the 60th anniversary, to thank and recognize these special alumni.
