Cal Poly Mustangs football

Cal Poly Mustangs football
2011 Cal Poly Mustangs football team
First season	1915
Head coach	Tim Walsh
	2nd year, 4–7–0  (.364)
Home stadium	Alex G. Spanos Stadium
Stadium capacity	11,075
Stadium surface	Natural Grass
Location	San Luis Obispo, CA
Conference	Great West
All-time record	452–357–20 (.557)
Postseason bowl record	4–4–0
Claimed national titles	1 (Division II)
Conference titles	3
Consensus All-Americans	0
Colors	Forest 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 Mustang football team is the college football team of California Polytechnic State University 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

Name	Position	Years at Poly
Tim Walsh	Head Coach	2
Bryan Cook	Co-Offensive coordinator Quarterbacks	2
Saga Tuitele	Co-Offensive coordinator Offensive Line	2
Greg Lupfer	Defensive coordinator Defensive backs	2
Juston Wood	Wide receivers	2
Aristotle Thompson	Running backs	2
Jamar Cain	Assistant Coach Defensive Line	2
Josh Brown	Inside Linebackers	2
Steve Cox	Outside Linebackers	1
Matt Crivello	Offensive Assistant	5
Pat Johnston	Defensive Assistant	2
Brandon "Cherokee" Valeria	Director of Football Operations	1

History

Cal Poly will play its 91st season this fall. Football was first played on the Cal Poly campus in 1916. Cal Poly was still a vocational school at the time and did not become a four year school until 1941. In its 91st season, Cal Poly will look to new head coach Tim Walsh for continued success.

1915 Through the 1940s

Cal Poly played mostly high school teams and college freshmen teams for its first 16 seasons. The Mustangs enjoyed their first undefeated season under coach Howie O'Daniels in 1933. The 1933 Mustangs also 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 their second undefeated season in 1953. In the decade of the 1950s, Cal Poly posted a record of 67-29-1. This decade also got to see bruising tackle John Madden play for the Green and Gold of Cal Poly.

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, 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. The Mustangs would make it to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1978 before losing to Winston-Salem State. Each of the 10 Mustang football teams in the 1970s posted a winning season.

1980s

1980 would be the most memorable season 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 10-3. The Mustangs would see continued success for the rest of the decade but would remain out of the playoffs until the 90s.

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 just missing the 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. Cal Poly would have two more players win this 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 San Diego State as well as experience a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Wisconsin Badgers. The 2008 Mustangs made the playoffs and ended up losing a shootout against Weber State. Wide receiver Ramses Barden was drafted by the New York Giants. After the season, coach Rich Ellerson accepted a coaching offer from the Army Black Knights.

Season-by-season records

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:		12-43	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
Tim Walsh:		11-11	3-5
Total:		452–357–20
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title
†Indicates BCS bowl 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	2	11	11	0	.500	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	21	Lost
NCAA Division II National Football Championship Dec 13, 1980	Cal Poly	21	Eastern Illinois	13	Won

Current NFL Players

• Ramses Barden - Wide Receiver, New York Giants
• Courtney Brown - Cornerback, New York Giants
• Chris Gocong - Linebacker, Philadelphia Eagles
• Jordan Beck - Linebacker, Denver Broncos

Current CFL Players

• Mark Restelli - Linebacker, Edmonton Eskimos
• Marty Mohamed - Linebacker, Hamilton Tiger Cats

Other Notable Players

• Mel Kaufman - Linebacker, winner of two Super Bowl rings and Captain of the Washington Redskins
• John Madden - Head Coach, NFL Hall of Fame

External links

• Official Website
• Cal Poly Team Media Guide Reference