FB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Sabretooth Tiger]

Agreed . . . (the part about reporters . . .  ) . . . note that it is not a quote from Atkinson, but rather an assertion by the writer.  Very likely he got some kind of scholarship . . . the vast majority of Oxy kids get some degree of assistance, full pay is nearly a thing of the past . . . so no reason to case aspersions on the kid based on this article.

It will be interesting to see how things play out in camp and in the first couple of games with this kid coming into the mix to fight for a spot with Goltz and Saunders.  I'm betting that Matt Anderson is happy to have this football/baseball guy coming aboard.

tooth

[RFB]

True, most reporters are clueless when it comes to DIII athletics. I wouldn't automatically assume that this was the case though. Some high school kids want to impress and will try to turn an academic scholarship/financial aid package into something else. Most reading that column are not in tune with DIII athletics.

[Pat Coleman]

I love it when hometown high schools stars trump up their acheivements by saying they were awarded a scholarship to play DIII football.

Is it the star or the clueless reporter?

Sometimes it's the high school coach.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

True, most reporters are clueless when it comes to DIII athletics. I wouldn't automatically assume that this was the case though. Some high school kids want to impress and will try to turn an academic scholarship/financial aid package into something else. Most reading that column are not in tune with DIII athletics.

No doubt you could be correct here . . . I just prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt so, absent evidence to the contrary, will give them a pass and not assume the negative on the first go round . . . and frankly I never even considered the very real consideration raised by Pat.

Ah . . . much ado about nothing . . . the kid's a blank slate (save for the fact that we now know that he wants to be a teacher/coach) . . . so we'll just wait and see what kind of person he turns out to be once he shows up on campus . . . and will see what kind of player he turns out to be once he straps on the gear.

meanwhile . . . it's after 12 on Friday . . . so there is a need to prepare for a little grillin' & chillin'

aloha my bruddahs

tooth

[Pat Coleman]

I have come to believe that there are high school coaches who would do so in order to improve their own resume.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

A fun and worthwhile piece from the Tiger media guide:

Occidental Football
Tiger History

Occidental entered college football in 1894 and the '95 season opened with a 10-0 victory over USC by the Salem Goodale-coached Oxy team. Oxy was undefeated and unscored upon that year. This same year the oldest current rivalry on the west coast was started when Pomona was defeated by the Tigers, 16-0. Dean Cromwell who later gained fame as the U.S. Olympic Track Coach captained the last team coached by Goodale in 1899. During these early years of football the college was given its nickname by a Los Angeles sports writer who observing an Occidental game with USC stated that Oxy played like "Tigers."

By 1920 the Bengals had achieved national stature as a football team. Oregon, University of Utah, Syracuse, and California were frequent opponents. That year marked the 12th meeting between USC's Trojans and the Tigers with a six-six series split.  The years from 1921 to 1942 were an era of total college expansion for Occidental. As the school began to develop a widespread academic reputation of high quality, so the athletic teams continued to increase competition with schools of national prominence. Coaches Joe Pipal, Bill Anderson, and "Gllomy" Gus Henderson, forever rememberd by Oxy alums, directed the Tigers during this era. Oxy kicked off the period with four consecutive victories over UCLA. Other opponents were Stanford, Santa Clara, Fresno State, Loyola, Arizona, USC, Brigham Young, and San Jose State. When Oxy defeated New Mexico, 26-0, in a game played in the Rose Bowl, it marked the first time in the history of college football that the visiting team traveled to the game by air flight.

The post-war years were highlighted by the undefeated team of 1948. The '48 season included victories over rivals Whittier, 21-0, and Pomona, 14-0. The season was culminated with a come-from-behind victory over Colorado A&M in the Raisin Bowl on January 1. Little All-American halfback John Trump and quarterback John Sanders led the Tigers that year.

During the mid-fifties the Tigers were led by quarterback Jack Kemp, who was later voted the American Football League's "Most Valuable Player." Quarterback Doug Gerhardt, who would later become a Tiger head coach, also played in that era. End Jim Mora, Occidental head coach from 1964-66, was Kemp's favorite receiver and that passing combination led the SCIAC in 1956-57. From that same team, linebacker Ron Botchan went on to play with the Houston Oiler AFL championship team of 1960. Perhaps one of the greatest running backs in the history of the college closed out his postwar era of 1946-59, halfback Pete Tunney, a draft choice of both the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Chargers, had his professional career cut short before it started by a tragic accident in 1960. Dring this playing days at Oxy, Tunney, a 9.7 sprinter, rushed for over 2,000 yards in total offense.

The sixties and seventies was ushered in by the coaching regime of Vic Schwenk and the passing of Bill Redell, who played for the Hamilton Argos of the Canadian Football League, was another in the long line of fine passing quarterbacks at Oxy. Jerry Greenwalt and Ron Whitney, the prime prospect in the 1968 Olympic 400-meter hurdles, were Redell's main targets. In 1964 Jim Mora took over the coaching reigns from Schwenk, who left to join the Rams Coaching staff. After a rebuilding year, the '65 Tiger Team recorded  an 8-1 season in which Oxy was 10th in the national small college rankings and again won the SCIAC championship. Dennis Chinn was a Little All-American defensive guard on that team. Joel Sheldon, an Outstanding guard on the '65 team, was accorded first team small college All-American honors in '66. In 1968, Oxy had a 3-1-1 conference record with one of the top offensive teams in the West. Little All-Coast running back Gene Moore, who led the SCIAC in rushing and set an all-time single season school rushing mark of 1,084 yards in none games, played on this team and was later drafted in the forth round by the San Francisco 49ers.

In 1976, the passing combination of Tom Hamilton to Rick Frye led the nation in passing yardage gained. Frye was a First Team All-American selection as he caught over eighty passes to lead the nation. Many great athletes have worn the Orange and Black and many are yet to come. These fine men that have done battle as Oxy Tigers from the year 1894 to the present day have established an undying tradition held sacred in the hearts of many. Occidental College is proud of the achievements of the se athletes and their contributions to the total glorious history of this institution.  

[Sabretooth Tiger]

I have come to believe that there are high school coaches who would do so in order to improve their own resume.

I think it is a very valid point, thanks for putting it into the conversation.

[Gray Fox]

I have come to believe that there are high school coaches who would do so in order to improve their own resume.

I think it is a very valid point, thanks for putting it into the conversation.

There are also happy parents who are glad to save a few bucks.

[snoop dawg]

Tooth.....nice article but I sure thought I'd see your name mentioned since you were an outstanding db in the day......and what about you know who?

[Browneagle64]

Haha, i was also skeptical that Tooths and Bob's name would be mention in that same article as well. However, i was still delighted and glad to learn more history about the Oxy football team from an old tiger like Tooth.

[snoop dawg]

BE.......Why would you think I was referring to Bob?  He didnt play football at Oxy.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

Tooth.....nice article but I sure thought I'd see your name mentioned since you were an outstanding db in the day......and what about you know who?

Thanks, but the only thing that I was "out standing by" was the bench . . . actually, I'm shocked that more press wasn't given to 2nd string d-backs and special teams players . . . 

But . . . I am proud to say that some of my teammates and friends were notable enough to gain some mention . . .  8)

[snoop dawg]

"But this came down to me really wanting to experience what college football is all about."

Sounds like a bit of a slap in the face to CLU,.....don't they play college football? 

[RFB]

"But this came down to me really wanting to experience what college football is all about."

Sounds like a bit of a slap in the face to CLU,.....don't they play college football? 

That's how I interpreted it. Wouldn't it be funny if someone else won the starting job at Whitewater? I guess loyalty doesn't jive with DJ.

[Pat Coleman]

Perhaps he thinks playing 10 games instead of the SCIAC-limited 9 games is what college football is all about.
Perhaps he thinks playing in front of 4.400 fans per home game instead of 1,510 is what it's all about.

Those of you who haven't been out of the SCIAC should recognize there's a big D-III out there. Those were just two differences right off the top of my head.