American college football season
The 1972 California Golden Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Berkeley in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season . In their first year under head coach Mike White , the Golden Bears compiled a 3–8 record (3–4 in Pac-8, fifth) and were outscored 314 to 228.[ 1] [ 2] Home games were played on campus at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California .
California's statistical leaders on offense were sophomore quarterback Steve Bartkowski with 944 passing yards, Steve Kemnitzer with 434 rushing yards, and Steve Sweeney with 785 receiving yards.[ 3]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 9 at No. 2 Colorado * L 10–2050,751 [ 4] September 16 Washington State W 37–2330,794 [ 5] September 23 San Jose State * California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA L 10–1728,691 [ 6] September 30 at Missouri * L 27–3441,000 [ 7] October 7 No. 3 Ohio State * California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA L 18–3545,000 [ 8] October 14 at No. 1 USC L 14–4256,488 [ 9] October 21 No. 11 UCLA California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA (rivalry ) L 13–4930,563 [ 10] October 28 at Washington L 21–3556,300 [ 11] November 4 Oregon California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA W 31–1223,565 [ 12] [ 13] [ 14] November 11 at Oregon State L 23–2616,624 [ 15] November 18 Stanford California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA (Big Game ) W 24–2168,000 [ 16] *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[ 17]
1972 California Golden Bears football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt
Game information First quarter STAN – Eric Cross 24-yard pass from Mike Boryla (Steve Murray kick). Stanford 7–0. Drive: Second quarter CAL – Ray Wersching 29-yard field goal. Stanford 7–3. Drive: STAN – Gordon Riegel 71-yard interception return (Steve Murray kick). Stanford 14–3. Third quarter CAL – Syl Youngblood 4-yard run (pass good). Stanford 14–11. Drive: Fourth quarter CAL – Syl Youngblood 6-yard run (Ray Wersching kick). Cal 18–14. Drive: STAN – Reggie Sanderson 3-yard run (Rod Garcia kick), 3:42. Stanford 21–18. Drive: CAL – Steve Sweeney 7-yard pass from Vince Ferragamo , 0:00. Cal 24–21. Drive: 64 yards. Top rushers CAL – Steve Kemnitzer – 15 rushes, 60 yards
75th meeting between the schools Steve Sweeney set single season conference record for receiving touchdowns, tied the single season school record and set the school career record for receptions.[ 18] ^ "1972 California Golden Bears Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2016 . ^ "California 2015 Football Information Guide" (PDF) . CalBears.com . Cal Golden Bears Athletics. p. 165. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016 . ^ "1972 California Golden Bears Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2016 . ^ "Colorado vs California Summary of Football Game Statistics" (PDF) . NCAA Football Statistics . NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018 . ^ '16 Cougar Football (PDF) . Washington State University Athletics. p. 81. ^ "California vs San Jose State Summary of Football Game Statistics" (PDF) . NCAA Football Statistics . NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018 . ^ "Missouri vs California Summary of Football Game Statistics" (PDF) . NCAA Football Statistics . NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018 . ^ "California vs Ohio State Summary of Football Game Statistics" (PDF) . NCAA Football Statistics . NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018 . ^ "USC vs California Summary of Football Game Statistics" (PDF) . NCAA Football Statistics . NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018 . ^ "California vs UCLA Summary of Football Game Statistics" (PDF) . NCAA Football Statistics . NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018 . ^ "Washington vs California Summary of Football Game Statistics" (PDF) . NCAA Football Statistics . NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018 . ^ Newnham, Blaine (November 5, 1972). "Bears bury Ducks in the mud" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). p. 1D. ^ "Cal romps" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). Associated Press. November 5, 1972. p. 19. ^ "California vs Oregon Summary of Football Game Statistics" (PDF) . NCAA Football Statistics . NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018 . ^ "Oregon State vs California Summary of Football Game Statistics" (PDF) . NCAA Football Statistics . NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018 . ^ "California vs Stanford Summary of Football Game Statistics" (PDF) . NCAA Football Statistics . NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018 . ^ 2015 Football Information Guide (PDF) . Cal Athletics. 2015. p. 165. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. ^ "Bears upend Stanford with Sweeney as hero." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Nov 19. Retrieved 28-Mar-20.
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