Stockton in San Joaquin County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Excellence

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, July 3, 2022

1. Excellence Marker

Inscription. 1949 Team - Terrific Pacific The 1949 Tigers were nationally recognized as one of the finest teams in the country, and their undefeated season was the greatest in the history of Pacific Football. In his third season, Larry Siemering and assistants Hugh McWilliams, Dean Richardson, Ernie Jorge, and Wayne Hardin (who also played) developed a creative offense that lead to an 11-0 season, earning the Tigers a final ranking of 10th in the country by the Associated Press. The small school Tigers topped the nation in total offense (502.9 yards per game), and set an NCAA single-season record with 575 points scored (against only 66 points allowed).

The Tigers were led by 19-year-old quarterback Eddie LeBaron, who also starred as a safety and punter. LeBaron executed a double-spin move and trickery on offense that would fool even the game officials and unleashed the potent running of Eddie Macon, Bruce Orvis, Don Hardey, and Walt Polenske, and talented pass receiving of John Rohde and Phil Ortez.

Playing as an Independent with no conference affiliation, the Tigers soundly beat larger colleges and universities across the nation.

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In addition to its national marks, this team set school records that were never surpassed over the next 46 years of Pacific Football: yards gained (3,910; rushing touchdowns (63); punt return yards (751 yards on 45 returns); extra points (57); fewest yards allowed (2,021); pass interceptions (31 for 458 yards); fewest touchdowns allowed (10); highest single game point total (88 vs. Cal Poly).

Sixteen players were selected in the NFL Draft, and 6 had careers as professional players. Eddie LeBaron was selected first team All-American and All-Pacific Coast, and Pacific had their first two representatives in the Annual East-West Shrine Bowl All-Star Classic in LeBaron and Rohde.

The team was shunned for postseason play by the southern bowl committees, due in part to their segregation policies. Thus “Unbeaten, United, and Uninvited” became the defining phrase for this remarkable team.

DATE - OPPONENT – RESULT
September 17, 1949 • San Francisco • W 7-6
September 23, 949 • at Loyola (CA) • W 52-0
October 1, 1949 • Cincinnati • W 34-7
October 8, 1949 • Nevada • W 47-6
October 15, 1949 • at Portland • W 75-20
October 22, 1949 • San

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, July 3, 2022

2. Excellence Marker

Diego State • W 62-14
October 28, 1949 • at San Jose State • W 45-7
November 12, 1949 • Utah • W 45-6
November 18, 1949 • Fresno State • W 45-0
November 24, 1949 • at Cal Poly • W 88-0
December 16, 1949 • at Hawaii • W 75-0

Air Pacific As head coach for his alma mater, Walt Harris (1989-91) devised a run-and-shoot offense known as “Air Pacific” that set school, conference and NCAA Division I records. Troy Kopp was the first quarterback in NCAA history to have consecutive 500 yard passing games, including a conference record 564 yards against New Mexico State (1990). Kopp led the NCAA in touchdown passes in 1991 with 37 and his career total of 87 ranked third all-time on the NCAA career touchdowns list. In 1991, wide receiver Aaron Turner led the NCAA in total receiving yards (1,604) and yards per game (145), while also setting an NCAA record with 11 consecutive games with at least 100 yards and a touchdown. By the end of his career, Turner was the NCAA career receiving leader in all three major statistical categories: receptions (266), yards (4,345) and touchdowns (43). Running back Ryan Benjamin was the first player in NCAA

Stagg Memorial Football Plaza image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, July 3, 2022

3. Stagg Memorial Football Plaza

Division I history to surpass 2,500 all-purpose yards in two seasons (1991 and 1992). In 1991, Benjamin led the NCAA in yards per game (237.8), all-purpose yards (2,996, second in NCAA history), and became the first player in conference history to record 50 passes while rushing for over 1,500 yards. Collectively, all three players hold almost every Pacific offensive record, and both Kopp and Benjamin went on to play professional football. Those Air Pacific teams also produced three longtime NFL players in offensive lineman Greg Bishop, wide receiver Daryl Hobbs and defensive lineman Shawn Price.

Despite its small school size and limited resources, Pacific had a reputation for competing and at times prevailing over notable schools around the country. Victories against USC, Minnesota, South Carolina, Cal, Stanford, Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State and UCLA brought great pride and notoriety to the university. Many players set national records during their Pacific careers, and during the 1950’s Pacific had more alumni playing in the NFL than any other university. This reputation for athletic prowess aling with an emphasis on academic

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excellence attracted talented student-athletes who wanted to compete against the best and enjoy a well rounded college experience in earning a Pacific degree.

National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete
1979 Bruce Filarsky, g • 1992 Kale Wedemeyer, wr
Career Leaders
Passing Yards
1. Troy Kopp • 1989-1992 • 10,258
2. Paul Berner • 1982-1984 • 4,819
3. Eddie LeBaron • 1946-1949 • 3,841
4. Craig Whelihan • 1992-1994 • 3,797
5. Dave Henigan • 1989-1993 • 3,220
Rushing Yards
1. Willard Harrell • 1972-1974 • 3324
2. Ryan Benjamin • 1990-1992 • 3,119
3. Bruce Gibson • 1974-1977 • 2,856
4. Dick Bass • 1956-1959 • 2,714
5. Tom McCormick • 1950-1952 • 2,652
Rushing Touchdowns
1. Willard Harrell • 1972-1974 • 33
2. Dick Bass • 1956-1959 • 31
Tom McCormick • 1950-1952 • 31
3. Ryan Benjamin • 1990-1992 • 26
Bruce Orvis • 1946-1949 • 26
Interceptions
1. Stan Shibata • 1978-1981 • 17
2. Eddie Macon • 1949-1951 • 17
3. Jeff Russell • 1990-1994 13
Vernie Kelley • 1950-1952 • 13
4. Harland Berndt • 1950-1952 • 12
Scoring
1. Aaron Turner • 1989-1992 • 258
2. Willard Harrell • 1972-1974 • 220
3. Dick Bass • 1956-1959 • 208
4. Eddie Macon • 1949-1951 • 204
5. Tom McCormick • 1950-1952 • 188
Touchdown Receptions
1. Aaron Turner • 1989-1992 • 43
2. Joh Rohde • 1946-1949 • 29
3. Daryl Hobbs • 1990-1991 • 26
4. Kerry Brown • 1993-1994 • 12
Kurt Heinrich • 1981-1985 • 12
Ken Buck • 1951-1953 • 12

First Team All-Americans
Ryan Benjamin 1991 • Ken Buck 1953 • Eddie Lebaron 1949 • Art McCaffray 1943 • Joh Podesto 1943

Other All-Americans
Larry Bailey 1973 • Dick Bass 1958 • Ryan Benjamin 1992 • Gary Blackwell 1982 • Jack Cosgrove 1979 • Bruce Filarsky 1979 • Collis Galloway 1985 • Steve Goulart 1979 • Kevin Greene 1982 • Kirk Harmon 1980, 1981 • Willard Harrell 1973, 1974 • Nick Holt 1985 • Mike House 1979 • Vern Kellerman 1971 • Greg Koperek 1988 • James Mackey 1984 • Sander Markel 1979 • Mike Merriweather 1979, 1981 • Dallas Nelson 1979 • Stan Shibata 1977, 1978 • Aaron Turner 1991, 1992 • BradVassar 1977, 1978, 1979 • Willie Viney 1972, 1973 • Kirby Warren 1983

Alumni who played in the NFL three or more years
Position / Player / Seasons / Years
QB-P Bob Lee 12 1969-1980 • QB Eddie LeBaron 11 1952-1963 • LB Mike Merriweather 11 1982-1993 • G Duane Putnam 11 1952-1962 • FB-HB Dick Bass 10 1960-1969 • RB Willard Harrell 10 1975-1984 • G Wayne Hawkins 10 1960-1969 • DE-DT Shawn Price 10 1993-2002 • G-T-LB John Thomas 10 1958-1967 • QB Tom Flores 9 1960-1969 • DT-DE Bon Heinz 9 1969-1978 • DE-LB Carl Kammerer 9 1961-1969 • G-C Mark Nordquist 9 1968-1976 • E Clyde Conner 8 1956-1963 • TE Bruce Colset 8 1969-1976 • G John Nisby 8 1957-1964 • T-DT Bill Sandeman 8 1966-1973 • TE-T Bob Adams 7 1969-1976 • G-T Greg Bishop 7 1993-1999 • DE-LB-G Gene Cronin 7 1956-1962 • WR Lionel Manuel 7 1984 1990 • LB Donnie Spragan 6 2002-2007 • DE-T Bob Denton 5 1960-1964 • WR Daryl Hobbs 5 1993-1997 • DB Tony Plummer 5 1970-1974 • DB Kato Serwanga 5 1999-2003 • FB-G Phil Martinovich 4 1939-1947 • HB Tom McCormick 4 1953-1956 • DB Rudy Redmond 4 1969-1972 • T-DT Don Campora 3 1950-1953 • DB Honor Jackson 3 1972-1974 • C Paul Latzke 3 1966-1968 • DB-HB Eddie Macon 3 1952-1953, 1960 • C Bob Moser 3 1951-1953 • TE Brian Peets 3 1978-1981 • DB Wasswa Serwanga 3 1999-2001 • LB Kevin Turner 3 1980-1982 • E-FL A.D. Williams 3 1959-1961

Erected by University of the Pacific.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1949.

Location. 37° 58.664′ N, 121° 18.966′ W. Marker is in Stockton, California, in San Joaquin County. It can be reached from Larry Heller Drive. The marker is mounted to a red brick masonry pillar in Stagg Memorial Football Plaza on the University of the Pacific campus. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1163 Larry Heller Drive, Stockton CA 95211, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the San Joaquin Valley

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Amos Alonzo Stagg 1862-1965 (here, next to this marker); Stagg Stadium (a few steps from this marker); Leadership (a few steps from this marker); Community (a few steps from this marker); Eddie Macon #41 (within shouting distance of this marker); Willard Harrell 39 (within shouting distance of this marker); Dick Bass 22 (within shouting distance of this marker); Eddie LeBaron #40 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stockton.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 503 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 26, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.