1953 Bakersfield Renegades football team

American college football season January 2025 1953 Bakersfield Renegades football Metropolitan Conference Metropolitan 12–0 7–0 Homer Beatty 1st Griffith Stadium Metropolitan championJunior Rose Bowl champion Junior Rose Bowl W 13–6 vs. 1953 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Golden Norsemen Northeastern Oklahoma A&M The 1953 Bakersfield Renegades football team, also known as the Gades, was an American football team that represented Bakersfield College as a member of the Metropolitan Conference during the 1953 junior college football season. In their first year under head coach Homer Beatty, the Renegades compiled a perfect 12–0 record, won the Metropolitan Conference championship, defeated 1953 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Golden Norsemen Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in the Junior Rose Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 415 to 93. Bakersfield halfback Eugene Fitzgerald, also known as the "Burlington Flyer", received honorable mention from the Associated Press 1953 Little All-America college football team. He averaged 13 yards per carry and was the only two-year college player to receive the honor.Fitzgerald, All-American: Back to Work for 'Gades; Only Jaysee Player on All Eleven The Bakersfield Californian December 2, 1953 37 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bakersfield-californian-fitzgerald/144547603/ Newspapers.com When the Renegades were selected to play in the Junior Rose Bowl, The Bakersfield Californian celebrated the announcement by publishing the next edition with a rose aroma. The rose scent, concocted by chemist Frank Hornkohl at the request of editors and mechanical staff of the newspaper, was added to 15 pounds ink before the paper went to press.This Page's Rose Aroma No Accident The Bakersfield Californian November 30, 1963 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bakersfield-californian-this-pages/144546238/ Newspapers.com The Bakersfield City Council also proclaimed December 12 as "Renegade Day".City Council Proclaims Renegade Day The Bakersfield Californian December 8, 1953 21 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bakersfield-californian-city-council/144555001/ Newspapers.com The Bakersfield Californian described the "mass exodus" from Bakersfield to attend the Junior Rose Bowl:One of the largest, peaceful near-evacuation of a city in the nation already has begun and picks up steam . . . "Tomorrow Is J.R.B. Day for Bakersfield: Mass Exodus Is Under Way The Bakersfield Californian December 11, 1953 36 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bakersfield-californian-tomorrow-is/144555494/ Newspapers.com The team played its home games at Griffith Stadium in Bakersfield, California. Schedule y y September 18 1953 Stockton Mustangs Stockton<ncg> Bakersfield, CA W 18-7 SC Mustangs Defeated by Bakersfield Stockton Record September 19, 1953 24 https://www.newspapers.com/article/stockton-evening-and-sunday-record-sc-mu/144243524/ Newspapers.com September 26 1953 Glendale Vaqueros Glendale (CA)<ncg> Bakersfield, CA W 27-0 October 3 1953 Fresno Junior College Rams Fresno Junior College<ncg> Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA W 16-14 1,500 Unbeaten Bakersfield JC Drops Rams, 16-14 The Fresno Bee Bruce Farris October 4, 1953 5B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-unbeaten-bakersfield-jc-d/144264291/ Newspapers.com October 10 1953 El Camino Warriors El Camino W 35-13 8,000 October 16 at 1953 Harbor Seahawks Harbor Daniels Field San Pedro, CA W 41-0 Bakersfield's Power Smashes Seahawks, 41-0 San Pedro News-Pilot October 17, 1953 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-pilot-bakersfields-power-smashes-s/144265290/ Newspapers.com October 23 1953 East Los Angeles Huskies East Los Angeles Bakersfield, CA W 44-7 October 31 1953 Long Beach Vikings Long Beach W 27-13 November 7 1953 San Diego Junior College Knights San Diego Junior College W 30-19 November 13 1953 Santa Monica Corsairs Santa Monica Griffith Stadium Bakersfield, CA W 74-2 6,000 Bulldog, Renegade Elevens Triumph Los Angeles Times November 14, 1953 III-2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-bulldog-renegade/144245633/ Newspapers.com November 21 1953 Los Angeles Valley Monarchs Los Angeles Valley Griffith Stadium Bakersfield, CA W 33-6 'Gades, Monarchs to Clash: League's Crown Is a Stake The Bakersield Californian Walt Little November 21, 1953 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bakersfield-californian-gades-mona/144546776/ Newspapers.com November 27 at 1953 Taft Cougars Taft<ncg> Taft, CA W 57-6 Bowl-Minded Renegades Place Record on Line Tonight at Taft The Bakersfield Californian Walt Little November 27, 1953 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bakersfield-californian-bowl-minded/144545540/ Newspapers.comGalloping Gades Await Pasadena Voting: Renegades Undefeated as Taft Bows The Bakersfield Californian Walt Little November 28, 1953 18 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bakersfield-californian-galloping-ga/144242984/ Newspapers.com December 8 vs 1953 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Golden Norsemen Northeastern Oklahoma A&M<ncg> Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA (Junior Rose Bowl) W 13-6 50,385 'Gades Picked for Rose Bowl:: Face Miami, Okla., Team The Bakersfield Californian November 30, 1963 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bakersfield-californian-gades-picke/144545860/ Newspapers.comBakersfield Rules JC Grid World: Line Leads Way as Gades Drop Oklahoma Team The Bakersfied Californian Walt Little December 14, 1953 37 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bakersfield-californian-bakersfield/144234185/ Newspapers.com Roster The team's roster included the following starters: Buddy Cuen, fullback, 200 pounds, 6'0 Gene Fitzgerald, right halfback, 190 pounds, 6'2" Rex Garner, center, 210 pounds, 5'11" Gary Gore, right guard, 190 pounds, 5'11" Don Hammons, left end, 180 pounds, 6'0" T.H. Lockard, quarterback, 165 pounds, 6'2" Bob James, left guard, 205 pounds 6'0" Jim Kennedy, right tackle, 220 pounds, 6'1" Budge Loustalot, left halfback, 170 pounds, 5'9" Roger Smith, left tackle, 200 pounds, 6'0" Leland Stahl, right end, 175 pounds, 6'1" How They'll Line Up for Rose Classic The Bakersield Californian December 11, 1953 37 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bakersfield-californian-jrb/144556149/ Newspapers.com The team's head coach was Homer Beatty. The assistant coaches were Jim Turner and Don Robards. References Bakersfield Category:Bakersfield Renegades football Category:Junior college football undefeated seasons Bakersfield Renegades football