1951 San Francisco Dons football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1951 San Francisco Dons football Independent 14 14 9–0 Joe Kuharich 4th Kezar Stadium 1959 The 1951 San Francisco Dons football team was an American football team that represented the University of San Francisco as an independent during the 1951 college football season. In their fourth season under head coach Joe Kuharich, the Dons compiled a 9–0 record, outscored opponents by a total of 338 to 86, and were ranked No. 14 in the final AP Poll.1951 San Francisco Dons Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 23, 2018 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/san-francisco/1951-schedule.html The team was ranked at No. 27 in the 1951 Litkenhous Ratings.Vols Top Final 1951 Litkenhous Ratings The Nashville Banner December 14, 1951 49 https://www.newspapers.com/article/nashville-banner-vols-top-final-1951-lit/124782001/ Newspapers.com The 1951 Dons team is considered one of the great teams in college football history, with ten starting players drafted into the NFL, including three Hall of Famers — Gino Marchetti, Ollie Matson, and Bob St. Clair.Graham Kislingbury, "Bob St. Clair: The King of Kezar," Corvallis [OR] Gazette-Times, Feb. 6, 2010. Five others on the squad — Ed Brown, Joe "Scooter" Scudero, Ralph Thomas, Mike Mergen, and Red Stephens — went on to make NFL Rosters. The Dons were invited to play in the 1952 Orange Bowl, held in segregated Florida, on the condition that the team's African-American stars Matson and Burl Toler would not play. The Dons refused the offer: "We told them to go to Hell," recalled St. Clair. The 1951 Dons, and their fight for racial equality, were the subject of a book, Undefeated, Untied and Uninvited by Kristine Clark, as well as a 2014 documentary film, '51 Dons.http://www.phillytrib.com/sports/espn-profiles-unbeaten-dons/article_d9d0c2f8-4090-5c2b-9a30-cc8b5906728f.html/ Philadelphia Tribune February 9, 2014 August 1, 2014 Donald Hunt ESPN profiles unbeaten '51 Donshttp://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/ron-kantowski/st-clair-s-dons-best-team-you-never-heard/ Ron Kantowski St. Clair's Dons 'the best team you never heard of' Las Vegas Review-Journal February 14, 2014 August 1, 2014 Two days after the final game of the 1951 season, the University of San Francisco disbanded its football program. Schedule 1951 AP y y y September 21 San Jose State Kezar Stadium San Francisco, CA W 39-2 16,000 Spartans' Future Looks Bleak -- Face U.S.F. Dons Again After 39-2 Mauling Oakland Tribune September 22, 1951 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22177381/spartans_future_looks_bleak_face/ Newspapers.com September 29 vs. Idaho old Bronco Stadium Boise, ID W 28-7 10,000 U.S.F. Wallops Idaho, 28 to 7 Oakland Tribune September 30, 1951 A53 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22177463/usf_wallops_idaho_28_to_7/ Newspapers.comhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Tq1eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=By8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1480%2C2517107 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press San Francisco rolls over Vandals 28-7 September 30, 1951 8https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=djIpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_00DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5797%2C6113175 Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah United Press San Francisco trims Idaho Vandals, 28-7 2C October 7 Camp Pendleton Kezar Stadium San Francisco, CA W 26-0 6,500 Matson Sparks Dons' 26-0 Win Oakland Tribune October 8, 1951 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22177948/matson_sparks_dons_260_win/ Newspapers.com October 12 at San Jose State Spartan Stadium San Jose, CA W 42-7 10,000 Matson Rambles In Dons Victory: U.S.F. Laces Spartans for Second Time October 13, 1951 Oakland Tribune 9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22178026/matson_rambles_in_dons_victory_usf/ Newspapers.com October 20 at Fordham Triborough Stadium New York, NY W 32-26 15,250 Matson's 3 Touchdowns Whip Rams Brooklyn Eagle 24 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22178115/matsons_3_touchdowns_whip_rams/ Newspapers.com October 26 San Diego NTS No. 20 Kezar Stadium San Francisco, CA W 26-7 Ollie Stars Again, USF Wins, 26-7 The San Francisco Examiner Bill Mulligan October 27, 1951 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100011668/ollie-stars-again-usf-wins-26-7/ Newspapers.com November 4 Santa Clara No. 20 Kezar Stadium San Francisco, CA W 26-7 32,685 USF Booms as Matson Zooms, 26-7: All-American Ollie Dynamites Broncs With 3 TDs, 229 Yards The San Francisco Examiner Curley Grieve November 5, 1951 37 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99922203/usf-booms-as-matson-zooms-26-7/ Newspapers.com November 17 at Pacific (CA) No. 14 Valley Bowl Stockton, CA W 47-14 41,607 Matson Paces SF To 47-14 Victory The San Francisco Examiner Harry M. Hayward November 18, 1951 28, 32 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83963409/the-san-francisco-examiner/ Newspapers.com November 25 at Loyola (CA) No. 13 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA W 20-2 15,750 https://www.newspapers.com/image/380800663/?terms=loyola 26 Nov 1951, 72 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com newspapers.com August 14, 2018 References San Francisco Category:San Francisco Dons football seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons San Francisco Dons football Category:1950s in San Francisco