1953 Chico State Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1953 Chico State Wildcats football Far Western Conference FWC 6–3–1 4–0–1 Ernie Busch 2nd Chico High School Stadium FWC champion The 1953 Chico State Wildcats football team represented Chico State College—now known as California State University, Chico—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1953 college football season. Led by Ernie Busch in his second and final season as head coach, Chico State compiled an overall record of 6–3–1 with a mark of 4–0–1 in conference play, winning the FWC title. The team outscored its opponents 150 to 133 for the season. The Wildcats played home games at Chico High School Stadium in Chico, California. The team included 14 returning lettermen and 16 junior college transfers.Chico Has Fifty For Practice Reno Gazette-Journal September 5, 1953 9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15253409/chico_state_has_fifty_for_practice/ Newspapers.com Before the season began, improved expectations for the team's performance caused ticket sales to "soar to a new high."Chico State 11 Have Heavy Sked For 1953 Year The Times Standard August 21, 1953 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15379686/chico_state_11_have_heavy_sked_for_1953/ Newspapers.com On November 13, Chico State played the Cal Aggies to a scoreless tie in six inches of rain and 40 mile per hour winds, as a fierce storm also caused the press box to collapse during the game. At the end of the season, four Chico State players were selected for the All-Far Western Conference football team: guard Gene Van der Leun, end George Maderos, and backs Hal Higgins and Carroll Campbell.Humboldt, Chico Dominate All-Conference Grid Pick Nevada State Journal December 13, 1953 15 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15253361/humboldt_chico_dominate_allconference/ Newspapers.com Busch finished his tenure as Chico State with an overall record of 7–9–1, for a .441 winning percentage. Schedule September 19 w y Presidio of San FranciscoThe Presidio of San Francisco was an Army fort from 1848 to 1996. For many years they fielded a team that played against colleges and other military teams. Chico High School Stadium Chico, CA 14–7 Maderos Tops Chico 14-7 Football Win Nevada State Journal Reno, Nevada September 20, 1953 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15039920/maderos_tops_chico_147_football_win/ Newspapers.comChico State Wins Opener From SF Presidio 11 Humboldt Standard Eureka, California September 23, 1953 8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15253581/chico_state_wins_opener_from_sf/ Newspapers.com September 26 w Cal Aggies Chico High School Stadium Chico, CA 14–7 Chico Nips Aggies On 57-Yard Jaunt Nevada State Journal Reno, Nevada September 27, 1953 27 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15040026/chico_nips_aggies_on_57yard_jaunt/ Newspapers.comChico Works For Next Grid Game Humboldt Standard Eureka, California September 30, 1953 15 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15253597/chico_works_for_next_grid_game/ Newspapers.com October 3 w y Naval Station Treasure Island Chico High School Stadium Chico, CA 21–0 Third Straight For Chico State Nevada State Journal Reno, Nevada October 4, 1953 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15040106/third_straight_for_chico_state/ Newspapers.com October 10 l y y Nevada Mackay StadiumThis stadium is the predecessor to the current Mackay Stadium, which was opened for the 1966 season.Mackay Stadium http://www.unr.edu/around-campus/mackay-stadium University of Nevada, Reno January 4, 2017 note Reno, NV 7–27 Nevada Opens With 27-7 Victory Over Chico State The Fresno Bee Fresno, California 6B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15039836/nevada_opens_with_277_victory_over/ Newspapers.comChico State Wildcats Hold Workout After Nevada Game Reno Gazette-Journal Reno, Nevada October 14, 1953 22 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15253375/chico_state_wildcats_hold_workout_after/ Newspapers.com October 17 w y 1953 Southern Oregon Red Raiders Southern Oregon Fuller Field Ashland, OR 26–7 Chico State Drubs South Oregon 26-7 Nevada State Journal Reno, Nevada October 18, 1953 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15040175/chico_state_drubs_south_oregon_267/ Newspapers.com October 24 w San Francisco State Chico High School Stadium Chico, CA 13–0 Chico State Triumphs Oakland Tribune Oakland, California October 25, 1953 56A https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15038248/chico_state_triumphs/ Newspapers.comChico Gridders Get Day Off After San Francisco Victory Reno Evening Gazette Reno, Nevada October 28, 1953 27 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15253401/chico_gridders_get_day_off/ Newspapers.com October 31 w y Humboldt State Chico High School Stadium Chico, CA 14–13 4,100 Humboldt Loses To Chico; 1953 Season Ended Humboldt Standard Eureka, California November 2, 1953 23 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15038129/humboldt_loses_to_chico/ Newspapers.com November 7 l y y 1953 Linfield Wildcats Linfield Maxwell Field McMinnville, OR 13–20 Linfield Defeats Chico Staters Statesman Journal Salem, Oregon November 8, 1953 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15037839/linfield_beats_chico_staters/ Newspapers.comChico State Prexy Asks For 'Proof' The Capital Journal Salem, Oregon November 13, 1953 11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15038057/chico_state_prexy_asks_for_proof/ November 13 t y Cal Aggies Aggie Field Davis, CA 0–0 State, Aggies Tie in Storm Reno Evening Gazette Reno, Nevada November 14, 1953 8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15037617/state_aggies_tie_in_storm/ Newspapers.com November 21 l y y University of Mexico Estadio Olímpico Universitario Mexico City, Mexico 28–52 Chico Defeated At Mexico City Humboldt Standard Eureka, California November 23, 1953 26 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15037539/chico_defeated_at_mexico_city/ Newspapers.com Notes note References Chico State Category:Chico State Wildcats football seasons Category:Northern California Athletic Conference football champion seasons Chico State Wildcats football