1996 Chico State Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1996 Chico State Wildcats football Northern California Athletic Conference NCAC 5–5 3–1 Rob Tomlinson 1st University Stadium NCAC champion none The 1996 Chico State Wildcats football team represented California State University, Chico as a member of the Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC) during the 1996 NCAA Division II football season. Led by Rob Tomlinson in his first and only season as head coach, Chico State compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 3–1 in conference play, winning the NCAC title. The team was outscored by its opponents 187 to 181 for the season. The Wildcats played home games at University Stadium in Chico, California. 1996 was the last year Chico State played intercollegiate football. On February 5, 1997, the school announced it was dropping the football program citing the cost of the program and lack of fan support.Chico State Drops Football Program Santa Cruz Sentinel Santa Cruz, California February 6, 1997 B-2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14738541/chico_state_drops_football_program/ Newspapers.com October 28, 2017 In 2015, The Orion reported that some Chico State students expressed interest in the university having a football team again. Students interviewed for the article said they would attend and support football games if the university had a team.Aucella Zach Chico State: Sports https://www.proquest.com/docview/1679733046?pq-origsite=primo&sourcetype=Wire%20Feeds October 6, 2026 The Orion Schedule September 7 w y 1996 San Diego Toreros San Diego University Stadium Chico, CA 13–9 2,698 September 14 w y 1996 Western Oregon Wolves Western Oregon University Stadium Chico, CA 21–17 2,255 September 21 l y y 1996 Montana Tech Orediggers Montana Tech Alumni Coliseum Butte, MT 21–23 1,250 September 28 l y UC Davis University Stadium Chico, CA 6–20 6,325–7,130 Final 1996 Division II Cumulative Football Statistics Report (UC Davis) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/108/stats/13018 National Collegiate Athletic Association May 15, 2022 October 5 l y y 1996 Chapman Panthers Chapman Chapman stadium Orange, CA 15–44 3,203 October 19 w Humboldt State University Stadium Chico, CA 39–14 5,226 October 26 l y 1996 Azusa Pacific Cougars Azusa Pacific University Stadium Chico, CA 21–22 675 November 2 l y Sonoma State Cossacks Stadium Rohnert Park, CA 7–9 567 November 9 w y Humboldt State Redwood Bowl Arcata, CA 13–9 1,900 November 16 w Sonoma State University Stadium Chico, CA 25–20 787 Final 1996 Division II Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Chico State) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/95/stats/13018 National Collegiate Athletic Association May 23, 2022 References Chico State Category:Chico State Wildcats football seasons Category:Northern California Athletic Conference football champion seasons Chico State Wildcats football