1953 Bakersfield Renegades football team

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1953 Bakersfield Renegades football
Metropolitan champion
Junior Rose Bowl champion
ConferenceMetropolitan Conference
Record12–0 (7–0 Metropolitan)
Head coach
Home stadiumGriffith Stadium
Seasons
← 1952
1954 →
1953 Metropolitan Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Bakersfield $ 7 – 0 – 0 12 – 0 – 0
Los Angeles Valley 5 – 2 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
El Camino 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
San Diego Junior College 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
Long Beach 3 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Santa Monica 2 – 4 – 1 3 – 5 – 1
Harbor 2 – 5 – 0 2 – 8 – 0
East Los Angeles 0 – 6 – 1 0 – 9 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion

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 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.[1]

When the Renegades were selected to play in the Junior Rose Bowl, The Bakersfield Californian celebrated the announcemet 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.[2] The Bakersfield City Council also proclaimed December 12 as "Renegade Day".[3] 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 . . . "[4]

The team played its home games at Griffith Stadium in Bakersfield, California.

Schedule[edit]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 18Stockton*Bakersfield, CAW 18–7[5]
September 26Glendale (CA)*Bakersfield, CAW 27–0
October 3Fresno Junior College*
W 16–141,500[6]
October 10El CaminoW 35–138,000
October 16at Harbor
W 41–0[7]
October 23East Los AngelesBakersfield, CAW 44–7
October 31Long BeachW 27–13
November 7San Diego Junior CollegeW 30–19
November 13Santa Monica
  • Griffith Stadium
  • Bakersfield, CA
W 74–26,000[8]
November 21Los Angeles Valley
  • Griffith Stadium
  • Bakersfield, CA
W 33–6[9]
November 27at Taft*Taft, CAW 57–6[10][11]
December 8vs. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M*
W 13–650,385[12][13]
  • *Non-conference game

Roster[edit]

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"

[14]

The team's head coach was Homer Beatty. The assistant coaches were Jim Turner and Don Robards.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Fitzgerald, All-American: Back to Work for 'Gades; Only Jaysee Player on All Eleven". The Bakersfield Californian. December 2, 1953. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "This Page's Rose Aroma No Accident". The Bakersfield Californian. November 30, 1963. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "City Council Proclaims Renegade Day". The Bakersfield Californian. December 8, 1953. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Tomorrow Is J.R.B. Day for Bakersfield: Mass Exodus Is Under Way". The Bakersfield Californian. December 11, 1953. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "SC Mustangs Defeated by Bakersfield". Stockton Record. September 19, 1953. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Bruce Farris (October 4, 1953). "Unbeaten Bakersfield JC Drops Rams, 16-14". The Fresno Bee. p. 5B – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Bakersfield's Power Smashes Seahawks, 41-0". San Pedro News-Pilot. October 17, 1953. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Bulldog, Renegade Elevens Triumph". Los Angeles Times. November 14, 1953. p. III-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Walt Little (November 21, 1953). "'Gades, Monarchs to Clash: League's Crown Is a Stake". The Bakersield Californian. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Walt Little (November 27, 1953). "Bowl-Minded Renegades Place Record on Line Tonight at Taft". The Bakersfield Californian. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Walt Little (November 28, 1953). "Galloping Gades Await Pasadena Voting: Renegades Undefeated as Taft Bows". The Bakersfield Californian. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "'Gades Picked for Rose Bowl:: Face Miami, Okla., Team". The Bakersfield Californian. November 30, 1963. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Walt Little (December 14, 1953). "Bakersfield Rules JC Grid World: Line Leads Way as Gades Drop Oklahoma Team". The Bakersfied Californian. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "How They'll Line Up for Rose Classic". The Bakersield Californian. December 11, 1953. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
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