1951 San Francisco Dons football team

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.[1] The team was ranked at No. 27 in the 1951 Litkenhous Ratings.[2]

1951 San Francisco Dons football
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 14
APNo. 14
Record9–0
Head coach
Home stadiumKezar Stadium
1951 Western college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 14 San Francisco   –  9 –0 –0
La Verne   –  5 –3 –0
Pacific (CA)   –  6 –5 –0
Fresno State   –  5 –5 –0
Santa Clara   –  3 –5 –1
Hawaii   –  4 –7 –0
Loyola (CA)   –  3 –6 –0
San Jose State   –  2 –7 –1
Cal Poly San Dimas   –  1 –6 –0
Rankings from AP Poll

Four players from the team went on to successful careers in the National Football League: Gino Marchetti, Ollie Matson, Bob St. Clair, and Red Stephens. The Dons were invited to play in the 1952 Orange Bowl on the condition that the team's African-American stars Matson and Burl Toler would not play. The Dons refused the offer. The 1951 Dons, and their fight for racial equality, were the subject of the 2014 documentary '51 Dons.[3][4]

Two days after the final game of the 1951 season, the University of San Francisco disbanded its football program.

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 21San Jose State
W 39–216,000[5]
September 29vs. Idaho
W 28–710,000[6][7][8]
October 7Camp Pendleton
  • Kezar Stadium
  • San Francisco, CA
W 26–06,500[9]
October 12at San Jose State
W 42–710,000[10]
October 20at Fordham
W 32–2615,250[11]
October 26San Diego NTSNo. 20
  • Kezar Stadium
  • San Francisco, CA
W 26–7[12]
November 4Santa ClaraNo. 20
  • Kezar Stadium
  • San Francisco, CA
W 26–732,685[13]
November 17at Pacific (CA)No. 14
W 47–1441,607[14]
November 25at Loyola (CA)No. 13
W 20–215,750[15]
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References
  1. "1951 San Francisco Dons Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  2. "Vols Top Final 1951 Litkenhous Ratings". The Nashville Banner. December 14, 1951. p. 49 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Hunt, Donald (February 9, 2014). "ESPN profiles unbeaten '51 Dons". Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  4. Kantowski, Ron (February 14, 2014). "St. Clair's Dons 'the best team you never heard of'". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  5. "Spartans' Future Looks Bleak -- Face U.S.F. Dons Again After 39-2 Mauling". Oakland Tribune. September 22, 1951. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "U.S.F. Wallops Idaho, 28 to 7". Oakland Tribune. September 30, 1951. p. A53 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "San Francisco rolls over Vandals 28-7". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. September 30, 1951. p. 8.
  8. "San Francisco trims Idaho Vandals, 28-7". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). United Press. p. 2C.
  9. "Matson Sparks Dons' 26-0 Win". Oakland Tribune. October 8, 1951 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Matson Rambles In Dons Victory: U.S.F. Laces Spartans for Second Time". Oakland Tribune. October 13, 1951. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Matson's 3 Touchdowns Whip Rams". Brooklyn Eagle. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Bill Mulligan (October 27, 1951). "Ollie Stars Again, USF Wins, 26-7". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Curley Grieve (November 5, 1951). "USF Booms as Matson Zooms, 26-7: All-American Ollie Dynamites Broncs With 3 TDs, 229 Yards". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Harry M. Hayward (November 18, 1951). "Matson Paces SF To 47-14 Victory". The San Francisco Examiner. pp. 28, 32 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "26 Nov 1951, 72 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com". newspapers.com. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
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