The 1970 California Golden Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Berkeley in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. In their seventh year under head coach Ray Willsey, the Golden Bears compiled a 6–5 record (4–3 in Pac-8, second) and were outscored 272 to 249.[1][2] Home games were played on campus at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California.
At home for the Big Game, Cal upset #11 Stanford 22–14,[3][4] the Pac-8 champion led by Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett. On New Year's Day, Stanford upset undefeated Ohio State in the Rose Bowl and quarterback Plunkett was the first pick in the 1971 NFL draft.
California's statistical leaders on offense were quarterback Dave Penhall with 1,785 passing yards, Stan Murphy with 603 rushing yards, and Steve Sweeney with 679 receiving yards.[5]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 12 | 8:01 p.m. | at Oregon | | L 24–31 | 26,556 | [6] |
| September 19 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 2 Texas* | | L 15–56 | 61,000 | [7] |
| September 26 | 1:31 p.m. | Indiana* | | W 56–14 | 30,000 | [8] |
| October 3 | 5:30 p.m. | at Rice* | | L 0–28 | 22,000 | [9] |
| October 10 | 1:31 p.m. | at Washington | | W 31–28 | 54,000 | [10] |
| October 17 | 1:31 p.m. | No. 19 UCLA | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA (rivalry)
| L 21–24 | 43,000 | [11] |
| October 24 | 1:32 p.m. | Washington State | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA
| W 45–0 | 26,000 | [12] |
| October 31 | 1:23 p.m. | at No. 18 USC | | W 13–10 | 54,750 | [13] |
| November 7 | 1:30 p.m. | at Oregon State | | L 10–16 | 20,202 | [14] |
| November 14 | 1:27 p.m. | San Jose State* | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA
| W 35–28 | 16,841–18,842 | [15][16] |
| November 21 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 11 Stanford | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA (Big Game)
| W 22–14 | 76,800 | [17] |
- *Non-conference game
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Pacific time
|
[18][19]
Roster
| 1970 California Golden Bears football team roster
|
| Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| WR
|
|
Ken Adams
|
| TE
|
|
Jim Brady
|
| TE
|
|
John Conley
|
| RB
|
36
|
Isaac Curtis
|
So
|
| QB
|
|
Steve Curtis
|
| RB
|
|
Bob Darby
|
| WR
|
|
Geoff DeLapp
|
| WR
|
|
Jim Fraser
|
| OL
|
|
Greg Hendren
|
| RB
|
|
Steve Kemnitzer
|
| OL
|
|
Skip Leonard
|
| RB
|
|
Stan Murphy
|
| QB
|
|
Dave Penhall
|
| OL
|
|
Rob Purnell
|
| OL
|
|
Bob Richards
|
| OL
|
|
Steve Sawin
|
| RB
|
|
Smith
|
| OL
|
|
Eric Swanson
|
| WR
|
88
|
Steve Sweeney
|
So
|
| RB
|
|
Tim Todd
|
Jr
|
|
Defense
|
Special teams
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| K
|
2
|
Randy Wersching
|
So
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
|
References
- ^ "1970 California Golden Bears Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ^ "California 2015 Football Information Guide" (PDF). CalBears.com. Cal Golden Bears Athletics. p. 165. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ^ "Bears upset Stanford as Penhall leads way". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. November 22, 1970. p. 6B.
- ^ "Some finish: Indians fall to Cal 22-14". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. November 22, 1970. p. 10, sports.
- ^ "1969 California Golden Bears Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ^ Cawood, Neil (September 13, 1970). "Fouts paces Webfoots past Bears in opener". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. p. 1B.
- ^ "'Horns hook Bears". Independent Press-Telegram. September 20, 1970. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "California socks Hoosiers, 56–14". The South Bend Tribune. September 27, 1970. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Rice steamrolls California, 28–0". The Arizona Daily Star. October 4, 1970. Retrieved March 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Husky rally falls short". Tri-City Herald. October 11, 1970. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "UCLA trips california in final minute". October 18, 1970. ProQuest 147796605. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- ^ "California's Bears smash Washington State, 45–0". The Modesto Bee. October 25, 1970. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cal stuns Trojans on long field goal". Tri-City Herald. November 1, 1970. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Oregon State rally halts Bears, 16–10". Santa Barbara News-Press. November 8, 1970. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Summary Of Football Game Statistics – Visiting Team (San Jose State vs. California)" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "Sparts startle Bears". The Press Democrat. November 15, 1970. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cal spoils Stanford's Rosy aura 22–14". The Sacramento Bee. November 22, 1970. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Schedule/Results (1970 California)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ 2015 Football Information Guide (PDF). Cal Athletics. 2015. p. 165. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016.
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| Culture & lore | |
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National championship seasons in bold |