The 1972 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 1972 NCAA University Division football season. In their first year under head coach Mike White, the Golden Bears compiled a 3–8 record (3–4 in Pac-8, fifth) and were outscored 314 to 228.[1][2] Home games were played on campus at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California.
California's statistical leaders on offense were sophomore quarterback Steve Bartkowski with 944 passing yards, Steve Kemnitzer with 434 rushing yards, and Steve Sweeney with 785 receiving yards.[3]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 9 | | at No. 2 Colorado* | | L 10–20 | 50,751 | [4] |
| September 16 | | Washington State | | W 37–23 | 30,794 | [5] |
| September 23 | 1:35 p.m. | San Jose State* | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA
| L 10–17 | 28,000–28,691 | [6] |
| September 30 | 1:30 p.m. | at Missouri* | | L 27–34 | 41,000 | [7] |
| October 7 | 1:31 p.m. | No. 3 Ohio State* | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA
| L 18–35 | 45,000 | [8] |
| October 14 | 1:31 p.m. | at No. 1 USC | | L 14–42 | 56,488 | [9] |
| October 21 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 11 UCLA | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA (rivalry)
| L 13–49 | 30,563 | [10] |
| October 28 | | at Washington | | L 21–35 | 56,300 | [11] |
| November 4 | 1:32 p.m. | Oregon | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA
| W 31–12 | 23,565 | [12][13] |
| November 11 | 1:30 p.m. | at Oregon State | | L 23–26 | 16,624 | [14] |
| November 18 | 1:33 p.m. | Stanford | - California Memorial Stadium
- Berkeley, CA (Big Game)
| W 24–21 | 68,000 | [15] |
- *Non-conference game
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Pacific time
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[16][17]
Game summaries
Stanford
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- STAN – Eric Cross 24-yard pass from Mike Boryla (Steve Murray kick). Stanford 7–0. Drive:
- Second quarter
- CAL – Ray Wersching 29-yard field goal. Stanford 7–3. Drive:
- STAN – Gordon Riegel 71-yard interception return (Steve Murray kick). Stanford 14–3.
- Third quarter
- CAL – Syl Youngblood 4-yard run (pass good). Stanford 14–11. Drive:
- Fourth quarter
- CAL – Syl Youngblood 6-yard run (Ray Wersching kick). Cal 18–14. Drive:
- STAN – Reggie Sanderson 3-yard run (Rod Garcia kick), 3:42. Stanford 21–18. Drive:
- CAL – Steve Sweeney 7-yard pass from Vince Ferragamo, 0:00. Cal 24–21. Drive: 64 yards.
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- Top rushers
- CAL – Steve Kemnitzer – 15 rushes, 60 yards
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- 75th meeting between the schools
- Steve Sweeney set single season conference record for receiving touchdowns, tied the single season school record and set the school career record for receptions.[18]
Roster
| 1972 California Golden Bears football team roster
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| Players
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Coaches
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| Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
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References
- ^ "1972 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.
- ^ "1972 California Golden Bears Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ^ "Colorado holds off Golden Bears 20–10". The Fresno Bee. September 10, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cal's rally blasts Cougars". San Francisco Chronicle. September 17, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Doyle, Kevin (September 25, 1972). "Spartans pull a switch—or two—on Bears". Palo Alto Times. p. 24. Retrieved May 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Mizzou almost loses its own 'laugher'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 1, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bucks rally to thump Cal, 35–18". The Blade. October 8, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trojans belt Bears 42–14". The Oregon Statesman. October 15, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bruins run wild, totaling 532 yards". News-Pilot. October 22, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Husky back really runs as Golden Bears topple". The Columbian. October 29, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Newnham, Blaine (November 5, 1972). "Bears bury Ducks in the mud". Eugene Register-Guard. p. 1D.
- ^ "Cal romps". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. November 5, 1972. p. 19.
- ^ "Beavers knock off Bears, end skid". Independent Press-Telegram. November 12, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Late TD gives Cal upset win". The Arizona Republic. November 19, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Schedule/Results (1972 California)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
- ^ 2015 Football Information Guide (PDF). Cal Athletics. 2015. p. 165. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016.
- ^ "Bears upend Stanford with Sweeney as hero." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Nov 19. Retrieved 28-Mar-20.
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National championship seasons in bold |