CMC75 Moments: 1958 Football Wins Four Games in Debut Season

Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
1958 Football: Stags Win Four in First Season
Claremont Men's College officially split from Pomona athletically in 1958-59, and the Claremont-Mudd teams were required to compete as independents in 1958-59, making them ineligible for SCIAC competition. The newly-named Stags, though, had a strong debut season on the football field even without a championship to aim for, compiling a 4-4 record to earn a .500 mark in their first season of competition.

The first official victory in the history of the Claremont-Mudd football program came 16-6 over the El Toro Marines, which was considered an official NCAA contest at the time, after military bases developed competitive football teams during the World War II era. Ken Stevens had an 80-yard touchdown run in the first half, the longest carry of the debut season, as the game's big highlight. 

With the score 8-0 in the second half, the Stags had a long touchdown drive to put the game away. Don Doty threw a 20-yard pass to Gary Ryan, before Stevens scored his second touchdown of the day and Doty ran the ball in for the final CMS points.   

The win over El Toro was was followed by an impressive 22-0 shutout win over UC Riverside, for their first win over another collegiate institution. The Stags would add a second win over El Toro Marines and a 33-14 win over Cal Western to taste victory four times in their inaugural season.

Ryan served as team captain, and was joined by game captains Vern Eppley, Dick Bauer, Ken Stevens, Don Doty, Gaylon McIntire, Sam Delich, Nick Frazee, and Bill Marr.

Coach Jesse Cone after the first win: 

"The boys are just beginning to gel as a team, and they have really improved over the Chino game."

1958 Football Photo Gallery

1958 Football Roster
Head Coach: Jesse Cone
Assistant Coach: Bill Arce
Assistant Coach: Bill Van Horn
Manager: George Pray (CMC)
Manager: Joe Knowles (HMC)
Jim Algert (Halfback/Fullback, HMC)
Dick Bauer (Guard, HMC)
Bob Beck (End, CMC)
Bud Bevins (Center, CMC)
Art Bircher (Fullback, CMC)
Mike Blanding (Quarterback, CMC)
Dick Brungard (Guard, CMC)
Bill Burnett (End, CMC)
Daryl Butcher (End, CMC)
Ned Chaffee (End, CMC)
Bill Chamberlain (Tackle, CMC)
Sam Delich (Center, HMC)
Don Doty (Quarterback, CMC)
Vern Eppley (Tackle, CMC)
Nick Frazee (End, CMC)
Aron Hamburg (Fullback, CMC)
Fred Harris (Tackle, CMC)
Rees Jackman (Halfback, CMC)
Ken Linn (Halfback, CMC)
Gaylon McIntire (Fullback, CMC)
Bill Marr (End, CMC)
Pete Marr (Guard/Tackle, CMC)
Jack Micuda (End, CMC)
Bon Murphy (End, CMC)
George Nostrant (Halfback, CMC)
Bob O'Brien (Tackle, HMC)
Wes Parker (Quarterback, CMC)
Perry Reel (Guard, CMC)
Don Rosenberg (Center/Guard, CMC)
Gary Ryan (HB, CMC)
John Schmidt (End, CMC)
Grant Seltzer (End, CMC)
Dick Seward (Halfback, CMC)
A.C. Simmons (End, HMC)
Ken Stevens (Halfback, HMC)
Carl Strong (Guard, CMC)
Ken Wright (Center, HMC)