1954 Chico State Wildcats football team

The 1954 Chico State Wildcats football team represented Chico State College[note 1] during the 1954 college football season. Chico State competed in the Far Western Conference in 1954. They played home games at Chico High School in Chico, California.

1954 Chico State Wildcats football
Conference	Far Western Conference
1954 record	7–2 (5–1 FWC)
Head coach	Gus Manolis (1st season)
Home stadium	Chico High School Stadium

1954 Far Western Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
San Francisco State $	5	–	0	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Chico State	5	–	1	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Humboldt State	4	–	2	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Nevada	2	–	3	–	0			2	–	5	–	0
Cal Aggies	1	–	4	–	0			1	–	7	–	0
Southern Oregon	0	–	2	–	0			2	–	5	–	0
Sacramento State	0	–	5	–	0			0	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion * – Second San Francisco State vs. Nevada game did not count in conference standings

The 1954 Wildcats were led by first-year head coach Gus Manolis, who had previously spent four years as the head football coach at Yuba Junior College.[1] The team operated from a "California T" formation and had between 18 and 20 returning lettermen, including end George Maderos and halfback Frank Ferraiuolo.[1][2]

Chico State finished the season with a record of seven wins and two losses (7–2, 5–1 FWC). The Wildcats outscored their opponents 194–108 for the season.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result
September 25	Naval Air Station Alameda[note 2]*	Chico High School Stadium Chico, CA	W 19–12
October 2	Nevada	Chico High School Stadium Chico, CA	W 32–0[3]
October 9	Pepperdine[note 3]*	Chico High School Stadium Chico, CA	L 13–14
October 16	at Whittier*	Hadley Field Whittier, CA	W 34–14[4]
October 23	at Sacramento State[note 4]	Charles C. Hughes Stadium Sacramento, CA	W 40–0[5]
October 30	at Humboldt State[note 5]	Redwood Bowl Arcata, CA	W 18–7[6]
November 6	Southern Oregon[note 6]	Chico High School Stadium Chico, CA	W 39–12[7]
November 13	Cal Aggies[note 7]	Chico High School Stadium Chico, CA	W 40–7[8]
November 19	at San Francisco State[note 8]	Cox Stadium San Francisco, CA	L 6–7[9]
*Non-conference game

[10]

Team players in the NFL

The following Chico State players were selected in the 1955 NFL Draft.[11][12][13]

Player	Position	Round	Overall	NFL Team
George Maderos	Defensive Back	21	250	San Francisco 49ers

Notes

1. California State University, Chico was known as Chico State College from 1935 to 1971.
2. Naval Air Station Alameda was an Naval Air Station from 1940 to 1997. For many years they fielded a team that played against colleges and other military teams.
3. Pepperdine University was known as George Pepperdine College from 1937 to 1970.
4. California State University, Sacramento was known as Sacramento State College from 1947 to 1971.
5. Humboldt State University was known as Humboldt State College from 1935 to 1972.
6. Southern Oregon University was known as Southern Oregon College of Education from 1939 to 1955.
7. University of California, Davis was known as Northern Branch of the College of Agriculture from 1922 to 1959. In common usage, the sports teams were called the "Cal Aggies" from 1924 until the mid 1970s.
8. San Francisco State University was known as San Francisco State College from 1935 to 1971.

References

1. "Chico Wildcats Start Practice, Veterans Return". Reno Evening Gazette. September 2, 1954. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Big Chico State Squad Drills for Naval Game". Nevada State Journal. September 19, 1954. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Ty Cobb (October 3, 1954). "Chico State Dumps Nevada in 32 to 0 Meeting: Don Ray Led Wildcats Top Butter-Fingered Pack". Nevada State Journal. Reno, Nevada. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Chico State Tops Whittier". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 17, 1954. p. II-12 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Here's Story On How Chico State Operates; Running Account of Lopsided Win Last Saturday". Humboldt Standard. Eureka, California. October 28, 1954. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Powerful SF Gators Next Foe On Slate For Humboldt; Chico Win Saturday Gives Wildcats Loop Lead". Humboldt Standard. Eureka, California. November 1, 1954. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Chico State 39-12 Victor Over Raiders". Medford Mail Tribune. Medford, Oregon. November 8, 1954. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Chico, SF State Meet Friday For Conference Title". Humboldt Standard. Eureka, California. November 15, 1954. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "S.F. State in 7-6 Triumph Over Chico". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. November 20, 1954. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "1954 - Cal St.-Chico". Retrieved March 4, 2017.
11. "1955 NFL Draft". Retrieved October 28, 2017.
12. "Cal State-Chico Players/Alumni". Retrieved October 28, 2017.
13. "Draft History: Chico State". Retrieved October 28, 2017.