1972 Cal Poly Mustangs football team

The 1972 Cal Poly Mustangs football team represented California Polytechnic State University[note 1] during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season.

1972 Cal Poly Mustangs football
CCAA co-champion
Camellia Bowl, L 21–38 vs. North Dakota
Conference	California Collegiate Athletic Association
Ranking
Coaches	No. 3 (UPI Small College Ranking)
1972 record	8–1–1 (3–0 CCAA)
Head coach	Joe Harper (5th season)
Home stadium	Mustang Stadium (Capacity: 8,500)

1972 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 3 AP / #3 UPI Cal Poly +	3	–	0	–	0			8	–	1	–	1
UC Riverside +	3	–	0	–	0			9	–	1	–	0
Cal State Fullerton	2	–	2	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Valley State	1	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Cal Poly Pomona	0	–	4	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from College Division poll

Cal Poly competed in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The team was led by fifth-year head coach Joe Harper and played home games at Mustang Stadium in San Luis Obispo, California. They finished the regular season undefeated, and as a CCAA co-champion. This was the fourth of five consecutive CCAA championships for the Mustangs. At the end of the season, the Mustangs were invited to take part in the College Division western region playoff game, the Camellia Bowl held in Sacramento, California. They played the North Dakota Fighting Hawks on December 10, losing 21–38. That gave the Mustangs a final record of eight wins, one loss and one tie (8–1–1, 3–0 CCAA). UPI ranked the Mustangs Number 3 in the final Small College poll for 1972.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance
September 16	Cal State Hayward[note 2]*		Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, California	W 42–0	2,753[1]
September 23	Montana State*		Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, California	W 34–7
September 30	Humboldt State[note 3]*	No. 19	Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, California	W 34–0	6,200[2]
October 7	No. 6 Boise State*	No. 12	Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, California	W 26–21	7,200[3][4]
October 14	at No. 10 Fresno State[note 4]*	No. 4	Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, California	T 24–24	13,334[5]
October 21	Cal State Northridge	No. 6	Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, California	W 11–10	6,803[6][7]
October 28	at Nevada*	No. 3	Mackay Stadium Reno, Nevada	W 14–12
November 11	at Cal State Fullerton	No. 3	Santa Ana Stadium Santa Ana, California	W 27–3[8]
November 18	at Cal Poly Pomona	No. 3	Kellogg Field Pomona, California	W 21–16	3,200[9]
December 10	No. 4 North Dakota*	No. 3	Hornet Stadium Sacramento, California (Camellia Bowl)	L 21–38
*Non-conference game Rankings from UPI Small College Rankings poll released prior to the game

[10][11]

Team players in the NFL

No Cal Poly Mustang players were selected in the 1973 NFL Draft.[12][13]

Notes

1. The official name of Cal Poly is California Polytechnic State University. However, it has been more commonly known as either Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or just Cal Poly since 1947.
2. California State University, East Bay was known as California State University, Hayward from 1972 to 2004.
3. Humboldt State University was known as California State University, Humboldt from 1972 to 1973.
4. The official name of Fresno State is California State University, Fresno. However, it is still commonly known as Fresno State.

References

1. "Cal State (LB) Edges N. Texas State, 24-21". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 17, 1972. p. D-18. Retrieved March 15, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Kent State Blanked by San Diego, 14-0". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 1, 1972. p. D-16. Retrieved February 13, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Boise State Football 2016 Record Book" (PDF). Boise State University Athletics. 2016. p. 70. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
4. "Aztecs Defeat Spartans, 23-20". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 8, 1972. p. D-4. Retrieved February 8, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Fresno State 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 8, 2016.
6. "Cal Poly SLO tips Valley State, 11-10". Independent Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. October 22, 1972. p. D-15. Retrieved February 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Unbeaten Mustangs Win 11-10 Thriller". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 22, 1972. p. C-17. Retrieved March 15, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Earl Gustkey (November 12, 1972). "Cal Poly (SLO) Tops CSF, 27-3". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. D-15. Retrieved February 8, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Fullerton's Game Cut Short by Fight, 21-0". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. November 19, 1972. p. C-17. Retrieved February 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo Yearly Results". Retrieved January 12, 2017.
11. "Cal Poly Football; 2016 Media Guide". Retrieved January 12, 2017.
12. "1973 NFL Draft". Retrieved January 12, 2017.
13. "Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo Players/Alumni". Retrieved January 12, 2017.