1954 Chico State Wildcats football
ConferenceFar Western Conference
Record7–2 (4–1 FWC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeT formation
Home stadiumChico High School Stadium
Seasons
← 1953
1955 →
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 4 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Humboldt State 3 – 2 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Nevada 2 – 3 – 0 2 – 5 – 0
Cal Aggies 1 – 4 – 0 1 – 7 – 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 Chico State Wildcats football team represented Chico State College—now known as California State University, Chico—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1954 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Gus Manolis, Chico State compiled an overall record of 7–2 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, placing second in the FWC.[1] The team outscored its opponents 241 to 73 for the season. The Wildcats played home games at Chico High School Stadium in Chico, California.

Manolis had previously spent four years as the head football coach at Yuba Junior College.[2] The team operated from a "California T" formation and had between 18 and 20 returning lettermen, including end George Maderos and halfback Frank Ferraiuolo.[2][3]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
September 25Naval Air Station Alameda[note 1]*
W 19–12
October 2Nevada
  • Chico High School Stadium
  • Chico, CA
W 32–0[4]
October 9Pepperdine*
  • Chico High School Stadium
  • Chico, CA
L 13–14
October 16at Whittier*
W 34–14[5]
October 23at Sacramento State
W 40–0[6]
October 30at Humboldt State
W 18–7[7]
November 6Southern Oregon*
  • Chico High School Stadium
  • Chico, CA
W 39–12[8]
November 13Cal Aggies
  • Chico High School Stadium
  • Chico, CA
W 40–7[9]
November 19at San Francisco State
L 6–7[10]
  • *Non-conference game

[11][12]

Team players in the NFL

The following Chico State players were selected in the 1955 NFL Draft.[13][14][15]

Player Position Round Overall NFL team
George Maderos Defensive back 21 250 San Francisco 49ers

Notes

  1. ^ 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.

References

  1. ^ "Far Western Conference Final Standings". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. November 22, 1954. p. 42. Retrieved September 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ^ a b "Chico Wildcats Start Practice, Veterans Return". Reno Evening Gazette. September 2, 1954. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Big Chico State Squad Drills for Naval Game". Nevada State Journal. September 19, 1954. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Chico State Tops Whittier". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 17, 1954. p. II-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "Chico State 39-12 Victor Over Raiders". Medford Mail Tribune. Medford, Oregon. November 8, 1954. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Chico, SF State Meet Friday For Conference Title". Humboldt Standard. Eureka, California. November 15, 1954. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "S.F. State in 7-6 Triumph Over Chico". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. November 20, 1954. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  12. ^ "1954 - Cal St.-Chico". Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  13. ^ "1955 NFL Draft". Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  14. ^ "Cal State-Chico Players/Alumni". Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  15. ^ "Draft History: Chico State". Retrieved October 28, 2017.
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