What If? The Pro's Santa Clara Broncos Dynasty
Santa Clara University
NCAA 12
All American
8 Min Quarters
Onebacks sliders with edits
About Santa Clara Football
Santa Clara's first gridiron contest was played in San Francisco on Thanksgiving Day, 1896, at Old Central Park, fittingly enough, against their (to be) much hated and ancient foe, Saint Mary's College. The heavier Santa Clara Missionites demolished the smaller and out-manned Saint Mary's Collegians 46-4. The embarrassing defeat resulted in Saint Mary's dropping football for 1897, but in 1898 the Collegians returned to the field, hoping to avenge their Jesuit archrivals. They were bitterly disappointed, as the rose and white striped clad Missionites again overwhelmed Saint Mary's 56-0. Due to the two losses and a further lopsided defeat to California, Saint Mary's disbanded football following the 1898 season, severing their rivalry with Santa Clara for ten years.
As past generations of Santa Clarans are aware, it is the story of great games, players, and coaches, the legendary rivalry with Saint Mary's, major upsets, national rankings, and the three Sugar and Orange Bowl victories. It was tiny Santa Clara, the perennial underdog, overcoming all odds to compete with and defeat their college "betters" which embodied the Spirit of Santa Clara athletics and set an example for all to follow.
Thirty-four years of the "modern era" (1959-1992) did not diminish this storied tradition. With few resources, scholarships, and little administration encouragement, Santa Clara continued to favorably compete on the field. Under Pat Malley, and later Terry Malley, Santa Clara became a small college football power with numerous national rankings, Little All Americans, and a post-season playoff appearance. Under Pat Malley's leadership the Little Big Game again became a marquee contest for both colleges. Its student athletes were a credit to the program and Santa Clara's stated purpose of educating "the whole person". -- adapted from Ron Chin's History of Santa Clara Football
Notable Players
Brent Jones
Tom Fears
Dan Pastroni
Doug Cosbie
Pat McPhearson
Bryan Barker
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