Plethora of historic USF teams to be honored
Staff report
February 11, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO — USF will honor 12 championship teams as part of the 50th anniversary class of the school’s athletic Hall of Fame.
Among the teams being inducted into the Hall of Fame will be the 1949, 1955 and 1956 men’s basketball teams. The 1949 squad, led by late Hall of Fame coach Pete Newell, won the NIT tournament after becoming the first West Coast team offered a berth into the field.
Just six years later, USF returned to national prominence when it captured back-to-back NCAA championships under the direction of Phil Woolpert. Led by future legends Bill Russell and K.C. Jones, the Dons became just the third team to ever capture consecutive national crowns.
The 1951 football team will receive special acknowledgement. The Dons rolled to a 9-0 record and were offered a bowl bid if they would leave their black players behind. The team refused and the era of major college football on the Hilltop ended.
Six championship men’s soccer teams will be honored, the 1966, 1975, 1976, 1978 and 1980 NCAA title teams, as well as the 1949 ISFA co-championship squad.
Also being honored are the 1949 rifle team and men’s tennis team.
The Hall of Fame dinner is set for Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at the McLaren Complex. For more information, visit e-mail alumni@usfca.edu.
