7 Things You Do Not Know About...

University of San Diego Football
By Ted Gosen
USD Associate Director of Athletics for Media Relations

The University of San Diego football program experienced unprecedented success the past two years under former head coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh, who is now head coach of Stanford’s program, directed USD to back-to-back Pioneer Football League and mid-major national championships the past two seasons as USD went a combined 22-2. Below are seven things you might not know about the University of San Diego football program.

1. USD football competes at the NCAA Division I level.
Since 1993 the USD Toreros have played at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivison (formerly I-AA) level as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL). The PFL is a non-scholarship NCAA Division I FCS conference and is a truly national conference with members on each coast and throughout the nation’s heartland.

2. PFL league membership from coast-to-coast.
Besides USD, the current PFL membership consists of the following programs –Butler University (Indianapolis, IN), University of Dayton (Dayton, OH), Drake University (Des Moines, IA), Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, IN), Morehead State University (Morehead, KY), Davidson College (Davidson, NC) and Jacksonville University (Jacksonville, FL).

3. USD Football Dates Back To 1956
USD’s first year of competition was in 1956. After the school dropped the program following the 1961 campaign, it was brought back as a club team for four seasons from 1969-1972. In its first season at the NCAA Division III level in 1973, it advanced to the NCAA playoffs where it dropped a hard-fought 21-14 decision to Wittenberg.

4. USD selected CBS ‘Game of the Week’ during 1982 NFL strike season
During the 1982 NFL strike season, the USD Toreros appeared on national television on the CBS ‘Game of the Week’. On the heels of its 9-1 campaign in 1981, and its 3-0 start to the 1982 season, USD’s contest at Occidental College in Los Angeles was broadcast nationally. Dick Stockton (play-by-play) and the late Hank Stram (color analyst) called the action. Occidental won the game, 34-20.

5. Torero Stadium is a great venue to watch college football
Torero Stadium, home to USD football and both soccer programs, is perfect for an exciting athletic atmosphere inside its cozy confines. Stadium renovations, which included expanded seating to 7,000, were completed in 2001 for the inaugural season of the WUSA San Diego Spirit. Over $3.5 million dollars were spent for enlarging the seating area and for spectator comforts.

6. Ron Caragher – 1st year head coach
Head coach Ron Caragher enters his first season with the Toreros. He becomes the program’s 12th head coach. The past four years he was assistant coach and head recruiting coordinator at the University of Kentucky. Prior to Kentucky he was on UCLA’s staff for nine years where he worked with both Terry Donohue and Bob Toledo. Caragher, a 1990 graduate of UCLA, was Troy Aikman’s back-up for the Bruins from 1986-89.

7. Success on the field and in the classroom
Since making the jump to the NCAA Division I ranks in 1993, USD has had success both on the field and in the classroom. The PFL has recognized USD with 90 players of the week, 81 all-academic selections, 76 first team picks and 67 second team honorees. USD has also totaled 11 players on national All-Academic squads and 20 All-Americans.

For more information please visit www.usdtoreros.com.