California Football League (1977-1982)
Tombstone
Born: 1977 – California Football League expansion franchise
Folded: 1983
First Game:
Last Game: September 18, 1982 (L 31-9 vs. Twin Cities Cougars)
California Football League Champions: 1977 & 1978
Stadia
1978-1979: San Jose P.A.L. Stadium (6,000)11979 California Football League Radio & TV Press Guide
1981: Campbell High School
1982: San Jose P.A.L. Stadium
Marketing
Team Colors: Red & Gold21979 California Football League Radio & TV Press Guide
Cheerleaders: The Tigerettes
Ownership
Owners:
- 1977: Louis Cherry (?)
- 1978: Howard Peterson (?)
- 1979-1980: Ed Wiley
- 1981-1982: Dick Montgomery & Lew Gregory
Trophy Case
California League Coach of the Year
- 1977: Jesse Freitas
Background
The San Jose Tigers were a semi-pro football juggernaut of the late 1970’s. The team formed in 1977 and immediately steamrolled the rest of the rag-tag California Football League. With former San Jose State quarterback Craig Kimball at the controls of the offense, as he would be throughout the team’s existence, enjoyed a perfect 13-0 run en route the league title. The only blemish on San Jose’s record was a 28-27 home loss to the Pierce County Bengals from Tacoma, Washington in a postseason regional championship game dubbed “Holiday Bowl I”. Pro Football Weekly ranked the Tigers #2 in its national ranking of minor league football teams for 1977.
1978 was more of the same with another perfect season and league championship in the California League. The Tigers also dismantled the Pierce County Bengals 43-13 in a rematch of the previous year’s Holiday Bowl. On September 30th, 1978 the Tigers travelled to Louisiana to play the Shreveport Steamer of the American Football Association in what was considered to be the national championship game of minor league football. (Actually – the local Shreveport promoters dubbed the game the “King Kong Bowl”, but a misunderstanding with the local print shop resulted in souvenir programs issued for the Hong Kong Bowl.) The Tigers prevailed 32-6 and earned Pro Football Weekly’s #1 ranking among minor and semi-pro teams for 1978.
Later Years
In 1979 the Tigers finally found a worthy league rival in the Twin Cities Cougars out of Marysville, California. After a third straight undefeated regular season, the Tigers met the Cougars in the 1979 California League title game on September 22nd. Shockingly, the Cougars routed San Jose 55-14 and handed the Tigers their first league defeat in three years.
In 1980 the Tigers went 11-1 in the regular season en route to a title game rematch with the Twin Cities Cougars on October 14th at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento. As in 1979, the Cougars dealt the Tigers a stunning defeat, this time a 31-0 shutout.
1981 brought new owners and a slightly new name: the Campbell-San Jose Tigers. But a familiar outcome on the field: a playoff defeat at the hands of Twin Cities, this time in the semi-final round.
The Tigers played one final season in 1982. The summer ended in traditional fashion with a 31-9 loss to Twin Cities in the California League’s final title game. The San Jose Tigers folded along with the rest of the California League in early 1983.
Downloads
7-22-1978 Tigers vs. Sacramento Buffalos Roster
6-22-1978 San Jose Tigers vs. Sacramento Buffalos Program
6-20-1981 Campbell-San Jose Tigers opening day roster
Links
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6 Responses
Why did the California league fold? Was it due to the launch of the USFL?
Hey Kurt,
Good question. The 1983 launch of the USFL seems to have been a factor. The leagues played overlapping seasons, with the USFL playing March-July and the California League playing June-August. The USFL signed a number of California League players, with the local Oakland Invaders franchise plucking a number of top players from the league champion Twin Cities Cougars, including Cougars starting QB Fred Besana. Besana surprised a lot of USFL watchers by winning the Invaders starting job and leading the USFL in passing yards in 1983.
But ultimately it’s hard to avoid simple economic problems as being at the root of the California League’s collapse, perhaps regardless of the USFL coming on the scene. The league had a lot of of turnover in membership, cities, and owners every year. Heading into 1983, the backer of the dominant Twin Cities Cougars suffered a stroke, which left that team in doubt. The league’s entire Southern Division dropped out before the 1982 season. So things were always crazy and on the brink of demise.
Drew
Who was the head coach for San Jose Campbell Tigers? I think it was Jim Cadile former Chicago Bears Right offensive guard? A relative.
You are correct. I was lucky enough to be one of the young men to serve as a Ball Boy.
Jim Cadile was the Head Coach in the early 80’s. Billy Wilson who is a 49ers Hall of Famer/Scout was one of the GMs. I was lucky enough to be a ball boy and water boy as well. My dad was Clay Jackson Sr. and was the Defensive Coordinator. In 1977 the Tigers led the Nation in Defense giving up less than 7 points a game. My Grandmother still has the plaque for that year on her fireplace mantle. The Tigers travels to Louisiana to win the National Championship that year. I have the program and the article. Jim Cadile became the head coach a couple of years later. A lot of former San Jose State stars played on that team, like QB Craig Kimball. Several CFL players played in the USFL. Especially for the Oakland Invaders, like Fred Besana who was the QB for the rival Marysville Cougars. Good times!
My grandfather was Lew Gregory.
Does anyone on this thread remember him?