California State University Sacramento - Statesman Yearbook (Sacramento, CA)

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D) = O O O = O ae op = op O O © ep) O. £ O © = is) © 23 Y) = {o ae See related stories, page 6 Reprinted from 11 20 86 by B. R. Berry “Back To The Future”’ is an appro- priate theme for CSUS’ 36th annual Homecoming and in particular for football coach Bob Mattos. The movie ‘‘Back To The Future”’ is about a young man who is sent back to 1955 and the changes that occur with his arrival. The Hornets have the chance to change history without having to go back to the future, if they can beat rival UC Davis on Saturday in the 32nd annual Homecoming football game. “It’s great. | don’t need to pump the game up,” Mattos said. “This is the best situation for a Homecoming game.”’ Mattos said he could not ask for a more exciting game with UC Davis - Homecoming and the play- offs riding on the last game of the season. Defensive end Louie Sorrentino thinks the intensity is high among the players for the game. “It’s the biggest game of the year,”’ Sorrentino said. ‘“‘When we beat Da- vis, we'll go to the playoffs.” In 1954, CSUS was known as Sacra- mento State College and was begin- ning its first season of football with high hopes and aspirations. The season was a disappointment as the Hornets finished with a 0-7 re- cord and lost to UC Davis 14-0 in in the Homecoming game. Now it is 1985 and this is the first year CSUS is fielding a scholarship team, which is like a new beginning. To get a new start in the series, the Hornets must break a 15-game los- ing streak to Davis. Homecoming actually started at CSUS in 1950, four years before the football team made its appearance, as a picnic for the alumni. The first time the event was called Homecoming was 1951 when it was the theme for the annual picnic. This trend continued until 1954 when Homecoming became part of the football festivities. The stage was set for Oct. 9 when CSUS and UC Davis (then known as the Cal Aggie Mus- tangs) met on the gridiron for the first time. The game, which became known as the ‘Causeway Classic,’’ saw Davis score the first touchdown of the rival- ry before anyone had a chance to sit down. After that, it remained score- less until the fourth quarter when the Aggies added a touchdown to ice the game. The first game was without contro- versy when the Cal Aggie newspaper reported several campus high jinks. The night before the game, CSUS supporters painted the Aggie victory bell and benches at the Davis cam- pus green and gold. The Aggie supporters attempted a countermove at the game but failed in their endeavor to steal the Sacra- mento State rooters’ banner. SSC Student Body President Nason Hall received a letter from Davis Stu- dent Body President Dick Huberty urging that the “‘school rivalry must not generate into a free-for all.’’ He said it was important that the two schools retain the rivalry on a high plane. Eight women vied for Homecoming queen and Carolyn Robinson won the honor. In an article in The State Hornet, Robinson said, “‘It was a thrill and surprise to be elected Home- coming queen,”’ and that it was, ‘‘an honor because this is the first time SSC has elected a ... queen.”’ The year 1955 saw the football team win its first game ever, downing Southern Oregon University 7-6, but it lost the Homecoming game to UC Santa Barbara 15-7. A 40-23 win over CSU, Chico was historical to CSUS when second- string quarterback (now head coach) Bob Mattos scored a touchdown to- ward the end of the game, to clinch the victory. A conference championship and a trip to the Camellia Bowl highlighted the 1964 season. The big game of the year was against Davis who had upset CSUS in 1963 to end the Hor- nets’ bid for the title. The contest was significant as the Hornets won 27-0 but the game was stopped with 1 minute, 49 seconds left to play as players on both sides broke into a game-ending fight. The conference title belonged to CSUS but it lost the Camellia Bowl game 28-7 to Montana. After losing to Davis in 1965, the Hornets reeled off four straight victo- ries over the Aggies, 36-24, 23-6, 24- 7, and 18-10. The 18-10 score was to be the last time CSUS would ever have a victory over Davis. The Hornets were ranked No. 12 but still lost the Homecoming game to CSU, Hayward 32-30. The 1971 season was particularly heartbreaking for CSUS in both the Homecoming and the Davis game. Hayward visited the Hornets with an undefeated record but left with a 27- 27 tie. CSUS had a chance to clinch a victo- ry but time expired on the clock with the Hornets on the 1 yard line. A chance to tie Davis at the end of their game disappeared when the Hornets fumbled the ball at the goal line with 45 seconds left in the contest. 1982 was a big year for CSUS and Davis. Winning the Homecoming game against Cal Lutheran 31-24 was just one of the eight wins CSUS compiled before the game with the Aggies. Davis (8-0) and CSUS (8-1) had ev- erything riding on the last game of the season. The Hornets would tie for the conference crown with a win and they would break the 12-game losing streak to Davis. But it was not to be as the Aggies humiliated the Hornets 51-6 giving Davis coach Jim Sochor his 100th win. Saturday’s game again has a high emotional impact on both schools. Davis is ranked No. 1 nationally in Division Il while the Hornets are ranked 13th. As for Homecoming, it has changed over the years. The Homecoming queen contest went from a female title to a man and woman of the year title and at present, no contest is held at all. But out on the field, nothing has changed, with the two rivals fighting it out with intensity and hope for the big win. CSUS does hope something changes, the winning score in favor of the Hornets.