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University of the Pacific

Hall of Fame

Powercat

1949 Football Team

  • Class
  • Induction
    1990
  • Sport(s)
    Football
The 1949 College (now University) of Pacific football team is widely regarded as the best team in the program’s history. Led by head coach Larry Siemering, those three words embodied the team’s motto after their magical season ended without a bowl bid. 
 
Siemering’s Tigers were truly one of the most potent offenses to ever take to the football field. The 1949 squad holds the program record with 575 points to just 66 allowed, outscoring their opponents by an average score of 52-6. Led by halfback Bruce Orvis and All-American quarterback Eddie LeBaron, Pacific averaged an impressive 355.5 yards rushing and 152.4 yards through the air, for totals of 3,910 and 1,676 yards, respectively. 
 
Collectively, the 1949 Tigers averaged 507.8 yards of total offense per contest and gave up just 183.7 before finishing in the Associated Press poll with a No. 10 ranking. That year’s team holds the school record for most rushing yards in a single game, racking up 527 in a dominant 88-0 win over Cal Poly on November 24, 1949.
 
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