California State University Northridge Athletics
CSUN Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2010
- Class:
- 1967
Led by sixth-year head coach and Hall of Famer Sam Winningham, the 1967 San Fernando Valley State (CSUN) Football team finished with a 6-4 overall record and a 3-2 record in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, tying for second place in the conference. The season marked the program's first winning record since the football program's inception in 1962 and concluded with the school's first postseason bowl appearance. The Matadors averaged 32 points per game during the regular season.
Valley State played its home games at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, California, as the University did not yet have an on-campus football stadium. The Matadors finished the regular season with a 6-3 record, earning victories over Whittier, Long Beach State, Cal Poly-SLO, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly Pomona, and Cal State LA. Because CCAA champion San Diego State advanced to the Camelia Bowl, second-place Valley State received the conference's berth in the 22nd annual Pasadena Bowl (originally known as the Junior Rose Bowl), becoming the first Matador football team to qualify for postseason play.
In the Pasadena Bowl, held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Valley State faced West Texas State on Dec. 2, 1967. The Matadors were defeated 35-13 by the Buffaloes, who featured future NFL stars Mercury Morris and Duane Thomas. Despite the loss, the bowl appearance represented a milestone for the young program and established the Matadors as a competitive force within the CCAA.
Quarterback and CSUN Hall of Famer Bruce Lemmerman emerged as one of the program's standout players during the season. Lemmerman went on to play professionally with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He remains the only player from the 1967 team to reach the NFL.
The 1967 team is regarded as one of the landmark squads in CSUN football history. The season marked the beginning of sustained success under Sam Winningham and remains notable for producing the first winning season and first postseason appearance in program history.
