83 October 29, 1960 -- Cal Poly Plane Crash "On Thanksgiving morning this year in the Coliseum, a 'Mercy Bowl' benefit game
will be played to help San Luis Obispo write off its obligations to the tragedy victims, the children they left behind them, and the survivors. My feeling is, it is not only their obligation. It is the obligation of all of us interested in athletics. I can think of no better way to give thanks on that day that we are here and healthy, than to contribute to those who are alone with only memories of that day."
— Jim Murray Los Angeles Times, 1961
Front Row (L-R): Don O’Meara, Don Adams, Russell Woods, Benny Martin (not on trip), Coach Roy Hughes, Marshall Kulku, Bob Johnson, Bill Stewart, Gary Van Horn. Second Row (L-R): Dick McBride, John Reardon (not on trip), Mike Young (did not make trip), Dean Carlson, Roy Scialabba, Jim Ledbetter, Brent Jobe, Doug Minton (not on trip), Clark Tuthill (not on trip), John Bell, General Owens. Third Row (L-R): Ted Tollner, Norton Engen, Walt Shimek, Gil Stork, Al Marinai, Lynn Lobaugh, Guy Hennington, John Ramsey (not on trip), Wayne Sorenson, Rob Baughn, John Brennan, Fred Brown. Fourth Row: (L-R): Terry Betterton (trainer, not on trip), Wendel Miner (manager), Joe Copeland, Curtis Hill, Larry Austin, Roger Kelly, Bill Ross, Ray Porras, Bill Dauphin, Carl Bowser, Skip Stratton (not on trip), assistant coach Walt Williamson.
The following is written on a memorial plaque on one of the peristyles at the Los Angeles Coliseum: On Saturday night, October 29, 1960, a plane carrying the Cal Poly 1960 football team, which was returning from a football game with Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH, crashed at the Toledo, Ohio Airport. As a result of this crash, 16 players and the team manager were killed and many injured. To financially assist the families of these athletes, a football game of mercy between Bowling Green and Fresno State was sponsored and staged in the Coliseum on Thanksgiving, November 23, 1961. All proceeds were donated to the Cal Poly Memorial Fund for this purpose.
ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS: Prior to each home game, Cal Poly football players pay tribute to the 1960 football team at the memorial rock near the flagpole at the north end of Alex G. Spanos Stadium. For each road trip, the team loads up the buses near Mott Gym, drives to Alex G. Spanos Stadium and walks to the rock for reflection prior to departing campus.