1932 Whittier Poets football
1933 Whittier team with Richard Nixon (No. 12)
SCC champion
ConferenceSouthern California Conference
Record10–1 (5–1 SCC)
Head coach
CaptainBob Gibbs
Home stadiumHadley Field
1932 Southern California Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Whittier $ 5 –1 –010 –1 –0
Redlands 5 –2 –07 –2 –0
La Verne 5 –2 –06 –2 –0
Occidental 4 –2 –14 –4 –1
Pomona 2 –4 –02 –4 –0
San Diego State 2 –4 –13 –5 –1
Caltech 2 –5 –02 –7 –0
Santa Barbara State 1 –6 –01 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1932 Whittier Poets football team was an American football team that represented Whittier College in the Southern California Conference (SCC) during the 1932 college football season. In its third season under head coach Wallace Newman, the team compiled a 10–1 record (5–1 against conference opponents) and won the SCC championship. Tackle Bob Gibbs was the team captain. The team played its home games at Hadley Field in Whittier, California.

Role of Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon played for the team at the tackle position, and occasionally at end.[1][2] Though typically a reserve, Nixon was the team's starting left tackle in its October 28 victory over the 160th Infantry team.[3] The team's waterboy, Harold Litten, recalled that Nixon was uncoordinated and "had two left feet" but was a leader: "But, boy, was he an inspiration! He was always talking it up. That's why Chief let him hang around. He was one of those inspirational guys every team needs."[4]

Coach Newman in 1969 said the following of Nixon's role on the team: "No, he never did get a letter, he wasn't that good. But what a scrapper. I remember some of the boys then telling what a licking Dick was taking. And we all marveled at the way he got up and came back for more. . . . Dick had enthusiasm and drive, you betcha. And no one had more moxie. To be a sub, and as light as he was, even then, was rugged. He was practice bait. I don't know if I could have taken the beating he took. Dick liked the battle, though, and the smell of the sweat."[2]

Nixon later said that he admired coach Newman more than any man he had known other than his father.[5]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23Chaffey J.C.
W 6–06,000[6]
September 23Los Angeles J.C.
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
W 20–06,000[6]
October 1at Arizona State
W 26–0[7]
October 7Caltech
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
W 34–75,000[8]
October 14vs. Occidental
L 7–20[9]
October 21at La VerneLa Verne, CAW 13–05,000[10]
October 27160th Infantry
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
W 42–0[3]
November 5at San Diego State
W 18–14[11][12]
November 11Loyola (CA)
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
W 15–06,000[13]
November 19Santa Barbara State
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
W 46–6[14]
November 24Redlands
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
W 13–76,000[15][16][17]

References

  1. ↑ "What if Richard Nixon Had Been Good at Football?". Slate. May 18, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Ira Berkow (January 20, 1969). "Nixon Got 'Tattoos', No Letter". Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle (NEA story). p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "Poets Batter Weak Infantry Eleven to Run up 42-0 Score". The Whittier News. October 29, 1932. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Life Story of Vice President Nixon -- VI: Never Got Into Game, but He Was Too Nervous to Eat". The Boston Globe. October 21, 1955. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Michael Beschloss (November 14, 2014). "The President Who Never Earned His Varsity Letter". The New York Times.
  6. 1 2 "Poets Defeat L.A.J.C. 20-0, Chaffey 6-0 in Gridiron Opener". Whittier News. September 24, 1932. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Whittier Beats Tempe, 26-0, With Brilliant Running Attack". The Arizona Republic. October 2, 1933. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Poets Crush Caltech In Conference Opener By 34-7 Score". The Whittier News. October 8, 1932. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Murray Gregory (October 15, 1932). "Oxy Humbles Poets". The Whittier News. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Poets Beat La Verne". The Whittier News. October 22, 1932. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Kenwood Bojens (November 6, 1932). "Whittier Eleven Comes From Behind to Beat Aztecs; Poets Put On Drive In Last Half To Take 18-14 Victory". The San Diego Union. San Diego, California. p. 4.
  12. ↑ "Superior Reserve Strength Enables Poets to Beat Aztecs 18-14". The Whittier News. November 7, 1932. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Whittier Hands Loyola 15-0 Upset: Poets' Passes Baffle Lions". Los Angeles Times. November 12, 1932. pp. 7–8 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Poets Preserve Right to Meet Redlands for Championship". The Whittier News. November 21, 1932. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Redlands, Whittier Ready for Title Battle". Los Angeles Times. November 23, 1932. p. II-11 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Murray Gregory (November 25, 1932). "Poets Take Conference Grid Title". The Whittier News. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Poets Win Conference Title: Redlands Bows By 13-7 Score". Los Angeles Times. November 25, 1932. pp. 9, 11.
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