Rosso’s arrival was key

DON CANTRELL

Orange Coast College fielded its first football team in 1948 after

the school had opened its doors for the first time. And there were no

media projections of any happenings the first game.

In fact, the college was rising out of the former Santa Ana Army

Air Base in Costa Mesa and was considered a “cow town” fixture out in

the middle of old Farm County. Costa Mesa had a population of around

10,000 at that time and single houses were spreading out for quite a

distance in most directions.

The college would not have its own stadium until 1955, but would

schedule its games for Newport Harbor or Huntington Beach high

schools relative to home games.

The brightest highlight focused on the first head football coach,

Ray Rosso, who had directed Chaffey College to two championships and

one 1947 Junior Rose Bowl victory over Cameron, Okla.

Rosso, born in Turin, Italy, and raised in Lafayette, Calif., had

immense talent and new OCC President Basil Peterson was anxious to

launch Pirate football with a positive banner.

The one-time star guard for the Cal Bears, who played under Stub

Allison in the late 1930s, was also a former Navy pilot connected

with a replacement squadron for the USS Lexington in the war-torn

South Pacific.

Coincidentally, had Rosso received the orders, he would have

subsequently bumped into a flight deck officer named Al Irwin. Irwin

would replace Rosso in 1956 as the OCC head coach.

Rosso’s task at Chaffey in 1946-47 was a dream come true since the

end of World War II in 1945 had released waves of veterans to schools

and colleges.

Rosso clearly recalled his ’46 blessings at Chaffey because the

campus was overloaded with skilled and experienced gridders. By ’47

they were well-programmed for the Rosso system.

Although cheered by the OCC offer, Rosso knew recruiting would be

a serious challenge since his team had been limited and little was

known about the new college.

Most of his ’48 players would graduate from Newport Harbor and

Huntington Beach high schools. However, he would be able to draw some

fine talent from Orange, South Pasadena and Los Angeles.

His first backfield would feature halfback Brian Hanzal and

quarterback John Fowler, both from Newport, as well as fullback Bob

Huhn and Ed Dowty, both from Huntington Beach.

Newport grads who were seeking line positions included Rod Gould,

Doc Hanson, Richard Brown, Boyd Horrell, Dick Balch and Mike Henry.

Scoring history was made by two former Newport players in the

Pirates’ first victory over Riverside, 14-6, at Huntington Beach

High.

Former Tar Hanzal scored the first touchdown and ex-Sailor Horrell

booted both extra points.

Rosso said he always enjoyed playing as many players as he could

during any season. He felt football was rewarding if it helped the

players with their lifestyle and future.

The old Army barracks were a boost for recruiting and the OCC

campus had two. Players could rent a two-man room for $20 a month and

that was very reasonable for that time period.

The 1948 team finished with a remarkable 3-5-1 record, beating

Riverside, Palomar and Mt. San Antonio. The Pirates also tied College

of Marin, 14-14.

OCC lost close games to El Centro, 27-25, San Bernardino, 18-13,

and Santa Ana, 13-6. It lost to Fullerton, 32-0, and Chaffey, 37-13.

The Pirates gained stature the second year and rivals came to note

that OCC had arrived on the gridiron.

The 1949 team closed with an 8-2 season and was invited to a bowl

game, but declined, due to too many injuries, according to

quarterback Harlo LeBard.