As the year ended last week USA Today listed its best 150 teams in the 150-year history of collegiate football.
Standing third behind the 1943 and 1945 Army squads, was the University of California “Wonder Team” of 1920.
No less than seven players from the national champion, 12-0 San Diego High Hilltoppers of 1916 played for that California team and coach Clarence (Nibs) Price was an assistant on the staff of head coach Andy Smith.
The 1920 Golden Bears were 9-0, outscored their opponents, 520-14, and defeated Ohio State, 28-0, in the Rose Bowl game.
Halfback Byron (Pesky) Sprott was the Bears’ leading rusher in the New Year’s Day contest in Pasadena, rushing for 95 yards in 20 carries and scoring two touchdowns.
To learn more about Sprott and his 1916 teammates who went on to play for California, google partletonsports.com or San Diego Sports History and search 1916: “The Legendary Hilltoppers”.
