Cal Poly dedicated the “Howie O’Daniels Coaches Suite in the new Alex Spanos Stadium on October 17, 2009.  It took over a year for his son Pat to complete 15 large 36 x 24” posters covering the “FIRST FIFTY YEARS OF CALIFORNIA POLY FOOTBALL.”

The oldest team pictured is holding a 1908 rugby ball.  The oldest coach pictured is 1915—two years before Pat’s aunt Ellen Hughes (Spring) graduated.  You’ll see a few photos from Ellen’s scrap book on that poster, along with some 1926 photos of Pat’s mother Mary’s days on campus.  Ellen’s daughter-in-law Rosemarie Spring attended with her sons Art and Tom.  1957-58 QB Bobby Beathard corrected one fact.  He had eight interception one year, but the record book only credited him with seven.  (Three were against UCSB.)

The weekend wrapped up with an exciting homecoming game which new coach Tim Walsh’s Mustangs won in the last second—24-23—when the Southern Utah kicker missed the extra point that would have sent the game into overtime.  It was about time for Cal Poly.  Last November in Madison the Mustang kicker missed three extra points, allowing Wisconsin to tie the game and win it in OT.

Take a look at some of the new photos on our O’Daniels “Suite Photos” link that were taken at homecoming and before the final home game of 2009.