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Basketball
As the chill of winter and the hush of December
fell on the campus, the sneakers began to pound the
boards of the gym. The workouts began under a new
coach, a new system, and combined new faces with
the old.
With the season less than a month away Athletic
Director Phil Woolpert resigned as head coach. Na
tionally known and admired for his knowledge of the
game, the man who was most responsible for the rise
of the Torero basketball fortunes, justifiably placed
his faith in his Assistant Coach, Bernie Bickerstaff.
Young, energetic, and confident, Bernie rapidly
established a r apport with the players and the students.
Taking to the road as t hey would for fifteen of their
first seventeen games, they came from behind in their
initial outing to beat UC Riverside 100-96.
As tourney favorites in the San Diego State Invi
tational the Toreros were upset by Tahoe College in
the second round and had to settle for fifth place.
After splitting their only two home games of 1969,
the team successfully defended its Cal Western Tour
nament title. The squad handled UC San Diego the
opening night 84-73 and overcame host U.S.I.U. the
next 60-45.
With the coming of the new year the team made its
way to Texas for three games. Foul trouble hurt the
team, putting the first two games out of reach. A vic
tory over Lamar Tech salvaged the trip and sent the
Toreros home happy.
TOREROS CLOCKWISE:
Rick Sabosky, Gie Simpson, John Boone, Jeff Filzenger, Jim Usher, Gus Magee, Sterling Garrett, Bob
Scotlan, Oscar Foster, Joe Fogel, John Otis, Neal Schram, Mike Pradels, Steve Bajo.
STAFF CLOCKWISE:
Trainer Willie Moore,
Manager Steve West, Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff, Manager Joe Brown, Assistant Coach John Cunningham.