What Is 1969 Long Beach State 49ers football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1969 Long Beach State 49ers football team represented California State College at Long Beach during the NCAA College Division season, finishing with a 3–7 record under head coach Jim Strangeland. They played home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium and were part of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) beginning in 1969. The team scored 168 points while allowing 260, averaging 16.8 points per game.

Key Facts

The 1969 Long Beach State 49ers finished with a 3–7 overall record
Head coach Jim Strangeland led the team in his second season
They played home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach, CA
The 49ers joined the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) in 1969
The team scored 168 points and allowed 260 across 10 games

Overview

The 1969 Long Beach State 49ers football team represented California State College at Long Beach during the 1969 NCAA College Division season. Competing as a member of the newly formed Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA), the team struggled to find consistency on both offense and defense.

Under head coach Jim Strangeland, who was in his second year leading the program, the 49ers finished with a 3–7 overall record. They played their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium, a 15,000-seat venue in Long Beach, California, which served as their primary field through the 1990s.

Season record: The 1969 49ers posted a 3–7 win-loss record, marking a decline from their 5–5 performance in 1968 under Strangeland.
Conference debut: This season marked Long Beach State’s first year competing in the Pacific Coast Athletic Association, which later evolved into the Big West Conference.
Scoring output: The team scored 168 total points across 10 games, averaging 16.8 points per game, ranking them below mid-tier College Division programs.
Defensive struggles: They allowed 260 points, averaging 26.0 points per game against, indicating significant defensive vulnerabilities.
Home field: Veterans Memorial Stadium, located near the campus, hosted all home games and had a seating capacity of approximately 15,000 spectators.

Season Performance and Game Results

The 1969 campaign included a mix of non-conference and inaugural PCAA matchups, with the team facing regional opponents from California and the Southwest. The 49ers showed flashes of competitiveness but lacked the depth and consistency to secure more than three wins.

Opening game: The 49ers lost their season opener 14–21 to San Diego State, a team that finished 9–2 and ranked nationally in the College Division.
Best performance: Their highest point total came in a 35–28 win over Cal Poly, where they scored 35 points in a rare offensive outburst.
Conference record: In PCAA play, Long Beach went 1–3, with their only conference win coming against Cal Poly, then a fellow new PCAA member.
Notable loss: They suffered a 7–41 defeat to Cal State Los Angeles, highlighting the gap between them and stronger regional programs.
Season finale: The 49ers closed the season with a 14–20 loss to Fresno State, finishing with a losing record for the second consecutive year.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1969 season placed Long Beach State in direct comparison with peer institutions in the PCAA and NCAA College Division. The table below outlines key performance metrics.

Team	Record	Points For	Points Against	Head Coach
Long Beach State	3–7	168	260	Jim Strangeland
San Diego State	9–2	279	156	Deron Cherry
Cal Poly	4–6	186	208	Joe Harper
Cal State LA	5–5	217	194	Don Warhurst
Fresno State	7–4	235	178	Jim Sweeney

The table illustrates that Long Beach State ranked near the bottom in both scoring and defense compared to PCAA peers. While San Diego State and Fresno State demonstrated stronger programs, Long Beach struggled to keep pace, particularly against more established teams. Their offensive output of 16.8 points per game was the second-lowest among PCAA teams that season.

Why It Matters

The 1969 season is a notable chapter in Long Beach State football history, representing both the challenges of program building and the early days of conference realignment. Though not a standout year, it laid groundwork for future development within the PCAA.

Conference transition: Joining the PCAA in 1969 gave Long Beach State greater scheduling stability and competitive structure in intercollegiate athletics.
Program identity: The 49ers’ early PCAA years helped establish a regional identity, despite on-field struggles during this transitional phase.
Coaching continuity: Jim Strangeland’s tenure continued into 1970, showing institutional patience during a rebuilding period.
Player development: The 1969 season provided experience for younger players who would contribute in subsequent seasons.
Historical context: This season occurred during a period of growth in college football, with many state colleges expanding athletic programs.
Legacy: Though the football program was eventually discontinued in 1991, the 1969 team remains part of Long Beach State’s athletic heritage.

While the 1969 Long Beach State 49ers did not achieve winning success, their season reflects the broader narrative of mid-tier college programs striving for competitiveness during a transformative era in NCAA football.