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Bob Titchenal, who captained one of San Jose State's best football teams in history in 1939, played for the 49ers among other pro teams and later coached SJSU, died Sunday in Santa Rosa. He was 91.
The native of Ventura was a football and basketball star at San Jose State. He was a 6-foot-2, 190-pound center on the football team, and helped the Spartans compile a 35-3-2 record in three seasons. As a senior, he was an honorable-mention All-America and captained the 1939 Spartans — the school's only team to complete a season undefeated and untied. Dudley DeGroot was the head coach, with Pop Warner serving as the advisory coach.
Titchenal played center and end for the Washington Redskins (1940-42) of the NFL and the 49ers (1946) and Los Angeles Dons (1947) of the All-America Football Conference. In 1942, the Redskins won the NFL Championship and he was named to the NFL's Pro Bowl.
Titchenal coached eight seasons (1957-64) at San Jose State, compiling a record of 33-54-1.
Super Bowl-winning coach Dick Vermeil, a quarterback for the 1957 Spartans, and quarterback Chon Gallegos, the 1961 NCAA passing leader, are among the best-known players Titchenal coached at San Jose State.
"He was a great football guy and a great person. I loved being around him," said Gene Menges, Titchenal's primary assistant coach at SJSU. "Our guys all respected him, and that's what it is all about."
The native of Ventura was a football and basketball star at San Jose State. He was a 6-foot-2, 190-pound center on the football team, and helped the Spartans compile a 35-3-2 record in three seasons. As a senior, he was an honorable-mention All-America and captained the 1939 Spartans — the school's only team to complete a season undefeated and untied. Dudley DeGroot was the head coach, with Pop Warner serving as the advisory coach.
Titchenal played center and end for the Washington Redskins (1940-42) of the NFL and the 49ers (1946) and Los Angeles Dons (1947) of the All-America Football Conference. In 1942, the Redskins won the NFL Championship and he was named to the NFL's Pro Bowl.
Titchenal coached eight seasons (1957-64) at San Jose State, compiling a record of 33-54-1.
Super Bowl-winning coach Dick Vermeil, a quarterback for the 1957 Spartans, and quarterback Chon Gallegos, the 1961 NCAA passing leader, are among the best-known players Titchenal coached at San Jose State.
"He was a great football guy and a great person. I loved being around him," said Gene Menges, Titchenal's primary assistant coach at SJSU. "Our guys all respected him, and that's what it is all about."
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