In an article in the Denver Post two weeks before the 1949 football season began, sports editor Jack Carberry was careful not to curse the Fort Lewis Aggies by predicting that they'd advance to the third annual Texas Junior College Rose Bowl in Tyler.
After two early losses to military bases, the Aggies won six of their next seven games to become state junior college champions and earn a bid to the postseason bowl game — the first of just two postseason bowl appearances in school history.
In an article in the Denver Post two weeks before the 1949 football season began, sports editor Jack Carberry was careful not to curse the Fort Lewis Aggies by predicting them to advance to the third annual Teas Rose Bowl.
After two early losses to military bases, the Aggies won six of their next seven games to become state junior college champions and earn a bid to the post-season bowl game.
Newspaper reports cited the skills of backs like Bill Noon, Bill Mullane and Dick Cochran, the Denver recruiting of Coach Bus Bergman, the size and strength of Paul Sciranka and "Indian" Joe Scott, and a game-saving pass interception in the final league game by Glenn Clayton as keys to the Aggie season.
Although future Fort Lewis football teams would post better overall records, the 1949 Aggies will always be remembered as the first gridders in school history to advance to postseason play.
To this day, the team holds annual reunions at Dino's Restaurant in Lakewood, Colo., each summer — a tradition they began in 1959 marking the 10-year anniversary of their feat.
The Skyhawks and the FLC Alumni Association honored the 1949 Aggies at a pregame tailgate party in Golden, Colo., in 2009, marking the 60th anniversary of their bowl appearance.
