During Joe Roth’s playing career at Granite Hills High School (1969-1972), Joe wore #12 just like his hero Joe Namath. Roth also wore #12 while playing at Grossmont Junior College (1973-1974). When Roth accepted a scholarship to play football at Cal, his streak of wearing #12 was over. Cal had three quarterbacks on the roster and one of those quarterbacks, Mark Cahill, was already wearing #12. So, the equipment manager assigned the new Golden Bear #14. By a stroke of luck, Cahill quit the football team at the end of spring football in 1975. Joe was able to change his number back to his favorite #12 and the rest is Cal football history.

But there’s more to the story of Joe Roth and the #14 and the California Gridiron is proud to share with you today information that has never been published before. Earlier this year, the California Gridiron was very fortunate to connect with former Golden Bear football player, Greg Cummins. Cummins was Cal’s punter for the 1974 and 1975 seasons. He redshirted in 1976, later transferred, and ended up playing his last two years of college football at the University of Hawaii (1977-1978).

The below story was written by Greg and given to the California Gridiron with the accompanying photo of Joe Roth’s #14 practice jersey. Roth’s #14 jersey has not been seen by the public since November 19, 1976 – that’s 40 years! One small point of historical clarification before you read on. In the mid-1970s (and in many previous years) it was common for Cal football players not to wear their game day numbers during practice.

The Story Behind Joe Roth’s #14 Jersey - In Greg Cummins Words:

“On the last day of practice before our last game in the fall of 1976, Joe and I were walking back into the locker room. And as we were all undressing, Joe took his jersey off and said to me "Greg, do you want my practice jersey?" And I said "ya sure, thanks Joe.” I just thought he was figuring I might like it as a memento after playing with him for the last two years and we always got along well. Little did I know at the time that he was well into his fight with cancer. I didn't find out until most of the rest of the team found out later. This gift resonated with me for the rest of my life. When he gave me his jersey, he knew he didn't have long to live. And he knew most all his teammates didn't know what he was going through. We all found out later when he was playing at one of the all-star games and he announced it publicly so pro teams wouldn't consider him in the draft. He knew he wasn't going to survive when he gave me that jersey. I always wonder why he gave it to me, as opposed to someone else. But I remember he and I used to sit and talk and joke around, or maybe it was because our personalities were very much alike-quiet, humble, a little shy then, but self-assured.

A couple of months later, I was at an after party for a play I was in for the Cal drama department. Everyone knew I was on the football team and Joe was a friend of mine. Someone charged in and announced to the room that they heard that Joe Roth passed away. Everyone turned and looked at me. I welled up, ran for the bathroom, locked the door and fell to the floor against the door sobbing and heaving like a baby. All the feelings came out at that moment. The memory of Joe has given me strength throughout my life. How he heroically and unselfishly lived, has given me strength to get through life's struggles. None of us who knew Joe have ever forgotten him, and we all never stopped missing him. Joe Roth was like a candle which burned extremely bright, but only for a short time.”