Walk through Arcata on a Saturday afternoon in October and you’ll feel it. Or, more accurately, you’ll feel the absence of it. For decades, Redwood Bowl was the heartbeat of this foggy coastal town, a place where the scent of damp pine needles mixed with cheap concession stand popcorn. But Humboldt State University football—or Cal Poly Humboldt as the school is known now—doesn't exist anymore.
It’s gone.
In 2018, the university made the brutal, polarizing decision to ax the program. It wasn't just a local news blurb; it was a gut punch to a community that identified with the "Lumberjacks" brand more than almost anything else. People still wear the green and gold jerseys. You’ll see them at the farmer's market or local bars. If you ask a local about the team, you’re likely to get a twenty-minute history lesson on the 1960 bowl games or the sheer dominance of the mid-2010s.
The Financial Cliff That Killed the Jacks
Why did Humboldt State University football die? Honestly, it came down to a ledger. The university was facing a massive deficit, and the football program was bleeding cash. We're talking about a $700,000 annual gap that the school just couldn't bridge.
The administration, led by then-President Lisa Rossbacher, gave the community a chance to save it. They needed to raise $500,000 in a single year just to keep the lights on. The community actually stepped up, hitting that goal through grassroots fundraising that felt like something out of a movie. But the victory was short-lived. Even with the donated cash, the long-term sustainability wasn't there. Travel costs for a Division II team located in the remote corner of Northern California are astronomical. You aren't just hopping on a bus to play a rival; you're flying an entire roster to Texas or Washington.
A Culture Identity Crisis
When you kill a football program at a school like Humboldt, you aren’t just stopping a game. You’re changing the DNA of the campus. For years, the Jacks were the primary bridge between the "townies" and the "students." In a place where political tensions can run high between the university’s activism and the region’s logging roots, the Redwood Bowl was neutral ground.
Critics of the decision argued that the school lost its best marketing tool. How do you attract students to a secluded forest campus without the Saturday spectacle? Enrollment numbers at many similar institutions show a correlation between athletic presence and student engagement. Some faculty, however, felt the money was better spent on academic departments that were struggling to keep up with modern technology requirements. It was a classic "books vs. balls" debate, and in the end, the books won—at least on paper.
The NFL Legacy Most People Forget
It’s weird to think about now, but Humboldt State University football was a legitimate pipeline to the pros for a while. It wasn't some tiny, forgotten outpost of bad athletes.
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Take a look at Alex Cappa.
Cappa is the gold standard for what the Jacks could produce. A massive offensive lineman who was basically unblockable in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC). He got drafted in the third round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018. He eventually won a Super Bowl ring protecting Tom Brady. Think about that. A kid from a school that was literally about to dissolve its football program ended up on the biggest stage in the world.
And he wasn't the only one.
- Dave Harper: A linebacker who made it to the Dallas Cowboys in the 90s.
- Freeman Baysinger: A wideout who had a cup of coffee with the Saints.
- Wendell Hayes: He played for the Chiefs and Broncos after lighting it up in Arcata.
Basically, the Jacks played a brand of "hard-nosed" football that scouts actually respected. They weren't flashy. They didn't have the Oregon Ducks' chrome helmets or the Alabama facilities. They had a turf field surrounded by literal ancient trees. It was rugged.
What Really Happened in the Final Season?
The 2018 season was a funeral procession disguised as a schedule. Everyone knew it was the end. Coach Rob Smith, who had built the program into a regional powerhouse, had already resigned a year prior because he saw the writing on the wall.
The team finished 2-8. It was heartbreaking to watch.
The final game against Simon Fraser wasn't just a game; it was an exorcism of decades of tradition. Fans showed up in the pouring rain. They stood in the mud. They cheered for a team that they knew wouldn't exist on Monday morning. There’s a specific kind of mourning that happens when a sports team dies. It's not like losing a championship where you can say "wait until next year." There is no next year.
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The Ripple Effect on the GNAC
The death of Humboldt State University football didn't just hurt Arcata. It nearly crippled the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. When Humboldt dropped out, it left the conference with only a handful of football-playing members. This forced the remaining schools, like Central Washington and Western Oregon, to play "home and home" series against the same teams just to fill a schedule. Eventually, the GNAC football alignment collapsed entirely, forcing these schools to affiliate with the Lone Star Conference in Texas.
Imagine being a student-athlete in Monmouth, Oregon, and having to fly to Wichita Falls, Texas, for a "conference" game. That is the direct legacy of Humboldt’s program ending. It destabilized the entire West Coast Division II ecosystem.
Misconceptions About the "Save the Jacks" Campaign
A lot of people think the community didn't care enough to save the team. That’s a total lie.
The "Save Humboldt Football" boosters were some of the most organized, passionate people you’ll ever meet. They raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in small increments. $20 here, $50 there. It was a blue-collar effort. The problem was never a lack of passion; it was a lack of an endowment.
Modern college football is an arms race. To compete, you need more than just a dedicated fan base. You need corporate sponsors, massive TV contracts, and a university administration that views athletics as a "front porch" for the institution. Humboldt’s leadership at the time shifted their vision away from that model. They wanted to lean into the "polytechnic" identity—focusing on STEM, forestry, and environmental science.
The Redwood Bowl Today
If you visit the Redwood Bowl now, it’s still there. It’s a beautiful facility. It’s used for track and field, soccer, and recreational sports. But the energy is different.
The stadium was built in a natural depression in the land, which makes the acoustics incredible. When 6,000 people were in there screaming, it sounded like 60,000. Now, it’s mostly quiet. It’s one of the most picturesque places in America to watch a game, but the "Big Game" atmosphere has been replaced by the rhythmic thumping of joggers on the track.
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Is a Comeback Possible?
People ask this all the time. "Could they bring it back?"
Technically, yes. Practically? It’s almost impossible. To restart a football program from scratch in 2026 would require an initial investment of millions. You need a coaching staff, a recruiting budget, equipment, and insurance. Title IX requirements mean you’d also have to add corresponding women’s sports to balance the scholarship count.
Given that Cal Poly Humboldt is currently trying to build more housing and expand its science labs, football is nowhere on the priority list. It’s a closed chapter.
What This Means for the Future of Small-College Sports
The story of Humboldt State University football is a cautionary tale for every small DII and DIII school in the country. It proves that tradition doesn't pay the bills.
If you're a fan of a small-college team, you have to support them now. Buy the tickets. Donate to the booster club. The "Humboldt scenario" happens when a program becomes a luxury instead of a necessity. Once the administration decides that the cost-per-student is too high, the axe falls fast.
Moving Forward: How to Honor the Legacy
If you're a former player or a fan who still misses those Saturday afternoons under the redwoods, there are a few ways to keep the history alive:
- Support the Hall of Fame: The Humboldt Athletics Hall of Fame still recognizes football legends. Keep those stories active.
- Follow the Alumni: Watch guys like Alex Cappa. Their success is a direct reflection of the coaching and culture that existed in Arcata.
- Preserve the Media: There are archives of game footage and photos at the university library. Digitizing these is a massive service to the community.
- Stay Vocal: Continue to advocate for strong athletic programs in the CCAA (California Collegiate Athletic Association). Even without football, the Lumberjacks still compete in basketball, soccer, and softball. They need that same energy.
Humboldt State University football was a gritty, beautiful anomaly in the world of college sports. It was a place where "lumberjack" wasn't just a mascot, but a description of the playing style. It’s gone, but for those who stood in the Redwood Bowl during a rainstorm to watch a goal-line stand, it’ll never truly be forgotten. The echoes are still there. You just have to listen for them.