Message Board

Tribute To Joe

Good evening. With the blessing of Steve, who created this wonderful site, I have made a tribute to Joe. You can view it at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61929400 if you like, you may register, and leave virtual flowers and thoughts for Joe. I am seeking info about Joes final resting place, so I can complete the page. If you can help, I would be greatful if you could email me at jack31961@yahoo.com Thank You.

Miss you Joe.....

From time to time I will search out Joe on the internet and read articles that fill my heart with joy and yes, sadness. I miss Joe very much.I knew Joe back to out elementary school days. I was fortunate to call him my friend. I played Little League with Joe, the most humble, All Star you would ever want to be around. Catching him when he was 12, throwing a no hitter, playing basball and football in high school with him. Then being on and playing with him in Junior College where we were State Champions in football. All that is nice, but I remember him for the person he was. The impact he had on all of us... I am 56 yrs old right now and would have loved to been sitting over at Joe's sipping some ice tea talking about the old times now. But that has to wait til we see each other again. God Bless you brother, keep tossing those touchdowns in heaven. Miss you Joe...

1976 Season Memories

I attended the University of Georgia in 1976 and remember how great Joe Roth was as a QB that year. I remember how hearing of his death affected the men on our football squad there at UGA. Tonight I decided to Google "Cal QB 1976 Season" and discovered Joe Roth's name and was astonished to see that his jersey was retired, there are memorials in his name, etc. It is so wonderful to realize that his memory and fame live on and lives are still being affected by his too short of a life here on Earth. Living in the South I had no idea how much has been done in his memory! I am so happy to know that he has never been forgotten, even by me who never met him. I hope this message gets to his family and they realize that he had an impact on so many of us that remember him from that 1976 season. I'm so sorry for your loss.

still inspired by Joe Roth's story

i am an east coast 47 year old lover of life and of football. I still remember learning about Joe Roth's incredible story and life one late evening watching a segment on college football which featured Joe Roth with 'Miracles' by Jefferson Starship playing and seeing the incredible courage displayed by Joe. It changed my outlook and perspective on life at such an early age. i became so grateful for all that i had and have never taken anything for granted and have embraced each day as a gift. I especially came to fall in love with the game of football. although i had played from age 9, i never realized what a gift it was to be a part of such a special game. i was fotunate to continue to play in high school and in college although i was not even close to the player that Joe was. Even though i was nothing more than a scout team player at Rutgers, my gratitude to have played the game was there. i would think of Joe Roth anytime the Jefferson Starship played on the radio and i always told the Joe Roth story. i was blessed to coach football and be involved with the great game for 3 decades and even today in my career as an athletic administrator at a New Jersey high school it continues to consume me. when my son was born i was sure that he would be a Rutgers fan and would someday play football. to my surprise he announced at age 5 he was a Cal fan and played soccer until the 8th grade. i am living a dream now watching him play good football as a high school freshman. we speak often of the life lessons taught by football and we have spoken of Joe Roth and how each day and each play-is something special. Thanks Joe for bestowing your wisdom on us

If Only You Believe In Miracles

It just doesn't seem possible that Joe has been gone for nearly 35 years! As a former professional football scout, I have seen few before or after with his skill set and none who carried himself with more class and dignity. Each time I read the words to the poem Maud Muller by John Greenleaf Whittier, I will forever think of this remarkable young athlete, who left this world far to soon. "For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'.

The great Joe Roth

Thank you so much for this site!!!! When I was a boy I remember Joe Roth; I loved Cal because of him. I had to do two book reports; I did one on the Raiders winning the Super Bowl, and one on Joe. To this day I can't believe someone so young had so much courage and poise. I think that Joe is what is right with college sports and life. Gifted, caring, selfless, and full of class.

Handsome & Remarkable Human Being....

I have just heard of him from a book I had just received today called The College Football Handbook 1977 Edition. They had a short story about him in there and I read it. Sounds like he was a very remarkable human being (and also, was very handsome too, if I might add, lol!). I enjoyed reading about him. I hope they make a movie about him one of these days, very soon. I'd like to see that someday. RIP, Joe...

My tribute to Joe

Thankyou so much for having this website! I became a big Joe Roth fan over 30 years ago when I saw him for the first time in the fall of '75 in a game against SC which Cal had won. I was so amazed at how this virtually unknown QB had suddently achieved national acclaim. I just recently read the book written by his mom. Wow, what an incredibly inspiring book. Good bless JR, his family and all those who took care of him during his illness; may he rest in peace, He's a modern day Saint!

Heck of a quarterback!

I saw Joe Roth play a number of times, although I have to admit that I was not rooting for him at the time (Stanford, '79). But he was a heck of a quarterback and I'm glad to see him memorialized.

Joe Roth is an inspiration

I have shown the information on this website to my 9yo son, Alex, and he has a better appreciation of why Cal has a "Joe Roth game" every year. I never get tired of informing people who don't know about Joe. Last year, before the Joe Roth game, I sent the link to this website to Ted Miller and he posted it on his ESPN Pac-10 blog! Last year, my son wanted and received a Joe Roth 12 jersey for his birthday and wore it for his school pictures! Joe Roth is an icon and a role model. Go Bears!

My sons Alex, with Joe Roth jersey, and Morgan Garcia

Joe was funny

Joe and I became familiar with each other while competing in varsity sports. Joe was a three sport star at Granite Hills High while I played football and baseball at rival Santana High School. Participating in football while lining up against each other (Joe at quarterback and me playing middle linebacker), were memorable games with Granite Hills always being victorious........it still stings! Joe was funny during battle with a very relaxed and kidding demeanor. Engaging in a varsity baseball game, Joe stepped into the batters box (I was the catcher) and was quite chatty. He would tease "how you gonna get me out this time Saska?" I would respond "you can't hit" and then he would rope a line drive double to right center. I liked Joe from our first minute of competition. Following high school, Joe and I became close friends at Grossmont College. In our sophomore season (1974) we achieved perfection by becoming California State Champs with an undefeated season. Having similar leadership qualities led us to being season long team captains of both offense and defense. I cherished walking at Joe's side to the center of the gridiron prior to each game. Standing arm in arm before kickoff was such a thrill, I knew how special each "coin toss" was. Joe wanted me to make the "heads or tails" call and always let me do it. He'd humorously say "you call it Saska..........you know everything"! Deep down Joe was greater than needing the pre-game thrill. His enjoyment came from watching me passionately doing so. This was Joe Roth, he was bigger than life. Tom Saska Teammate & Friend

Joe Roth/Pete Sitta and Kip's

My freshman year (1974) at CAL in lived in the dorms at Norton Hall. In the spring quarter 1975, Pete Sitta, who became CAL's starting middle linebacker in 1975, moved into Norton along with the guy who would be CAL's punter the next 2 years. Turns out Pete was friends with Joe Roth from their JC days in San Diego. Pete and Joe went to rival schools. The first week on that quarter, Pete invited me along with Joe and several other CAL FB players to go out to Kip's for dinner and to drink some beer. I met Joe and of course didn't know who he was or what he would evntually become as a QB at CAL. I remember him as a very nice, quiet and humble guy. I enjoyed watching him as CAL's QB in 1975 and almost taking us to the Rose Bowl that year. Another memory I have of him was being able to watch him and the CAL FB team practice on the field behind Harmon gym, which was also CAL's BB field. I had a class in Harmon in the afternoon during the FB season and could see what an absolute stud he was throwing balls in practice. I count myself lucky to have met such a nice guy and great QB. It is still one of my fondest memories of my days at CAL. Of course, when he passed, I was quite sad. I will always be a Joe Roth and CAL fan. Thanks Joe, GO BEARS!!!!!

John Ramirez

I am one of the lucky persons to have met Joe prior to a game at the Los Angeles Coliseum. My best friend Ed Duncan knew Allen Saunders, Joe's coach 1976-1977. It was late in the season and you could tell Joe was in pain. He went out and played a great game. The following year, both Ed and I and our family attended the first Joe Roth Memorial. If you were there it was a glorious day, one that I am sure Joe ordered up for all of us.

Team Mate Mom

Joe was such and inspiration at Granite Hills. Everything just looked so natural. Joe was a tall, skinny ,long legged young man , but he had strength and he could deliver that football. My son, Jimmie Johnson(not the Nascar one) played with Joe along with Mike Ortega, and Don Kramer. That is when I started to really enjoy football. They were exciting to watch.My son made the first touchdown his freshman year.Joe was a leader and we certainly lost One of a kind in him. My family was at Granite recently when they retired his # 12 jersey. Our grandson plays there. It was quite emotional for me because our son Jimmie is also deceased. But we can all cherish the early memories of our sons and be extremely proud. I am positive had Joe lived he would have been one of the greatest professional Quarterbacks of all time.I knew when his nephew walked on the field as part of the retirement ceremony, he was a Roth. His hair, his face, the way he walked. His family can rest assured that Joe will always be remembered at Granite Hills with Love, and the fondest memories. He is still missed. A Mom that remembers. Shirley Johnson

Joe and Tom Roth

I am a UCLA grad and football fan and am honored to share my thoughts of Joe Roth just hours before todays kickoff of the Joe Roth Memorial Game between UCLA and Cal. I watched many of Joe's games when I was an undergrad at UCLA and later when I attended Univ. of San Francisco Law School. Joe was quite simply the best college quarterback I have ever seen--then, and now. He was graceful and fluid in the pocket. His footwork and delivery were impeccable. Beyond that, he was the true definition of a student-athlete. I grew up in Eastern Washington state and was a WSU Cougar fan in my youth. My father and I would drive 2 hours to Pullman and Spokane on autumn Saturdays to watch our beloved Cougars. I remember Tom Roth who quarterbacked the Cougars to an improbable 7 and 3 record in 1965 and were nicknamed the cardiac kids who were coached by Bert Clark. Years later I wondered if Joe and Tom were brothers. Today, over 31 years later, I have that answer thanks to this website. I thank Cal for keeping Joe's legacy as vibrant today as it was over 30 years ago. He remains a hero and a role model.