NARCIZO CHICO MENDOZA, 56, died in Oakland, CA, on
June 8, 1991. He was born March 18, 1935 in Ranger,
TX to Trinidad Camacho & Paschal Mendoza. He attended
Ranger High School in the Class of 1954. He was All
State end on the 1953 State Champion Team. Chico
received a football scholarship to TCU and played on
the winning team in the Cotton Bowl in 1957 when TCU
defeated Syracuse 28-27. Chico became a coach later.
His sister was Julia Mendoza Rodriguez (RHS-1963).
Chico Mendoza played end at TCU in 1956 and 1957,
earning two varsity letters. Written in the 1957 TCU
media guide...#88 Chico Mendoza, 6-2, 200, Senior
Hero of the 1957 Cotton Bowl game...when he blocked
Jim Brown's third extra point try, eventually giving
Frogs 28-27 victory over Syracuse...also made three
straight stops to halt Rice's long final drive to
preserve Purple victory at Houston...ranked along
with best in SWC to defensive ability...started 1956
season at left end but switched when John Nikkel was
injured...is fine blocker but only fair receiver ...
was holdout sophomore year, so has two years eligibility
remaining...one of most aggressive players on squad...
earned four letters at Ranger High and was all-state
selection on 2A-state championship team...likes to
hunt and fish...physical education major.
N. Mendoza, hero for TCU at Cotton Bowl By Melody Ryall
Dateline: June 13, 1991 Fort Worth Star Telegram
Narcizo "Chico" Mendoza of Oakland, California, the
football player and defensive left end credited with
blocking an extra point to secure Texas Christian
University's win in the 1958 Cotton Bowl Classic,
has died after a year long battle with cancer.
Mr. Mendoza, a coach for the Berkeley, Calif. school
district, died Sunday in Oakland. He was 56. Burial
will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Ranger, TX.
Mr. Mendoza was born in Ranger, Eastland County, and
attended Ranger schools, where he made the 1953 All
State football team.
Mr Mendoza's football abilities garnered a four-year
scholarship to TCU, and in 1958, when TCU beat Syracuse
in the Cotton Bowl, 28-27, it was Mr. Mendoza who blocked
the extra point that would have tied the game.
Survivors: wife, Bobby Mendoza of Oakland, Calif.;
daughter, Monica Garland of Fort Worth; mother, Trinidad
Mendoza of Ranger, four brothers, Robert Reynosa of San
Diego, Arthur Mendoza of Garland, and Paul & Rudy Mendoza
of Fort Worth; three sisters, Lydia Wylie of Abilene and
Wilma and Julia Rodriquez of Fort Worth; and two grand-
children."
I don't know whether you know it, but Jim Brown, the famous
pro-player for the Cleveland Browns and subsequent infamous
movie star played for Syracuse and scored all four Syracuse
touchdowns and would have kicked all four extra points if
Chico hadn't blocked the fourth one.
Chico Mendoza Scholarship