SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- The USF Dons athletics family is saddened to acknowledge the passing of former USF baseball and football player Joseph "LaLa" Arenivar last week at the age of 88.
A native of Pittsburg, Calif., Arenivar earned a football scholarship from USF through his tremendous athletic talent and was a member of the famed 1951 Dons football team that refused an offer to play in the Orange Bowl because they wouldn't allow the team's African American athletes to compete.
Following the strong and decisive actions from Arenivar and his teammates on behalf of their fellow Dons, the university bestowed every member of the team with a Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters which helped began LaLa's lifelong pursuit of equal rights for all.