1966 Idaho Vandals football team

The 1966 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Steve Musseau and played a second season in the Big Sky Conference, but remained in the NCAA University Division. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one home game in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.

1966 Idaho Vandals football
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
Record4–6 (3–1 Big Sky)
Head coach
Captains
Home stadiumNeale Stadium
Seasons
← 1965
1967 →
1966 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Montana State $^ 4 0 0 8 3 0
Idaho 3 1 0 4 6 0
Weber State 2 2 0 6 3 0
Idaho State 1 3 0 3 6 0
Montana 0 4 0 1 8 0
  • $ – Conference champion

Led on the field by quarterbacks John Foruria and Steve Garman and senior fullback Ray McDonald, the Vandals were 4–6 overall and 3–1 in conference play. Idaho nearly won the Battle of the Palouse with neighbor Washington State for the third straight year, but lost 14–7 in the chilly mud at Neale Stadium after giving up two late touchdowns.[1][2][3] It remains the last time the rivalry was played in the state of Idaho; the Vandals dropped fourteen straight to the Cougars until consecutive wins in 1999 and 2000.

McDonald rushed for 255 yards in the season finale against Weber State and led the NCAA for the season with 1,329 yards.[4][5][6] He was the thirteenth overall selection in the 1967 NFL Draft, the highest-ever for a Vandal, taken by the Washington Redskins.

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 171:30 pmat Washington*L 7–1955,360[7]
September 2412:30 pmat Montana StateL 10–24  9,500[8]
October 11:30 pmPacific (CA)* W 28–712,500[9]
October 812:30 pmat Idaho StateW 27–20  7,000[10]
October 151:30 pmat Oregon State*L 7–1416,141[11][12]
October 221:30 pmWashington State*
L 7–1416,500[1][2]
October 2912:30 pmvs. Oregon*L 7–2811,500[13][14]
November 51:30 pmat San Jose State*L 7–2116,200[15]
November 121:30 pmMontana
W 40–6  5,500[16]
November 191:30 pmWeber State
  • Neale Stadium
  • Moscow, Idaho
W 42–12  4,800[4][5][6]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • All times are in Pacific time

Roster

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1966 Idaho Vandals football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 10 John Foruria (C) Sr
QB 14 Paul Gentle Jr
QB, P 16 Joe Rodriguez Sr
QB 18 Steve Garman So
E 20 Jerry Skaife Sr
WB 22 Joe McCollum Sr
FB 32 Ray McDonald Sr
WB, PK 36 Darrell Danielson Jr
FB 40 Art Chubb
WB 43 Jim Pearsall So
HB 44 Butch Slaughter Sr
C 51 Gary Atkinson So
C 55 Bob Skuse Sr
OL 61 Karl Kleinkopf Jr
RG 65 Bob McCray Jr
LG 67 Steve Ulrich Jr
OL 71 Jim Thiemens Jr
OL 72 Brian Evans Jr
LT 79 Gary Grove So
WR 81 Rich Toney Jr
OL 82 Bill Bufton Sr
TE 83 Tim Lavens Sr
WR 88 Manny Murrell So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
S 11 Jerry Ahlin Sr
DB 20 Pat Davidson Jr
CB 21 Dick Nelson So
DB 24 Byron Strickland Jr
CB 27 Kenny Dotson So
DB 34 John Shelt Jr
DB 38 Gayle Young Jr
DB 42 Rob Young So
DB 45 Rob Woodward
LB 50 Al Busby Sr
DT 60 John Daniel Sr
LB 63 LaVerle Pratt Sr
LB 66 Ron Porter (C) Sr
DT 70 Gary Fitzpatrick Sr
MG 73 Tom Carson So
DL 74 Vic Mann Jr
DT 75 Dick Arndt Sr
DT 78 Bud Fernandez Sr
DE, KR 80 Ray Miller Sr
DE 85 Tom Stephens Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 16 Joe Rodriguez Sr
PK 36 Darrell Danielson Jr
KR 80 Ray Miller Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Herb Adams (OB)
  • Walt Anderson (OL)
  • Billy Hughes (DB)
  • Jack Jacobsen (LB)
  • John G. Smith (DL)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt
Source:[17][18]

All-conference

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Fullback Ray McDonald was a unanimous selection to the all-conference team, joined by guard Steve Ulrich, center Bob Skuse, defensive end Tom Stephens, middle guard Dick Arndt, and linebacker Ron Porter.[19][20] Second team (honorable mention) picks were guard Bob McCray, tackle Gary Fitzpatrick, tight end Tim Lavens, quarterback Steve Garman, defensive tackles John Daniel and Ray Miller, linebacker Jerry Ahlin, and defensive backs Byron Strickland and John Foruria.[20]

McDonald was a second-team All-American (AP, UPI, NEA),[21] and a first team selection by the Sporting News and Time.[22][23]

NFL draft

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Four Vandal seniors were selected in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft, the first common draft, which lasted 17 rounds (445 selections).

Player Position Round Overall Franchise
Ray McDonald RB 1st 13 Washington Redskins
Ron Porter LB 5th 126 Baltimore Colts
John Foruria QB 8th 192 Pittsburgh Steelers
Tim Lavens TE 9th 212 New Orleans Saints

Three seniors were previously selected as future picks in the 1966 NFL draft, which lasted 20 rounds (305 selections).

Player Position Round Overall Franchise
Dick Arndt DT 5th 77 Los Angeles Rams
Ray Miller DE 7th 108 Green Bay Packers
LaVerle Pratt LB 14th 210 St. Louis Cardinals

References

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  1. ^ a b Missildine, Harry (October 23, 1966). "Glen Shaw's sprint defeats Vandals". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports.
  2. ^ a b Wilson, Mike (October 23, 1966). "WSU scores twice in fourth quarter to beat Idaho". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 12.
  3. ^ Spoerhase, Jim (October 24, 1966). "Rally by Cougars trips Idaho 14-7". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 17.
  4. ^ a b Payne, Bob (November 20, 1966). "Ray McDonald caps year". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports.
  5. ^ a b Wilson, Mike (November 20, 1966). "Inspired Idaho Vandals topple Weber State 42-12". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 10.
  6. ^ a b "Big Mac explodes in Idaho finale". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. November 21, 1966. p. 14.
  7. ^ Payne, Bob (September 18, 1966). "Hot Huskies top Idaho in opener". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports.
  8. ^ "Upended Vandals to face Pacific". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. September 26, 1966. p. 17.
  9. ^ Wilson, Mike (October 2, 1966). "McDonald's 80-yard TD run aids Vandals' victory". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 12.
  10. ^ "Idaho defeats Idaho State 27-20". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. October 9, 1966. p. 15.
  11. ^ Hoefflin, Walter (October 16, 1966). "Preece sparks OSU's victory". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. p. 1B.
  12. ^ "Oregon State Beavers nip inspired Idaho Vandals 14-7". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. October 16, 1966. p. 8.
  13. ^ Uhrhammer, Jerry (October 30, 1966). "Ducks ignite, blast Idaho". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. p. 1B.
  14. ^ Payne, Bob (October 29, 1966). "Beavers rip Cougars; Idaho falls". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports.
  15. ^ Payne, Bob (November 6, 1966). "San Jose bombs way past Idaho". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports.
  16. ^ Payne, Bob (November 13, 1966). "It's Ray over Montana". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports.
  17. ^ "WSU pins hopes on untried soph". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). October 21, 1966. p. 15.
  18. ^ Payne, Bob (October 22, 1966). "Name of game is 'Knock': Cougs, Vandals make war". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 10.
  19. ^ "Big Sky selects 6 Idaho gridders". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). December 1, 1966. p. 33.
  20. ^ a b "Six Vandals on all-opponent Big Sky team". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). December 2, 1966. p. 16.
  21. ^ "Ray McDonald selected for second team". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 9, 1966. p. 17.
  22. ^ "Pro scouts tab McDonald best". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). December 6, 1966. p. 10.
  23. ^ "McDonald reportedly receives $750,000 offer from Canada". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). December 9, 1966. p. 16.
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