American college football season
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 .
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 .
Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 17 1:30 pm at Washington * L 7–1955,360 [ 7]
September 24 12:30 pm at Montana State L 10–24 9,500 [ 8]
October 1 1:30 pm Pacific (CA) * W 28–712,500 [ 9]
October 8 12:30 pm at Idaho State W 27–20 7,000 [ 10]
October 15 1:30 pm at Oregon State * L 7–1416,141 [ 11] [ 12]
October 22 1:30 pm Washington State * L 7–1416,500 [ 1] [ 2]
October 29 12:30 pm vs. Oregon * L 7–2811,500 [ 13] [ 14]
November 5 1:30 pm at San Jose State * L 7–2116,200 [ 15]
November 12 1:30 pm Montana W 40–6 5,500 [ 16]
November 19 1:30 pm Weber State Neale Stadium Moscow, Idaho W 42–12 4,800 [ 4] [ 5] [ 6]
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]
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]
Four Vandal seniors were selected in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft , the first common draft , which lasted 17 rounds (445 selections).
Three seniors were previously selected as future picks in the 1966 NFL draft , which lasted 20 rounds (305 selections).
^ a b Missildine, Harry (October 23, 1966). "Glen Shaw's sprint defeats Vandals" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports.
^ a b Wilson, Mike (October 23, 1966). "WSU scores twice in fourth quarter to beat Idaho" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 12.
^ Spoerhase, Jim (October 24, 1966). "Rally by Cougars trips Idaho 14-7" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . Washington. p. 17.
^ a b Payne, Bob (November 20, 1966). "Ray McDonald caps year" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports.
^ a b Wilson, Mike (November 20, 1966). "Inspired Idaho Vandals topple Weber State 42-12" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 10.
^ a b "Big Mac explodes in Idaho finale" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . Washington. November 21, 1966. p. 14.
^ Payne, Bob (September 18, 1966). "Hot Huskies top Idaho in opener" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports.
^ "Upended Vandals to face Pacific" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . Washington. September 26, 1966. p. 17.
^ Wilson, Mike (October 2, 1966). "McDonald's 80-yard TD run aids Vandals' victory" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 12.
^ "Idaho defeats Idaho State 27-20" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. Associated Press. October 9, 1966. p. 15.
^ Hoefflin, Walter (October 16, 1966). "Preece sparks OSU's victory" . Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon. p. 1B.
^ "Oregon State Beavers nip inspired Idaho Vandals 14-7" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. Associated Press. October 16, 1966. p. 8.
^ Uhrhammer, Jerry (October 30, 1966). "Ducks ignite, blast Idaho" . Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon. p. 1B.
^ Payne, Bob (October 29, 1966). "Beavers rip Cougars; Idaho falls" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports.
^ Payne, Bob (November 6, 1966). "San Jose bombs way past Idaho" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports.
^ Payne, Bob (November 13, 1966). "It's Ray over Montana" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. p. 1, sports.
^ "WSU pins hopes on untried soph" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). October 21, 1966. p. 15.
^ Payne, Bob (October 22, 1966). "Name of game is 'Knock': Cougs, Vandals make war" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. 10.
^ "Big Sky selects 6 Idaho gridders" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). December 1, 1966. p. 33.
^ a b "Six Vandals on all-opponent Big Sky team" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). December 2, 1966. p. 16.
^ "Ray McDonald selected for second team" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). Associated Press. December 9, 1966. p. 17.
^ "Pro scouts tab McDonald best" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). December 6, 1966. p. 10.
^ "McDonald reportedly receives $750,000 offer from Canada" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). December 9, 1966. p. 16.
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