Front past to present: Reviving College of Idaho football by APG-West (Idaho Press)

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FITTING CULTURE As football returned, preserving the campus culture was a concern...................................5 ALL-TIME COACHES Career records for Yotes football coaches.............................................................................7 2014 SCHEDULE Six road games, five home games.......................................................................................8 1905 FOOTBALL President Teddy Roosevelt nearly abolished football across the nation..............................9 1964 VS. 2014 The Yotes' brass made major changes to the complex opened by J.R. Simplot.................10 CHANGES IN MEDIA From the 1917 program to the 2014 radio deal with KTIK................................................11 THE MODEL COYOTE R.C. Owens' legendary status still reverberates in Caldwell..............................................13 FAMOUS ALUMNI Governor Butch Otter and Robert Smylie both played for the Yotes..................................17 1953 SEASON Five Associated Press Little All-Americans earned a berth to an NCAA bowl game ��18 35 YEARS LATER, MARV HENBERG MAKES REINSTATEMENT POSSIBLE Program that disbanded in 1977 comes back in May of 2012...........................................21 MOROSKI HIRED The 17th coach in program history is hired in January of 2013.........................................24

HISTORIC SIGNATURE Eagle High's Lenhardt inks first letter of intent since 1977...............................................25 ECONOMIC BOOST Rebirth of football creates an estimated $3.2 million in annual spending.......................27 SEASON OF PRACTICES 55 players enjoy "Year Zero": No games, all practices.......................................................29 SPRING SCRIMMAGE Fans flood perimeter of Symms Field as season draws closer...........................................31 MEET YOUR COYOTES Mug shots, numbers, size and hometowns of 105 players................................................32

REVIVING COLLEGE OF IDAHO FOOTBALL IS A MAGAZINE PRODUCED BY THE IDAHO PRESS-TRIBUNE Coordinated by sports writer Bruce Mason Designed by Sara Wren and Bruce Mason n Cover designed by News and Design Editor Randy Lavorante, Multimedia Editor Greg Kreller and Sara Wren n Historical imagery courtesy of The College of Idaho n New photographs by photographer Adam Eschbach and Multimedia Editor Greg Kreller n n

Table of Contents

From past to present: Reviving College of Idaho football

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fitting culture By JORDAN RODRIGUEZ

College of Idaho communications

ne of the primary concerns raised by the College of Idaho students, faculty, alumni and staff when football was reinstated on May 14, 2012: What potential impact will the sport have on the school’s academic focus and tight-knit campus community? Coyotes athletic director Marty Holly stressed the need for student-athletes who were a good fit for the college. His No. 1 concern for hiring a coach: Does he understand the culture and fit the mission? “We believe there are a lot of good football players out there who also are interested in the highquality education and tight-knit community the college offers," Holly said in the summer 2012 edition of Quest Magazine. Football brought 107 students to the C of I, increasing enrollment by 10 percent or more.

 Continued, page 6 Halftime takes place in 1962 at Hayman Field, which occupied the area now called Symms Field. One end zone was near Kirkpatrick This story has been updated and edited from the original version. Gymnasium (now the McCain Center) and the other end zone was near the new Marty Holly Athletics Center.

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Culture Alumnus Ed “Buzz” Bonaminio, who played football for the Coyotes and later coached the team between 1965 and 1971, doesn’t believe football players deserve the reputation they often receive. “The guys you see on TV, getting into trouble at the big universities, that’s not football at the College of Idaho,” Bonaminio said. “When I played and coached, football was a very important part of the college. It provided opportunities for players to get a great education at a great school. It played a very important role in a lot of lives, and now that’s going to happen again.” Current students voiced a variety of opinions on both sides of the argument, and preserving the C of I culture was at the top of their list of priorities. But many, including theatre major Taylor Hawker, feel football will only add to the diverse, fun-loving atmosphere on campus. “I think it’s a great idea,” Hawker said to Quest Magazine in the summer 2012 edition. “I think it will add a new life to campus. Football games will give us a place where we can join together as Yotes, have some fun and increase school spirit, which is something that really could use a boost.” Football received a rousing vote of support from the C of I faculty, which unanimously passed a referendum in support of football prior to the board vote. Longtime political economy professor Kerry Hunter said he understands why some students and alumni have reservations — he wasn’t convinced football was a good idea until recently — but he believes the administration can carry out its plan while preserving the things that make the college special. “Inside that referendum are expectations that we will maintain our same culture, but we as a faculty really believe we can do it," Hunter said to Quest. "We’re not afraid for a moment that bringing football to campus is going to change who we are.” History professor Steve Maughan echoed those sentiments, pointing to the success the college has had integrating other sports such as baseball and softball over the years. “Those teams have become a big part of our campus,” Maughan said. “Students don’t change the College of Idaho — the College of Idaho changes students.”

“

I think it will add a new life to campus. Football games will give us a place where we can join together as Yotes. TAYLOR HAWKER, former College of Idaho theatre student

| Sunday, September 7, 2014

This is the 1939-40 College of Idaho pep band.

CAREER RECORDS Rushing Yards Steve Douglas Thomas Winbigler Rick Jensen Ted Martin Bruce DeGroat Rich Maggard Passing Yards Lon Troxell Charlie Alvaro Don Anderson Boyd Crawford Bill Cunningham Dave McAnaney Completions Lon Troxell Charlie Alvaro Don Anderson Bill Cunningham Kim Hall

2,430 2,360 1,686 1,262 1,182 1,043

1973-76 1948-49 1969-72 1953 1966-69 1957

3,512 3,499 1,760 1,462 1,226 1,027

1966-69 1956-59 1974-75 1953 1960-63 1974-77

306 247 162 151 94

1966-69 1956-59 1974-75 1960-63 1971-72

Dave McAnaney Pass Attempts Lon Troxell Charlie Alvaro Bill Cunningham Dave McAnaney Don Anderson Kim Hall Touchdown Passes Charlie Alvaro Lon Troxell Boyd Crawford Kim Hall Interceptions Thrown Lon Troxell Charlie Alvaro Bill Cunningham Kim Hall Dave McAnaney Don Anderson Receiving Yards R.C. Owens

1974-77

679 485 357 341 327 230

1966-69 1956-59 1960-63 1974-77 1974-75 1971-72

28 26 21 11

1956-59 1966-69 1953 1971-72

67 41 34 22 19 18

1966-69 1956-59 1960-63 1971-72 1974-77 1974-75

1,609

1952-54

Cisco Limbago Barrett Anderson Tom Schnebeck Ken Leonard Tony English Darrell Young Receptions Barrett Anderson Cisco Limbago Tom Schnebeck R.C. Owens Ken Leonard Darrell Young Tony English Touchdown Receptions R.C. Owens Interceptions Rick Candaele

1,328 1,269 1,168 1,130 1,035 818

1968-71 1972-75 1972-75 1959-61 1968-71 1975-77

102 84 83 81 80 73 71

1972-75 1968-71 1972-75 1952-54 1959-61 1975-77 1968-71

1952-54

1966-68

*Records are available from 1957-77, according to the College of Idaho athletic department

INDIVIDUAL SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS Carries Rushing Yards Rushing Touchdowns Pass Attempts Completions Passing Yards Interceptions Thrown Touchdown Passes Receptions Receiving Yards Receiving Touchdowns Interceptions (Defensive) Punt Return Average Kickoff Return Average Punt Average Extra Points Made Field Goals Made

200 1,262 15 227 112 1,485 23 21 44 905 8 8 22.1 30.6 39.0 28 6

Rich Jensen Ted Martin Rich Maggard Lon Troxell Charlie Alvaro Charlie Alvaro Lon Troxell Boyd Crawford R.C. Owens R.C. Owens Jack Kennevick Dexter Bell Rick Candaele Gary Evans Dell Smith Charlie Alvaro Jeff Harris

1972 1953 1957 1969 1958 1958 1967 1953 1954 1954 1953 1976 1967 1971 1960 1959 1973

Students and alumni prepare for homecoming festivities and hang a banner on College Heights Station, also known as 'The Hat.' The photo is from the 1950s, according to school archivist Jan Boles.

Ed Bonaminio

Eddie Cole

Sam Vokes

All time Yotes Coaching Records Coach Anson Cornell Clem Parberry Babe Brown R.D. Kyle Ed Bonaminio Loren Basler Sam Vokes Ed Troxell

Anson Cornell

Record 55-36-4 46-31-6 26-38-2 21-17-3 20-40-2 16-8-2 15-3-0 15-14-0

Win pct. .600 .590 .409 .549 .339 .654 .833 .517

Years 1916-32 1938-50 1958-64 1908-13 1965-71 1933-35 1953-54 1955-57

Eddie Cole C. McCormick Rod Sears Pat Page Ed Knecht Sam Ballentyne H.R. Cleaver Harry Hayman

12-5-1 11-4-3 11-25-0 7-8-2 3-13-1 2-1-2 2-1-3 1-3-0

.722 .694 .306 .471 .206 .600 .583 .250

1951-52 1914-16 1972-75 1936-37 1976-77 1905 1907 1906

All Time Coaches

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PACIFIC, Sept. 6, 2 p.m. Forest Grove, Oregon

ROCKY MOUNTAIN, Oct. 18, 1 p.m. Billings, Montana

MONTANA WESTERN, Sept. 13, 1 p.m. Simplot Stadium

SOUTHERN OREGON, Oct. 25, 1 p.m. Simplot Stadium

SOUTHERN OREGON, Sept. 20, 2 p.m. Ashland, Oregon

MONTANA WESTERN, Nov. 11, 1 p.m. Dillon, Montana

MONTANA TECH, Sept. 27, 1 p.m. Simplot Stadium

EASTERN OREGON, Nov. 8, Noon Simplot Stadium

EASTERN OREGON, Oct. 4, 7 p.m. La Grande, Oregon

CARROLL COLLEGE, Nov. 15, Noon Helena, Montana

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1908

1905 and 1908 Team pictures

1905

The first official Coyote football game was played during the fall of 1905 — a time frame without a forward pass. Take a close look at the piece of equipment hanging around the necks of a few players. It's a nose guard. The strap of the guard was fastened behind the head. The player secured it to his nose by clenching his teeth on a rubber bit. But some players didn't even wear them — and why not? It was the only piece of protective equipment. These were the days before leather helmets. Dangerous? Let's put it this way: Teams would often operate the "flying wedge," a mass formation when players locked hands, form a V-shaped pattern and plowed through would-be tacklers, according to the Boston Globe. There were a high number of deaths across the country in 1905 — some sources report as many as 21. It was a crisis across the nation, a game mocked by newspaper editorials. It was such an epidemic, president Theodore Roosevelt wanted to ban college football. He didn't, but some schools still did. After the 1905 season, Stanford and California switched to rugby while Columbia, Northwestern and Duke abolished football, according to Christopher Klein of history.com. Thus, the following changes were put in place for the 1906 season, according to Aaron Gordon of deadspin.com: n The neutral zone was instituted. n Six men had to be on the line of scrimmage (there was previously no limit). n The new down and distance was three downs to gain 10 yards (instead of the old format: four to gain five yards). n Mass formations were abolished. n The forward pass was legalized (but because an incomplete pass resulted in a turnover, it was rarely used). n The game was shortened from 70 minutes to 60 minutes. By Bruce Mason

The fledgling C of I football team was named “Champion of the State of Idaho” as the Gem State’s top college squad in 1908, according to Quest Magazine in the summer 2012 edition. Sunday, September 7, 2014 |

1964 vs. 2014

By BRUCE MASON

ollege of Idaho athletic director Marty Holly believes Simplot Stadium will be an intimate atmosphere for a program that disbanded in 1977. Stadium upgrades for the 2014 season exceeded $1 million, according to former chief financial officer Petra Carver. A bulk of that cost is attributed to the FieldTurf surface, which features purple end zones that read “College of Idaho” in gold lettering, and a logo of a Coyote’s head centered across midfield. Underneath the logo in purple lettering and gold trim is “Yotes.” Holly acknowledged that an all-purple field was an idea — although it never came into fruition ala The Blue at Boise State, or the red-field surface at Eastern Washington. But, my, what a difference 50 years makes: A Daktronics scoreboard was installed along the back of the end zone near the Caldwell Night Rodeo grounds. It is 24 feet, 6 inches by 25 feet; the video display is 8 feet by 25 feet. “This is win-win for everybody in this valley,” Holly said on June 6. “Nothing but great things are going to happen from here on out.” As of June 6, the Yotes athletic department sold $130,000 worth of reserved season tickets for the fivegame home slate. In the photo above, J.R. Simplot addresses the Caldwell audience in 1964 as Simplot Stadium is officially unveiled as a multi-purpose stadium. It opened as the home for the Treasure Valley Cubs of the Pioneer League. Three years later, the College of Idaho football team moved from historic Hayman Field to the facility. The Coyotes had one winning season from 1967-77 at Simplot Stadium: In 1969, coach Ed Bonaminio posted a 5-4 record with quarterback Lon Troxell (1,377 passing yards, eight touchdowns).

B10| B10

September 7, 7, 2014 |Sunday, Sunday, September 2014

1964

2014

Change in Media

get your programs...

1917

1926

2014

1953

Yotes on ktik

College of Idaho football coach Mike Moroski addresses the media on June 6 at Simplot Stadium.

he College of Idaho athletic department announced a broadcast partnership with KTIK AM 1350 and Jon Carson Productions on June 6. It’s an agreement that provides live radio broadcasts of the Yotes 11 regular-season games, yet another piece to the proverbial puzzle that began when football was reinstated in May of 2012. “I think it does great things for the College of Idaho,” Yotes athletic director Marty Holly said. “The way it’s turning out just blows my mind. “I didn’t envision anything like this.” KTIK, which airs the Boise Hawks and Idaho Steelheads, will also stream Yotes football games on its website. Dave Tester will perform the play-by-play duties and the broadcast agreement

features pregame and postgame shows. There will be a weekly segment of “Yotes Gridiron” on KTIK 93.1 FM. Also, coach Mike Moroski will be on 1350 AM each Monday at 6 p.m. with host Mike Safford, the C of I sports information director and radio man of the Boise Hawks. “It’s a big day for KTIK,” station program director David Allen said. “We’re looking forward to an exciting year.” Holly believes the radio agreement will change recruiting in Idaho and increase the Yotes’ fan base. Moroski made a nostalgic correlation to his youthful days in California, when he listened to Los Angeles Dodgers legendary voice Vin Scully. “Radio still has a unique access to people,” Moroski said. n

By Bruce Mason Sunday, September 7, 2014 |

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The model Coyote By JORDAN RODRIGUEZ

College of Idaho communications

R.C. OWENS

n November 3, 1957, R.C. Owens jumped high into the air as he had done hundreds of times before. He didn’t know it at the time, but the leap would change Owens’ life — and forever transform the way American professional sports are played. Owens’ San Francisco 49ers trailed the Detroit Lions 31-28 that day. As the final seconds ticked away, star quarterback Y.A. Tittle reared back and launched a desperation pass from midfield. Owens, surrounded by Detroit defenders, soared above the crowd and snagged the game-winning touchdown. The play, known famously as the “Alley Oop,” would become a staple of the 49er offense and the hallmark of Owens’ eight-year NFL career. Today, the play remains a vital component of both football and basketball playbooks across the country.

 Continued, page 14

“

R.C. was ahead of his time. If he was 25-years old again and playing right now, he would be on an NFL team. He had that kind of talent." BILL KUNDRAT A1956 C of I graduate who played football and basketball with Owens

Sunday, September 7, 2014 |

B13

Owens

“It makes me very proud,” Owens said to Quest Magazine in 2010. “That play was a thrill for me because I knew we always had a chance to score, and if I made the catch, we could win the game. To this day, people call me ‘Oop,’ and it’s still very exciting for me.” Prior to his NFL career, Owens honed his athletic talents in tiny Caldwell, Idaho, as a three-sport standout at the College of Idaho. Long before he patented the Alley Oop — back when he was known as plain-old R.C. — Owens already had a habit of doing things no one had ever seen. It is a habit that stuck with him the rest of his life. “R.C. had something like a 39inch vertical leap,” said Ed “Buzz” Bonaminio, a 1956 C of I graduate and football teammate of Owens. “There weren’t too many guys doing that in those days. The jumping gave him his fame, but R.C. was just a great athlete. He could do anything.” So it seems. From his prep school

years at Santa Monica High to his C of I glory days and eight-year NFL career, Owens blazed a trail of athletic accomplishment. In 1952, he became one of the first African-American students to attend the College of Idaho. In 1956, he became the first C of I athlete to be drafted by both the NFL (49ers) and the NBA (Minneapolis Lakers). His Alley Oop catches in 1957 helped San Francisco make the playoffs for the first time. In 1958, Owens — who never played in the NBA — played six games alongside future Hall of Famers Bob Pettit, George Yardley, Cliff Hagan and Dick McGuire on the West team during an NBA All-Star tour. In 1961, Owens became the first 49ers’ receiver to record a 1,000-yard season. And in 1962, Owens became the first — and only — NFL player to block a field goal by jumping to swat the ball away in front of the uprights. The league quickly changed its rules to prevent Owens from duplicating the feat. “R.C. was ahead of his time,” said Bill Kundrat, a 1956 graduate.

 Continued, page 15

R.C. Owens goes up for a basket as Elgin Baylor (No. 15) follows the play during the 1954-55 season. Owens and Baylor and the 1954-55 Coyotes reeled off a school-record 18 straight victories inside the dank atmosphere of Kirkpatrick Gymnasium. It was Baylor's lone season in Caldwell. He played the next two years at Seattle University, and was the first pick of the 1958 NBA draft by the Minneapolis Lakers.

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Multi-talented R.C. Owens was drafted in both the NBA and NFL. “If he was 25-years old again and playing right now, he would be on an NFL team," Kundrat continued. "He had that kind of talent.” Athletes of Owens’ caliber were rare in those days, particularly at a school as small as the College of Idaho. In football, Owens’ athleticism allowed the Coyotes to play an entirely different style of offense. Most teams in the 1950s used tightlybunched formations that emphasized running rather than passing. But innovative coach Eddie Cole, who first saw Owens as a high school star in California, recruited Owens to C of I on a dual football/basketball scholarship and unleashed him as a split end, the position now

known as wide receiver. “We were running a prostyle offense back in 1952,” says Bonaminio, who returned to coach C of I football in 1965. “It gave R.C. a lot of advantages because he was taller than any of the defensive backs. He would catch the ball and outmaneuver them all the time.” Owens, who also punted and played defensive back, led the Coyotes to at least a share of four consecutive Northwest Conference football titles between 1952 and 1955, including an undefeated regular season and berth in the Refrigerator Bowl in 1953. His best individual season came as a junior, when he led the entire NAIA in receiving with 48 catches for 905 yards and

mind. R.C. made everyone around him better.” As a junior in 1954-55, Owens teamed with NBA legend Elgin Baylor to lead one of the greatest seasons in C of I history. It was Baylor’s only season at the college — he transferred to Seattle University the next year and went on to NBA greatness with the Lakers — and Owens wanted to play so badly he fought through a dislocated shoulder, an injury that ended up costing him his senior football season. “I knew we were going to have a special team,” Owens said. “Sometimes, my shoulder would go out and the coaches would have to put it back in for me. But I was inspired by Gary Mays, a teammate of ours, who only had one arm. We called him 'The Bandit.' I just decided if he could play with one arm, so could I.” Led by Baylor’s prolific scoring (he averaged 31.3 points per game, including a school-record 53 against Whitman College) and Owens’ tenacious rebounding (27.6 per game, including a school-record 37 against Linfield), the Coyotes rolled to a perfect 15-0 regular season in the Northwest Conference and a 23-4 overall finish. “I remember they ran the headline ‘Baylor, Owens, others lead College of Idaho’ in the paper,” Kundrat said. “I used to send the clip-

LIST OF FIRSTS BY R.C. OWENS He coined the play known famously as the “Alley Oop” on November 3, 1957. n In 1956, he became the first C of I athlete to be drafted by both the NFL (49ers) and the NBA (Minneapolis Lakers). n In 1961, Owens became the first 49ers’ receiver to record a 1,000-yard season. n In 1962, Owens became the first —and only — NFL player to block a field goal by jumping to swat the ball away in front of the uprights n Owens also holds the unofficial distinction of being the first receiver to wear gloves. n

pings home and say ‘Others. That’s me, Mom.’ I mean those guys had so much talent, it was unbelievable.” Word of the Coyotes’ talent spread quickly, and soon people were coming from far and wide, packing Kirkpatrick Gymnasium to catch a glimpse of Baylor, Owens and the “others.” “Fans in that era had never seen basketball played the way we played at the College of Idaho,” Owens said. “We were something to watch.” Ironically, one of the Coyotes’ most popular offensive plays was the pass-dunk combination now commonly referred to as the Alley Oop. “This was back before anyone called it the Alley Oop,” Carrow said. “But any time teams would front R.C. in the post, I would throw him the high lob pass and he would stuff it.” Owens’ talents extended beyond athletics. He was a good student who became one of the first AfricanAmericans to earn a diploma from the College of Idaho. Owens left school five credits shy of graduation to pursue his athletic career, but — thanks in part to the urging of his All-Pro quarterback, Tittle — returned and received his degree in physical education in the summer of 1958. Owens’ schoolmates describe him as an engaging, polite individual who was involved on campus and well-liked in the community. He was known for cruising around Caldwell in his purple 1941 Chevrolet, a car he had customized to fit his style and lanky frame.

Owens

was named an Associated Press Little All-American. “He was phenomenal,” Kundrat said. “We had some outstanding players, but R.C. was at the top of the list.” Owens also holds the unofficial distinction of being the first receiver to wear gloves, though his were not the tight, sticky receiving gloves worn today. “My hands were cold,” Owens says with a chuckle. “I was used to beach weather. The gloves were lined with rabbit fur, and they kept me warm. That’s the only reason I wore them.” Owens’ football exploits were equaled by his talents on the basketball court, where he averaged 20 points and 20 rebounds per game over a brilliant four-year career. Owens’ 6-foot-3 frame and tremendous leaping ability made him one of the best rebounders in college basketball. He posted a double-double in every game he ever played for the Coyotes and remains the school’s alltime leading rebounder. His 2,142 rebounds from 1953-56 shatter second-place Jared Klassen, who had 864 (199396). “In my opinion, R.C. definitely could have played professional basketball,” said Dick Carrow, who played point guard alongside Owens for two seasons. “He had it all — height, speed, jumping ability, great hands. But he also had a team frame of

 Continued, page 16 Sunday, September 7, 2014 |

B15

Owens

“R.C. was the big fish in the little pond,” Bonaminio said. “He was the hit of the town. Little kids used to come watch practice and just stare at R.C. They had never seen a black person before. But R.C. was always nice to them. He treated people right, and that’s why they loved him.” Susan Owens, R.C.’s wife of 22 years, witnessed such love years later during a class reunion. “It was very touching to see how much his college friends meant to him,” Susan Owens said to Quest Magazine in 2010. “They presented R.C. with a plaque of an old “Moody’s Mood for Love” record. He loved those songs — he sings them to this day. He gets a lot of trophies and honors, but that

one was special to me because it didn’t have anything to do with sports. It just had to do with being a friend.” Owens also had at least one hidden talent, one that served him well when he tried out for — and made — the cheerleading squad while recovering from shoulder surgery in 1955. “R.C. was a heck of a dancer,” recalls George Walton, a 1961 graduate and classmate of Owens from 195255. “This was back when we were doing the jitterbug and that type of thing. His dancing was every bit as good as his football and basketball.” Owens remembers his time at C of I with great fondness, but it was not without challenges. His injured shoulder forced him to miss the 1955 football season, and while cheerleading allowed him to travel to the games, it wasn’t the same as being on the field.

“

Little kids used to come watch practice just to stare at R.C. They had never seen a black person before. But R.C. was always nice to them. He treated people right, and that's why they loved him." ED "BUZZ" BONAMINIO, a 1956 C of I graduate and football teammate of Owens Owens also encountered the prejudice of the 1950s during his cheerleading stint. “We were traveling to one of the football games in Oregon and one of the hotels didn’t want to let R.C. stay there,” recalls Delbert Lawrence, a member of the pep band at the time. “They said black people weren’t allowed in that hotel.” After some debate, the hotel relented and Lawrence ended up bunking with Ow-

ens. “I often tell the story that I slept with R.C. Owens,” says Lawrence, breaking into laughter. “We shared a double bed. My wife says I shouldn’t tell that story because it may be misunderstood.” Owens had another brush with racism when a Treasure Valley restaurant refused to serve him. “There were six of us on a trip to Boise and we stopped for lunch in Garden City,”

Owens recalls. “When the waitress got to me, she said ‘Sorry, we don’t serve black folks here.’ I said ‘I don’t eat black folks, I just want a hamburger.’ And then we all got up and walked out of there.” The hotel and restaurant incidents were rare examples of racial tension for Owens, who says he was treated “like family” at the college. Idaho didn’t have a reputation for diversity in those days, but Owens’ arrival corresponded with an ethnic transformation on the C of I campus. In addition to AfricanAmericans, students of varying backgrounds — ranging from Japanese to Polish, Italian and German — were converging on Caldwell from Chicago and the Midwest, the Hawaiian Islands and both American coasts.

 Continued, page 20

Go Get Em’ Yotes J EW E L E R S

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| Sunday, September 7, 2014

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he College of Idaho football program has an impressive history of alums. Robert Smylie graduated from the C of I in 1938. Later, he served as the 24th Governor of Idaho from 1955 to 1967. He was re-elected in 1958 and 1962, and remains as the only governor in Idaho history to win three consecutive four-year terms as governor. The archives at the College of Idaho are named after him. Smylie also served as a lawyer for the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. At one point in time, he was stationed in the Philippines. Butch Otter played for the Yotes and graduated from the C of I in 1967. He played for coach Ed "Buzz" Bonaminio. In 1987, he became lieutenant governor of Idaho and held the position through three re-elections that dates 14 years, the longest-serving tenure in state history. Otter became the 32nd Governor of Idaho in 2007. Supermarket founder Joe Albertson played football at the College of Idaho and graduated in 1929. n

fAMOUS ALUMNI

Robert Smylie

By Bruce Mason

YOTES IN THE NFL Joe Kahahawai, 1956 graduate, offensive lineman, signed by the Baltimore Colts in 1956. R.C. Owens, 1958 graduate, split end, drafted as the 160th overall pick in the 14th round of the 1956 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. n Bob Morford, 1953 graduate, running back, signed a contract with the Los Angeles Rams in 1953. n Thomas Winbigler, 1950 graduate, halfback, drafted as the 168th pick in the 13th round of the 1950 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. n n

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The 1953 season By BRUCE MASON

bmason@idahopress.com

t's considered the greatest season in College of Idaho football history. A small school in the rural part of America with an enrollment of 500 students ran the table, slaughtered opponents and garnered one of eight berths to an NCAA bowl game. The 1953 season still reverberates today in Caldwell. For a program that started in 1905, it still remains as the only football squad inducted into the C of I Hall of Fame. There were five Associated Press Little AllAmericans and two future NFL players in the likes of split end R.C. Owens and guard Joe Kahahawai. Owens, who resonates as the face of the program 61 years later, was not part of the Little AllAmerican team despite nation-leading receiving numbers. He helped the Coyotes outscored opponents 339-91 en route to their second consecutive crown in the Pacific Northwest Conference. Here's a game-by-game look at the '53 season, truly a different era of football.

COYOTES 38, MONTANA STATE COLLEGE 26 (Sept. 19) Although Eddie Cole was the head coach in 1952, the Idaho Free Press mentions that Coyotes assistant coach Clem Parberry returned from active Navy duty and went to the University of Idaho as an assistant. Thus, Sam Vokes was appointed as head coach for the 1953 season. "It was really a rush job," Vokes told the Free Press. "We got the team together in 10 days." The Coyotes took a bus of 28 players to Bozeman and opened the season against Rocky Mountain Conference powerhouse Montana State, which featured 40 men, including 15 lettermen. The season's first glimpse of the explosive Coyote T formation is seen as it amasses 210 yards on the ground and outgains Montana State 332-163. The Free Press says the C of I “stamped itself as a worthy successor to last year's powerhouse.” It's a reference to the 1952 Coyotes, who went 7-1-1 and secured a Northwest Conference Championship. (The team had a bid for the Refrigerator Bowl in '52, but it was turned down because of academic reasons.) Fruitland native Ted Martin scores five touchdowns and is labeled as a “mercury-gaited halfback” by the Free Press. It's a microcosm of a season in which he garners Little All-American honorable mention honors.

COYOTES 39, LINFIELD 9 (Sept. 26) Four days prior to the game, the Coyotes announce they'll be without halfbacks Walter Jakubowski and Harvey Whitten. Jakubowski, a native of Chicago, was an all-conference defensive back in 1952. But Vokes saw Jakubowski dominate as a halfback in preseason practices and performed the switch. Jakubowski, who is called the “ace halfback” by the Free Press, exits to a fractured fibula. Ironically, it opened the door for another Chicago native, Ed Bonaminio, who moves into the starting lineup and eventually becomes a staple of the program with the nickname “Buzz.” In the victory against Linfield, Coyotes quarterback Boyd Crawford completes 9 of 14 passes for 158 yards and three touchdowns, a performance that foreshadows a dominant 1953 season as one of the nation's leading passers and a Little AllAmerican honor (honorable mention). Owens catches five passes for 78 yards — one that translated into an “on-the-

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Front row (left to right): George Shull, Boyd Crawford, Norm Hayes, R.C. Owens, Ted Shannon, Chuck Ruby. Second row: Sam Vokes (head coach), Rano Sullivan, Jack Kennevick, Lou Korach, Pete Douroux, Don Rich, Eddie Cole (assistant coach). Third row: Bill Kundrat, George Pesut, Ted Martin, Ed Bonaminio, Harlan Geach, Jay Yost, Merle Cables, Gene Strehlou, Ken Arnold. Back row: Don Rosenberger (manager), Bill Shannon, Walt Jakubowski, Hugh Wenzel, Don Troyer, Joe Kahahawai, Gary Collins, Jack Parker, John Park, Roger Compton (manager). spot lateral” to 250-pound freshman tackle Harlan Geach, who rumbled 30 yards down to the 3-yard line.

COYOTES 26, WILLAMETTE 0 (Oct. 3) Two days prior to the game, Willamette's returning all-conference linemen Ken Cooper (185 pounds) and Ruben Menashe (195) flash their intimidating figures in the Idaho Free Press, a message to indicate the challenge facing the College of Idaho. It was a game the Free Press dubbed as a “major hurdle” for the Coyotes in their bid for a second conference championship in as many years. In 1952, the Yotes nipped Willamette 7-6 in the final 28 seconds. The Bearcats returned 14 lettermen in '53 and were picked to win the conference in the pre-season rankings. Vokes labeled the opponent as “loaded” with some of the “best football potential in the Northwest." But the Yotes' took advantage with their front line that averaged 204 pounds. It was led by 220-pound senior Norman Hayes, the Yotes' lone first team Little All-American selection. He made it tough on a Bearcats offense that was believed to have the strongest forward wall in the league. Coyotes end Jack Kennevick, who also earned Little All-American honorable mention status in 1953, catches two touchdown passes from Crawford. Both Owens and Pete Douroux returned interceptions for touchdowns.

COYOTES 64, MATHER AIR FORCE BASE 0 (Oct. 10) Five days prior to kickoff, Vokes announces that he “completed negotiations” with Mather's director of athletics, Captain R.C. Overhouse. Mather was a small college level team in Sacramento, California. It had two victories entering the game— one over a highly rated Mexican all-star team — but proved to be no match as the Coyotes rolled to a 64-0 victory that the Free Press headlines as a “clobbering.” Martin “ran wild,” says the paper, gaining 141 yards in 14 carries, scoring three touchdowns, including a kickoff return that went 103 yards. Crawford completed 6 of 11 passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns.

COYOTES 41, PACIFIC 13 (Oct. 17) In 1952, Pacific ruined the C of I's bid for an outright Northwest Conference title with a 7-7 tie. It ultimately made the teams co-champions of the league. Vokes anticipated a rough night again in 1953 as the Coyotes traveled to Forest Grove, Oregon. The vaunted Badgers featured an irregular spread formation. But the Badgers proved to be an easy obstacle for the Coyotes, who rolled to victory on a muddy field. It was termed the worst defeat in the eight-year tenure of Badgers coach Dr. Paul Stagg, the son of College Football Hall of Fame coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. The Coyotes marched 80 yards to the end zone on their first possession, capped by fullback George Pesut's 38-yard touchdown run. Pesut, who played defense the previous season, had three touchdowns to give him seven on the season. Bonaminio scored on TD runs of 50 and 15 yards.

COYOTES 46, IDAHO STATE 9 (Oct. 24) The C of I gained more than 600 total yards to beat its cross-state rivals for the first time since 1947. The Coyotes marched for touchdowns the first four times they had possession of the ball and went on to hand Idaho State a crushing defeat before 4,000 “bug-eye fans” at Hayman Field, said the paper. Roughly 1,000 Idaho State supporters took a chartered train from Pocatello to Caldwell, but they were “disconsolate,” wrote Free Press sports writer Dave Phillips, who said the ferocious Coyotes had one of their finest teams in history as it beat the leader of the Rocky Mountain Conference. Martin gained 267 yards on 26 carries. Pesut gained 120 yards on 11 carries. “They were the best team we have played since Wyoming visited ISC in 1950,” says Bengals coach Italo “Babe” Caccia, who handed the Coyotes their only defeat in 1952 by a 20-7 score.

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an interception 80 yards for the fifth touchdown of the contest.

1953

COYOTES 45, WHITMAN 20 (Nov. 7)

In the days leading up to the game, C of I assistant coach Eddie Cole compared Bonaminio's intuitive blocking abilities to University of Southern California halfback Armis Dandoy, who was fourth in the nation in rushing at the time. Bonaminio proved to be “one of the biggest thorns in Idaho State's side," according to the Free Press. He gained 93 yards on 11 carries, one being a sparkling 53-yard gallop in the third quarter which set up the sixth Coyote touchdown. The Associated Press releases a national story that says the College of Idaho “zoomed into the top bracket of the nation's dwindling list of perfect record collegiate football teams.” A total of 47 teams, headed by "power schools" such as Notre Dame, Maryland, Baylor and West Virginia, remained undefeated and untied at this point.

COYOTES 40, LEWIS-CLARK 14 (Oct. 31)

Idaho Governor Len Jordan and a wide-sweeping effort throughout the Gem State vouches for the Coyotes to get a bowl game. Messages are sent to the bowl selection committee, which is led by chairman Charles Palmisano. On Nov. 11, the Coyotes received a berth to the Refrigerator Bowl in Evansville, Indiana. The opponent: Sam Houston State, which went 8-1 in the regular season. The C of I was one of 25 teams to be considered for the Refrigerator Bowl, which was one of eight bowl games sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Other teams considered were Marquette, Oklahoma A&M, Utah, Mississippi Southern, Iowa State, Texas Tech, San Jose State and Miami of Ohio. “We'll be going back to Indiana to win, not just play the game,” Vokes said to the Free Press. “We had a feeling we might get a bid and everyone is happy it did come through.”

REFRIGERATOR BOWL The game, sponsored by the Evansville Junior Chamber of Commerce and named for the city's big three refrigerator factories, was watched by a crowd of 7,500. It was broadcasted by Boise radio station KIDO. But a lot of things went wrong for the Coyotes, and it started during the week. They lost 190-pound sophomore center Rano Sullivan to a torn capsule around the patella and a torn medial ligament in the knee. Furthermore, the C of I squad, which arrived two nights before the game by plane, was five hours late to land because of high winds. The Coyotes took time only to put on their uniforms before beginning practice under the lights on an Evansville High School Field. The Associated Press wire story that appeared in the Free

Press the day before the game said the Refrigerator Bowl field surface was “more like a laundry tub,” which was to the advantage of Sam Houston State. And it made reference that it would be “bad news” for the Coyotes, who have one of the nation's top football passers in Crawford. It proved to be true. A C of I team that entered the game with eight straight wins on astonishing averages of 40 points and 476.3 yards per game fell short to Sam Houston State in a 14-12 defeat. Sam Houston State's winning margin was a third-quarter safety scored when end Max Whitely tackled Jakubowski in the end zone. Two plays later, Sam Houston halfback McNeill Moore raced 36 yards for a touchdown. The eight points broke a 6-6 halftime tie. The Coyotes became the third unbeaten team to lose in the six years that the small college postseason games were played, according to the Associated Press. Six days prior to the game, Vokes told the Free Press that Martin's ailing ribs were “sufficiently healed for action." But Martin did not reach the end zone in the Refrigerator Bowl. A key factor may have been the Coyotes' loss of two starting offensive linemen. The Yotes still had Little AllAmerican guard Joe Kahahawai (a future NFL player), but the Huskier Bearkats gained 276 yards rushing to the C of I's 55. The Coyotes drove to Sam Houston's 3 in the first quarter but couldn't go the remaining distance. And the C of I's first tally came on a freak play in the second quarter, when Bonaminio fell on Crawford's fumble in the end zone. Sam Houston's Dick Gaines, a 200-pound sophomore, was the game's outstanding player. He had a 10-yard TD run. *Note: It's unclear if these stats held up as the nation's best. They led the country through eight games, but the Coyotes finished the 1953 season earlier than several teams and final statistics were not printed by the Idaho Free Press.

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Crawford shines in the year's best one-game passing performance recorded by the NCAA Service Bureau. He completes 18 of 25 passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns as the Coyotes clinch the Northwest Conference Championship. The Coyotes amassed 714 yards of total offense and catapult into the nation's top three of all small college teams. Martin accounted for 193 yards rushing and two touchdowns (16, 25) to take the lead among both small and large colleges in season rushing with 1,177 yards on 139 carries. Through seven games, Crawford's is 63 for 103 for 1,184 yards. His completions are third best in the nation. Chuck Ruby, who played both sides of the ball, returned

The C of I stamps itself as one of 23 unbeaten, untied teams as 3,000 spectators watch at Hayman Field. The Coyotes amassed 588 total yards — 310 coming on the ground. Whitman scores three touchdowns in the final four minutes to make a shellacking look much closer than it appears. Crawford completes 9 of 14 passes for 278 yards. His three touchdown passes give him 21 on the season, which are the most* in the nation. His 1,350 yards of total offense are third most. Owens catches two touchdowns of 75 and 56 yards to give him a season total of 704 yards receiving, which is No. 1* in the nation. His 33 receptions on the year are second behind Dick Beetsch of Iowa Teachers (42 recepts). The Coyotes move into first place among the nation's small colleges with 3,810 total yards and 476.3 average per game. The figures easily surpass the next school, Miami of Ohio (3,125 yards; 446.4 average). Martin rushes 10 times for 85 yards and scores his 17th touchdown of the year. At this point in the season, his 102 points rank him fourth in the nation for scoring (the best was Leo Lewis of Lincoln University of Missouri with 132). But the Coyotes' nation-leading rusher* (149 carries, 1,262 yards) breaks three ribs on a play in the third quarter. And to make matters worse: Geach re-injured his broken hand. Thus, a season-ending victory that caps one of the greatest regular seasons in C of I history comes with two big blemishes.

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Owens

“When I first learned that R.C. went to the College of Idaho, it was strange to hear,” Susan Owens said. “The 1950s weren’t exactly a loving time, but he was loved there. "He wasn’t treated any different. In that regard, the College definitely was ahead of its time.” Adds Kundrat, a Midwesterner of Slavic descent: “It takes a lot of different seeds to make a good beer. I never felt any animosity —people in Idaho accepted us.” Today, the college remains a beacon for educational diversity. With students from 42 countries and a thriving International Student Organization, the school has grown in ways few would have imagined in the early 1950s. It is a shift that would not have been possible without pioneers like Owens and his teammates. “The athletics were door-openers for bringing different kinds of students to the college,” Owens said. “We were a window to the school. Our names were out there where people would say, ‘Gee, I wonder what kind of race that person is.’ I think we brought more education to the college, because everyone got the chance to observe different cultures and lifestyles and backgrounds.” To this day, Owens’ impact is felt on campus and beyond. He used to drive his purple Chevy through town, and then years later, his colorful spirit lived on through his charitable efforts both at the college and in his native California, where he served as the Ambassador for the North-

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ern California NFL Alumni chapter. Owens also supported the National Kidney Foundation — he had a kidney transplant in 2004 — and the Manteca Boys and Girls Club in his hometown. “My mother was a very giving person,” Owens said. “From a young age, she taught me the importance of giving your time and efforts to help others.” Age 75 was a long time since Owens picked up a football, and longer still since he roomed at Voorhees Hall as a freshman. But the years did little to temper the pride and enthusiasm shared by a man and a school who changed each other forever. That pride was in Owens’ voice as he recalled wearing the school colors in front of 80,000 football fans as the Coyotes took on the University of Mexico at Aztec Stadium in 1952 in Mexico City. It was in Walton’s as he recalled Owens’ high-flying touchdown catches and slam dunks bringing the sellout crowd to its feet. It was written on the face of C of I president Marv Henberg as he posed for pictures at Owens’ recent induction into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in San Francisco. It is interwoven in the campus’ fabric, from Owens’ Hall of Fame plaque in J.A. Albertson Activities Center to the grassy expanse of Hayman Field — now known as Symms Field — where he once played football. It is a pride spoken strongly and earnestly by Bonaminio, 56 years after he stood at Owens’ side in the huddle. “R.C. Owens was good for the College of Idaho,” Bonaminio said. “And the college was good for him.”

| Sunday, September 7, 2014

A LEGEND PASSES AWAY

R.C. Owens (center) poses for a photo with College of Idaho president Marv Henberg (far right). By TOM FOX

sports@idahopress.com

C. Owens was widely known for what he accomplished in the air. But to those who knew the former College of Idaho and NFL standout, Owens is remembered today for the contributions he made when he was standing at eye level. “He touched your life in a very positive way,” said Bill Kundrat, one of Owens’ teammates with the College of Idaho football and basketball teams. “He was just so nice to everybody. He’ll be missed, no question about that.” The College of Idaho lost perhaps its greatest athlete June 17, 2012, when Owens died at the age of 78 near his home in Manteca, Calif. The cause of death was not released. Owens is survived by his wife, Susan. “It’s a sad day for the College of Idaho,” Coyotes athletics director Marty Holly said. “He put the college on the map.” Owens stood out in football, basketball, track and field and also participated as a cheerleader at the Caldwell college. He dominated on the basketball court alongside Elgin Baylor, and stretched the football field for the Coyotes’ passing game with his tremendous ability to leap up and snatch footballs. Owens was drafted in the 14th round (160th overall) of the 1956 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

The 6-foot-3, 197-pound end played for the 49ers (1957-1961), Baltimore Colts (196263) and New York Giants (1964). He collected 206 catches, 3,285 yards and 22 touchdowns in his NFL career. His best season was 1961, when he had 55 receptions for 1,032 yards and five touchdowns with the 49ers. Owens was inducted into the Bay Area Hall of Fame and the 49ers Hall of Fame. He’s also a member of the College of Idaho Hall of Fame and NAIA Hall of Fame. After his playing career, Owens worked for the 49ers from 1979-2001 as Director of Training Camp and Director of Alumni Relations. “The 49ers family has suffered a great loss with the passing of R.C. Owens,” said 49ers Owner and Chairman John York on the team’s website. “Long after his days as a player were over, his devotion to the organization remained strong. R.C. was an everpresent supporter of the 49ers Foundation and did great works with the community at large. The San Francisco 49ers and our faithful fans will forever be grateful for his contributions and he will be sincerely missed.” Bonaminio said Owens, a native of Shreveport, La., never forgot his time in Caldwell and loved the College of Idaho. “Through the years he’s been one of the most loyal to the College of Idaho and to all of us," Bonaminio said. "He was a great friend.”

35 years later By JORDAN RODRIGUEZ, MIKE STETSON

Marv Henberg

The man who made reinstatement possible

here is something magical about a college football game. Sunny afternoons tinged by the autumn chill are filled with anticipation. The smell of grass and sizzling tailgate burgers. The buzz of the crowd before kickoff and the roar of excitement afterward. The sound of shoulder pads popping and the referee’s whistle, signaling the end of one skirmish and beginning the countdown to the next. For a sports fan, it is a one-of-a-kind experience. It has been more than three decades since crowds celebrated a momentumswinging Coyote touchdown. Reviving the football program had been discussed and debated since the team disbanded in 1977, but the College’s Board of Trustees officially ended the wait on May 14, 2012, voting to reinstate the team. After 35 years of empty grandstands and blank record books, a program rich in history makes a sweet comeback. “This is a great day for the College of Idaho,” athletics director Marty Holly said on May 14, 2012.

 Continued, page 23

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I feel so great today. The weather helped make it a beautiful day and it was a beautiful moment for the College of Idaho.

ED "BUZZ" BONAMINIO Former player of C of I football coach, a long-time supporter of reinstating football

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Return “Football is going to bring so much excitement to our campus and so many great opportunities for our student-athletes, our fans and the entire Caldwell community," Holly said. The announcement brought an immediate buzz to the campus. In 1977, the College of Idaho parted ways with a 60-year football program with more than 225 all-time wins. The return of football became a popular topic of debate, so much so that a feasibility study in 2006 led to the school’s board of trustees to discuss the issue. In the first week of May 2012, the trustees revisited the football debate and on May 14, C of I president Marv Henberg announced their decision, and figuratively with his words, snapped the ball on a new Coyotes football program. “I am pleased to announce the

Jessica Skinner jessica@idahofarmandhome.com 208.507.0682

College of Idaho will extend its mission of providing excellent liberal arts education even further with the reinstatement of the college’s football program,” he said in a press conference in front of media, athletic department staff and several former C of I football players. “I feel so great today,” said former player and C of I football coach Ed “Buzz” Bonaminio, a long-time supporter of reinstating football. “The weather helped make it a beautiful day and it was a beautiful moment for the College of Idaho.” Holly noted that there is a wealth of talented high school football players in Idaho and neighboring states. “There are many smart, young student-athletes who want to play

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Financially, I think it will help our department." REAGAN ROSSI College of Idaho assistant athletic director

Alan McRae alanmcrae@yahoo.com 208.880.3436

football and would love a chance to play near their families and get an education that will set them up for a lifetime of success,” Holly said to Coyoteathletics.com. “Our studentathletes thrive in the classroom and in competition, and we’re committed to doing the same with football. “I think the excitement and enthusiasm of a fall sport like that, it’s great for recruiting,” said C of I women’s basketball coach Reagan Rossi. “As football progresses and we get better and better, financially I think it will help our department overall and it will help our school overall, and that’s a big thing for us right now.” A number of issues the Yotes addressed on this day (and how they were later tackled): n Fundraising: The Trustees predicted $2 million was needed by the first football game. The figure was easily surpassed. n Conference: The Coyotes hoped to join the Frontier Conference in football only. It came into fruition on June 27, 2012.

n The coach: A hiring committee was planned to form in September of 2012 in an effort to hire a new coach to start by January 1, 2013. It found Mike Moroski, who was hired on Jan. 10, 2013, as the 17th coach in C of I football history. n Players: They aimed for 35 players to start school in September 2013, according to the plan the trustees approved. Holly hoped to see 50 student athletes in the fall of 2013. They met their mark and had 60-plus members for "Year Zero." n Stadium: The aim of the city was to upgrade Simplot Stadium, the former home for C of I football from 1967-77. Expectations were exceeded with a state-of-the-art scoreboard, refurbished press box and synthetic FieldTurf surface. n Additional facility: The Yotes brass casually mentioned more practice and training space was needed for all the Coyote athletic teams. On Sept. 5, 2013, the program broke ground on the $3.5 million Marty Holly Athletics Center, which was opened on July 29, 2014.

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mOROSKI HIRED By MIKE STETSON

he College of Idaho officially put a face on its reinstated football program on Jan. 10, 2013: Mike Moroski was introduced as the Coyotes’ 17th head football coach, accepting the challenge of starting a new program at the Caldwell college. “It’s a big one, because the football program grows from the heart and you’ve got to have somebody with a big heart, and Mike Moroski’s got a big heart,” C of I president Marv Henberg said of the first C of I football coach since the program was suspended after the 1977 season. “It feels awesome, especially being here,” said Moroski, who became a head coach for the first time after a 25-year career as an assistant coach at UC Davis, his alma mater. “I’ve really enjoyed the process and being here, and the anticipation. “I’m looking forward to the next steps.” Those steps proved to be the biggest draw for Moroski, who admitted he wasn’t constantly looking to be a head coach, but was look-

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ing for the right situation for himself to lead a program. “Being able to start from the very beginning and have my fingerprints on everything,” he said of what drew him to Caldwell. “I know what I want, I know what I want in the way of people and staff. “And then to be able to mold the program in the way you want from the first recruiting class. … It’ll be my involvement with each of those young men and their families and making things work, and navigating through the difficulties of just all the things that come with being a college football coach. You’re dealing with real people and real families, and that’s exciting to me.” It’s Moroski’s potential to deal with both staff and players that sold Henberg and the C of I on their new coach. “The selling point was character,” Henberg said. “We stressed that we had to recruit for character, for academic ability, for entering into the life of the college, and almost from the moment I met Mike and talked to him, I realized that he had

The football program grows from the heart and you’ve got to have somebody with a big heart, and Mike Moroski’s got a big heart.” MARV HENBERG C of I President

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KTVB sports reporter Jay Tust interviews Mike Moroski inside Sterry Hall on January 10, 2013. Moroski, who became the 17th coach in College of Idaho football history, previously had a 25-year career at UC Davis. He even got a vote of confidence from former Boise State coach Chris Petersen, who coached at UC Davis from 1987-1991. that character. And you can’t recruit for character unless you have it yourself, that was the main thing.” Henberg believed Moroski’s background at UC Davis, an NCAA Division II school until moving to the FCS ranks in 2007, would help the new coach in understanding how to recruit the unique student-athletes the College of Idaho was seeking. “Not only was academics a high priority, but we knew that he could recruit athletes who were going to come for modest scholarship support,” Henberg said. “We don’t give 85 full-ride scholarships (like an NCAA FBS program) at the College

of Idaho, it’s not that kind of place. So he knows the kind of players he has to recruit for.” Moroski said he would have to adjust to some of the details of NAIA rules, but in terms of the game on the field, it’s the same no matter what level. And for the former NFL and star college quarterback, that means offense. Moroski was the 154th

DID YOU KNOW?

overall pick of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He played eight seasons in the NFL — six with Atlanta, one with the Houston Oilers, another with San Francisco. “The fact that he’s an offensive guy and he’s got that, he’s going to put a team out there that’s going to be entertaining, there’s no question about that,” Henberg said.

Mike Moroski threw a touchdown pass to Jerry Rice. On Oct. 26, 1986, Moroski led the San Francisco 49ers to a 31-17 victory against the Green Bay Packers at Milwaukee County Stadium. In the second quarter, Moroski threw a 4-yard TD pass to Rice, who went on to become the NFL's all-time leading receiver in several statistical categories.

HISTORIC SIGNATURE Eagle High's Marcus Lenhardt is the first recruit to sign with reinstated Coyotes program By MIKE STETSON sports@idahopress.com

ith the swish of a pen, the first piece of the new College of Idaho football team fell into place at Eagle High on February 11, 2013. Six-foot-4 senior tight end Marcus Lenhardt became the face of Coyote football as the first player to sign a Frontier Conference letter of intent with the program, which was reinstated in May of 2012 after being suspended following the 1977 season. “It’s really, really exciting,” said C of I football coach Mike Moroski, who took over resurrecting the program less than five weeks prior. “This is the most important thing right now is recruiting the right kind of kids."

 Continued, page 26

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It's a brand new program and I think being part of this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I didn't want to pass up on it." MARCUS LENHARDT The first recruit signed by Yotes football coach Mike Moroski on Feb. 11, 2013

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1st-team all-Idaho Year zero recruits B26

know that I made the right one,” Lenhardt said. Lenhardt passed up the NAIA powerhouse Fighting Saints and NCAA Division II Wolves of Western Oregon because of what the C of I offered, and it had nothing to do with the scholarships. “It’s a brand new program and I think being part of this is (a) once in a lifetime opportunity, so I didn’t want to pass up on it,” said the Eagle High senior, who plans to major in business. “That was one of the biggest deals for me,” Lenhardt added of the C of I’s academics. “Football is an extra. My main reason for going to college is getting an education, so I made sure they had a good business program, which I heard they do. And they’re very rigorous in their academics, so it’s certain to be hard and a lot of work, but I’m prepared to be a part of it.” While Lenhardt’s school-first attitude impressed the Coyotes, so did his athletic ability. “I think what stuck out to me is he’s very, very physical, I mean he’s a physical football player,” Moroski said. “So he’ll be able to do

FIRST RECRUIT “I think you’re always looking for, well, from the coach’s standpoint, you’re looking for what you want your program to be like," Moroski continued. "In this unique situation of starting out, you need to start well, and so you’re looking for guys that fit what you want.” Lenhardt turned out to be the perfect fit on the field and in the classroom, earning scholarships from the Caldwell college in both athletics and academics, which will cover about twothirds the cost of his education. “This feels great,” Lenhardt said of finalizing his college choice, as he was also recruited by six-time NAIA national champion Carroll College (Mont.), Montana Tech and Western Oregon. “I mean it’s a big stress reliever, I’d been thinking about the decision for over two months, so it’s good to make a decision and n

lots of things with his hand down and attached to the line of scrimmage, and we’ll be able to move him around, which is what you want in tight ends.” Moroski added that Lenhardt can block like a lineman and catch like a wide receiver, and playing in Eagle’s spread offense, had the chance to do both as he hauled in 27 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns as a senior. While some might wonder why the school did not sign a quarterback or running back first, Moroski said he wasn’t focused on a position, but potential. “I think what the best programs in the country do is, you’re not only looking for what a young man is presently, but what he can be,” Moroski said. “So you’re always looking at the top end, how good can they get? And that’s one of the difficult things about it, but I must say, it’s fun and challenging about recruiting, too. “And I think Marcus’s top end is up there and I think he’s going to be a very, very good player.”

Feb. 18, 2013

Andrew Galloway, offensive lineman The 6-foot-2, 280-pounder earned first-team 3A AllIdaho honors in 2011 and 2012 at Payette High. “He has great lower body strength, along with great footwork, and will be one of our leaders on the offensive line," Yotes coach Mike Moroski said. n

FEB. 19, 2013

Cory Brady, defensive back/punt returner He was a 2012 first-team 4A All-Idaho selection at Bishop Kelly High. Brady (5-11, 175) excelled in all phases with the Knights. He returned four punts for touchdowns, averaging 32.1 yards per return. He also shined as a defensive back with seven interceptions — one returned for a touchdown. It paved the way for his award as 4A Southern Idaho Conference defensive player of the year. Brady also had 26 catches for 555 yards and four touchdowns. “We couldn’t be more excited about Cory Brady,” Moroski said. n

APR. 5, 2013

Charlie Shepherd, receiver/defensive back Shepherd starred at Salmon River High and was the 2012 1A-Division II Player of the Year. He inked his committment to the Yotes in a unique place: On the floor of the Idaho State House of Representatives with his grandfather, Paul, who is a long-time state legislator, and his father, Charlie, who is the Salmon River High football coach. In 2012, Shepherd had 58 receptions, 1,052 yards and 18 touchdowns for the state champs. He was a first-team All-Idaho wide receiver and defensive back.

| Sunday, September 7, 2014

MAY 3, 2013

Kyle Cothern, linebacker The former Skyview Hawks standout earned 4A firstteam All-Idaho honors as a senior in the fall of 2012. He recorded 60 tackles and nine tackles for loss. n

Photo courtesy of Coyoteathletics.com

Charlie Shepherd Jr. (far right) signs his Frontier Conference letter of intent on the floor of the Idaho State House of Represenatives. From left: Coyotes coach Mike Moroski, Idaho state legislator Paul Shepherd and Charlie Shepherd Sr.

MAY 20, 2013

Tyler Andreason, running back/linebacker; Shive Huggins, offensive lineman Andreason ran for 1,520 yards and had 20 touchdowns to help Butte County reach the 2012 1A Division I state title game, where it fell short to Kamiah. As a linebacker, he made 120 tackles and recorded four fumble recoveries, which helped him earn first-team All-Idaho honors. Lineman Shive Huggins of Middleton was a 4A first-team All-Idaho selection and appeared in the 2012 state championship game for the Vikings, who lost to Blackfoot.

JUNE 10, 2013

Nate Moore, defensive back; Hunter Kenyon, running back Moore spent the 2013 season as a redshirt freshman at Frontier Conference foe Carroll College and transferred to the C of I. He was a 2011 first-team All-Idaho defensive back at Mountain View High. Kenyon amassed 1,168 yards and 12 touchdowns at Borah High in 2012. He led the 5A Southern Idaho Conference in rushing and earned first-team All-Idaho honors. *All quotes provided by Coyoteathletics.com. Each player signed a Frontier Conference letter of intent.

Economic BOOST By BRUCE MASON

bmason@idahopress.com

or Caldwell’s economy, football is more than just a game. The rebirth of the College of Idaho football team already infused Caldwell with cash, namely two one-time capital investments: a $3.5-million athletics facility on the outskirts of Symms Field, and a new residence hall planned most likely for fall 2015. Those capital expenditures meant local construction jobs and the purchase of local materials. Count upgrades to Simplot Stadium, like a refurbished press box, remodeled bathrooms and new scoreboard. But the payoff will go well beyond new brick and mortar when the trickle-down effect is considered. In November of 2013, C of I President Marv Henberg penciled a very conservative economic impact study that showed $3.2 million in annual spending directly related to the new NAIA football program. “I’m comfortable that’s a legit figure,” said Henberg, who has a master’s degree in economics.

 Continued, page 28

“

The C of I football program is going to add prestige to our community. It’s going to bring the city of Caldwell and the college closer together. I look at it as a win-win for everybody and a very positive thing for our community. GARRET NANCOLAS, Caldwell Mayor, talking to C of I associate director of communications Jordan Rodriguez Sunday, September 7, 2014 |

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supplies and off-campus dining and entertainment. Don’t forget, when players leave Caldwell to head home, they will need to fill up at a local gas station.

IMPACT COACHES AND FACULTY Henberg’s study showed the football program required 10 full-time positions (four faculty) and three part-time assistant coaches. Their salaries added $618,000 in payroll with an assumed economic impact of $1,087,680 if those new staff members do the same as head football coach Mike Moroski and plant their roots in Caldwell. “There’s going to be additional tax revenues, too,” Henberg said. “Obviously, the city is going to do better.”

VISITOR SPENDING

STUDENT SPENDING

“

The addition of more student-athletes brings more dollars. Henberg's assumption of 120 more students means another $767,782 annually, since the college's meal plan costs $3,635 per student. (Note: There were 107 student-athletes at the Aug. 25 purple and gold scrimmage.) Furthermore, those students will spend money for day-to-day living

Five home football games also means visiting teams rolling into town. Let’s assume the Carroll College (Helena, Montana) football team plays a game at Simplot Stadium. Carroll coach Mike Van Diest noted that 75 people — players, coaches, trainers — filled his bus for a road game in 2013. If a travel party of 75 people occupy 45 rooms at a Caldwell hotel, the figure surpasses $30,000 annually. Add to that discretionary spend-

I’d say it’s a good investment. TIM BURG, the executive director of the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation. Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Okla., added an NAIA football program in 2013.

ing by visiting parents, who will likely hit restaurants, gas stations, maybe even a hotel. Henberg recognizes, however, that a college like Montana Northern — which is from Havre, only a few miles from the Canadian border — won’t bring many fans because it’s 11 hours away. But on the flip side, Caldwell could reap the benefits when Carroll, a sixtime national champion, rolls into town with its well-traveled fan base.

LOCAL BUSINESSES BENEFIT Stewart’s Bar & Grill is a quartermile walk from Simplot Stadium. The establishment hosted the C of I football radio show called “Yotes Den with Mike Moroski” on 99.5 FM. The restaurant should also be an attractive spot for tailgaters on game days. Henberg predicted that $50,000 will be spent annually by the college for promotional needs such as printing tickets, brochures and marketing materials.

OTHER TOWNS

ball program in 2013 and is reaping benefits, according to Tim Burg, the executive director of the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation. “Without question it has a positive impact on the community,” Burg said. “A dramatic impact is ringing cash registers. They’re buying gasoline, they’re staying in the hotels, they’re buying the school apparel. “It’s hard to get into some restaurants before or right after the game. Whereas before it wasn’t usually too difficult. “Absolutely, yes, without question, the economic impact is positive. If somebody’s doing it, and they’ve never done it before, I’d say it’s a good investment.” The Carroll College football team provides a spike in business during football season for Suds Hut Famous Chicken in Helena, Mont. Cassie Elliott, a server for the past three-plus years, said the establishment is busier with takeout orders and the patio is more popular during football season, particularly after a home game. “I can ® definitely tell that we’re busier,” Elliott said.

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| Sunday, September 7, 2014

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The season of practices By BRUCE MASON

bmason@idahopress.com

he sun barely cracks the horizon in the wee hours of the morning. Facility lights shine in the distance and there’s shouts from Symms Field echoing across campus. “ONE! … TWO!” It’s knee-tuck time as 64 members of the College of Idaho football team scream atop their lungs. They should be tired just minutes after sprinting. But this activity is a burst of adrenaline, as they jump into the air and bring their knees to their chests. “THREE! … FOUR!” There was six months until spring football, nine months until fall camp and 325 days until their first game. And there were the Coyotes, who relished their standing as the inaugural members of a football program that returns after a 37-year hiatus. “FIVE! … SIX!” “We count ‘em really loud so we wake the whole campus up,” said freshman Cory Brady in October of 2013. “Nothing jacks us more than just screaming in the morning at like 7:30 a.m., waking the whole campus up. “It’s a fun feeling.”

CHARACTER BUILDING Those knee-tucks were a signature activity for the Coyotes, an energetic bunch who made the most of Year Zero beyond the football field. They engaged in campus activities under coach Mike Moroski’s “R.C. Owens Challenge,” a creative system designed to build character in retrospect to the late C of I legend, who was as classy as he was talented (he played for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers).

 Continued, page 30 This story has been edited from the original version that published on Oct. 16, 2013. Sunday, September 7, 2014 |

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Hayman Field was the first artificially illuminated football field in the state, according to College of Idaho archivist Jan Boles. This view shows the north side grandstand. You can see a red brick wall through the trees. That is Jewett Auditorium.

PRACTICES Although the Coyotes lifted weights and ran four days a week, they still found time to perform community service. Although they competed in position groups twice a week and juggled class schedules and homework, they still found time to attend a volleyball match. “It’s just giving back to the people here, in Caldwell — anywhere in the Treasure Valley, really,” Brady said. All of it reflects a well-planned program model. College of Idaho athletic director Marty Holly and president Marv Henberg noted the importance of the Coyotes being active in the community during the May 2012 announcement of the program’s rebirth. Seventeen months later, it started to happen.

B30 | B30

Sunday, September 7, 2014

It's evident Moroski recruited his batch of “character guys” upon hearing freshman linebacker Kyle Cothern talk about a season with no games. “A lot of people ask me: Is it dumb, is it stupid working out and not having a game this year?” said Cothern, an All-Idaho selection from Skyview High. “I think it’s good for us. I wish we had games — don’t get me wrong there,” he laughed. “But I think it’s a good year for us to improve as a team. “There’s a lot of good, team bonding stuff going on right now.” There was 7-on-7 competition — live passing drills minus linemen — and full-fledged Sunday practices at Middleton High to feed the Coyotes’ football hunger. But that was not the highlight of Brady’s weekly schedule. Instead, it was the Tuesday night team meetings that featured uplift-

ing speakers. One day, American History professor Howard Berger walked into the room, which made Brady think the humorous, easy-going faculty member would deliver a good laugh. But Berger shared his rough past of being bullied during his youth in New Jersey, a powerful message that had Coyotes players rave about the professor’s courage. “It definitely changed my mind and made me think how society works nowadays,” Brady said. “It’s becoming more and more of a family with every one of those meetings. It brings the team together. “It made us feel more comfortable with him. And it also made us more comfortable with the C of I faculty, knowing that they are basically like family to us, already.”

COUNTDOWN UNTIL SPRING In October, the Coyotes’ offense

walked through its infant stages: Four formations and 15 plays. Defensively, it was bare bones: There was no coordinator, and, no tackling. In fact, 110 pairs of shoulder pads were delivered to campus during the first week of October, and they couldn't be used until spring. It begged the question: Can players become rusty after missing a year of action? In fall of 2012, Brady was the 4A Southern Idaho Conference defensive player of the year, an honor he earned with seven interceptions and four punt returns for touchdowns. But will time off diminish his ability to read quarterbacks? How about that gift of being able to shift through special-teams traffic with his tremendous peripheral vision? “That was definitely a challenge coming into this. I knew taking that year off it would be kind of getting rusty, but these first few weeks, we’ve been working really hard,” Brady said. “I believe the coaches know how to get us ready. It’s the hardest workouts I’ve had, I think, in my entire football career. “Every time you work, every time you workout, they’re evaluating you. So you wanna get that starting spot, I guess.” Prior to the 1960s, the home of the Coyotes football teams was Hayman Field. It occupied the flat-bed of grass that extends from center-field of the school’s softball field, Symms Field, to the lower foot of the Marty Holly Athletics Center. That means, those knee-tucks and shouts in the wee hours of the morning is the same area where Owens nurtured his craft. A few years after his Coyotes’ days, he became the 160th pick of the 1956 NFL Draft and caught alley-oop passes from 49ers quarterback Y.A. Tittle. “It’s a cool feeling to know I’m stepping on that same grass as R.C. Owens,” Brady said. “The whole team is trying to reflect what R.C. Owens did. He was known as a very big people person. And he would do whatever he can to get involved in the community. “Coach (Moroski) has been really pushing to have the team reflect what R.C. Owens did back in the day.”

SPRING Scrimmage By BRUCE MASON

bmason@idahopress.com

mid a round of applause, the College of Idaho’s first football team in 37 years jogged around the perimeter of Symms Field, a thankyou tribute to the fans who bared a chilly Saturday morning and flooded the sidelines on April 12. The 15th and final practice of the spring concluded for the Coyotes, who donned white and purple jerseys with gold helmets and smacked pads in a full-contact scrimmage. There were athletic catches by Isaac Gonzalez and Charlie Shepherd, sound defensive plays from Brock Hulsey and shouts from a pack of exuberant Yotes who were counting down the days until the Sept. 6 opening game at Pacific University. “I knew there was going to be quite a few people here today. Seeing the turnout, it’s an exciting feeling,” said freshman defensive back Cory Brady, a Bishop Kelly High alum. “It’s awesome to see all the support that we have, this whole entire community backing us.” Prior to the 1960s, the Yotes played their home football games on the patch of grass that extends from the softball field to the lower foot of the Marty Holly Athletics Center. On April 12, 55 student-athletes scrimmaged on portions of the sod where legend R.C. Owens honed his skills prior to an NFL tenure with the San Francisco 49ers.

 Continued, page 32

“

Seeing the turnout, it's an exciting feeling."

CORY BRADY Coyotes redshirt freshman defensive back and Bishop Kelly High School alum Sunday, September 7, 2014 |

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Final Scrimmage

Scrimmage Tight end Marcus Lenhardt (Eagle High) recorded the first touchdown of the day on a 12-yard reception — and it’s fitting, considering he was the first Yotes recruit to sign a Frontier Conference letter of intent 14 months prior. “It’s a lot of fun to put on a little show for these guys,” said Lenhardt, who had 27 catches for 343 yards and four touchdowns as a senior at Eagle High. “A lot of hard work paid off.” Lenhardt is one of the “role models,” according to C of I coach Mike Moroski, who spent 25 years at UC Davis (17 years as offensive coordinator). He was delighted by the support and enthusiasm for a reinstated Yotes program that disbanded in 1977. He cited the passionate play of his players and raved about the number of people in attendance at Symms Field. “There was more than we ever had for a spring game at UC Davis,” said Moroski, a former NFL quarterback who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1979. “It’s a great place. I’m proud to be here.”

GORDON ‘THE GUY TO BEAT’ Junior quarterback Teejay Gordon (5-foot-11) flashed glimpses of the record-breaking skills he brought from Modesto Junior College (Man-

teca, Calif.). Gordon completed 6 of 12 passes for 80 yards in the scrimmage. He hit Gonzalez and Nick Chambard for first-down gains and connected with Lenhardt on a scoring strike. Gordon also rushed seven times for 35 yards and a touchdown, part of the dual athleticism that made him a first-team all-state selection the past two years (California Community College Athletic Association Region I). “You can take this as an announcement if you want: He’s the guy,” Moroski said of Gordon, one of four quarterbacks on the spring roster. “He’s the guy to beat.”

HELMET LOGO UNVEILED As practice concluded, Yotes players huddled at the end of the field while C of I officials placed a poster board atop an easel. A T-shirt covered the board. Concealed was the logo that would be placed on the golden game helmets. Why the suspense? The logo was determined by a campus vote from the students, alumni, faculty and staff. The choices: The letters “CI” intersecting, or, a Yote head. The T-shirt was peeled off. And the letters of “CI” were unveiled. “I thought it looked sharper,” Brady said. “It kind of gives an oldschool feel.”

2014 15 players Tyler Andreason, 17 Position: LB Year: R-Fr. Home: Howe, ID

Hank Boeger,89

Position: TE Year: Fr. Home: Gooding, ID

Charlie Callen, 87

Position: WR Year: Fr. Home: Lake Oswego, OR

Nick Chambard, 81

Yotes players huddle around a poster that was used to unveil the program's official helmet logo on April 12. The traditional lettering won in a vote against the Yote head.

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Position: WR Year: R-Fr. Home: Yakima, WA

Kyle Ashby, 8

Wyatt Azedo, 73

Position: LB Year: Fr. Home: San Diego, CA

Position: LB Year: Fr. Home: Nampa, ID

Hartvig Bondo, 96

Cory Brady, 2

Sam Ball, 60

Position: OL Year: Fr. Home: Boise, ID

David Brunmeier, 99

Position: PK Year: Fr. Home: Norway

Position: DB Year: R-Fr. Home: Boise, ID

Position: DT Year: R-Fr. Home: Nampa, ID

Troy Carr, 16

Elijah Carter, 4

Jacques Carter, 41

Position: DB Year: Fr. Home: Rathdrum, ID

Position: WR Year: Fr. Home: La Habra, CA

Position: RB Year: Fr. Home: Clearfield, UT

T.J. Clarke, 45

Mikey Cooper, 46

Zach Cooper, 80

Position: RB Year: So. Home: Boise, ID

Position: LB Year: Fr. Home: Nampa, ID

Position: WR Year: So. Home: Meridian, ID

Trae Bishop, 1

Position: DB Year: R-Fr. Home: Twin Falls, ID

Jason Byce, 53

Position: LB Year: R-Fr. Home: Twin Falls, ID

Ben Ceccarelli, 58

Position: LB Year: R-Fr. Home: Mtn. Home, ID

Position: LB Year: R-Fr. Home: Nampa, ID

Josh Faulkner, 42

Position: FB Year: R-Fr. Home: Gooding, ID

Teejay Gordon, 5

Position: QB Year: Jr. Home: Manteca, CA

Jordan Jacobs, 13

Position: WR Year: Jr. Home: Coronado, CA

A.J. Martin, 12

Position: QB Year: Fr. Home: Idaho Falls, ID

Tyler Cox, 8

Position:QB Year: Fr. Home: Boise, ID

Chase Fiddler, 38

Position: DE Year: Fr. Home: Fruitland, ID

Zach Hall, 74

Position: DL Year: Fr. Home: Emmett, ID

Mike Johnson, 27

Position: RB Year: Jr. Home: Los Angeles, CA

Cole Maupin, 11

Position: TE Year: So. Home: Crane, OR

Grant Darrington,25

Position: DB Year: So. Home: Boise, ID

Wes Fitzpatrick, 22

Dylan Dawson, 57

Position: DE Year: R-Fr. Home: Sutherlin, OR

Andy Forse, 88

Austin Diffey, 6

Position: WR Year: R-Fr. Home: Eagle, ID

Derek Foster, 86

Bryan Dilworth, 26

Position: S Year: Fr. Home: Boise, ID

Andrew Galloway,64

Greg Dohmen, 71

Levi Elsberry, 7

Position: OL Year: Sr. Home: Red Bluff, CA

Position: WR Year: Jr. Home: Homedale, ID

Alisandro Garcia, 28

Dylan Garcia, 69

Position: WR Year: Fr. Home: Newhall, CA

Position: TE Year: Jr. Home: Caldwell, ID

Position: WR Year: Fr. Home: Idaho Falls, ID

Position: OL Year: R-Fr. Home: Payette, ID

Position: DB Year: Fr. Home: Caldwell, ID

Trevor Henderson,41

Jake Hennessey, 18

John Hohnhorst, 23

Aiden Horsewood,20

Dakota Horsewood,15 Position: QB Year: Fr. Home: Caldwell, ID

Position: OL Year: R-Fr. Home: Middleton, ID

Hunter Kenyon, 37

Devin Krasowski, 83

Nick Kytle, 35

Brody Leatham, 68

Position: DE Year: R-Fr. Home: Caldwell, ID

Lance Jones, 84

Position: WR Year: R-Fr. Home: Garden Valley, ID

Travis Mayer, 49

Position: DB Year: Fr. Home: Bonney Lake, WA

Position: QB Year: So. Home: Mtn. Home, ID

David Juarez, 32

Position: DB Year: R-Fr. Home: Twin Falls, ID

Position: DB Year: Fr. Home: Stockton, CA

Position: RB Year: R-Fr. Home: Boise, ID

Kevin McLemore, 36

Nick Menchaca, 19

Position: P Year: Jr. Home: Simi Valley, CA

Position: P Year: Fr. Home: Caldwell, ID

Position: DB Year: Fr. Home: Caldwell, ID

Position: WR Year: Fr. Home: Notus, ID

Kyle Merritt, 31

Position: RB Year: Jr. Home: Tustin, CA

Position: FB Year: R-So. Home: Twin Falls, ID

Avery Miller, 1

Position: WR Year: Fr. Home: Boise, ID

Position: OL Year: R-Fr. Home: Boise, ID

Shive Huggins, 70

Position: OL Year: Fr. Home: Boise, ID

Alec Montelongo,54

Position: OL Year: Jr. Home: Saratoga, CA

Peter Even, 79

Position: OL Year: Fr. Home: Marsing, ID

Zach Garzoli, 33

Position: RB Year: R-Fr. Home: Orland, CA

Brock Hulsey, 52

Position: DT Year: So. Home: Kimberly, ID

Marcus Lenhardt, 85

Position: TE Year: R-Fr. Home: Eagle, ID

PLAYERS

Kyle Cothern, 24

Isaac Gonzalez, 3

Position: WR Year: R-Fr. Home: La Habra, CA

Matt Humphries,90

Position: DE Year: R-Fr. Home: Coeur d'Alene

Josh Lopez, 39

Position: DB Year: R-Fr. Home: Caldwell, ID

Nate Moore, 21

Position: DB Year: So. Home: Boise, ID

Sunday, September 7, 2014 |

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PLAYERS

Carlos Murana, 5

Position: DE Year: Jr. Home: Chula Vista, CA

Devon Privott, 28

Position: WR Year: R-Fr. Home: Buhl, ID

Dylan Shapland, 98

Position: K Year: R-Fr. Home: Hayden, ID

Khallid Ransom, 51

Position: LB Year: Jr. Home: San Diego, CA

Charlie Shepherd, 14

Position: WR Year: R-Fr. Home: Riggins, ID

Joe Murphy, 39

Position: RB Year: Fr. Home: Boise, ID

Position: DB Year: Fr. Home: Spokane, WA

Position: LB Year: Fr. Home: Crane, Ore.

Jason Rebollozo, 45

Philip Rauch, 48

Position: RB Year: Fr. Home: Mariposa, CA

Position: LB Year: R-Fr. Home: Burley, ID

Leroy Sisnett, 61

Trevor Smith, 93

Position: DE Year: Fr. Home: New Zealand

Tyler Opie, 55

Garrett Norris, 9

Drake Rigby, 47

Position: DB Year: Fr. Home: Boise, ID

Travis Spengler, 13

Position: DT Year: Fr. Home: Shelley, ID

Position: LB Year: R-Fr. Home: Kuna, ID

2014 15 Coaches Mike Moroski

Head Coach

Kirby Moore

Asst. Coach WR

Tim Keane

Offensive Coordinator

Matt Strong

Asst. Coach DL

Chris Jewell

Defensive Coordinator

Khayree Marshall

Asst. Coach DE

Chris Petrilli

Special Teams

Dustin Kamper

Asst. Coach LB

Mike Virden

Asst. Coach RB/QB

Justin Torfin

Asst. Coach CB

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Sunday, September 7, 2014

Taylor Oppedyk, 43

Position: DE Year: R-Fr. Home: Buhl, ID

Mike Roberts, 33

Position: DB Year: Fr. Home: Twin Falls, ID

Dakota Stallions, 20

Position: RB Year: R-Fr. Home: New Plymouth

Ryan Texeira, 46

Position: FB Year: Jr. Home: Livermore, CA

Hayden Paul, 62

Kade Paulsen, 91

Position: OL Year: R-Fr. Home: Nampa, ID

Position: DL Year: Fr. Home: Pocatello, ID

Ringo Robinson, 40

Shayne Robinson, 15

Position: FB Year: R-So. Home: Caldwell, ID

Talon Sudbeck, 96

Position: DB Year: So. Home: Tumwater, WA

Colton Sweesy, 16

Garrett Pirtle, 92

Josh Price, 59

Position: DE Year: Fr. Home: Twin Falls, ID

Position: DT Year: Jr. Home: Boise, ID

James Roy, 50

Jacob Segali, 77

Position: OL Year: Fr. Home: Honolulu, HI

Position: OL Year: R-Fr. Home: Boise, ID

Luke Taylor, 95

Hunter Temple, 34

Position: DT Year: Jr. Home: Nampa, ID

Position: RB Year: So. Home: Twin Falls, ID

Position: K Year: Fr. Home: Tumwater, WA

Position: DB Year: R-Fr. Home: Kuna, ID

Tony Torres, 44

Jordan Vielma, 42

Taylor Watkins, 10

Beau White, 30

Position: DT Year: Jr. Home: American Falls

Position: LB Year: R-Fr. Home: Idaho Falls, ID

Position: QB Year: R-Fr. Home: Spokane, WA

Position: DB Year: Fr. Home: Meridian, ID

Not pictured: Marzett Davis, 48

Malik Whitfield, 29

Position: DB Year: R-Fr. Home: Mtn. Home, ID

Jarrett Williams, 56

Position: DT Year: Fr. Home: Catheys Valley, CA

Sam Zvirdys, 66

Position:OL Year: Fr. Home: Tumwater, WA

Position: DB Year: Jr. Home: Sacramento, CA

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Idaho’s Best College. Idaho’s Brightest Students. College of Idaho founding President Dr. William Judson Boone famously said, “Let them come, let them all come, and we will see what they can do.” As football returns, the C of I is proud to extend its mission of providing an outstanding liberal arts education to more students than ever before. The College of Idaho has a legacy of academic excellence, a winning athletics tradition and a proven history of producing successful graduates. To learn more, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu, call (208) 459-5305 or email admission@collegeofidaho.edu. 1151674