As the century draws to a close, the Deseret News is selecting an All-Half Century football team for the state of Utah. Thousands of great football players have played at BYU, Utah, Utah State, Weber State and Southern Utah. With the help of officials from each university, we've come up with a list of approximately 200 top players from the five universities since 1950. Please vote for players based on their collegiate accomplishments, not professional or otherwise. If you feel we've left someone off the list, please use the space at the bottom for write-ins and list their schools and positions. Please send your entries to 50 FB Team/Deseret News sports/ P.O. Box 1257/ SLC, Utah 84110. Also include your name, hometown and age. Results will be published later this month.
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All Half-Century College Football Team
KEY--AA = All-American, BW = Big West, Def = defensive, EW = East-West Shrine Bowl Game, FG = Field goal, HM = Honorable mention, Hula = Hula Bowl, INT = interception, KO = Kickoff, PAT = Point after touchdown, POY = Player of Year, TO = total offense, YDs = yards.
QUARTERBACKS
LEE GROSSCUP, Utah '56-58 --1st-team All-American in 1957, 68.6 passing pct.
BILL MUNSON, Utah State '61-63--Completed 59.7 pct. in '63, played in Senior Bowl
POKEY ALLEN, Utah '62-64--Led Utes to 9-2 season, Liberty Bowl win
VIRGIL CARTER, BYU--'64-66 First of BYU all-American QBs 5,125 yds, 50 TDs
TONY ADAMS, Utah State '70-72--All-time leading Aggie passer with 6,226 yards, 52 TDs
DON VAN GALDER, Utah '71-73--All-WAC, Ute record-holder until Mitchell came along
GARY SHIEDE, BYU '73-74--2nd in NCAA passing twice, Sammy Baugh Trophy winner
GIFFORD NIELSEN, BYU '75-77--First-team AA, led NCAA in TD passes, 2nd in total offense
ERIC HIPPLE, Utah State '76-79--6,073 yards, 2nd all-time total offense at USU, Blue-Gray
MARC WILSON, BYU '77-79--Consensus AA, 1st in NCAA Total offense, 3rd in Heisman vote, Sr. Bowl MVP
JIM MCMAHON, BYU '77-81--9,536 yds, 84 TDs Set 70 NCAA records, 3rd in Heisman vote, led total offense and passing twice
STEVE YOUNG, BYU '81-83--2-time AA, lefty's 71.3 passing percentage in '83 an NCAA record , 2nd in Heisman vote
ROBBIE BOSCO, BYU '83-85--Led BYU to national title as Jr., 3rd in Heisman vote, 8,400 career yards, 66 TDs
SCOTT MITCHELL, Utah '87-89--Nearly 9,000 yards in just 3 seasons, 72 TD passes, led nation in '88 in passing, TO
TY DETMER, BYU '88-91--Heisman Trophy, NCAA's all-time leader with 15,031 yds, 121 TDs, still holds 58 NCAA records
JAMIE MARTIN, Weber State '89-92--1st team AA, I-AA player of year in '92, 12,207 yds, 87 TDs
JOHN WALSH, BYU '91-94--Forgotten Coug racked up 8,390 yds, 66 TDs in just 3 years
MIKE MCCOY, Utah '92-94--Passed for 7,404 yds, led Utes to 10-2 Freedom Bowl season
STEVE SARKISIAN, BYU '95-96--Piled up 7,464 yds, 54 TD passes in only two years, led NCAA in pass efficiency
KEVIN FETERIK, BYU '96-99--'99 start best-ever for Cougs, should end up with 8,000-plus yards
RUNNING BACKS
STUART VAUGHN, Utah '55-57--All-Skyline, EW-Shrine, led nation in receiving in '57
TOM LARSCHEID, Utah State--'59-61 Twice HM All-American, twice all-Skyline, 248 career points
ELDON FORTIE, BYU '60-62--Y.'s first all-American, 'The Phantom' broke 21 school records
RON COLEMAN, Utah '63-64--All-WAC, key player on Liberty Bowl team
ROY SHIVERS, Utah State '64-65--1,138 yds, 16 TDs in '65
JOHN OGDEN, BYU '64-66--Led Y. rushing 3 years, 5th on all-time list
MCARTHUR LANE, Utah State '65-67--Fullback averaged 6.9 per carry during career
LEE WHITE, Weber State '65-67--1st-team AA, East-West Game, Senior Bowl, 3,062 yds
PETE VAN VALKENBURG, BYU '70-72--Led nation in 1972, 4th on all-time Y. rushing list
JEFF BLANC, BYU '73-75--3rd on all-time rushing list with 2,663 yds
LOUIE GIAMMONA, Utah State--'73-75 2nd team AA, 3,499 career yards, led nation in '74 with 1,534 yds.
TODD CHRISTENSEN, BYU '74-77--FB known mostly for catching passes, MVP of 2 bowl all-star games
RICK PARROS, Utah State--'76-79 Second on USU list with 3,537, HM AA
TONY LINDSAY, Utah '77-80--Second on all-time Ute rushing list with 2,995
DEL RODGERS, Utah '78-81--'Popcorn' rushed for 2,616 yds, has top Ute mark with 31 TDs, EW
CARL MONROE, Utah '81-82--Single-season mark of 1,507 yds in '82, led nation in all-purpose running, Sr. Bowl
LAKEI HEIMULI, BYU '84-86--Second on all-time rushing list with 2,710 yds
EDDIE JOHNSON, Utah '84-88--All-time leading Ute leader with 3,219 yds, 35 TDs EW-Shrine
FINE UNGA, Weber State '87-88--2,298 yds is 2nd on WSU career list, 3,663 all-purpose yds
JAMAL WILLIS, BYU '91-94--All-time leading Cougar rusher with 2,970 yds, most career TDs with 39
ABU WILSON, Utah State '92-96--All-time leading USU rusher with 3,933 yds 40 TDs
CHRIS FUAMATU-MA'AFALA, Utah '95-97--3rd on Ute career rushing list with 2,630 yds in 3 years
DEMARIO BROWN, Utah State--'96-99 With 2,972 yds already, has chance to become USU's all-time leading rusher
RECEIVER
MARION PROBERT, BYU '52-54--All-Skyline 3 times, one of two Cougs with retired number
ROY JEFFERSON, Utah 62-64--Consensus all-American, also Utes' placekicker on Liberty Bowl team
PHIL ODLE, BYU '65-67 --183 passes caught for 2,548 yds, 3-time all-WAC
LOUIS THOMAS, Utah '67-68--All-WAC, 60 catches in '67, EW-Shrine
BOB WICKS, Utah State '69-71 --124 catches, Sr. Bowl
TOM FORZANI, Utah State '70-72--Led nation with 7.7 catches in '72, 1,806 yds, Blue-Gray
JAY MILLER, BYU '73-74--Led nation in '73 with 100 catches, 1,181 yds
LENNY WALTERSCHEID, Southern Utah '75-76--Two-time 2nd-team all-American
DAN PLATER, BYU '78-81--All-WAC, Sr. Bowl, EW-Shrine Game MVP
GLEN KOZLOWSKI, BYU '81-85--All-WAC, 2,223 career yards
MARK BELLINI, BYU '85-86 --5th on career receiving list, 2nd team AA, 2-time all-WAC
LOREN RICHEY, Utah '85-86--73 catches in '85 is Ute best, 5th on career list
WADE ORTON, Weber State '84-88 - Caught 170 passes for 2,922 yards, 18 TDs
KENDAL SMITH, Utah State '85-88--All-time leading Ag receiver, 169 for 2,943 yds, 3rd team AA, EW-Shrine
PAT NEWMAN, Utah State '86-89--5th all-time in receptions, 4th in yards, TDs
BRYAN ROWLEY, Utah '89-93--1st for career receiving yards (3,143), TDs (25)
TREVOR SHAW, Weber State '89-93 - All-time leading WSU receiver with 206 catches
ERIC DRAGE, BYU '91-93--Career yardage leader with 3,066 yds, EW-Shrine, 2-time all-WAC
KEVIN ALEXANDER, Utah State '92-95 --149 catches for 2,208 yds.
KEVIN DYSON, Utah '94-97-- U.'s all-time leader with 192 pass catches for 2,726 yds, Senior Bowl
TIGHT END
MARV FLEMING, Utah '60-62--All-Skyline, EW-Shrine
DALE NOSWORTHY, Utah '69-70--2-time all-WAC
CLAY BROWN, BYU '78-80--All-American, all-WAC, Hula Bowl, Sr. Bowl
GORDON HUDSON, BYU '81-83--One of two 2-time Y. consensus All-Americans, 2,484 career yards
TREVOR MOLINI, BYU '84-86--1st team AA in '85, All-WAC
CHRIS SMITH, BYU '87-90--Consensus AA, 2,367 career yards
DENNIS SMITH, Utah '86-89--3rd all-time Ute receiver, 25 TDs tied for first among Utes
ALFRED PUPUNU, Weber State '90-91 --1st team AA, 93 catches in '91 for 12 TDs
CHAD LEWIS , BYU '93-96--2-time all-WAC
ITULA MILI, BYU '94-96--All-WAC, selected to 2 bowl games
CAM QUAYLE, Weber State '94-97--1st team AA, 149 career catches for 1,414 yds, 10 TDs
OFFENSIVE LINE
DAVE KRAGTHORPE, Utah State '51-54--2-time All-Skyline
LEN RHODE, Utah State '57-59--2-time All-Skyline
ED PINE, Utah '59-61--1st team AA, twice all-Skyline, EW, Hula
DAVE COSTA, Utah '61-62--AA, WAC lineman of year, 3 bowl games
SID OTTON, Weber State '63-65 --1st team AA in I-AA
JOHN STIPECH, Utah '64-66--All-WAC, WAC lineman of year, EW
JIM SCHMEDDING, Weber State '65-67 --1st team AA in I-AA
GORDON GRAVELLE, BYU '69-71--WAC lineman of year in '71
PAUL HOWARD , BYU '70-72--All-WAC, 3 all-star bowl games
BRAD OATES , BYU '73-75--HM AA, All-WAC, played in 3 bowl games
ORRIN OLSEN, BYU '72-75--Coaches All-American Game
JIM HOUGH, Utah State '74-77--2nd team AA
NICK EYRE, BYU '78-80--Consensus All-American
DEAN MIRALDI , Utah '78-80--All-WAC, Blue-Gray, EW, Sr. Bowl
BART OATES , BYU '80-82--2nd team AA, All-WAC
DAVE KURESA, Utah State '81-84--Three-time all-PCAA
CARLTON WALKER '83-84--1st team All-American, all-WAC
MOE ELEWONIBI, BYU '88-89--Outland Trophy winner, Consensus AA
RANDY BOSTIC, Southern Utah '88-90--2-time 1st team AA
BRUCE COVERNTON, Weber State '89-91--1st team AA in I-AA
ANTHONY BROWN '93-94--All-WAC, 3rd team All-American
JOHN TAIT, BYU '96-98--2-time all-WAC
DEFENSIVE LINE
DEWEY BRUNDAGE, BYU '51-53 --All-Skyline
MERLIN OLSEN, Utah State '59-61--Outland Trophy, consensus AA twice
LIONEL ALDRIDGE, Utah State '60-62--HM AA, Hula Bowl
BILL STALEY, Utah State '65-67--1st team All-American
NORM MCBRIDE, Utah '67-68--2-time all-WAC
PHIL OLSEN, Utah State '67-69--Consensus AA in '61
HENRY REED, Weber State '68-70 --1st team AA in I-AA
CARTER CAMPBELL, Weber State '70-71 --1st team AA in I-AA
RON RYDALCH, Utah '71-73--All-WAC, Blue-Gray
PAUL LINFORD, BYU '72-74--2-time all-WAC
WAYNE BAKER, BYU '72-74--2nd team AA, MVP of Senior Bowl
MAT MENDENHALL, BYU '75-78--All-WAC
RULON JONES, Utah State '76-79--1st team AA, PCAA Def POY in '79
GLEN TITENSOR, BYU '79-80--2-time all-WAC
STEVE CLARK, Utah '78-81--All-American, 2-time all-WAC
SHAWN MILLER, Utah State '79-82--PCAA Def player of year in '82
BRAD ANAE, BYU '80-81--2-time all-WAC
GREG KRAGEN, Utah State '80-83--All-PCAA
CHUCK EHIN, BYU '79-82--All-WAC, Blue Gray
JASON BUCK, BYU '85-86--Outland Trophy winner, consensus AA
LUTHER ELLISS , Utah '91-94--Consensus AA, WAC player of year
BEN CROSLAND, Utah State '94-97--BW Def player of year in '97, HM AA
LINEBACKER
JEFF LYMAN, BYU '69-71--All-WAC Blue-Gray, Sr. Bowl
RON MCCALL, Weber State 65-66--1st team AA, EW-Shrine, Coaches AA Bowl
LARRY STONE, Utah '67-69--All-WAC
JOHN HUDDLESTON, Utah '73-75--Coaches AA Game, All-WAC, most tackles (174)
DANNY RICH, Weber State '78-81 --Career leader in tackles (450)
GLEN REDD, BYU '79-80--2-time all-WAC, EW-Shrine
MIKE HUMISTON, Weber State 79-80--1st team AA
TODD SHELL, BYU '80-83--2-time all-WAC, Sr. Bowl
HAL GARNER, Utah State '80-84--2-time all-PCAA, Blue-Gray, Sr. Bowl
MARK BLOSCH, Utah '81-84--U. career tackle leader (494), all-WAC
LEON WHITE, BYU '82-85--2nd team AA, All-WAC, EW-Shrine
KURT GOUVEIA, BYU '83-85--All-WAC, Hula Bowl
AL SMITH, Utah State '84-86--PCAA player of year, 2-time all-PCAA, HM AA
BOB DAVIS, BYU '87-89--3rd team AA, 2-time all-WAC, EW, Hula Bowl
DEL LYLES, Utah State '88-91--All-time leading USU tackler with 446, all-BW
ANTHONY DAVIS, Utah '90-91--2-time all-WAC, EW, Japan Bowl
JERMAINE YOUNGER, Utah State '90-93--BW POW, 2-time all-league, Blue-Gray, Sr. Bowl
SHAY MUIRBROOK, BYU '93-96--2-time all-WAC
DAVID GILL, Utah State '93-96--2-time all-Big West
PHIL GLOVER, Utah '97-98--All-WAC, Senior Bowl
TONY D'AMATO, Utah State '97-98--Big West def. POW, 170 tackles set USU record
ROB MORRIS, BYU '96-99--WAC defensive player year in '98
DEFENSIVE BACK
LARRY WILSON, Utah--'57-59 Two-way star, 3rd-team AA, once scored 5 TDs in a game
HENRY KING, Utah State '65-66--18 INTs for 373 yds, led nation with 11 in '66
BOBBY ROBERTS, BYU '65-67--18 career INTs, 2-time all-WAC safety
CHUCK DETWILER, Utah State '66-68--11 INTs for 140 yds
NORM THOMPSON, Utah--'69-70 All-American, twice all-WAC, NCAA record for interception yards
DAN HANSEN, BYU '70-72--18 career INTs, 421 yds is No. 1 on Y. list, 2-time all-WAC safety
DAVE ATKINSON, BYU '71-73--Y. leader with 20 career INTs, EW-Shrine
DENNIS DUNCANSON, Weber State '77-78--2-time AA, 15 career INTs
JEFF GRIFFIN, Utah '77-80--2nd-team AA, 2-time all-WAC, EW-Shrine, Sr. Bowl
BILL SCHOEPFLIN, BYU '78-80--2-time all-WAC
TOM HOLMOE, BYU '79-82--All-WAC, 13 INTs, Hula Bowl
PATRICK ALLEN, Utah State '80-83--All-PCAA, Blue-Gray
KYLE MORRELL, BYU '81-84--WAC def. Player of the year, EW-Shrine, Sr. Bowl
DONALD TOOMER, Utah State '91-94--2nd on career INT list (12), EW-Shrine
HAROLD LUSK, Utah '92-95--U.'s interception leader (18), EW-Shrine, all-WAC
OMARR MORGAN, BYU '96-97--2-time all-WAC EW-Shrine
JOHNDALE CARTY, Utah State '95-98--2-time all-Big West, 4th all-time in tackles
SCOTT SHIELDS, Weber State '95-98--23 career INTs, 278 yds, 2 TDs, 2-time AA
KICK RETURNER
TOM LARSCHEID, Utah State '59-61--Led nation in punt returns in '61, 3 returns for TDs
ALTIE TAYLOR, Utah State '66-68--Led nation in KO returns in '67
CHRIS FARASOPOLOUS, BYU '68-70--Averaged nearly 30 yds per kickoff return, 14.5 in punt returns for career
GOLDEN RICHARDS, BYU '70-71--Led nation in punt returns in '71, 4 for TDs
STEVE ODOM, Utah '71-73--1st team AA, led nation in KO returns
VAI SIKEHEMA, BYU '80-85--Averaged over 25 yds per kickoff in 3 seasons, 3 TDs on punts
ERROLL TUCKER, Utah '84-85--1st team AA, led nation in KO and punt returns (4 TDs)
JAMES DYE, BYU '95-96--5 TDs on returns in two seasons
STEVE SMITH, Utah State '96-97--3 punt returns for TDs in '97
PUNTER
RICH ADAMS, BYU '67-69--3-year starter, most punts in Y. history
CRAIG SMITH, Utah '67-69--3-year starter, American Bowl, most punts (214), also played DB
MARV BATEMAN, Utah '69-71--All-American, led nation twice, 48.1 ave. in '71, 51 punts over 50 yds
LEE JOHNSON, BYU '83-84--47.0 career ave., 50.6 in '83
RICK PARTRIDGE, Utah '77-78--43.7 ave. as 2-year starter
GUY MCCLURE, Utah State '78-81--3-time all-PCAA 42.5 ave as 4-year starter
PAT THOMPSON, BYU '86-88--3-year starter, led WAC twice, 44.8 in '88, 1st team AA
LOUIE AGUIAR, Utah State '87-88--42.6 ave. as two-year starter
EARL KAUFMANN, BYU '88-91--3-year starter, led WAC in '90, 41.8 ave.
ALAN BOARDMAN, BYU '93-96--4-year starter, 42-yd ave
CHRIS HUNTER, Utah '96-99 4-year starter, 41.5 ave.
PLACEKICKER
MARV BATEMAN, Utah '69-71--21-41 FGs (51.2), 59-yarder still a Ute record
STEVE STEINKE, Utah State '77-80--38-60 FGs (63.3 pct), 90-95 PATs
KURT GUNTHER, BYU '80-82--27-47 FGs (57.4), 162-179 PATs, NCAA record for PATs
WILLIE BEECHER, Utah State '81-84--36-54 FGs (66.7 pct), 64-64 PATs
ANDRE GUARDI, Utah '83-86--34-49 FGs (69.4 pct)125-127 PATs, 95 straight PATs, 11 straight FGs
LEE JOHNSON, BYU '83-84--24-40 FGs (60.0 pct), 95-101 PATs
ROGER RUZEK, Weber State '85-87--46-78 FGs (59.0 pct), 51 PATs
LEONARD CHITTY, BYU '86-87--34-47 FGs (72.4 pct.) 64-67 PATs, Y. leader in most FGs in career (34)
EARL KAUFMANN, BYU '88-91--21-39 FGs (53.8 pct), 96-106 PATs
CHRIS YERGENSEN, Utah '91-93--44-66 FGs (66.7 pct), 83-87 PATs, beat BYU in '93 with 55-yarder
MICAH KNORR, Utah State '93-96--39-62 FGs (65.9 pct), 80-84 PATs
DANIEL PULSIPHER, Utah '94-96--35-54 FGs (64.8), 116-118 PATs
SCOTT SHIELDS, Weber State '95-98--67-90 FGs (74.4 pct), 55 PATs, 2-time AA
BRAD BOHN, Utah State '97-00--39-55 FGs (70.8 pct), 66-73 PATs
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WRITE-IN BALLOT....
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