THE MANE ATTRACTION ---------------------------- so red by the Women's Athletic Associa­ tion. In some years, BJC women did field basketball and tennis teams that competed outside the college, usually against Northwest Nazarene or College of Idaho. In 1936, the women organized a basketball team that played other teams in the city. The next year, the women played Gooding College and the YWCA teams. Most women, if they partici­ pated in sports beyond the required physical education class, played in two or three sports activities during the year. In 1945, a women's tennis team consisting of Thelma Stewart, Gail Cof­ fin and juanita Montgomery defeated all comers. Women's basketball practice in 1945. From left, Esther Landers, Yvonne Martin, Gail CoHin, Thelma Stewart, The War Years and into the 1950s Virginia Kohout and Eileen Stevens. Football, 1942-50 By 1942, war had gripped the world. Even the tiny campus in Boise was affected as male students and faculty joined the military. Football went to a six-man team that played local colleges, the airmen at Gowen Field and, occasionally, the inmates at the Idaho State Penitentiary. The program stayed at this reduced level for the 1942-45 seasons before it was revived in 1946. In 1945, the Broncos started with 30 players out for football. But by mid-October, only five showed up for practice and Coach Carl Warner cancelled the season before the first game was scheduled. Once the war was over, enrollment increased and put the men's program on a stable footing. It took a full year after the war to get the sports program activated. In 1946, football and tennis attracted returning veterans. The B]C Roundup of April 18, 1946, reported that Above: Frank Sandner. Left: The six­ man team in J944 included: standing, Gene Reusser, Jim Reed, Herb Everitt, Marty Lund, Roy Koll and kneeling, John Tate, Don Keefer, Lynn Cox, Nick Roberts, Charles Massey and Bob Oliver. 94 THE MANE ATIRACTION "there will be no track at BJC this year due to a lack of interest, and a lack of funds for traveling and equipment. Most of the athletic-minded fellows here at school this year are devoting their time to either tennis or football." jacoby returned from the war and his 1946 football squad posted a 3-5-1 record. A large group of veterans turned out, but the Broncos had trouble scoring points early in the season. In the first six games, they crossed the goal line only three times. The Broncos did win or tie their last three games, thus unknowingly beginning an unde­ feated streak that would last until 1950. But 1946 was marked in Bronco history for more than the win-loss record. Suffering from a war injury, jacoby hired a young assistant to help with the team. His name was Lyle Smith. 194 7 was a watershed year for the Broncos. Prior to that time, the school had never fielded a winning football team, with frequent coaching changes and a reduced program during World War II. But all that changed in 194 7 when Smith took over from jacoby. Smith immediately turned the program around. Sixty players showed up for practice the first day, the most since the program began. The roster listed players from Oregon, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and 12 towns in Idaho. Using Smith's disciplined single wing offense, the Broncos surprised even them­ Dick Nelson was BJC's first selves when they marched through the nine-game season undefeated. Little All-American in J947. The Broncos, ranked as one of the top six teams in the country, caught the eye of Little Rose Bowl officials. The Broncos defeated the University of Idaho freshmen 19-12 in a Homecoming game that was carried over KDSH radio- the first play­ by-play broadcast in the school's history. They also defeated Weber College, Ricks College, Carbon College, Olympic junior College, South­ ern Idaho College of Education and Eastern Oregon that season. The last game of the season against Albion was played at a neutral site - Glenns Ferry. Even so, 2,000 fans turned out for the 7-0 Bronco win. During the year the Broncos produced their first All-American, tackle Dick Nelson from Boise. The first undefeated team in school history was led by Leo Compton, Ben jayne, jack Frisch, Phil Iriondo, Pete Call, WHAT ABOUT IT? People go to football games for several reasons. Maybe it is for the fun and excitement, or for the spirit created by a · cold crisp day with two teams battling for supremacy, or for the sup­ port of the team, and even to let off steam. There are several ways to let off steam-by yelling for the team or player when on top or when on the bottom, or partici­ pating in the yells given by the yell leaders, or clapping and singing when the band plays. There is one way which is not necessary or sportsmanlike. More than a few have noticed that at the recent games some stu­ dents have been guilty of making fun of the yell leaders and band members by shouting remarks to them and by throwing things such as cups and papers. They are doing their best and they are there because YOU. put them there or if you didn't vote it is not your place or privilege to make remarks. Only a few members of this student body are guilty of this action, but it gives BJC a bad reputation which is likely to follow us for the rest of the season if the report gets back to other towns by visiting team members. We have a wonderful team. They are out on the field fighting for us. It is only right that we do the same for them. Above: Halfback Bob Mayes. Left: Let's all try! Roundup Editorial from Oct. 29, 1948, decries lack of school spirit. 95 THE MANE ATTRACTION --------------------------- Don Miller, George Rogers, jerry Wilson, jim Lewis, Bob Mays, Ray Koll, Earl Naylor, Gail Porritt, Don Underkofler, Bob Underkofler, Gene Goetz, Don Dunn, jim Lewis, Terry McMullen, Don Cockayne, Ted Nelson and Perry Colton. Elated Bronco fans launched a public relations campaign to send their team to the famed Little Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, California. Gov. C. A. Robbins sent a wire to the selection committee and local sporting goods store owner Sib Kleffner got word from friend Bing Crosby that the committee was interested and that Crosby was doing everything he could to help the Broncos. But the BJC bid was unsuccessful and the Broncos were left out of the bowl picture. In 1948, nine colleges in Idaho and Utah joined to form the Intermountain Collegiate Athletic Confer­ ence (ICAC), providing new framework for competi­ tion, including league championships. BJC, Ricks, Albion, Weber, Snow, Westminster, Branch Agricul­ tural College, Dixie and Carbon were the conference members. It did not take long for the league to find out about the BJC football program. For a second consecutive year, the team went undefeated, scoring 233 points against their opponents' 67. Smith hired George Blankley to replace Bill Richter as assistant coach. Ben jayne, a native of Enid, Oklahoma, who enrolled at BJC after visiting his sister in Boise, was named an All -American end, while teammates jack Frisch and Phil Iriondo received honorable mention. As in 1947, the undefeated season was not rewarded by a postseason bowl berth. In 1949, the Broncos earned national recognition when they again went undefeated and were rated third in the country. At last the Broncos received their bowl bids, one to Beaumont, Texas, and the other, which they accepted, Top: End Ben Jayne, was named to Bakersfield, California, to meet Taft California Junior College in the a JC All-American after the 1948 season. Above: Don Drake and Potato Bowl. The Potato Bowl Committee guaranteed $3,800 to cover Phil lriondo get ready for a game the Broncos' travel expenses. while Coach Lyle Smith oHers The Broncos left for Bakersfield accompanied by a 25-piece pep words of advice. band, BJC queen Cecilia Simmons and a host of fans who carried placards, pennants and sacks of Idaho potatoes to display before the Bakersfield potato growers. 5 The football team and many fans traveled by bus to Winnemucca and then by train to Bakersfield, while others took a chartered plane sponsored by The Idaho Statesman. The Broncos arrived in Bakersfield on Thursday and were featured guests at break­ fasts, in the Christmas parade and on radio broadcasts. Coach Smith and President Chaffee shared the limelight with the team. Fifteen thousand cheering fans attended the Shrine-sponsored game in Griffith Stadium. Radio stations KFXD and KDSH broadcast the game in Boise. Taft fielded a solid ball club with only one lineman weighing in at less than 200 pounds. The Broncos, dressed in new uniforms, were sparked by dynamite backs Bob Agee, team captain Bill Moore and Dick Bader. The Broncos made their first score before the game was two minutes old, but failed on the PAT. The Taft Cougars roared back and made the score 7-6. The Broncos took a 13-7 lead into the locker room at halftime and scored again on the sixth play of the third quarter. In the third quarter, and once again in the fourth, the Broncos were kept out of the end zone The J949 Potato Bowl Trophy. 96 --------------------------- THE MANE ATTRACTION Broncos Victorious in Potato .Bo,wl 25-7 Cage l!owers Appear Here on Thursday;BJC Ground Pla?' Isport Lines Phillips-66- M-.e- ,e-tldaho - .,,;~: ?E~~ ·' · · · oorvh~chf~~rTaft L!,, Vandals at Local Court Fumblrs Prnl'nt Furthl'r lilat•..._~ J ----- Se•·en Foot· Kurland to Lend ' Against i1eteran Finley-Concl!etl VI The Broncos celebrated their historic Potato Bowl win in l949.