1966 Wyoming Cowboys football team

The 1966 Wyoming Cowboys football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wyoming as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. In their fifth year under head coach Lloyd Eaton, the Cowboys compiled a 10–1 record, won the first of three consecutive WAC titles, outscored opponents by a total of 355 to 89, and had the nation's best rushing defense.[1]

1966 Wyoming Cowboys football
WAC champion
Sun Bowl champion
Sun Bowl, W 28–20 vs. Florida State
ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 15
Record10–1 (5–0 WAC)
Head coach
CaptainRick Egloff, Tom Frazier
Home stadiumWar Memorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1965
1967 →
1966 Western Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 15 Wyoming $ 5 0 0 10 1 0
BYU 3 2 0 8 2 0
Arizona State 3 2 0 5 5 0
Utah 3 2 0 5 5 0
Arizona 1 4 0 3 7 0
New Mexico 0 5 0 2 8 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Coaches Poll

Led on offense by senior quarterback Rick Egloff and junior running back Jim Kiick, Wyoming defeated Florida State 24–16 in the Sun Bowl at El Paso, Texas.[2][3][4] Defensive tackle Ron Billingsley was a first round pick in the 1967 NFL/AFL Draft, the fourteenth overall selection.

The team played its home games on campus at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie.

Schedule edit

DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 17at Air Force*W 13–0
September 24Arizona StateW 23–6
October 1Arizona
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Laramie, WY
W 36–6
October 8Utah
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Laramie, WY
W 40–7
October 15New Mexico
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Laramie, WY
W 37–7
October 22Utah State*
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Laramie, WY (rivalry)
W 35–10
October 29at Colorado State*No. 10L 10–12
November 5at Wichita State*W 55–0
November 12at Texas Western*W 31–7
November 19at BYUW 47–14
December 24vs. Florida State*
NBCW 28–2024,381
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[5]

NFL/AFL Draft edit

Four Cowboys were selected in the 1967 NFL/AFL Draft, the first common draft, which lasted seventeen rounds (445 selections).[6]

Player Position Round Overall Franchise
Ron Billingsley Defensive tackle 1 14 San Diego Chargers
Rick Egloff Quarterback 6 155 Oakland Raiders
Don Klacking Running back 8 203 Philadelphia Eagles
Mike Davenport Running back 17 428 Pittsburgh Steelers

References edit

  1. ^ "University of Wyoming Official Athletic Site - Traditions". Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  2. ^ "Cowboys ride herd over Seminoles". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 25, 1966. p. 1B.
  3. ^ "Wyoming forgets TV to win, 28-20". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 25, 1966. p. 8, part 2.
  4. ^ "Wyoming wins Duel in Sun". Milwaukee Journal. wire services. December 25, 1966. p. 2, sports.
  5. ^ DeLassus, David. "Coaching Records Game-by-game: Lloyd W. Eaton, 1966". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  6. ^ "1967 NFL Draft". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 9, 2013.