1973 Boise State Broncos football team

1973 Boise State Broncos football
1973 Boise State Broncos football
Big Sky champion
Division II Semifinal - Pioneer Bowl, ; L 34–38 vs. Louisiana Tech
Conference	Big Sky Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 8 (small college)
AP	No. 5 (small college)
Record	10–3 (6–0 Big Sky)
Head coach	Tony Knap (6th season);
Home stadium	Bronco Stadium
	Seasons ← 1972 1974 →

1973 Big Sky Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 5 Boise State $^	6	–	0	–	0	10	–	3	–	0
Montana State	5	–	1	–	0	7	–	4	–	0
Idaho	3	–	2	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Northern Arizona	2	–	3	–	0	4	–	6	–	0
Montana	2	–	4	–	0	4	–	6	–	0
Weber State	2	–	4	–	0	3	–	8	–	0
Idaho State	0	–	6	–	0	2	–	9	–	0

$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AP small college poll

The 1973 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State College during the 1973 NCAA Division II football season, the sixth season of Bronco football (at the four-year level) and the first in the newly reorganized Division II. The Broncos were in their fourth year as members of the Big Sky Conference (and NCAA) and played their home games on campus at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho.

Led by sixth-year head coach Tony Knap, the Broncos were 9–2 in the regular season and undefeated in conference (6–0) to win their first Big Sky title.^[1] Invited to the inaugural eight-team Division II playoffs, BSC hosted a 53–10 quarterfinal win over South Dakota.^[2] In the semifinals, the Broncos lost 38–34 to Louisiana Tech in the Pioneer Bowl in Texas,^[3] giving up a touchdown in the final seconds and finished at 10–3.^[4]^[5]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 15	2:30 pm	at Idaho		Idaho Stadium Moscow, ID (rivalry)	W 47–24	17,104	^[6]^[7]
September 22	7:30 pm	Montana State	No. 10	Bronco Stadium Boise, ID	W 27–17	14,521	^[8]
September 29	7:30 pm	Portland State*	No. 10	Bronco Stadium Boise, ID	W 64–7	12,408	^[9]
October 6	7:30 pm	at Weber State	No. 8	Wildcat Stadium Ogden, UT	W 34–7	11,586	^[10]^[11]^[12]
October 13	9:15 pm	at UNLV*	No. 5	Las Vegas Stadium Whitney, NV	L 19–24	12,458	^[13]^[14]
October 20	1:00 pm	Northern Arizona	No. 11	Bronco Stadium Boise, ID	W 21–6	10,112	^[15]
October 27	7:30 pm	Montana	No. 11	Bronco Stadium Boise, ID	W 55–7	12,852	^[16]
November 3	1:00 pm	at Nevada*	No. 9	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV (rivalry)	L 21–23	3,111	^[17]
November 10	8:00 pm	at Idaho State	No. 11	ASISU Minidome Pocatello, ID	W 21–17	12,000	^[18]
November 17	1:30 pm	No. 4 Cal Poly*	No. 10	Bronco Stadium Boise, ID	W 42–10	13,885	^[19]
November 24	7:30 pm	at UC Davis*	No. 8	Toomey Field Davis, CA	W 32–31	4,300	^[20]^[21]^[22]
December 1	12:30 pm	No. 10 South Dakota*	No. 7	Bronco Stadium Boise, ID (Division II Quarterfinal)	W 53–10	14,358	^[2]
December 8	11:30 am	vs. No. 3 Louisiana Tech*	No. 7	Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, TX (Division II Semifinal—Pioneer Bowl)	L 34–38	13,000	^[3]^[4]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Mountain time

^[23]

Roster

1973 Boise State Broncos football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
QB	`12`	Jim McMillan	Jr
QB	`15`	Ron Autele	Sr
RB	`21`	Harry Riener	Sr
RB	`22`	Chester Grey	Jr
RB	`40`	John Smith	So
RB	`42`	Ron Emry	So
C	`54`	John Klotz	Sr
RT	`60`	Charlie Russell	Sr
LG	`61`	Glenn Sparks	So
RG	`63`	Dan Dixon	Sr
LT	`76`	Al Davis	Sr
WR	`81`	Don Hutt (C)	Jr
WR	`89`	Dick Donohue	Sr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
CB	`14`	Greg Frederick (C)	So
FS	`25`	Pat King	Sr
CB	`29`	Rolly Woolsey	Jr
SS	`43`	Jim Meeks	Jr
RLB	`45`	Loren Schmidt	Jr
MLB	`51`	Ron Davis	Jr
LLB	`82`	Claude Tomasini	Jr
RDT	`71`	Vaa Afoa	Jr
LDT	`73`	Blessing Bird	Sr
DL	`78`	Ron Franklin	Jr
LDE	`83`	Mark Goodman	Sr
RDE	`87`	Ken Mills	Jr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K	`29`	Rolly Woolsey	Jr
P	`39`	Gary Gorrell	So

Head coach

Tony Knap (6th year)

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Steve Buratto (DB, OLB)
Charlie Dine (DL, MLB)
Dave Nickel (OL)
Adam Rita (WR)
Doug Woolsey (OB)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Source:^[6]^[13]

NFL draft

Three Broncos were selected in the 1974 NFL draft, which lasted 17 rounds (442 selections).

Player	Position	Round	Overall	Franchise
Don Hutt	Wide receiver	9th	213	Los Angeles Rams
Dan Dixon	Guard	13th	313	Houston Oilers
Al Davis	Guard	17th	433	Atlanta Falcons

^[24]^[25]

References

^ "Boise State Broncos -- College Football (NCAA)". college-football-results.com. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Boise St. smears South Dakota". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. December 2, 1973. p. 19.
^ ^a ^b "Boise in semis". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. December 8, 1973. p. 17.
^ ^a ^b "Late TD tops Boise". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. December 9, 1973. p. 19.
^ DeLassus, David (2016). "Boise State Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Payne, Bob (September 15, 1973). "Idaho, Boise resume war". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 14.
^ "Happiness is Boise State". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. September 17, 1973. p. 15.
^ "Autele leads Boise victory". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. September 23, 1973. p. 2, sports.
^ "Boise State, 64-7". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 30, 1973. p. 6C.
^ Blodgett, Gary R. (October 6, 1973). "WSC gridders set for tough Boise". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. D3.
^ "Boise State whips Weber". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. October 7, 1973. p. 21.
^ Blodgett, Gary R. (October 8, 1973). "Awesome Broncos swamp Weber". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. D2.
^ ^a ^b "Game program: UNLV Rebels vs. Boise State Broncos". University of Nevada, Las Vegas. University Libraries. October 13, 1973. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
^ "Las Vegas upsets Boise 24-19". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 14, 1973. p. 16.
^ "Mustangs struggle". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. October 21, 1973. p. 21.
^ Shelledy, Jay (October 28, 1973). "Boise St. runs over Grizzlies". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 20.
^ "'Cats romp but UN nips Boise". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 4, 1973. p. 13.
^ "Boise nabs title". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 11, 1973. p. 14.
^ "Boise riddles Cal Poly, 42-10". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 18, 1973. p. 20.
^ "Boise earns NCAA berth by edging Davis 32-31". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 25, 1973. p. 19.
^ "Boise awaits bowl tilt". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 26, 1973. p. 18.
^ "How they fared". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 26, 1973. p. 18.
^ "Record book (football)" (PDF). Boise State University Athletics. 2016. p. 70. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 15, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
^ "Odom goes in 5th round". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. January 30, 1974. p. D1.
^ "Several area stars taken in grid draft". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). Associated Press. January 31, 1974. p. 2D.

External links

BSC Arbiter – student newspaper – 1973 editions

[college-football-results-1] "Boise State Broncos -- College Football (NCAA)". college-football-results.com. Retrieved June 12, 2016.

[smearsd-2] "Boise St. smears South Dakota". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. December 2, 1973. p. 19.

[sempre-3] "Boise in semis". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. December 8, 1973. p. 17.

[ltdtopboi-4] "Late TD tops Boise". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. December 9, 1973. p. 19.

[5] DeLassus, David (2016). "Boise State Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.

[idboresm-6] Payne, Bob (September 15, 1973). "Idaho, Boise resume war". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 14.

[haisbo-7] "Happiness is Boise State". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. September 17, 1973. p. 15.

[autelelds-8] "Autele leads Boise victory". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. September 23, 1973. p. 2, sports.

[bssfv-9] "Boise State, 64-7". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 30, 1973. p. 6C.

[settff-10] Blodgett, Gary R. (October 6, 1973). "WSC gridders set for tough Boise". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. D3.

[wpwbr-11] "Boise State whips Weber". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. October 7, 1973. p. 21.

[swamp-12] Blodgett, Gary R. (October 8, 1973). "Awesome Broncos swamp Weber". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. D2.

[unlvpro-13] "Game program: UNLV Rebels vs. Boise State Broncos". University of Nevada, Las Vegas. University Libraries. October 13, 1973. Retrieved August 15, 2022.

[lvuboi-14] "Las Vegas upsets Boise 24-19". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 14, 1973. p. 16.

[msstrgg-15] "Mustangs struggle". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. October 21, 1973. p. 21.

[rogrz-16] Shelledy, Jay (October 28, 1973). "Boise St. runs over Grizzlies". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 20.

[unipsboi-17] "'Cats romp but UN nips Boise". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 4, 1973. p. 13.

[boinabs-18] "Boise nabs title". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 11, 1973. p. 14.

[boiridl-19] "Boise riddles Cal Poly, 42-10". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 18, 1973. p. 20.

[ucdedg-20] "Boise earns NCAA berth by edging Davis 32-31". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 25, 1973. p. 19.

[bawtbtl-21] "Boise awaits bowl tilt". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 26, 1973. p. 18.

[hthey-22] "How they fared". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 26, 1973. p. 18.

[sxtnrecbk-23] "Record book (football)" (PDF). Boise State University Athletics. 2016. p. 70. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 15, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2016.

[dgifrd-24] "Odom goes in 5th round". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. January 30, 1974. p. D1.

[sastigd-25] "Several area stars taken in grid draft". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). Associated Press. January 31, 1974. p. 2D.

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v t e Boise State Broncos football
Venues	Public School Field (1933–1939) College Field (1940–1949) Bronco Stadium (I) (1950–1969) Albertsons Stadium (1970–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Fresno State Idaho Nevada
Culture & lore	Buster Bronco
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1933–1967 (junior college) 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold

v t e Big Sky Conference football champions
College Division / Division II	Idaho State (1963) Montana State (1964) Weber State & Idaho (1965) Montana State (1966) Montana State (1967) Idaho, Montana State, & Weber State (1968) Montana (1969) Montana (1970) Idaho (1971) Montana State (1972) Boise State (1973) Boise State (1974) Boise State (1975) Montana State (1976) Boise State (1977)
I-AA/FCS	Northern Arizona (1978) Montana State (1979) Boise State (1980) Idaho State (1981) Montana, Idaho, & Montana State (1982) Nevada (1983) Montana State (1984) Idaho (1985) Nevada (1986) Idaho (1987) Idaho (1988) Idaho (1989) Nevada (1990) Nevada (1991) Idaho & Eastern Washington (1992) Montana (1993) Boise State (1994) Montana (1995) Montana (1996) Eastern Washington (1997) Montana (1998) Montana (1999) Montana (2000) Montana (2001) Montana, Montana State, & Idaho State (2002) Montana State, Montana, & Northern Arizona (2003) Montana & Eastern Washington (2004) Eastern Washington, Montana State, & Montana (2005) Montana (2006) Montana (2007) Weber State & Montana (2008) Montana (2009) Montana State & Eastern Washington (2010) Montana State & Montana (2011) Eastern Washington, Montana State, & Cal Poly (2012) Eastern Washington (2013) Eastern Washington (2014) Southern Utah (2015) Eastern Washington & North Dakota (2016) Southern Utah & Weber State (2017) Eastern Washington, UC Davis, & Weber State (2018) Sacramento State & Weber State (2019) Weber State (2020) Sacramento State (2021) Montana State & Sacramento State (2022) Montana (2023) Montana State (2024)
National championships in bold