Aztecs Playing in Their 4th Straight Bowl Game

Saturday's Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will be only the 11th bowl game in Aztec history, but significantly it will be their fourth in a row. Only 29 teams in the country have been to four straight bowl games, and only five from non-BCS schools, a mark of the progress the Aztecs have been making under Rocky Long.

Our first bowl game was the Harbor Bowl, here in 1947. Not the most pleasant of memories in my streak. We played a then-powerful Hardin-Simmons and lost 53-0 in front of 12,000 fans in Balboa Stadium. The ground-oriented Cowboys ran for 470 yards and threw for only 75.

The Aztecs’ 27-6 win over San Francisco State in the 1967 Camellia Bowl in Sacramento may be best remembered because the Gators’ QB, who was a very good one, took such a beating he still can feel a hit he took from Jimmy Hight. That QB? Today he is our Offensive Coordinator -- Bob Toledo.

Aztec DL Cliff Hancock (#61) sacks SF State QB Bob Toledo in the 1967 Camellia Bowl. From Del Sudoeste: “Gator QB Bob Toledo entered the game with a helmet that resembled a planetarium. The SF State standout had one star for each of his 45 touchdown passes painted on his headgear. The only stars that were added during the Camellia Bowl were possibly ones in front if his eyes." (Photo from 1968 Del Sudoeste)

Another bowl game that leaps to mind was the 1998 Las Vegas Bowl, played in frigid temperatures with 50 mph winds blowing sand and debris all over the field. We lost, 20-13, even though we held a 293-196 edge in yardage, and controlled the ball for almost 34 minutes.

The 1969 Pasadena Bowl capped an 11-0 season with a 28-7 win over Boston University. Dennis Shaw and John Featherstone dominated the Terriers after they had grabbed a 7-0 lead early. Defense was led by Galen Pavelko’s two interceptions .The big crowd of 41,276 was mostly Aztec fans, who supported in big numbers in those days.

John Featherstone scores vs. Boston U. in the 1969 Pasadena Bowl (Photo by Ernie Anderson)

Saturday’s game in Boise will provide a first for Aztec players. 15 of the 18 Seniors involved will have played in all four of the bowl games – something no other Aztec has enjoyed. Another sign of the growing success of Aztec football.

 

 

Latest weather forecast for game day: High of 35; low of 23. 20% chance of snow or rain, and little wind. 

GO AZTECS!