This Vandal team had several players who went on to extended careers in professional football. [1] Jerry Kramer of Sandpoint played eleven seasons at right guard with the Green Bay Packers and won five NFL titles (and the first two Super Bowls) under head coach Vince Lombardi. He was an All-Pro five times and was the lead blocker on the famous Packers sweep. Kramer made the NFL's all-decade team for the 1960s and was the last member of the NFL's 50th anniversary team to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, at age 82 in 2018.
Wayne Walker of Boise played fifteen seasons with the Detroit Lions as an outside linebacker and was named All-Pro three times. Both were juniors in 1956 and were selected in the fourth round of the 1958 NFL draft; Kramer was 39th overall and Walker 45th, and both were periodic placekickers as pros. (As Vandals, Kramer was the kicker and Walker was the long snapper.)
Jim Prestel of Indianapolis was a defensive tackle for eight seasons in the NFL, primarily with the expansion Minnesota Vikings. A sophomore in 1956, he missed most of the following season due to his mother's terminal illness. [21] [22] Selected in the sixth round of the 1959 NFL draft, 70th overall, he was granted another year of eligibility and played for Idaho in 1959 and began his pro career with the Cleveland Browns in 1960. Prestel was also a standout player on the Vandal basketball team. [23] He played in his final game at Idaho in the Battle of the Palouse in late October with a broken foot, then was sidelined and missed the basketball season. [24]
No Vandals were on the All-PCC team or the second team. Honorable mention were quarterback Gary Johnson, tackle Dick Foster, guard Jerry Kramer, and center Wayne Walker. [25] [26]
One Vandal was selected in the 1957 NFL draft: [27]
Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
Dick Foster | T | 11th | 129 | Washington Redskins |
Five juniors were selected in the 1958 NFL draft: [28]
Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
Jerry Kramer | G | 4th | 39 | Green Bay Packers |
Wayne Walker | C | 4th | 45 | Detroit Lions |
Larry Aldrich | E | 11th | 127 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Wade Patterson | E | 16th | 183 | Chicago Cardinals |
Alvin Johnson | T | 18th | 216 | Cleveland Browns |
One sophomore was selected in the 1959 NFL draft: [29]
Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
Jim Prestel ^ | T | 6th | 70 | Cleveland Browns |
^ Prestel was granted another year of eligibility and played for Idaho in 1959.
Jacob Neil "Skip" Stahley was an American college football coach and athletic director. He served as the head football coach at the University of Delaware in 1934, Brown University from 1941 to 1943, George Washington University from 1946 to 1947, the University of Toledo from 1948 to 1949, and the University of Idaho from 1954 to 1961. Stahley was the athletic director at Idaho from 1960 to 1964 and Portland State University from 1964 to 1972.
James Francis Prestel is a former professional football player, a defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) in the 1960s.
The 1945 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) during the 1945 college football season. Home games were played on campus in Seattle at Husky Stadium.
The 1953 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State College during the 1953 college football season. Led by second-year head coach Al Kircher, the team was 4–6 overall and 3–4 in the Pacific Coast Conference.
The 1955 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State College during the 1955 college football season. In his fourth and final year, head coach Al Kircher led the team to a 1–7–2 record,1–5–1 in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC). They played their three home games on campus at Rogers Field in Pullman.
The 1956 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State College during the 1956 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Jim Sutherland, the team posted a 3–6–1 overall record, and were 2–5–1 in the Pacific Coast Conference.
The 1959 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University as an independent during the 1959 college football season. In their fourth season under head coach Jim Sutherland, the Cougars compiled a 6–4 record and outscored their opponents 177 to 121.
The 1957 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1957 college football season. The Vandals were led by fourth-year head coach Skip Stahley and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one home game in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College. Led on the field by quarterbacks Howard Willis and Gary Kenworthy, Idaho compiled a 4–4–1 overall record and were 0–3 in the PCC.
The 1952 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1952 college football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Raymond A. Curfman and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one game in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.
The 1947 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1947 college football season. The Vandals were led by first-year head coach Dixie Howell, and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference. Home games were played on campus in Moscow at Neale Stadium, with one game in Boise at Public School Field. The Vandals were 4–4 overall and 1–4 in conference play.
The 1961 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1961 college football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Skip Stahley, the Vandals were an independent in the NCAA's University Division and went 2–7. Two home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.
The 1959 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1959 college football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Skip Stahley, the Vandals were an independent in the NCAA's University Division and had a 1–9 record. Two home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.
The 1958 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1958 college football season. The Vandals were led by fifth-year head coach Skip Stahley and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference, which disbanded the following spring. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one home game in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.
The 1955 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1955 college football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Skip Stahley and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one home game in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.
The 1954 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1954 college football season. The Vandals were led by first-year head coach Skip Stahley and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference. Three home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with another in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.
The 1953 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1953 college football season. The Vandals were led by third-year head coach Raymond A. Curfman and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with two games in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.
The 1951 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho as a member of the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) during the 1951 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Raymond A. Curfman, the Vandals were 2–7. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one game in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College and another at Memorial Stadium in Spokane, Washington.
The 1950 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1950 college football season. The Vandals were led by fourth-year head coach Dixie Howell and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one game in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College, the season opener at the new venue.
The 1949 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1949 college football season. The Vandals were led by third-year head coach Dixie Howell and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one game in Boise, a final time at Public School Field.
The 1948 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1948 college football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Dixie Howell and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference.