Colorado State University Athletics
This Week in CSU Football History -- Rams Beat Jackrabbits in 1966 Season Opener
9/26/2018 1:16:00 PM | Football
CSU put together one of its finest seasons in 1966
by John Hirn
CSU Athletics Historian
September 24, 1966 – It was Christmas in September when football coach Mike Lude's 1966 Rams took the field in Brookings, South Dakota to open the season. On September 9th, the Commission on Higher Education approved the Colorado State Board of Agriculture's recommendation to build a new football stadium at CSU. CSU Athletic Director Jim Williams announced it was Christmas in September when the long-awaited decision to build a new stadium had been approved. Lude and his players were excited to soon rid themselves of the antiquated Colorado Field and in 1966 would put on the finest season of Lude's career.
The Rams were led by quarterback Bob Wolfe, halfback Jon Henderson and the finest running back CSU had ever seen to that date in Oscar Reed. They traveled to Brookings as a return trip following their home game in 1965 against South Dakota State where they had beat the Jackrabbits 52-20. There was no indication the 1966 contest would be any different.
It was a cool, wet and windy 56-degree day as the Rams took the field and with Oscar Reed plunging in for two quick touchdowns to open the contest. The first was a 16-yard run to start the scoring after the Jackrabbits fumbled the opening kickoff and Rams safety Bill Kishman dropped on the ball for the turnover. The second touchdown for Reed was a 63-yard touchdown run that left the Jackrabbits in the dust and the Rams ahead 13-0. South Dakota State answered with a touchdown of their own and within the first seven minuets the score stood 13-7 in favor of the Rams.
CSU then came back in the second quarter scoring 20 points on Bob Wolfe passes to Tom Pack for 18 yards and Jon Henderson for 34. Henderson then took a 39-yard run in for the third touchdown of the second quarter and by halftime the score stood 33-7. Coach Mike Lude decided his starters had seen enough action for the day and according to the Collegian replaced several of his starters with second-stringers. CSU scored two more touchdowns in the second half and in the final quarter allowed the Jackrabbits one touchdown the end the game 45-14.
That opener was a precursor to Coach Mike Lude's greatest season at CSU. The Rams would go on to a 7-3 record, their first winning record since 1959 and would receive votes by the Associated Press after beating 10th-ranked Wyoming. There was even talk of the Rams attending the Blue Bonnet Bowl at one time during the 1966 season, but it did not materialize after losing in an upset to Wichita State late in the season. Oscar Reed would go on to earn Sports Illustrated Back of the Week honors after the West Texas State game and rushed for 946 yards on the year, the most in school history at the time.
Although they did not compete in a conference and could not win a championship, the 1966 Rams were the finest team of the 1960s decade and helped pave the way toward a new stadium and entrance into the WAC in 1968.
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CSU Athletics Historian
September 24, 1966 – It was Christmas in September when football coach Mike Lude's 1966 Rams took the field in Brookings, South Dakota to open the season. On September 9th, the Commission on Higher Education approved the Colorado State Board of Agriculture's recommendation to build a new football stadium at CSU. CSU Athletic Director Jim Williams announced it was Christmas in September when the long-awaited decision to build a new stadium had been approved. Lude and his players were excited to soon rid themselves of the antiquated Colorado Field and in 1966 would put on the finest season of Lude's career.
The Rams were led by quarterback Bob Wolfe, halfback Jon Henderson and the finest running back CSU had ever seen to that date in Oscar Reed. They traveled to Brookings as a return trip following their home game in 1965 against South Dakota State where they had beat the Jackrabbits 52-20. There was no indication the 1966 contest would be any different.
It was a cool, wet and windy 56-degree day as the Rams took the field and with Oscar Reed plunging in for two quick touchdowns to open the contest. The first was a 16-yard run to start the scoring after the Jackrabbits fumbled the opening kickoff and Rams safety Bill Kishman dropped on the ball for the turnover. The second touchdown for Reed was a 63-yard touchdown run that left the Jackrabbits in the dust and the Rams ahead 13-0. South Dakota State answered with a touchdown of their own and within the first seven minuets the score stood 13-7 in favor of the Rams.
CSU then came back in the second quarter scoring 20 points on Bob Wolfe passes to Tom Pack for 18 yards and Jon Henderson for 34. Henderson then took a 39-yard run in for the third touchdown of the second quarter and by halftime the score stood 33-7. Coach Mike Lude decided his starters had seen enough action for the day and according to the Collegian replaced several of his starters with second-stringers. CSU scored two more touchdowns in the second half and in the final quarter allowed the Jackrabbits one touchdown the end the game 45-14.
That opener was a precursor to Coach Mike Lude's greatest season at CSU. The Rams would go on to a 7-3 record, their first winning record since 1959 and would receive votes by the Associated Press after beating 10th-ranked Wyoming. There was even talk of the Rams attending the Blue Bonnet Bowl at one time during the 1966 season, but it did not materialize after losing in an upset to Wichita State late in the season. Oscar Reed would go on to earn Sports Illustrated Back of the Week honors after the West Texas State game and rushed for 946 yards on the year, the most in school history at the time.
Although they did not compete in a conference and could not win a championship, the 1966 Rams were the finest team of the 1960s decade and helped pave the way toward a new stadium and entrance into the WAC in 1968.
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