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Fifty years ago today, Boise State played its first game in the new Bronco (now Albertsons) Stadium. It could not have opened in a crazier fashion, with a near death in full view of the fans just before kickoff…here’s the story, and a few fun asides.
The stadium cost $2.4 million (~$16M today), sat 14,500 and was aligned in a true north-south position. It was placed partially on top of the old stadium, which had an odd NW-SE orientation.
The spot where the stadium sites sit (as does Extra Mile Arena), is right where the original Boise airport was located. Lindbergh landed there in September 1927, and its where Varney Airlines began (it later became United).
The BSC skydiving club (!) was part of the pregame entertainment. Club president Wally Benton carried the game ball, but a crosswind on his final turn sent him sideways. He crashed onto the field, suffering compound fractures in both legs and a head injury.
It was estimated Benton fell from 60-100 feet above the stadium onto the turf below. Benton helped BSC win the 1969 skydiving national championship (apparently that was a thing!). Benton’s chute was a very new style, and he had yet to master its movements.
Benton spent the next 5 months recovering in the hospital. Students raised money for him during “Wally Benton Week” after the accident. He had to learn how to walk again and yes, he was skydiving again once he was all cleared. He owned a skydiving company in the 1970s.
The Vietnam veteran was as tough as they come, and he lived that way too. Benton died on April 29, 1989 at age 46. A 1996 message board post said he died at home “with his pecker in his hand.” I luckily could not verify.
https://groups.google.com/u/1/g/rec.skydiving/c/oQuF63m6C6U?pli=1
https://groups.google.com/u/1/g/rec.skydiving/c/oQuF63m6C6U?pli=1
Boise State beat Chico State 49-14 in the stadium’s debut and the Broncos went 8-3 in 1970, the first as full Big Sky and NCAA members. One loss was to Hiram Scott, a Nebraska school that closed after the 1971 season. The Broncos had 17 TD passes that year, their foes had 4.
In 1970, coach Tony Knap came down with the shingles, and it affected his ability to walk. He coached from a wheelchair the first month of the season. At BSU, he won 71 games. Bryan Harsin should pass it for 2nd all-time (4-year era) this season (whenever that is). He’s won 64.
Knap left Boise State for UNLV, where he went 47-20-2 from 1976-81. He’s their last coach to have a winning record. In his last season, ESPN’s Kenny Mayne and the great Randall Cunningham were both backup QBs.
RC: “He was a really laid-back … old, debonair, suave brother."
RC: “He was a really laid-back … old, debonair, suave brother."
