50-Year UNC Football Dream Team Selected

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PRESS RELEASE

For further information, contact:
Tom Barbour, 970-353-8284 or
Joe Drew, 303-986-1402

Eighty-six standout players representing 50 years of football form the University of Northern Colorado Dream Team.

A committee of 10 long-time UNC football observers selected the unofficial team that was unveiled prior to UNC opening the NCAA Division II national playoffs Saturday against Central Missouri State University at Nottingham Field in Greeley.

"Several of us thought it would be fun to remember and recognize some of the outstanding players at UNC and CSC over the years," said committee member Joe Drew, a 1969 All-American and one of 11 defensive linemen on the Dream Team. "Our goal was to identify guys who were good football players. I think we came up with a team that any coach would love to take to training camp."

The committee created no set criteria and did not establish specific numbers of players to select at each position. The result is a Dream Team roster of 39 offensive players, 38 defenders and 13 specialists (four of who also were selected as position players). The squad is seven-deep at quarterback and features 15 linebackers. "We knew that there had been a lot of good linebackers and quarterbacks over the years," Drew said. "We couldn't leave any of these guys out."

In addition to the quarterbacks and linebackers, the Dream Team consists of 11 interior offensive linemen, five tight ends, nine running backs, seven wide receivers, 11 defensive linemen and 12 defensive backs. The committee selected three punters, four kickers and six return specialists to round out the team.

UNC's standout teams of the second half of the 20th century are well represented on the Dream Team. Seventeen members of the 1996 and 1997 NCAA Division II national championship teams were selected, along with 16 members of the 1969 Colorado State College Bears, the only undefeated team in school history at 10-0. Eleven members of the 1980 North Central Conference championship team were selected. The 1980 Bears, in their initial year in the NCC, were the first UNC team selected for the NCAA post-season playoffs. The 1974 and 1975 Bears, winners of 16 straight (at the time the longest winning streak in college football at any level), are represented by eight players.

Representing several generations, the UNC Dream Team has one father-son duo - Martin and Corte McGuffey - and the brother combination of Mike and Don Tomasini. And, there are two players named John Johnson - Johnny "Jet" Johnson, a running back at Colorado State College in the late '50s and punter John Johnson, who played from 1966-68.

50-Year University of Northern Colorado Football Dream Team (1951-2000)

OFFENSE

OFFENSIVE LINE (11): Sam Brunelli, 1961-64; Ryan Burkholder, 1996-2000; Kent Cluck, 1967-71; James Gibson, 1979-81; Ron Klatt, 1965-68; Ron Peterson, 1978-82; Chuck Putnik, 1969-72; Tony Ramirez, 1992-96; Don Tomasini, 1963-66; Dick Trimmer, 1956-60; Tashe Williams, 1992-96

TIGHT ENDS (5): Dennis Becking, 1968-70; Dwight Bryan, 1972-76; Andy Haase, 1993-97; David Meyers, 1978-80; Frank Wainwright, 1987-90

WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Kim Boerema, 1982-86; Chris Brown, 1972-74; Keith Grable, 1995-99; Dillan Micus, 1997-98; Cedric Tillman, 1986-89; Barry West, 1969-70; Omar Zuniga, 1995-99

RUNNING BACKS (8): Gaynor Blackmon, 1991-95; Jim Bright, 1979-83; Billy Holmes, 1994-97; Mickey Holmes, 1966-69; Johnny Johnson, 1958-60; Harvey Patton, 1990-93; Bob Smith, 1972-75; Chuck Taibi, 1974-77; Mike Woolford, 1965-68

QUARTERBACKS (7): Tom Beck, 1992-96; Gerry Dattilio, 1972-75; George Kaplan, 1969-71; Bill Kenney; 1976-78; Corte McGuffey, 1995-99; Loren Snyder, 1983-86; Alan Winslow, 1977-81

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE (11): Terry Boekhout, 1973-76; Joe Drew, 1967-70; Grail Kister, 1968-72; Martin McGuffey, 1969-72; Deacon Nauslar, 1978-80; Les Prothe, 1952-53; Aaron Smith, 1994-98; David Stalls, 1973-77; Mike Tomasini, 1964-68; Darrell Vaughn, 1971-73; Todd Volkhart, 1978-81

LINEBACKERS (15): Jamie Heiner, 1994-97; Steve Holcomb, 1967-69; Ron Keiter, 1968-72; Jim Kelson, 1967-69; Bob Knapton, 1979-82; Al Knechtel, 1966-68; Tom Langer, 1987-90; Brian Munroe, 1992-96; Jeff Pease, 1993-94; Jed Roberts, 1985-87; Brian Scott, 1994-98; Randy Thompson, 1966-69; Gary Weibert, 1973-75; Gary Widhelm, 1971-75; Scott Zimmerman, 1995-99

DEFENSIVE BACKS (12): Tim Bowie, 1991-95; Dave Gibson, 1969-71; Dirk Johnson, 1993-97; Murray Kula, 1967-71; Vance Lechman, 1986-89; Steve Mason, 1974-77; Jack O'Brien, 1966-69; Mike Pierce, 1971-74; Rick Pierson, 1967-71; Shawn Pinon, 1977-81; Greg Witwer, 1974-77; Ron Wyatt, 1970-73

SPECIALISTS

PUNTERS (3): Don Geist, 1981-84; Dirk Johnson, 1993-97; John Johnson, 1966-68

KICKERS (4): Ryan Anderson, 1992-95; Kevin Jelden, 1979-83; Murray Kula, 1967-71; Mike Schauer, 1995-99

KICK RETURNERS (6): Chris Brown, 1972-74; Ernest Collins, 1991-94; Arnie Galacia, 1966-68; Greg Kucera, 1968-72; Rick Pierson, 1967-71; Dale Stone, 1974-78

DREAM TEAM SELECTION COMMITTEE
(Self-appointed)

Tom Barbour
Bob Blasi
Bob Calhoon
Kay Dalton
Joe Drew
Jim Lord
Jerry McMillen
Buck Rollins
Bob Smith
John Zurbrigen