1966 San Diego State Aztecs football team American college football season
The 1966 San Diego State Aztecs football team represented San Diego State College [ note 1] during the 1966 NCAA College Division football season . San Diego State competed in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The team was led by head coach Don Coryell , in his sixth year, and played home games at both Aztec Bowl and Balboa Stadium .
They finished the season as champions of the CCAA, undefeated and untied with eleven wins and zero losses (11–0, 5–0 CCAA). The Aztecs finished the season ranked number 1 in both the AP and UPI small college polls . The offense scored 317 points during the season, while the defense only gave up 105.
At the end of the regular season, San Diego State qualified for the Camellia Bowl , which at the time was the Western Regional Final in the College Division of the NCAA. The Aztecs beat Montana State in the game, 28–7. The Aztecs were voted the College Division national champion at the end of the season.
Schedule
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 17 Instituto Politécnico Nacional Águilas Blancas * W 45–010,843 [ 1] [ 2]
September 24 at No. 4 AP / 3 UPI Weber State * No. 7 AP / 10 UPI W 38–3410,961–11,961 [ 3] [ 4] [ 5]
October 1 at Cal Poly No. 5 AP / 3 UPI W 14–134,980 [ 6] [ 7]
October 8 at No. 8 UPI Long Beach State No. 6 AP / 4 UPI W 21–1813,187 [ 8]
October 15 at San Jose State * No. 4 AP / 3 UPI W 25–019,400 [ 9]
October 29 Fresno State No. 2 AP / 2 UPI W 34–1315,178 [ 10]
November 5 No. 1 AP / 1 UPI North Dakota State * No. 2 AP / 2 UPI W 36–035,342 [ 11]
November 12 Valley State No. 1 AP / 1 UPI W 21–010,423 [ 12]
November 19 Northern Arizona * No. 1 AP / 1 UPI W 16–810,047 [ 13]
November 26 Cal State Los Angeles No. 1 AP / 1 UPI Balboa Stadium San Diego, CA W 39–1213,947 [ 14] [ 15]
December 10 No. 3 AP / 2 UPI Montana State * No. 1 AP / 1 UPI W 28–715,740 [ 16]
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP/UPI Poll released prior to the game
[ 17]
Awards and honors
Award
Player
Most Valuable Player (John Simcox Memorial Trophy)
Don Horn
Outstanding Offensive & Defensive Linemen (Byron H. Chase Memorial Trophy)
Leo Carroll
Team captains Dr. R. Hardy / C.E. Peterson Memorial Trophy
Don Horn, Off John Wittler, Def
Most Inspirational Player
John Wittler
[ 18]
Team players in the NFL/AFL
The following San Diego State players were selected in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft .[ 19]
Notes
^ San Diego State University was known as San Diego State College from 1935–1971. See: San Diego State
References
^ Howard Hagen (September 18, 1966). "Aztecs Overposer Mexico Poly, 45-0". The San Diego Union . San Diego, California. p. H-1.
^ "Diablos Crushed by UOP's Attack, 30-7" . The Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California. September 18, 1966. p. D-8. Retrieved January 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Aztecs Rally For 38-34 Win Over Weber" . The Fresno Bee . Fresno, California . Associated Press . September 25, 1966. p. 6S. Retrieved December 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Howard Hagen (September 25, 1966). "Great Aztec rally beats Weber, 38–34". The San Diego Union . p. B-1.
^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Weber State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved December 12, 2024 .
^ "Aztecs Block PAT Try, Nip Mustangs, 14-13". The San Diego Union . San Diego, California. October 2, 1966. p. J-1.
^ "Diablos Blasted By Weber St., 70-7!" . The Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California. October 2, 1966. p. D-8. Retrieved January 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Aztecs Hold Off 49ers" . Independent Press-Telegram . Long Beach, California. October 9, 1966. p. C-1. Retrieved November 15, 2017 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "San Jose Stunned by Aztecs" . Independent Press-Telegram . Long Beach, California. October 16, 1966. p. C-2. Retrieved November 15, 2017 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Aztecs Roll, 34-14" . The Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California. October 30, 1966. p. D13. Retrieved November 15, 2017 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Howard Hagen (December 11, 1966). " 'Number 1' Aztecs End Bison Reign In 36-0 Win". The San Diego Union . San Diego, California. p. J-1.
^ Howard Hagen (November 13, 1966). "Aztecs Win Eighth, 21-0". The San Diego Union . San Diego, California. p. H-1.
^ Howard Hagen (November 20, 1966). "Aztecs Win Despite Five Fumbles". The San Diego Union . San Diego, California. p. H-1.
^ Howard Hagen (November 27, 1966). "Aztecs Finish Unbeaten". The San Diego Union . San Diego, California. p. H-1.
^ "Unbeaten Aztecs Snap 3-Year Hex" . The Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California. November 27, 1966. p. D-12. Retrieved January 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Howard Hagen (December 11, 1966). "Horn's Four TD Passes Rout Montana St., 28-7". The San Diego Union . San Diego, California. p. H-1.
^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (San Diego State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved December 13, 2024 .
^ "San Diego State 2016 Football Media Guide" . Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016 .
^ "1967 NFL Draft" . Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2016 .
Venues
College Field / Aztec Field (1921, 1923–1925, 1927–1928, 1934–1935)
Navy "Sports" Field (1922, 1926, 1929–1931, 1933–1934)
Balboa Stadium (1921–1925, 1927–1929, 1932, 1934–1935, 1940–1941, 1945–1947, alternate in several other seasons)
Aztec Bowl (1936–1942, 1947–1966)
San Diego Stadium (1967–2019)
Dignity Health Sports Park (2020–2021)
Snapdragon Stadium (2022–present)
Bowls & rivalries People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
Selectors
AP (1960–1974)
UPI (1958–1974)
1950s 1960s 1970s