The 1967 Oregon State Football Season - forever to be known as the season of The Giant Killers -

may not rate in the national consciousness as one of the great achievements in sports history. Conference rules

at the time excluded the team from postseason play, and their 7-2-1 record and No. 7 AP ranking does little to

attract attention outside of the state. In the annals of college football history, the Giant Killers have barely managed a footnote.

But the hearts and minds of the Beaver faithful have not forgotten the splendor, the glory, and the interminable joy embodied

by that amazing year. For nearly three decades, it was the memory of the Giant Killers that inspired hope when hopefulness was in such short supply. It was the memory of the Giant Killers that sustained the devotion

and hardened the resolve of thousands of die-hard fans who refused to give up the dream. It was the memory of the Giant Killers, passed down

through stories told around tailgaters, TVs, and radios, that forged a new generation of Beaver fans who were

not even alive during the Giant Killers' heyday.

Names such as "Earthquake" and the "Great Pumpkin" are as recognized today as they were 35

years ago. The leadership of Preece; the one-two punch of Enyart and Main; the clutch catches of Houser and Cantlon;

the relentless push of Didion and the offensive line; the hard-hitting nastiness of Lewis, Sandstrom, and the defensive

front; the speedy pursuit of Vanderbundt and the linebackers; the glue-like coverage of Waletich and the secondary;

and the sure-footed kicking of Haggard - these individuals are the measuring sticks to which today's players are still compared. And who can forget Head Coach Dee Andros who, more than any other single person, personifies the Giant

Killer legend. He and his coaching staff conceived and molded this team into the awesome gridiron force that it

became.

On October 5, when the Beavers host the UCLA Bruins at Reser Stadium, the University will commemorate the 35th Anniversary of the

Giant Killers. It will be an opportunity for all of us to demonstrate our feelings of affection and appreciation

for these living legends who have been the heroic inspiration to generations of Beaver fans. Stand and cheer, and as you do so, turn

to someone nearby and recount your favorite Giant Killer tale.

Louis Armstrong III, LB; Duane Barton, FB; Rex Behnke, HB; Jerry Belcher, HB; Steve Boutelle; Ron Boley, DT; Dale

Branch, DT; Roger Cantlon, SE; Gary Cantwell, PK; Clayton Calhoun, E; Sal Cirrincione, FB; John Davis, OG; Steve

Davis, SE; John Didion, C; Mel Easley, DB; Bill Enyart, FB; Jimmy Flanary; Mike Foote, DE; Tom Greerty, DT; Mike

Groff, LB; Harry Gunner, DE; Mike Haggard, PK; Al Halstedt; Jeff Hardrath; Dan Harper, DT; Rick Harrington, DB;

Gary Hartman, DE; Gary Houser, TE; Lee Jamison, OT; Bob Jeremiah, DL; Wally Johnson, LB; Russ Jordan; Bob Jossis,

LB; Rich LaSalle, DE; Mike Leep, DL; Jess Lewis, DT; Al Lightner; Larry Love; Bill Main, HB; Dave Marlette, OG;

Bob Mayes, QB; Joe Mihelich, OG; Fred Milton, LB; Mike Mitchell, QB; Gary Neal, DT; Bill Nelson, DL; Joe Nunez;

Charlie Olds, DB; Rick Olsson, DB; Bill Plumeau, TE; Steve Preece, QB; Rocky Rasley, OG; Larry Rich, S; Nick Rogers,

TE; Jon Sandstrom, DL; Jim Scheele, DB; Kent Scott, OT; Steve Shaw, DE; Clyde Smith, OG; Ernie Smith, DB; Van smith,

OT; Roger Stalick, OT; Joe Stillwell; George Stursa, DL; Don Summers, WB; Skip Vanderbundt, LB; Chris Wahle, DL;

Mark Waletich, S; Pat Wargo; Don Welch, DB; Doug Wells, OT; Mike White, C; Don Whitney, DB; Alan Young, SE

Dee Andros, Head Coach; Sam Boghosian, Offensive-Line; Rich Brooks, Defensive-Line; Bob Herndon, Offensive Backfield,

Ed Knecht, Defensive Ends and Linebackers, Earl Lunsford; Bud Riley, Defensive Backfield

Facing Heisman Finalists: (including their stats against the Giant Killers)

Gary Beban, UCLA: Winner, 1967

-- Passing - 10-18, 157 yards, 0 TD, 1 Int

-- Rushing - 16 rushes, 21 yards, 1 TD

O.J. Simpson, USC: Winner, 1968; Runner-up, 1967

-- Rushing - 33 rushes, 188 yards, 0 TD

-- Receiving - 2 catches, 0 yards, 0 TD

Leroy Keyes, Purdue: Runner-up, 1968; Third place, 1967

-- Rushing - 14 rushes, 74 yards, 2 TD

-- Receiving - 5 catches, 57 yards, 0 TD

Mike Phipps, Purdue: Runner-up, 1969

-- Passing - 17-35, 169 yards, 0 TD, 3 Ints

-- Rushing - 10 rushes, 13 yards, 0 TD

AP - No. 7

Coaches - No. 8

AAWU (Pac-10 predecessor) - Second Place

Jess Lewis, DT

Jon Sandstrom, DG

Bill Enyart, FB

Gary Houser, WR

Dave Marlette, OG

John Didion

Bill Enyart

Jess Lewis

Billy Main

Steve Preece

Jon Sandstrom

Skip Vanderbundt

Game 7 - Washington State

Andros, Dee. Personal interview. 2002.

Fair, Don. "Air Shots Key 31-13 BYU Nod." The Oregonian 15 Oct. 1967.

Fair, Don. "Haggard's FGs Prove Difference." The Oregonian 17 Sept. 1967.

Fair, Don. "Haggard's Field Goal Seals Win." The Oregonian 12 Nov. 1967.

Fair, Don. "Iowa Falls Victim To Ground Attack." The Oregonian 1 Oct. 1967.

Fair, Don. "OSU Points For Trojans." The Oregonian 11 Nov. 1967.

Fair, Don. "OSU Rips WSU Line In 5th Win." The Oregonian 29 Oct. 1967.

Fair, Don. "Second-Rated Purdue Loses To OSU, 22-14." The Oregonian 22 Oct. 1967.

Herndon, Bob. Telephone interview. 2002.

Knecht, Ed. Telephone interview. 2002.

Lewis, Jess. Telephone interview. 2002.

McLeod, Don. "Haggard's Late Kick Brings Tie." The Oregonian 5 Nov. 1967.

McLeod, Don. "OSU Rally Deals UO 14-10 Loss." The Oregonian 19 Nov. 1967.

McLeod, Don. "Preece-Led Beaver Nip Dogged Sun Devils, 27-21." The Oregonian 24 Sept. 1967.

McLeod, Don. "UW Snips Win Skein." The Oregonian 8 Oct. 1967.

Robinson, Bob. "Dee Points Finger: 'Who's No. 1?'." The Oregonian 12 Nov. 1967.

Thanks also to Oregon State SID Hal Cowan.