During my first attempt at UW, I was there for the Lloyd Eaton "Glory Years." If my memory is correct, Paul Toscano was originally a defensive back, along with Bobby Aylward. When Tom Wilkinson left for the Edmonton Eskimos, Paul Toscano was moved to quarterback. They had Jim Kiick at running back, and Toscano was a competent passer, so it all worked out. Because of my last name, I sat next to Jim Kiick in a class for a semester when we were freshmen. Several other freshmen football players were in that class too, and their normal routine was to arrive early and whistle and make cat-calls as the girls arrived. After things settled down, they all slept. I had Kiick's head on my shoulder more than once. Amazing!
It's really too bad that Eaton let his arrogance rule his better judgement when the Black 14 Incident occurred. I was in the Army with Mel Hamilton, after he was booted from the team by Eaton in 1967. Mel had no cash to pay his own tuition, etc., so he got drafted. Me? My girlfriend dumped on me, so I quit school and volunteered for The Draft. Smart, eh? Mel and I became friends during Basic Training, but went different directions after that. I got back from Vietnam in August of 1969, and learned that Mel was out of the Army and back on the UW football team. Then in October of 1969. the INCIDENT happened. Because of The GI Bill, Mel was able to stay in school. The following summer, I ran into Mel in the locker room of The Half Acre. We talked for about an hour, and Mel told me the whole story from the players' perspective. Mel was always a straight-shooter, so I believe what he told me. My opinion is that mistakes were made by the players in the way they approached Eaton about the "Protest," and that Eaton let his pride and arrogance get in the way, and reacted without thinking it through. You need to remember that in the Sixties, successful football coaches were dictator gods, and their word was law. Lloyd Eaton, Frank Kush, Woody Hayes and many, many more. Just a little history from someone who was there. A long time ago. Let's assume that my memory is correct. FYI ... Mel and I watched the Sugar Bowl in the Company Day Room at Fort Bliss, Texas. At one point, Mel said: "I love those players like my brothers, but I despise Lloyd Eaton!"
Let's hear your stories from The Ghost of Cowboy Past!