Spokane Shockers 1968

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SPOKANE SHOCKERS
(1968 - 1969)

Spokane, Washington
Davenport Hotel
Joe Albi Stadium

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Beginning in March of 1968, Don McKeta, former head coach of the Victoria Steelers, held informational and instructional seminars on football to prepare Spokane for the Continental Football League franchise. McKeta had requested the transfer of the Victoria, BC franchise to Spokane which petitioned the CFL to be relocated.

McKeta reported in June of 1968 that he had 35 players still on his roster from the 1967 Victoria Canadian Football League, plus working agreements with the San Francisco 49ers, the British Columbia Lions and the Calgary Stampeders.

In a Nov 16, 1968 loss, future Oakland Raider Hall of Famer Kenny Stabler, having signed on Nov 6, finally got into the action but couldn't get the Shockers rolling even though he was 7 of 10 passing. Stabler had been named the starter against the Ramblers the week prior but only managed 10 of 29 for 71 yards. After a year away, Stabler returned to the 1970 Oakland Raiders where he went on to a Pro Football Hall of Fame career, Super Bowl Championship, four-time Pro Bowler and became the NFL's fastest QB to win 100 games in just 150 games topping Johnny Unitas. That would later be bested by Joe Montana and Tom Brady. Stabler was placed on the NFL 1970s All-Decade team.

Place Kicker Tom Roach, acquired from the Eugene Bombers after the 1957 season, set a Northwest semi-pro record with 14 field goals and earned Western Conference All-Star honors and Pacific Division All-Star as the top player in the Region for 1968. He would top that record with 17 field goals the following season.

In April of 1969 Hugh "Bones" Taylor, a veteran of more than 30 years in professional football as a player and coach was selected as new coach of the Shockers.

Spokane lost a heartbreaker to Seattle on Oct 14 when Tom Kennedy connected with Jim Paul for a TD as the clock read :22 remaining in the game. 11,102 fans attended "Kids Night" at Seattle's Memorial Stadium. Pete Travis signed with the Edmonton Eskimos in November 1969.

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1968 Players included

Jesse Kaye (QB-10), Bob Wilson (HB-23), Brian Magnuson (HB-30), J. Thompson (FB-44), Tom Mitrakos (C-50), Tom Hedemark (DT-55), Tom Stephens (60), Tom Baltzer (T-64), Henry Harris (G-66), Ray Miller (T-75), Bud Fernandez (G-76), Pat Brosnan (E-81), Jim Gray (E-85), Ken Stabler (QB), Herman Lewis (WR), Ray Calcgno (QB), Tom Roach (PK), Tom Sparlin (QB)

1969 Players included

Tim Jones (QB-10), John Pappas (QB-11), Danny Holman (QB-11), John Tardy (CB-12), Ken Gorney (QB-13), Bob Pederson (FS-20), Dick Johnson (21), Ben King (RB-22), Bobby Wilson (WR-23), John Foruria (SS-24), Lowey Allen (P-25), Jim Williams (WR-25), Noki Fuimaono (HB-26), Eugene Leach (WR-28), Ken Smith (FB-32), Tom Roach (PK-34), Hank Hamblen (SS-40), Ken Dotson (CB-40), Bob Womack (CB-41), Rob Young (FB-43), Laure Green (CB-44), Larry Thatcher (WR-45), Carl Hellman (LB-50), LaVerie Pratt (LB-55), Tom Stephens (C-60), Darryl Barratt (LB-61), Ron Quincy (G-62), Dennis Downey (G-63), Pete Travis (C-63), Pat Fee (T-64), Ron Howard (G-66), Jack Rust (T-70), Doug Gosnell (G-71), Bill Kindricks (T-72), Doyle McGraw (T-75), Ray Miller (T-76), Wendell Jones (E-77), Bill Austin (T-78), Bill Ackman (T-79), Mike McLean (E-80), Karl Sneider (SE-80), Clarence Wiggins (E-81), Frank Lawson (E-82), Jerry Ahlin (TE-82), John Lavin (LB-83)

Ken Stabler
GNFA Hall of Fame
Oakland Raiders 1968, 1970-1979
Pro Football Hall of Fame 2016

1968
Continental Football League
Record 3-9
Sponsor Inland Empire Sports Inc.
GM Don McKeta
President Richard O'Neill
Public Relations Colin Kilburn
Coach Don McKeta
Asst Don Anderson, Ray Miller, Bob Pederson

1968 Awards

Tom Mitrakos (C) CFL All Star
Pat Brosnan (WR) CFL All Star
Dewey Allen (P) CFL All Star
Tom Roach (PK) CFL All Star

Tom Roach
1968 Northwest Regional Player of the Year

1969
Continental Football League
Record 5-6
Sponsor Inland Empire Sports Inc.
GM Don McKeta
President Richard O'Neill
Public Relations Colin Kilburn
Coach Hugh Taylor
Asst Dick Harris, Don Anderson

1969 Awards

Ray Miller (OT) CFL Pacific All Star
Jerry Ahlin (TE) CFL Pacific All Star
Noki Fuimaono (HB) CFL Pacific All Star

Schedules and Results
Date	Opponent	Score
1968 Aug 24	Sacramento Capitols (exhibition)	0-14
1968 Aug 31	Michigan Arrows	35-7
1968 Sep 9	Orange County Ramblers	0-19
1968 Sep 16	Seattle Rangers	10-44
1968 Sep 24	@ Sacramento Capitols	3-31
1968 Sep 29	@ Seattle Rangers	24-17
1968 Oct 6	Sacramento Capitols	17-14
1968 Oct 22	@ Sacramento Capitols	14-10
1968 Oct 27	Seattle Rangers	13-17
1968 Nov 3	@ Alabama Hawks	12-44
1968 Nov 8	Orange County Ramblers	13-28
1968 Nov 16	Sacramento Capitols	6-27
1968 Nov 23	@ Orange County Ramblers	14-34


1969 Aug 23	Las Vegas Cowboys	13-21
1969 Aug 30	Chicago Owls	9-33
1969 Sep 7	@ Portland Loggers	14-32
1969 Sep 20	Portland Loggers	23-17 OT
1969 Sep 27	Seattle Rangers	21-31
1969 Oct 4	@ Chicago Owls	30-14
1969 Oct 14	@ Seattle Rangers	12-14
1969 Oct 21	@ Sacramento Capitols	17-6
1969 Oct 28	@ Las Vegas Cowboys	21-28
1969 Nov 4	Seattle Rangers	24-7
1969 Nov 16	@ Portland Loggers	59-27
1969 Nov 23	Sacramento Capitols	10-13