The first edition of the Sun Devil Science All-Decade Team focused on the formative ‘50s for Arizona State. The timeline continues with the selection of the best-of-the-best in Sun Devil football for the 1960s.
Choosing standouts on both offense and defense proved somewhat tricky for the ‘60s as the first half of the decade was played under ironman rules before the NCAA adopted a new take on substitutions and unique players were fielded for offense, defense and special teams.
As a whole for Sun Devil football, the 1960s served as a collective “calm before the storm” as ASU claimed conference titles in 1961 and ’69, posted no losing seasons and only one .500 campaign, but the decade remains the only since before the 1950s not to include at least one 10-win season. However, programmatically the foundation was set for the 1970s that would legendarily catapult Arizona State into a higher scale of college football prominence.
Individually, some of the most prestigious Sun Devils ever to wear maroon and gold came from the 1960s including a pair of eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame members and one College Football Hall of Fame selection.
Offense
Quarterback
Joe Spagnola (1968-70)
Though his career concluded in tremendous fashion as the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year for ASU’s historic undefeated squad in 1970, Spagnola also performed at a very high level in the ‘60s. One of only two quarterbacks for ASU to earn First-Team All-WAC honors in the 1960s, Spagnola took home such recognition as a junior in 1969 when he threw for 1,494 yards and 12 touchdowns – pedestrian stats by today’s standards but at the time the third-highest single-season totals for ASU in both categories.
Running Back
Tony Lorick (1961-63)
During his Sun Devil career, Lorick played halfback, fullback and linebacker during football’s iron man era, leading ASU in rushing his final two seasons. After running for 704 yards on 105 carries in 1962, Lorick followed that with 805 yards on 105 carries as a senior in ’63, also leading ASU in interceptions with four his senior season. A First-Team All-WAC honoree his senior year and a Second-Team pick the season before, Lorick was chosen in the second round (22nd overall) by the Baltimore Colts in the 1964 NFL Draft. Lorick was added to the ASU Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.
Art Malone (1967-69)
A two-time First-Team All-WAC pick, Malone authored a legendary season in 1968 by totaling 1,431 yards on 235 carries – still, the third-highest single-season rushing total in ASU history. Across his three seasons in Tempe, Malone registered 14 100-yard rushing games and ultimately was chosen in the second round of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. In 1979, Malone was inducted into the ASU Sports Hall of Fame.
Wide Receiver
Ben Hawkins (1963-65)
Also an All-American defensive back, Hawkins was statistically one of the top performing receivers of the 1960s as his 719 receiving yards as a junior in 1964 marks the second-highest total during the decade by a Sun Devil. That season Hawkins caught 42 total passes including five touchdowns and followed that by hauling in 36 receptions for 504 yards with four scores as a senior. Hawkins was ASU’s top punt returner and interceptions leader in both ’64 and ’65 and was a First-Team All-WAC pick as a senior. Hawkins went on to become a prominent pro receiver after his college tenure, leading the NFL with 1,265 receiving yards for the Eagles in 1967. In 1979, Hawkins was inducted into ASU’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Fair Hooker (1966-68)
Aside from having one of the most unique names in Sun Devil history, Hooker was a standout on the gridiron as his senior season totals of 43 catches for 665 yards with six scores is one of the top single-season outputs of the decade. Altogether, Hooker caught 75 passes for 1,109 yards with nine touchdowns during his three-year college career and the Los Angeles native went on to play six seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. As a senior at ASU, Hooker paired with program legend J.D. Hill – who, spoiler alert, will be featured on the list for the 1970s – as a dynamic wide receiver tandem for the Sun Devils.
Tight End
Ken Dyer (1965-67)
A challenging call to make between Dyer and future NFL star tight end Jerry Smith, but substantial reasoning exists to give Dyer the nod. Playing his full three years at ASU (in an era that freshmen were ineligible to play) compared to Smith’s two as a junior college transfer, Dyer had a career average of 29 receptions for 455 yards while Smith – largely due to a lackluster first season in Tempe – averaged 25 catches for 373 yards. Dyer’s productivity increased each season as he caught 20 passes for 215 yards with one touchdown as a sophomore, posted 29 receptions for 496 yards and two scores as a junior and then hauled in 39 passes for 654 yards with four touchdowns as a senior. Dyer’s 88 career receptions for 1,365 yards remained the career bests by a Sun Devil tight end for more than 30 years until Todd Heap (and later Zach Miller) surpassed the total. ASU’s leading receiver in 1966 and ’67 and also an elite defensive back, Dyer earned Second-Team All-WAC recognition both seasons as well.
All-Purpose
Charley Taylor (1961-63)
One of the top NFL players ever to emanate from Arizona State, Taylor excelled for the Devils in a multitude of ways. ASU’s leader in receiving yardage and kick and punt returns in 1961, scoring and interceptions in 1962, and kick and punt returns again in ’63, Taylor also rushed for 1,439 career yards beside Tony Lorick in the ASU offense. A First-Team All-WAC pick in ’63 and a Second-Team selection the year before, after wrapping up his college career, Taylor was selected third overall in the 1964 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins – still, the highest a Sun Devil has ever been drafted. A charter member of ASU’s Sports Hall of Fame as a part of its 1975 class, Taylor etched out a historic pro career as after beginning as a running back he switched to wide receiver and retired as the NFL’s all-time leading receiver and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984.
Offensive Line
Ray Shirey (1964-66)
A team captain in 1966, Shirey was a three-year starter at left tackle for the Sun Devils and earned Second-Team All-WAC honors as a senior.
Mike Chowaniec (1966-68)
A Second-Team All-WAC selection in 1967, Chowaniec started that season at right guard before moving to left tackle as a senior.
George Hummer (1966-68)
ASU’s starting center all three years he played and the most decorated offensive lineman of the decade, Hummer was a First-Team All-WAC selection his junior and senior years and was a team captain as a senior in 1968.
Jim Kane (1966-68)
Kane started just beside Hummer all three years at left guard, claiming First-Team All-WAC accolades as a senior in 1968.
Nello Tomarelli (1966-68)
A two-year starter at right tackle, Tomarelli took home Second-Team All-WAC distinction as a junior in 1967.
Defense
Defensive Line
Curley Culp (1965-67)
One of the most intimidating and highly acclaimed defenders in Sun Devil history, Culp was a force at both the college and pro levels. A three-year starter at middle guard, Culp earned First-Team All-WAC accolades in 1966 and ’67 and as a senior was recognized as a First-Team All-American by both Sporting News and Time. Also an NCAA wrestling champion at ASU, Culp was a charter inductee into ASU’s Sports Hall of Fame as part of its 1975 class. The Yuma native went on to a 14-year pro career ultimately resulting in his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
John Helton (1966-68)
A three-year letterman, Helton earned First-Team All-WAC recognition as a senior in 1968 at right defensive tackle in ASU’s 5-2 defense.
Bobby Johnson (1967-68)
A team captain as a senior in 1968, Johnson was a two-year starter at defensive tackle and a Second-Team All-WAC pick his final season.
Ted Olivo (1968-69; 71)
Olivo started all three seasons he played at middle guard, bringing home Second-Team All-WAC honors in 1969 and then again in ’71.
Linebacker
Dick Egloff (1965-67)
A two-year starter at linebacker, Egloff combined with future Hall of Famer Ron Pritchard to create a formidable duo for the Sun Devils.
Ron Pritchard (1966-68)
One of the toughest most heralded defenders ever to play at ASU, Pritchard’s tenure in Tempe ultimately earned him a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame. A starting linebacker all three years, Pritchard became the program’s first Consensus All-American in 1968 after earning Honorable Mention All-America honors the two previous seasons. A First-Team All-WAC honoree all three years, Pritchard was chosen 15th overall in the 1969 NFL Draft and played nine pro seasons. An inductee into ASU’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1978, Pritchard was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
Mike Kennedy (1967-69)
A starter his final two seasons, Kennedy was a team captain in 1969 and also earned First-Team All-WAC honors that season.
Defensive Back
John Pitts (1965-66)
A starter at both cornerback and safety as well as a contributor at wide receiver, Pitts tied for the team lead with four interceptions in 1966 after earning First-Team All-WAC recognition the year before. Pitts later became the 22nd overall selection in the 1967 NFL Draft and played a total of nine pro seasons.
Dickie Brown (1966-68)
A two-year starter at cornerback, Brown captured Second-Team All-WAC distinction as a senior in 1968.
Wes Plummer (1966-68)
A First-Team All-WAC pick in 1967 and a Second-Team honoree in ’68, Plummer hauled in a team-high eight interceptions in 1967 from his safety position.
Seth Miller (1967-69)
No, not the sweaty head basketball coach of the University of Arizona, but a standout defensive back for the Devils in the 1960s. A two-year starter at strong safety, Miller’s 11 interceptions in 1969 remains the second-highest single-season total in Sun Devil history. Miller was chosen as a First-Team All-WAC pick and a team captain that season as well.
Special Teams
Kicker
Paul Ray Powell (1967-68)
Also an all-league safety for ASU, Powell was the NCAA leader in points by kicking in ’68 with 77 points. Powell’s greatest achievements for the Sun Devils came on the diamond as he was a First-Team All-American and Sporting News’ Player of the Year in 1969 before being drafted seventh overall by the Minnesota Twins later that year. For his multitude of contributes to Sun Devil athletics, Powell was picked for the ASU Sports Hall of Fame in 1978.
Punter
Joe Zuger (1959-61)
A standout on every side of the ball, in addition to leading ASU in passing and interceptions at various points in his career, Zuger was the only Sun Devi to have greater than a 40-yard punting average twice in the 1960s. Altogether, Zuger averaged 42.6 yards on 109 punts, the highest career average in school history at the time and today the fifth-highest punting average by a Sun Devil.
Returns Specialist
Lenny Randle (1968-69)
The future longtime major league baseball player made a lasting dent on the gridiron as well in Tempe, averaging 13.3 yards on 59 punt returns with five touchdowns and 21.5 yards on 25 kickoff returns with another score. His five touchdowns on punt returns remains a school record. A Third-Team All-American at second base for ASU’s national championship baseball team in 1969, Randle was inducted into ASU’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.
