2011 Football Media Information

Page 133

VANDAL LEGENDS

#53 WAYNE WALKER

#56 JOHN YARNO

Walker was a three-year starter at linebacker and center. As a senior, he was chosen to represent Idaho in the East-West Shrine Game and the Chicago All-Star game. He was voted the Most Valuable Defensive Player in the Shrine Game after recording 15 tackles, two interceptions and one blocked punt. He was honored by his teammates by being chosen team captain his senior year. Walker was drafted in the fourth round by the Detroit Lions, where he went on to enjoy a highly successful career at linebacker and placekicker. He was selected to the NFL All-Rookie Team his first year and later was honored with five Pro Bowl appearances. Walker twice was chosen the Idaho Male Athlete of the Year – in 1968 and 1971 – and is a member of the Idaho Sports Hall of Fame. After retiring from professional football, Walker went on to an Emmy-award winning career as a sports broadcaster for KPIX-TV in San Francisco. He spent 11 years as a color analyst for CBS sports and retired as the color commentator for the San Francisco 49ers.

Yarno is the only Vandal player to be chosen an AP First-Team All-American, an honor he received his senior season. He also received All-American recognition from UPI, The Sporting News and NEA News Service. Yarno represented Idaho in the EastWest Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl, and appeared on national television on Bob Hope’s Christmas Special with other firstteam All-Americans. He was the 1976 Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year (the first lineman ever to earn the honor and the only unanimous all-conference offense selection that year), and won similar honors as Idaho Offensive Player of the Year. Yarno was drafted by Seattle in 1977 and played center for the Seahawks from 1977-1982. He played in 72 games and started 64. Following his five years with the Seahawks, Yarno played for the Denver Gold of the USFL. Yarno was chosen the 1976 Idaho Male Athlete of the Year, the 1976 Amateur Athlete of the Year by the Greater Spokane Sports Association and to the Big Sky Conference Silver Anniversary team.

1954-57

TBALL

1973-76

Larry Aldrich Wayne Anderson Dee Andros Reg Carolan Russell Davis Jr. Rick DeMulling Kasey Dunn Laune Erickson Dick Foster Rich Fox John Friesz Abe Goff Leon Green Randy Hall Alan Head Jerry Hendren E.B. Hess Ken Hobart Mike Hollis Norm Iverson Craig Juntenen Carl Kiilsgaaard Flip Kleffner Sib Kleffner Ed Knecht Jerry Kramer Don Matthews (Class of 2010) Sherriden May Ray McDonald Sam Merriman Yo Murphy Jim Norton Doug Nussmeier Ryan Phillips Jim Prestel Jeff Robinson Mark Schlereth Ken Schrom Willis Smith Joel Thomas Chris Tormey Wayne Walker Marvin Washington William Williams John Yarno 1998 Humanitarian Bowl Championship Team

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