Ricks College’s Last NFL Player Reflects on His Time in Rexburg

Under the crisp November sky in Pocatello, Idaho, nearly 11,000 fans gathered to witness a historic moment: the final game of the Ricks College Vikings.

The atmosphere was charged with the ambiguous anticipation of the end of the legacy.

Clad in their iconic blue, the Vikings stormed the field with an unyielding determination, determined to etch their names into history. As they clashed with undefeated Lackawanna College, the stadium roared with every play.

The Vikings’ indefatigable spirit culminated in a resounding 49-21 victory, a triumphant send-off that resonated in the hearts of players and supporters. As the crowd began to disperse, all that remained of the Vikings were 82 years of tradition and memories.

With a record of 391-248, American football at Ricks College officially died.

Coach Ron Haun dedicated the victory to everyone who had ever worn Viking blue in a voice filled with emotion, symbolizing decades of dedication, dreams and indomitable Viking pride.

Twenty-three years later, Role spoke to one of the last Vikings about the last season and the rest of his football career after that fateful match.

Shawn Murphy knew entering the 2001 season as a freshman that the future of Ricks football was uncertain.

The BYUI Field Photo Credit: Caleb Herrick

The year before, President Gordon B. Hinckley had announced that Ricks College would transition to a four-year institution, BYU-Idaho Unfortunately, intercollegiate sports would not be included in the transition.

As a star defensive end at Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah, poor grades kept Murphy from more prestigious recruiting. He took a chance on Ricks knowing that, although it was his senior year of football, Ricks had a storied past, and there would be opportunities to excel for scouts from larger schools.

“The team had a do-or-die attitude,” Murphy said. “We wanted to win that season not only for ourselves, but for the coaches and fans in the community who cared so much about the program.”

Another global event that affected their perspective was the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, which occurred during the season.

“The September 11 attacks, quite frankly, brought us closer together as a team and united us and the country as a whole,” Murphy said.

The Vikings had a great season, losing only once — an overtime loss to Dixie State University. Murphy remembered the feeling of winning the final game.

“Everyone was celebrating, but I remember looking at the coaches’ faces and seeing them cry,” Murphy said. “The football program was huge for the community, and it was a loss that everyone felt, you could see that.”

After the season was over, Murphy served a mission in Brazil, where he lost some of his enthusiasm for football.

“During my mission, I lost a lot of weight and basically lost my passion to play,” Murphy said. “When I got home, I decided not to play anymore until my dad took me to a BYU-Notre Dame game. It all came back to me in that atmosphere. That’s when I knew I wanted to get back on the field.”

Shawn Murphy with the Denver Broncos. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Murphy went to Dixie State, where he played for a year. While he was there, He made the switch from defensive end to offensive lineman.

After a year at Dixie State, he transferred to Utah State, where he could show his talent at a higher level. Even though the team as a whole struggled, Murphy stood out to NFL scouts with his tenacity.

Murphy was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.

“I knew I had caught the attention of a few teams,” Murphy said. “My family had a party. We all thought it was going to be the fifth or sixth round. When the call came in the fourth round, I was stunned. It was such a huge moment.”

After struggling to earn a starting position in the NFL and battling injuries, Murphy played just one game in the NFL. He ended his NFL career in 2011 and has since transitioned to a job as a software engineer in California.

“I’ve enjoyed my time at Rexburg,” Murphy said. “I’m really sad they cut the football program. It really meant a lot to the community. If there was a petition to bring sports back, my name would be the first one on it.”

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