SALT LAKE CITY – The Westminster College Athletics Department is pleased to announce that the 1957 Westminster Parsons football team and Dale Thibault, Westminster Class of 1958 and a member of the team, will be inducted into the Westminster Hall of Fame in February.
The 2013 Athletic Hall of Fame Celebration and Senior Student-Athlete Recognition takes place on Friday, February 1 with a reception and dinner for the inductees and the senior student-athletes. Everyone attending the reception on Friday will receive admission and be welcome at a reception on Saturday, February 2 at 7 p.m. before the Griffins men's basketball game against Lewis-Clark State.
The 1957 Westminster College Parsons football team finished the season with a record of eight wins, zero losses and one tie under head coach Al Mercer. They had the best record in the state of Utah that season and recorded the best season in school history.
Westminster outscored the opposition 314-25 during the season. The Parsons recorded seven shutouts in the nine games while scoring at least 20 points on seven occasions. The 35 points per game average is a school record as they set the record for points in a game by defeating Montana Mines, 90-0. Westminster also defeated California-Riverside, 63-0, and Carroll College (Mont.), 44-0, during the season.
Thibault started for three consecutive seasons for Westminster College after sitting out the 1954 season with an injury. He was the team's leading rusher in all three seasons and was named a NAIA Little All-American after his senior season in 1957. He was a co-captain of the team in 1956 and 1957.
Thibault is from Jerome, Idaho and earned the nickname “The Jerome Jet” early in his career. The Parsons compiled a record of 21 wins, four losses and one tie during the three seasons Thibault played for the team.
During his senior season, Thibault finished the season with nearly 800 yards rushing and averaged over eight yards per carry. He set a school record with 14 touchdowns, including four in a 62-0 win over the University of California at Riverside on homecoming.
CLICK HERE for more information about the Athletic Hall of Fame Celebration and Senior Student-Athlete Recognition Dinner and to reserve your place at the reception. All events take place in the Behnken Field House of the Dolores Doré Eccles Health, Wellness, and Athletic Center.
