Former UI player (Hall of Fame), USU and BSU coach. I visited with him for a couple of hours last week. He is in his 91st year and lives in Walla Walla. Walks with a cane but still has that sparkle in his eye! Keeps track of former players and coaches. Was very interested in facilities improvements at USU. It is worth noting that of all his various coaches, Merlin Olsen picked Tony to introduce him into the NFL Hall of Fame (Tony was line coach when Merlin played at USU).

BobWilson Wrote:Former UI player (Hall of Fame), USU and BSU coach. I visited with him for a couple of hours last week. He is in his 91st year and lives in Walla Walla. Walks with a cane but still has that sparkle in his eye! Keeps track of former players and coaches. Was very interested in facilities improvements at USU. It is worth noting that of all his various coaches, Merlin Olsen picked Tony to introduce him into the NFL Hall of Fame (Tony was line coach when Merlin played at USU).

and UNLV. Tony was a great Head Coach. I have never been quite able to forgive him for leaving BSU for UNLV. I never could stand the shuffeling rebels.

Tony was getting up in years and had never earned a large salary. For the time, his contract at UNLV was so much larger than anything that he had ever seen that he felt he had to grab a last chance at financial security. And, when one lives to be 90 + you need $$! He had mixed feeling about the move, however.

BobWilson Wrote:Tony was getting up in years and had never earned a large salary. For the time, his contract at UNLV was so much larger than anything that he had ever seen that he felt he had to grab a last chance at financial security. And, when one lives to be 90 + you need $$! He had mixed feeling about the move, however.

I started school at Boise State that same year that Tony became head coach and graduated the year that he left for UNLV. Very nice man. He even had a smile for everyone the season he coached from the wheelchair. Always hoped that BSU would name Bronco Stadium Tony Knap Stadium....

Tony Knap introduced the passing game to the Big Sky Conference, pass to open up the run game.

Glad to know that he is doing well.

A little bit a trivia: Former BJC Head Football Coach and Boise State Athetic Director Lyle Smith and Tony were teamates on the University of Idaho football team.