THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Saturday, April 4, 2015

Dick Schultz did a lot of things in his time on the men's basketball roster at North Idaho College.

He was on a regional championship team that finished with a 26-2-1 record in the 1965-66 season.

That tie came against a freshman team of a Pac-8 Conference program.

And then he dined on cougar meat as a publicity stunt heading into the rematch.

Yes, cougar meat.

AFTER THE Cardinals and Washington State freshman team played to a double-overtime tie in Pullman in 1965, the rematch in Coeur d'Alene got a little interesting.

"When they came to North Idaho, it was quite an ordeal for us," Schultz said. "Someone had run out and shot a cougar and we ended up beating them in the rematch."

After the teams had finished the second overtime in Pullman, it was declared a tie as the varsity game between Southern California and Washington State was due to be broadcast on television and had to get started on time.

Schultz averaged 15 points per game his sophomore year as a 6-foot-3 shooting guard. He also played baseball at NIC, starting at shortstop for coaches Jim Crowe and Don Pischner.

"I was mostly centered around playing basketball at NIC," Schultz said. "We had a great group of guys on that team. I really respected (NIC basketball coach) Rolly (Williams) to the greatest extent. We had a very good sophomore season."

In the days leading up to the rematch with the WSU freshmen, the Coeur d'Alene Press ran a photo in the sports section of the Cardinal players eating cougar meat.

"I'd never really tasted it before," Schultz said. "They had a picture of us holding a cougar by the tail. It was definitely a different experience than anything else I've ever been a part of."

After graduating from NIC, Schultz played two years of basketball at WSU, joining forces with some of those players that were on the freshmen team the Cardinals faced the year before.

"They were really recruiting me for basketball," Schultz said. "Some of them became a part of the varsity when I showed up. Some of them ended up becoming some really good friends of mine."

With a year of eligibility remaining, Schultz played on the Washington State football team as a defensive back, leading the team in interceptions and tackles.

SCHULTZ WILL be inducted, along with Doug Parker, into the NIC Athletics Hall of Fame on April 25 at the Edminster Student Union Building. Tickets are available at Post Hall on the NIC campus.

"It was a surprise," Schultz said. "I really didn't expect this to happen after leaving the school 50 years ago. It was very surprising at first, but then after thinking about it, I was very honored. It's very humbling to be a part of that group."

Schultz also competed in track and field for NIC - in the javelin, high jump and triple jump. A Lakeland High graduate in 1964, Schultz was a member of that school's first Hall of Fame class in 2013.

"I was very surprised about that one," Schultz said. "I really didn't figure I'd ever get nominated. It was very surprising, but a good surprise."

After his college career ended, Schultz, now 68, returned to the area and taught at East Valley High for 35 years before his retirement. At various times, he was head coach in football, boys basketball and golf at EV.

"I probably coached everything you can think of," said Schultz, who moved back to Rathdrum following retirement. "This is where my roots are. It's one of the nicest areas I can think of. I'm not quite as excited about the snow as I used to be, but I just love the area. This is where I grew up and where I'm going to stay."

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.