Babe Caccia Audio Tribute


On Saturday afternoon, October 6, 2007 on Homecoming against Northern Colorado, Idaho State University dedicated the Holt Arena playing surface to ISU’s all-time winningest coach, Italo J. “Babe” Caccia.  The field is now known as Caccia Field.

The ceremony took place on the field prior to the nationally televised game with the Bears, a long standing former Rocky Mountain Conference rival that Caccia’s squads went 9-1 against over his coaching tenure.  Flanked by his wife and family, Caccia, who celebrated his 90th birthday during the week of the festivities, was called by ISU President Dr. Arthur C. Vailas “an institution, and a true Bengal”.

Caccia, who was the Athletic Director for ISU’s 1981 National Championship season and worked hand in hand with his best friend and Dome namesake Milton “Dubby” Holt, had the Holt Arena crowd in stitches at the ceremony, commenting that, “had I known all this would have happened, I’d be happy to turn 90 again next year!”

Babe coached the Bengals from 1952 through the 1965 season, compiling an all-time mark of 79-38-2.  Babe’s teams won Rocky Mountain Conference championships in 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957, and 1959, and he also won the first ever Big Sky Conference title in 1963.  Caccia’s legendary teams include a pair of undefeated squads in 1952 (8-0, 5-0 RMC) and in 1957 (9-0, 6-0 RMC).  The 1957 team outscored their opponents 280-85, with only one game decided by 13 points or less.

Caccia’s teams also went 11-3 on Homecoming, and fittingly, Idaho State scored a decisive 26-14 victory to commemorate the occasion and the christening of Caccia Field.