Caputo, who played for the Grizzlies from 1969-71 and ranks fourth all-time on the school’s career rushing list with 2,033 yards, is the road course manager of Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash. Caputo said Pacific Raceways could be a destination for NASCAR if some course configurations are changed in the next four years.
“NASCAR has been looking at putting a race in Seattle for a few years now, but we’re also a possibility,” said Caputo, who is also in charge of hospitality for the track. “It would be a road course like Watkins Glen.”
“I get everything ready and oversee what they are doing,” Caputo said.
Caputo has worked at Pacific Raceways, which also hosts drag racing and motor cross events, for two years after 30 years of experience in the waste disposal business.
Caputo points to the Grizzlies’ undefeated regular seasons in 1969-70 as a source of pride. Those squads earned the right to play North Dakota State in the Camellia Bowl, which was considered the Division II national championship game. But both times the Grizzlies were limited by NCAA transfer rules with several key players forced to sit out of the Camellia Bowls.
“It certainly didn’t help our effort,” said Caputo, who saw limited action in the 30-3 loss in 1969, but played most of the offensive snaps in the 31-16 loss in 1970. “I think we could’ve won, but it just didn’t work out.”
Caputo earned the Terry Dillon (outstanding player) Award in 1971 for a 6-5 Griz squad. He earned first-team, all-conference honors after establishing a school record with 1,253 rushing yards in a season. Yohance Humprey (1999, 2001) and Lex Hilliard (2005) are the only Griz rushers to eclipse Caputo’s total.
“That was kind of fun,” Caputo said. “I had a great line. They would push the defense back three yards. I just had to fit in the holes.
“We ran quite bit more than we passed. I actually arrived as a QB, but I didn’t care much for pitching the ball. They got a little bit tired of that.”
The “they” Caputo referred to was head coach Jack Swarthout and assistant coach Jack Elway.
“I liked Jack (Swarthout),” he said. “I thought he was a good coach. (Jack Elway) was a screamer. He’d be on you all day long until you were doing it the way he wanted it done. He was an excellent coach.”
Caputo earned a shot to make the Green Bay Packers after his breakout season in 1971. He said he rooted for the great Green Bay teams of the 1960s growing up and admitted that he was awestruck rubbing elbows with players such as Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke. Still, he described the experience as “terrible.”
“I went from a situation where I was having fun to where it was a business atmosphere,” Caputo said. “The athletes were faster and bigger too.”
Caputo said he still keeps in touch with several teammates and tries to get to Missoula at least once a year for a game.
“I think it’s wonderful,” he said of the program’s growth. “It’s a beautiful facility. I still have a lot of friends over there.”
Caputo and his wife Tamera have two sons: Brent, 21 and Joey, 14. The 57-year-old Seattle native said he enjoys boating and bird hunting.
“I’m feeling good,” he said. “I’d like to be 21 again, but I’m feeling well.”
Scott Johnson is a freelance writer in Missoula. If you have idea for a player to be profiled as the subject of a Where are they now?, please contact him at sjohnson2930@msn.com.
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