1978 Idaho Vandals football team

Last updated

1978 Idaho Vandals football
Idaho Vandals logo.svg
Conference Big Sky Conference
Record2–9 (2–4 Big Sky)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBill Tripp (1st season)
Offensive scheme Veer
Defensive coordinator Greg McMackin (2nd season)
Base defense 5–2
Home stadium Kibbie Dome
Seasons
←  1977
1979  →
1978 Big Sky Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 7 Northern Arizona $ 6 –0 –08 –2 –0
No. T–9 Montana State 4 –2 –08 –2 –0
Montana 4 –2 –05 –6 –0
Boise State 3 –3 –07 –4 –0
Weber State 2 –4 –04 –7 –0
Idaho 2 –4 –02 –9 –0
Idaho State 0 –6 –02 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA AP Poll

The 1978 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the Big Sky Conference during the 1978 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by new head coach Jerry Davitch, the Vandals played home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

Contents

With sophomore quarterbacks Jay Goodenbour and Mike McCurdy running the veer offense, [1] [2] [3] the Vandals were 2–9 overall (2–4 in Big Sky, fifth). [4] [5] Projected starter Rocky Tuttle injured an ankle in the final scrimmage, had tendon surgery, and redshirted; [1] [6] as a fifth-year senior in 1979, he started as a running back and receiver.

The final win was an unplayed forfeit by Idaho State for a scheduled night game in Moscow in November. Flying from Pocatello to the Palouse on the afternoon of the game to forego lodging, one of ISU's two chartered Convair 440 aircraft had carburetor problems soon after takeoff and had to land. It carried the defensive players; the other with the offense landed safely at the Moscow-Pullman airport two hours later. [7] [8] After difficulties in arranging a viable makeup date, a forfeit win was awarded to the Vandals. [9] [10] It was the conference finale for both, [11] and ISU finished winless in the Big Sky for the second time in three seasons.

This was the first season for the newly created Division I-AA, [12] [13] which the Big Sky joined. In  Division I for other sports, it was previously a Division II conference for football, except for Division I member Idaho, which moved down to I-AA this season. Idaho had maintained its upper division status in the NCAA by playing Division I non-conference opponents.

Hired in January, Davitch was previously an assistant at the Air Force Academy for five seasons under longtime head coach Ben Martin, preceded by four years as a high school head coach in Tucson, Arizona. [14] [15] [16] [17]

Season tickets for the five home games cost thirty-two dollars. [18]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 97:00 pmat San Jose State (Div. I-A) *
L 14–3110,011
September 161:00 pmat Washington State (Div. I-A)*
L 0–2816,950
September 235:30 pmat Wichita State (Div. I-A)*
L 6–2813,123 [19]
September 307:00 pmNo. 9 Northern Arizona
L 29–34  8,200
October 77:30 pmat UNLV (Div. I-A)*
L 14–5318,944
October 141:00 pmat Montana
W 34–30  8,286
October 217:00 pmNo. 1 Montana State
  • Kibbie Dome
  • Moscow, ID
L 21–57  9,000
October 282:00 pm Weber State Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Kibbie Dome
  • Moscow, ID
L 6–5113,500
November 412:30 pmat Boise State
L 10–4820,235
November 117:00 pm Idaho State
W 1–0Forfeit [7] [8] [9]
[10] [11]
November 187:00 pm Fresno State (Div. I-A)*
  • Kibbie Dome
  • Moscow, ID
L 28–41  5,600

Roster

1978 Idaho Vandals football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
FL 1Jett TaylorJr
SE 7Jack KleinSo
QB 10Jay GoodenbourSo
QB 11Mike McCurdySo
QB 12Rocky Tuttle  Cruz Roja.svg Redshirt.svg  Sr
SE 18Kirk AllenSr
RB 25Robert BrooksSr
RB 30 Tim Lappano   Cruz Roja.svg Redshirt.svg  Sr
RB 32Glen WhiteSo
RB 33Terry IdlerFr
RB 35Glenn FordSo
RB 40Randy DavenportSo
LG 58Dan CozzettoSr
RG 61Dick WilkinSr
RT 68Bryan ZimmermannSr
C 69Larry CoombsJr
OL 69Kyle RiddellJr
OL 77Tom RandelSr
TE 84Rick MayfieldSr
TE 82Al SwensonFr
FL, TE 88Mike Hagadone  Cruz Roja.svg Redshirt.svg  Sr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB 3Russell DavisFr
FS 4Ron PowellSo
CB 20Ron JessieJr
SS 24Rick LinehanSr
CB 35Mike KeoughSo
DE 42Brian RekofkeSr
LB 43Larry BarkerSo
LB 51Chris EadsJr
LB 52Bob CaffertySr
LB 53Kelly GrimesJr
DT 71Mark McNealJr
NG 75Monty ElderSo
DT 78Steve ParkerJr
LB 83Phil VanceJr
DE 84Jay HayesFr
DE 80Lloyd WilliamsonFr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
P 2Dion JergoFr
PK 5Jeff WellmannFr
P 6Pete O'BrienFr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt
Source: [20] [21]

All-conference

No Vandals were chosen for All-Big Sky first team, but seven were selected for the second team; the two picks on offense were tackle Kyle Riddell and center Larry Coombs. The five on the defense were linebacker Brian Rekofke, defensive linemen Mark McNeal and Steve Parker, and defensive backs Rick Linehan and Ron Jessie. [22] [23]

NFL Draft

No Vandals were selected in the 1979 NFL Draft, which lasted twelve rounds (330 selections).

One Vandal junior was later selected in the 1980 NFL Draft, [24] [25] also twelve rounds (333 selections).

PlayerPositionRoundOverallFranchise
Mark McNeal DE 6th 153 Seattle Seahawks

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The 1981 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by fourth-year head coach Jerry Davitch, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

The 1980 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals were led by third-year head coach Jerry Davitch and were members of the Big Sky Conference. They played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

The 1985 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1985 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by fourth-year head coach Dennis Erickson, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

The 1987 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by second-year head coach Keith Gilbertson, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

The 1979 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1979 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Jerry Davitch and were members of the Big Sky Conference. They played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

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The 1975 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Ed Troxel and were members of the Big Sky Conference, then in Division II. They played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

The 1974 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. The Vandals were led by first-year head coach Ed Troxel and were members of the Big Sky Conference, then in Division II. They played their home games at new Idaho Stadium, an unlit outdoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

The 1973 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. The Vandals were led by fourth-year head coach Don Robbins and were members of the Big Sky Conference, then in Division II. They played their home games at new Idaho Stadium, an unlit outdoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

The 1970 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho as a member of Big Sky Conference during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. The Vandals were led by first-year head coach Don Robbins. Without a usable stadium on their Moscow campus for a second year, they played their home games at Rogers Field at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.

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The 1993 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1993 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by fifth-year head coach John L. Smith, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

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The 1991 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1991 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals were led by third-year head coach John L. Smith, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

The 1995 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1995 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by first-year head coach Chris Tormey, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho. Idaho finished the regular season at 6–4 and 4–3 in the Big Sky, their final season in the conference for more than two decades.

The 1978–79 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team represented the University of Idaho during the 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Members of the Big Sky Conference, the Vandals were led by first-year head coach Don Monson and played their home games on campus at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho. They were 11–15 overall and 4–10 in conference play.

References

  1. 1 2 "Goodenbour's one guy not worried". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 6, 1978. p. 21.
  2. ↑ Stewart, Chuck (September 11, 1978). "'Future' arrives fast for young Vandal QB". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 21.
  3. ↑ "McCurdy snares quarterback job". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. September 26, 1978. p. 17.
  4. ↑ Barrows, Bob (November 20, 1978). "Idaho football". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1B.
  5. ↑ Payne, Bob (November 26, 1978). "Vandals kiss this sort of season goodbye". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. C5.
  6. ↑ "Vandals' QB looking fine". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). September 6, 1978. p. 22.
  7. 1 2 Barrows, Bob (November 12, 1978). "No Vandal game, ISU can't make it". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1B.
  8. 1 2 "One platoon arrived, one did not – sorry". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. November 12, 1978. p. C2.
  9. 1 2 "Bengals forfeit to Idaho". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. November 14, 1978. p. 15.
  10. 1 2 Drosendahl, Glenn (November 12, 1978). "Vandals claim a forfeit". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1B.
  11. 1 2 Barrows, Bob (November 11, 1978). "Vandals, Idaho State try to salvage something". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 3B.
  12. ↑ "Big schools win battle". St. Petersburg Independent. Florida. Associated Press. January 13, 1978. p. 5C.
  13. ↑ Underwood, John (January 23, 1978). "The NCAA splits its decision". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  14. ↑ "UI names grid boss". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). January 10, 1978. p. 18.
  15. ↑ Emerson, Paul (January 11, 1978). "Davitch named UI coach". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. B1.
  16. ↑ Missildine, Harry (January 11, 1978). "Davitch new Idaho football coach". Spokesman Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 15.
  17. ↑ "Vandal cagers investigated". Spokesman Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 12, 1978. p. 25.
  18. ↑ "UI season ticket holders have time". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). July 7, 1978. p. 3B.
  19. ↑ "WSU trounces Idaho 28–6". The Wichita Eagle. September 24, 1978. Retrieved February 26, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Rosters". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 16, 1978. p. 21.
  21. ↑ Payne, Bob (November 17, 1978). "Vandals to end frustrating season". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 35.
  22. ↑ "All Big Sky (offense)". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 21, 1978. p. 3B.
  23. ↑ "Big Sky Defensive teams named". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 24, 1978. p. 3B.
  24. ↑ "NFL Draft: Two Palouse players go in early rounds". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). April 30, 1980. p. 1B.
  25. ↑ "Patera: We got the best". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. April 30, 1980. p. C2.
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