1981 Boise State Broncos football team

Last updated

1981 Boise State Broncos football
Old Boise State Script logo.png
Conference Big Sky Conference
Ranking
APNo. 5
Record10–3 (6–1 Big Sky)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Gene Dahlquist (5th season)
Defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich (2nd season)
Base defense 3–4
Home stadium Bronco Stadium
Seasons
  1980
1982  
1981 Big Sky Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Idaho State $^ 6 1 012 1 0
No. 5 Boise State ^ 6 1 010 3 0
Montana 5 2 07 3 0
Nevada 4 3 07 4 0
Weber State 4 3 07 4 0
Northern Arizona 2 5 04 7 0
Montana State 1 6 03 7 0
Idaho 0 7 03 8 0
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Committee poll

The 1981 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at Bronco Stadium, an outdoor facility on campus in Boise, Idaho. The Broncos were led by sixth-year head coach Jim Criner and were the defending champions of Division I-AA.

Contents

Regular season

The Broncos finished the regular season at 9–2 and 6–1 in conference to tie for first in the Big Sky, but lost the tiebreaker due to the head-to-head loss to champion Idaho State in the conference opener. [1] The Broncos avenged their 1980 loss Cal Poly-SLO, beating the 1980 Division II national champions 17–6 in Boise, [2] but lost at Cal State Fullerton, whom they defeated in Boise in the previous season. [3] The Broncos narrowly defeated rival Idaho for the fifth consecutive year, in the regular season finale in Moscow. [4] The Vandals were winless in the Big Sky in 1981, which caused a change in head coaches. (BSU did not defeat the Vandals again until 1994, losing twelve straight).

NCAA Division I-AA playoffs

The Broncos were again invited to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, expanded to eight teams for 1981. As Big Sky runner-up, BSU played on the road in the quarterfinals at Jackson State, and won 19–7. [5] The semifinal game was played at home against top-ranked Eastern Kentucky, whom the Broncos had narrowly defeated in the title game the year before. This time the Colonels prevailed 23–17, [6] but lost the title game to Idaho State the following week in Texas. [7]

The Broncos returned to the I-AA playoffs in 1988, the semifinals in 1990, and the title game in 1994, then moved up to Division I-A in 1996.

Notable players

Future NFL players included linebacker John Rade and safety Rick Woods. Defensive lineman Randy Trautman played four seasons in the Canadian Football League and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Coaches

Head coach Jim Criner stayed seven seasons at Boise State before departing for Iowa State following the 1982 season. Defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich was promoted to head coach and would stay for four seasons (19831986). The defensive secondary coach at BSU in 1981 was future NFL head coach John Fox. [8]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 5 Northwestern State *W 32–2019,347
September 12 Rhode Island *
  • Bronco Stadium
  • Boise, ID
W 33–819,437
September 19 Idaho State
  • Bronco Stadium
  • Boise, ID
L 10–2120,486
September 26 Northern Arizona No. 10
  • Bronco Stadium
  • Boise, ID
W 34–2017,622
October 3at Montana No. T–9W 27–138,732
October 10 Montana State No. T–7
  • Bronco Stadium
  • Boise, ID
W 20–1018,842
October 24at Weber State No. 6W 33–1912,306
October 31at Nevada No. 4W 13–314,325
November 7at Cal State Fullerton *No. 3
L 17–202,100 [9]
November 14 Cal Poly *No. 6
  • Bronco Stadium
  • Boise, ID
W 17–617,260
November 21at Idaho No. 4W 45–4314,000
December 5at No. 4 Jackson State *No. 5W 17–611,500 [10]
December 12No. 1 Eastern Kentucky *No. 5
  • Bronco Stadium
  • Boise, ID (NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal)
L 17–2320,176 [11]

Roster

1981 Boise State Broncos football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
FL 1Ron HarveyJr
QB 13Gerald DesPresFr
QB 18Tim KlenaSo
TB 34Rodney WebsterSo
FB 36Robert FarmerJr
C 53Scott BakerSo
LT 60Dennis BradySr
RT 67Bill MadingerSr
LG 68Greg SuttonSo
RG 71 Jon Zogg Jr
SE 80Kipp BedardSr
TE 90Duane DlouhySr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
FS 26David BlackburnJr
CB 28Chris BellSr
SS 29 Rick Woods Sr
LOLB 32Dan LeBeauSr
CB 37Bobby FryerJr
FS 42Larry AlderJr
NG 43Bob SkinnerJr
RILB 44Curt HeckerJr
ROLB 58 John Rade Jr
LILB 61Ray SantucciSr
LDT 70 Randy Trautman Sr
RDT 75Eric McCreeJr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
KR 5John BroadousJr
K 10Kenrick CamerudJr
PR 29 Rick Woods Sr
P 33Eric BrownFr
LS 66Jeff CavesSo
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Source: [8] [12]

NFL Draft

Two Bronco seniors were selected in the 1982 NFL Draft, which lasted twelve rounds (334 selections).

PlayerPositionRoundOverallFranchise
Rick Woods DB 4th 97 Pittsburgh Steelers
Randy Trautman DT 9th 238 Washington Redskins

Related Research Articles

Jim Criner is a former American football player and coach. He was the head coach at Boise State University from 1976 to 1982 and at Iowa State University from 1983 to 1986, compiling a career record of 76–46–3 (.620) as a college football head coach. Criner was also the head coach of the NFL Europe's Scottish Claymores from 1995 to 2000, and the short-lived XFL's Las Vegas Outlaws in 2001. Criner has also been head coach in the French league Ligue Élite de Football Américain.

Lyle Setencich is an American former college football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Boise State University from 1983 to 1986 and California Polytechnic State University from 1987 to 1993, compiling a career head coaching record of 65–49–2 (.569).

Lyle Hilton Smith was an American football and basketball player, coach, and college athletics administrator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Boise State Broncos football team</span> American college football season

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 Boise State Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 1980 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. They were led by fifth-year head coach Jim Criner and the "Four Horseman" senior backfield: quarterback Joe Aliotti, fullback David Hughes, halfback Cedric Minter, with halfback Terry Zahner in reserve.

The 1982 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1982 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by first-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 1983 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by second-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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1979 Boise State Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 1979 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1979 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games on campus at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. They were led by fourth-year head coach Jim Criner and an offensive backfield of juniors: quarterback Joe Aliotti, fullback David Hughes, halfback Cedric Minter, with halfback Terry Zahner in reserve.

The 1977 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. The Vandals were led by fourth-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 1976 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. The Vandals were led by third-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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Boise State Broncos football team</span> American college football season

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1991 Boise State Broncos football team</span> American college football season

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 Boise State Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 1988 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The Broncos were led by second-year head coach Skip Hall, Boise State finished the season 8–4 overall and 5–3 in conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1983 Boise State Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 1983 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games on campus at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The Broncos were led by first–year head coach Lyle Setencich, previously the defensive coordinator, Boise State finished the season 6–5 overall and 4–3 in conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1982 Boise State Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 1982 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1982 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games on campus at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The Broncos were led by seventh–year head coach Jim Criner, Boise State finished the season 8–3 overall and 4–3 in conference for fourth place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 Boise State Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 1978 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1978 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games on campus at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Led by third-year head coach Jim Criner, the Broncos were 7–4 overall and 3–3 in conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1977 Boise State Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 1977 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1977 NCAA Division II football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games on campus at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Led by second-year head coach Jim Criner, the Broncos were 9–2 overall and 6–0 in conference to win the Big Sky title, their fourth in five years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1975 Boise State Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 1975 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University during the 1975 NCAA Division II football season, the eighth season of Bronco football and the third in the newly reorganized Division II. The Broncos were in their sixth year as members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games on campus at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Boise State Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 1974 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University during the 1974 NCAA Division II football season, the seventh season of Bronco football and the second in the newly reorganized Division II. The Broncos were in their fifth year as members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games on campus at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. This was the first season as "BSU" as the school had recently become a university.

The 1994 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1994 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by sixth-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.

References

  1. "Idaho St. 20, Boise St. 17". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. September 20, 1981. p. 6C.
  2. "Boise State romps". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 15, 1981. p. 6C.
  3. "Fullerton 20, Boise St. 17". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 8, 1981. p. 6C.
  4. Emerson, Paul (November 22, 1981). "Idaho bids goodbye to Davitch with loss". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 2D.
  5. "Boise State had upper hand". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. December 6, 1981. p. 13C.
  6. "No.1 E. Kentucky tips Boise St., 23-17". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. December 13, 1981. p. 12E.
  7. "Bengals ride like the wind". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. December 20, 1981. p. 2D.
  8. 1 2 Game Day program – EKU vs BSU – December 12, 1981, p. 6
  9. Pete Donovan (November 8, 1981). "In a Wild Finish, Fullerton Kicks Back to Win, 20-17". The Los Angeles Times (Orange County ed.). Los Angeles, California. p. III-15. Retrieved February 10, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. "Broncos top Jackson State". The Idaho Statesman. December 6, 1981. Retrieved August 2, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Broncos' last-ditch attempt falls short". The Idaho Statesman. December 13, 1981. Retrieved March 23, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  12. Emerson, Paul (November 21, 1981). "Idaho can return some of the pain: probable starters". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.