1984 Idaho Vandals football team

Coordinates: 46°43′34″N 117°01′05″W / 46.726°N 117.018°W

1984 Idaho Vandals football
Conference Big Sky Conference
1984 record 6-5 (4-3 Big Sky)
Head coach Dennis Erickson
Offensive coordinator Dan Cozzetto
Defensive coordinator John L. Smith
Home stadium Kibbie Dome
1984 Big Sky football standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#2 Montana State 6 1 0     12 2 0
Nevada 5 2 0     7 4 0
Idaho 4 3 0     6 5 0
Boise State 4 3 0     6 5 0
Idaho State 4 3 0     5 6 0
Weber State 3 4 0     5 6 0
Northern Arizona 2 5 0     4 6 0
Montana 0 7 0     2 8 1
Conference champion
  • Montana State earned automatic berth in NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship. Nevada earned at-large berth in NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship.
    Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA poll (released before championship playoffs)

The 1984 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1984 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by third-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.

After the departure of four-year starter QB Ken Hobart following the 1983 season, Idaho struggled with injuries and inexperience, falling to a 2-5 record before winning their last four. Led by quarterbacks Scott Linehan (redshirt sophomore) and Rick Sloan (junior, transfer from San Jose State), the Vandals finished 6-5 in the regular season and 4-3 in the Big Sky.

Although the 1984 season was less successful than the previous two, it marked the first time in nearly eight decades that the Vandals had three consecutive winning seasons in football; it was last accomplished in 1905.[1]

Notable games

The Vandals defeated Oregon State of the Pac-10 41-22 in Moscow, but lost to upstart independent Eastern Washington in Spokane (EWU joined the Big Sky in 1987). Nevada-Reno continued its dominance over the Vandals, winning its sixth straight since joining the conference in 1979.

Idaho defeated rival Boise State for the third consecutive year, the third of twelve straight over the Broncos. The 1984 game was the most lopsided to date, with the Vandals recording a 37-0 shutout on the road at Bronco Stadium.

Division I-AA playoffs

Idaho missed the I-AA playoffs again, but would return in 10 of the next 11 seasons, then depart for Division I-A in 1996 (though not officially I-A until 1997). In 1984, the mercurial Montana State Bobcats won the Big Sky title and the I-AA national title (MSU was 1-10 in 1983, 12-2 in 1984, 2-9 in 1985). The Bobcats were the only selection from the West in the 12-team playoffs. Idaho would close out the decade with conference titles in 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1989 (and runner-up in 1986), not missing the I-AA playoffs until 1991.

Notable players

The 1984 team included two future NFL head coaches: quarterback Scott Linehan and offensive lineman Tom Cable. [2]

1984 season schedule

Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
Sep 08 Portland State - (Div. II)* Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID W 49-14   10,500
Sep 15 at Cal State Fullerton - (Div. I-A)* Fullerton, CA L 7-28   5,650
Sep 22 Montana State Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID L 28-34   11,600
Sep 29 Oregon State - (Div. I-A)* Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID W 41-22   10,700
Oct 06 at Nevada-Reno Mackay StadiumReno, NV L 17-23   9,525
Oct 13 Weber State Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID L 37-40   13,700
Oct 20 at Eastern Washington* Joe Albi StadiumSpokane, WA L 25-32   10,000
Oct 27 at Montana Dornblaser FieldMissoula, MT (Little Brown Stein) W 40-39  
Nov 03 Northern Arizona Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID W 37-9   7,500
Nov 10 Idaho State Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID W 45-42   7,500
Nov 17 at Boise State Bronco Stadium • Boise, ID (BSU-UI rivalry) W 37-0   20,430
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game.

References

  1. College Football Data Warehouse - Idaho Vandals - yearly totals - accessed 2011-10-02
  2. Lewiston Morning Tribune - starting rosters - ISU @ UI - 1984-11-10 - p.4C

External links