1988 Idaho Vandals football team
Coordinates: 46°43′34″N 117°01′05″W / 46.726°N 117.018°W
| 1988 Idaho Vandals football | |
|---|---|
 | |
I-AA Semifinalists | |
| Conference | Big Sky Conference |
| 1988 record | 11-2 (7-1 Big Sky) |
| Head coach | Keith Gilbertson |
| Offensive coordinator | Bill Diedrick |
| Defensive coordinator | Barry Lamb |
| Home stadium | Kibbie Dome |
The 1988 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by third-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 Vandals won their third conference title in four seasons, and made the I-AA playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Led by redshirt junior quarterback John Friesz, Idaho finished the regular season at 9-1 and 7-1 in the Big Sky. The Vandals scheduled only ten regular season games for the first time since 1969.[1] Idaho would play only ten regular season games again in 1995, their final year the Big Sky. The shortened regular season was beneficial in 1988, as the Vandals played three post-season games, falling on the road in the national semifinals in Gilbertson's final game as the Vandals' head coach.
Notable games
Following a sole loss on the road to conference rival Montana, Idaho won its final seven games of the regular season. The Vandals defeated Nevada-Reno for a second consecutive year, only the third time in the eleven meetings since the Wolf Pack joined the Big Sky in 1979. The Vandals defeated rival Boise State for the seventh consecutive year, the seventh of twelve straight over the Broncos.
Division I-AA playoffs
For the fourth consecutive season, Idaho returned to the I-AA playoffs. In the first round, the Vandals hosted conference foe Montana, who had handed the Vandals their only defeat. The Vandals won the rematch 38-19 at the Kibbie Dome two days after Thanksgiving.[2] Idaho also hosted in the quarterfinals, and defeated Northwestern State (La.) 38-30, but lost quarterback John Friesz with an ankle sprain in the third quarter.[3]
In the semifinals Idaho was eliminated 38-7 on the road at Furman in Greenville, South Carolina, ending the Vandals' season at 11-2. With their third-string quarterback and many other reserves playing against the top-ranked defense in Division I-AA, the Vandals were only down 10-0 at the half, but the score mounted to 38-0 before the Vandals scored. The Vandal defense gave up 320 rushing yards to the Paladins.[4] Furman went on to win the I-AA title the following week.
Notable players
The 1988 team included two future NFL players with lengthy pro careers: guard Mark Schlereth (fifth-year senior) and junior John Friesz, the future collegiate hall of fame quarterback was a three-year starter (1987–89).
1988 season schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10 | Portland State - (Div. II)* | Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID | W 27-18 | 10,100 | ||||
| Sep 17 | at Pacific - (Div. I-A)* | Pacific Memorial Stadium • Stockton, CA | W 36-26 | 13,868 | ||||
| Sep 24 | at Montana | Washington-Grizzly Stadium • Missoula, MT - (Little Brown Stein) | L 17-26 | |||||
| Oct 01 | Northern Arizona | Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID | W 31-20 | 16,100 | ||||
| Oct 08 | Montana State | Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID | W 41-24 | 9,200 | ||||
| Oct 15 | at Eastern Washington | Joe Albi Stadium • Spokane, WA | W 31-22 | 6,644 | ||||
| Oct 22 | Weber State | Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID | W 27-24 | 9,500 | ||||
| Nov 05 | at Nevada | Mackay Stadium • Reno, NV | W 32-31 | 16,410 | ||||
| Nov 12 | Idaho State | Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID | W 41-7 | 9,200 | ||||
| Nov 19 | at Boise State | Bronco Stadium • Boise, ID - (BSU-UI rivalry) | W 26-20 | 23,687 | ||||
| Nov 26 | Montana | Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID - (I-AA playoffs - 1st round) | W 38-19 | 5,500 | ||||
| Dec 03 | Northwestern St. (La.)* | Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID - (I-AA playoffs - Quarterfinals) | W 38-30 | 6,800 | ||||
| Dec 10 | at Furman* | Paladin Stadium • Greenville, SC - (I-AA playoffs - Semi-finals) | L 7-38 | 11,645 | ||||
*Non-conference game.  Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. | ||||||||
References
- ↑ (Moscow) Idahonian - Wind chill doesn't ground Vandals - 1988-03-29 - p.10A
- ↑ (Moscow) Idahonian - Round two: Vandals deck Grizzlies - 1988-11-28 - p.6A
- ↑ (Moscow) Idahonian - Vandals: Plenty of pain and gain - 1988-12-05 - p.6A
- ↑ (Moscow) Idahonian - UI dream year ends with nightmare - 1988-12-12 - p.1B
- ↑ College Football Data Warehouse - Idaho 1985-89 - accessed 2010-08-22
External links
- Gem of the Mountains: 1989 University of Idaho yearbook - 1988 football season
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