1978 Idaho Vandals football team

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

1978 Idaho Vandals football
Conference Big Sky Conference
1978 record 2–9 (2–4 Big Sky)
Head coach Jerry Davitch (1st season)
Offensive coordinator Bill Tripp (1st season)
Offensive scheme Veer
Defensive coordinator Greg McMackin (2nd season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Kibbie Dome
1978 Big Sky football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
#7 Northern Arizona $   6 – 0         8 – 2  
#7 Montana State   4 – 2         8 – 2  
Montana   4 – 2         5 – 6  
Boise State   3 – 3         7 – 4  
Weber State   2 – 4         4 – 7  
Idaho   2 – 4         2 – 9  
Idaho State   0 – 6         2 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • No Big Sky teams were selected for I-AA playoffs.
Rankings from NCAA Poll

The 1978 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1978 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals were led by new 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. 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.

With quarterbacks Jay Goodenbour and Mike McCurdy running the veer offense,[1][2] the Vandals were 2–9 overall and 2–4 in the Big Sky in 1978.[3][4]

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 because of unavailable 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.[5][6] After difficulties in arranging a viable makeup date, a forfeit win was awarded to the Vandals.[7][8] It was the conference finale for both teams,[9] and Idaho State finished winless in the Big Sky.

This was the first season for the newly created Division I-AA,[10] which the Big Sky joined. 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.

Schedule

Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance
Sep 09 7:00 pm at San Jose State - (Div. I-A)* Spartan Stadium • San Jose, CA L 14–31   10,011
Sep 16 1:00 pm at Washington State - (Div. I-A)* Martin Stadium • Pullman, WA - (Battle of the Palouse) L   0–28   16,950
Sep 23 at Wichita State - (Div. I-A)* Cessna Stadium • Wichita, KS L   6–28    
Sep 30 7:00 pm Northern Arizona Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID L 29–34   8,200
Oct 07 7:30 pm at Nevada-Las Vegas - (Div. I-A)* Silver Bowl • Las Vegas, NV L 14–53   18,944
Oct 14 1:00 pm at Montana Dornblaser Field • Missoula, MT - (Little Brown Stein) W 34–30   8,286
Oct 21 7:00 pm Montana State Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID L 21–57   9,000
Oct 28 2:00 pm Weber Statedagger Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID L   6–51   13,500
Nov 04 12:30 pm at Boise State Bronco Stadium • Boise, ID - (BSU-UI rivalry) L 10–48   20,235
Nov 11 7:00 pm Idaho State Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID W  1–0   (Forfeit)
Nov 18 7:00 pm at Fresno State - (Div. I-A)* Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID L 28–41   5,600
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Pacific Time.

References

  1. ↑ Stewart, Chuck (September 11, 1978). "'Future' arrives fast for young Vandal QB". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 21.
  2. ↑ "McCurdy snares quarterback job". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 26, 1978. p. 17.
  3. ↑ Barrows, Bob (November 20, 1978). "Idaho football". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1B.
  4. ↑ Payne, Bob (November 26, 1978). "Vandals kiss this sort of season goodbye". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. C5.
  5. ↑ Barrows, Bob (November 12, 1978). "No Vandal game, ISU can't make it". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1B.
  6. ↑ "One platoon arrived, one did not – sorry". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 12, 1978. p. C2.
  7. ↑ "Bengals forfeit to Idaho". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 14, 1978. p. 15.
  8. ↑ Drosendahl, Glenn (November 12, 1978). "Vandals claim a forfeit". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1B.
  9. ↑ Barrows, Bob (November 11, 1978). "Vandals, Idaho State try to salvage something". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 3B.
  10. ↑ "Big schools win battle". St. Petersburg Independent. (Florida). Associated Press. January 13, 1978. p. 5C.
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