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{{short description|American college football season}}
{{coord|46.726|-117.018|display=title}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
{{Infobox college sports team season
|Year = 1947
| year = 1947
|Team = Idaho Vandals
|Image = University of Idaho Vandals logo.svg
| team = Idaho Vandals
| sport = football
|ImageSize = 80
| image =
|Conference = Pacific Coast Conference
| image_size =
|ShortConference = PCC
| conference = [[Pacific Coast Conference]]
|CoachRank =
| short_conf = PCC
|APRank =
|Record = 4–4
| record = 4–4
|ConfRecord = 1–4
| conf_record = 1–4
|HeadCoach = [[Dixie Howell]]
| head_coach = [[Dixie Howell]]
|HCYear = 1st
| hc_year = 1st
| captain =
|OffCoach =
| stadium = [[Neale Stadium]]
|OCYear =
|DefCoach =
|DCYear =
|OScheme =
|DScheme =
|StadiumArena = [[Neale Stadium]]
|Champion =
|BowlTourney =
|BowlTourneyResult=
}}
}}
{{1947 PCC football standings}}
{{1947 Pacific Coast Conference football standings}}
The '''1947 Idaho Vandals football team''' represented the [[University of Idaho]] in the [[1947 college football season]]. The [[Idaho Vandals football|Vandals]] were led by first-year head coach [[Dixie Howell]],<ref name=hhbiu >{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BPo-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=YE0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=6405%2C2490185 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |agency=Associated Press |title=Howell signed by Idaho U. |date=February 27, 1947 |page=9}}</ref> and were members of the [[Pacific Coast Conference]]. Home games were played on campus in [[Moscow, Idaho|Moscow]] at [[Neale Stadium]], with one game in [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]] at [[Albertsons Stadium#Public School Field|Public School Field]]. The Vandals were 4–4 overall and 1–4 in conference play.
The '''1947 Idaho Vandals football team''' represented the [[University of Idaho]] in the [[1947 college football season]]. The [[Idaho Vandals football|Vandals]] were led by first-year head coach [[Dixie Howell]],<ref name=hhbiu >{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BPo-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=YE0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=6405%2C2490185 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |agency=Associated Press |title=Howell signed by Idaho U. |date=February 27, 1947 |page=9}}</ref> and were members of the [[Pacific Coast Conference]]. Home games were played on campus in [[Moscow, Idaho|Moscow]] at [[Neale Stadium]], with one game in [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]] at [[Albertsons Stadium#Public School Field|Public School Field]]. The Vandals were 4–4 overall and 1–4 in conference play.


Howell, age 34, had been the head coach at [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Arizona State]] before the [[World War II|war]] and was a finalist for the Idaho job six years earlier in 1941,<ref name=dhvid>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lbFaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_E8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3355%2C3231765 |newspaper=Prescott Evening Courier |location=(Arizona) |agency=Associated Press |title=Dixie Howell views Idaho |date=March 14, 1941 |page=5}}</ref> which went to [[Francis Schmidt]]. He played with [[Don Hutson]] and [[Bear Bryant]] at [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]], and was the passer and a consensus [[1934 College Football All-America Team|All-American]] on the undefeated [[1934 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1934]] team that won the [[1935 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]] and the [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|national title]].<ref name=adayaw>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WhYfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GpwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4577,3539401 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |title=New A-Day award will honor Howell |date=April 20, 1971 |page=6}}</ref><ref name=whist>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RSwdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SKUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5295,7298014 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |last=Browning |first=Al |title=Howell wasn't just whistling 'Dixie' |date=April 26, 1981 |page=B1}}</ref>
Howell, age 34, had been the head coach at [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Arizona State]] before the [[World War II|war]] and was a finalist for the Idaho job six years earlier in 1941,<ref name=dhvid>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lbFaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_E8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3355%2C3231765 |newspaper=Prescott Evening Courier |location=(Arizona) |agency=Associated Press |title=Dixie Howell views Idaho |date=March 14, 1941 |page=5}}</ref> which went to [[Francis Schmidt]]. He played with [[Don Hutson]] and [[Bear Bryant]] at [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]], and was the passer and a consensus [[1934 College Football All-America Team|All-American]] on the undefeated [[1934 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1934]] team that won the [[1935 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]] and the [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|national title]].<ref name=adayaw>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WhYfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GpwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4577,3539401 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |title=New A-Day award will honor Howell |date=April 20, 1971 |page=6}}</ref><ref name=whist>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RSwdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SKUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5295,7298014 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |last=Browning |first=Al |title=Howell wasn't just whistling 'Dixie' |date=April 26, 1981 |page=B1}}</ref>


Idaho was ranked at No. 119 (out of 500 college football teams) in the final [[Litkenhous Ratings]] for 1947.<ref>{{cite news|title=Michigan National Champion in Final Litkenhous Ratings|newspaper=Times|author=Dr. E. E. Litkenhous|date=December 18, 1947|page=47|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123152970/michigan-national-champion-in-final/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
==Season==
Led on the field by <!--halfback was primary passer --> 26-year-old passing halfback Billy (The Rifle) Williams,<ref name=srrcitlt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kTBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZOUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6989%2C5699304|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|agency=Associated Press |title=Record crowd Idaho tilt |date=November 15, 1947|page=9}}</ref> Idaho compiled a {{nowrap|4–4}} overall record.


Led on the field by <!--halfback was primary passer --> 26-year-old passing halfback Billy (The Rifle) Williams,<ref name=srrcitlt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kTBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZOUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6989%2C5699304|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|agency=Associated Press |title=Record crowd Idaho tilt |date=November 15, 1947|page=9}}</ref> Idaho compiled a {{nowrap|4–4}} overall record.
The Vandals opened the season at home with a 27–7 win over the {{cfb link|year=1947|team=Puget Sound Loggers|title=Puget Sound Loggers}} of [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]],<ref name=revcps>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yJlfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jjEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1906%2C6277487 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Revitalized Vandals win opener over CPS, 27-7 |date=September 21, 1947 |page=8}}</ref> then traveled to northern California and defeated [[1947 Stanford Indians football team|Stanford]] 19–16,<ref name=honmis>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z5lfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jjEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1585%2C6829682|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Honest, Mister, Idaho beat Stanford - 19 to 16! |date=September 28, 1947 |page=8}}</ref> their only win in the series, after five defeats.<ref name=isuwost>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZbFeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1i8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=2181%2C897320 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=United Press |title=Idaho scores upset win over Stanford Indians |date=September 28, 1947 |page=22 }}</ref> After a {{nowrap|6–3–1}} season the [[1946 Stanford Indians football team|previous year]], Stanford fielded one of its poorest teams in [[1947 Stanford Indians football team|1947]] and went winless {{nowrap|at 0–9.}} (They have met only once since, Stanford crushed Idaho 63–0 two years later in [[1949 Stanford Indians football team|1949]].)<ref name=shumid>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DddRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yC8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1508%2C925124 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho)|title=Stanford humbles Idaho, 63–0 |agency=Associated Press |date=November 13, 1947 |page=8 }}</ref>


At the time, it was thought to be the first Idaho football win over a California school in the PCC, and 5,000 greeted the team at the Moscow train station on Monday morning; classes were cancelled and the public schools were closed.<ref name=hachero>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a-8-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=FE0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4319%2C7590270 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |agency=Associated Press |title=Howell acclaimed hero for Idaho win |date=September 30, 1947 |page=6}}</ref> It was actually the second win, as first-year member [[1928 UCLA Bruins football team|UCLA]] lost in Moscow in 1928.<ref name=trombrui>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cpRfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1617%2C4943740|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Tromple Bruins |date=October 28, 1928 |page=15}}</ref><ref name=iivocla>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ExFWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jOIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5929%2C4930962 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=Idaho is victor over UCLA, 20-6 |date=October 28, 1928 |page=1, sports}}</ref> But it stands as the only road win and the most recent overall, as Idaho has not defeated any of the four California schools of the present-day {{nowrap|[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]]}} in football since then,<!--thru 2015--> with winless all-time records against {{nowrap|[[USC Trojans football|USC]] (0–9)}} and [[California Golden Bears football|California]] {{nowrap|(0–4).}}
The Vandals opened the season at home with a 27–7 win over the {{cfb link|year=1947|team=Puget Sound Loggers|title=Puget Sound Loggers}} of [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]],<ref name=revcps>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yJlfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jjEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1906%2C6277487 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Revitalized Vandals win opener over CPS, 27-7 |date=September 21, 1947 |page=8}}</ref> then traveled to northern California and defeated [[1947 Stanford Indians football team|Stanford]] 19–16,<ref name=honmis>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z5lfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jjEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1585%2C6829682|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Honest, Mister, Idaho beat Stanford - 19 to 16! |date=September 28, 1947 |page=8}}</ref> their only win in the series, after five defeats.<ref name=isuwost>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yo8RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hugDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6511%2C922061|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=United Press |title=Idaho scores upset win over Stanford Indians |date=September 28, 1947 |page=22 }}</ref> After a {{nowrap|6–3–1}} season the [[1946 Stanford Indians football team|previous year]], Stanford fielded one of its poorest teams in [[1947 Stanford Indians football team|1947]] and went winless {{nowrap|at 0–9.}} (They have met only once since, Stanford crushed Idaho 63–0 two years later in [[1949 Idaho Vandals football team|1949]].)<ref name=shumid>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DddRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yC8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1508%2C925124 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho)|title=Stanford humbles Idaho, 63–0 |agency=Associated Press |date=November 13, 1949 |page=8 }}</ref>


The next week, the undefeated Vandals suffered a nineteenth straight loss in the [[Battle of the Palouse]] with neighbor [[1938 Washington State Cougars football team|Washington State]], falling {{nowrap|7–0}} at homecoming in Moscow.<ref name=fsvn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fBg0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=X-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6737%2C1671625 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=Cougars claw Idaho Vandals 7-0 |date=October 5, 1947 |page=1-sports}}</ref><ref name=gfpnl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k-5XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qPUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3526%2C1458396 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=Grid fans pack Moscow stadium |date=October 4, 1947 |page=1}}</ref> With the excitement after the win at Stanford, the game at Neale Stadium drew an overflow attendance of 22,500, then a record gathering of any kind for the [[Palouse]] and the state of Idaho. The loss ran the winless streak against the Cougars to 21 games, a record of {{nowrap|0–20–1}} since taking three straight in {{nowrap|1923–25}}; the Vandals tied again in 1950 and finally broke the streak in 1954 in Pullman.<ref name=srbop54>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aWopAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SuYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=986%2C4301393 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|title=Idaho thumps WSC, 10-0|last=Boni|first=Bill|date=October 24, 1954|page=1, sports}}</ref>
At the time, it was thought to be the first Idaho football win over a California school in the PCC, and 5,000 greeted the team at the Moscow train station on Monday morning; classes were canceled and the public schools were closed.<ref name=hachero>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a-8-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=FE0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4319%2C7590270 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |agency=Associated Press |title=Howell acclaimed hero for Idaho win |date=September 30, 1947 |page=6}}</ref> It was actually the second win, as first-year member [[1928 UCLA Bruins football team|UCLA]] lost in Moscow in&nbsp;[[1928 Idaho Vandals football team|1928]].<ref name=trombrui>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cpRfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1617%2C4943740|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Tromple Bruins |date=October 28, 1928 |page=15}}</ref><ref name=iivocla>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ExFWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jOIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5929%2C4930962 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=Idaho is victor over UCLA, 20-6 |date=October 28, 1928 |page=1, sports}}</ref> But&nbsp;it stands as the only road win and the most recent overall, as Idaho has not defeated any of the four California schools of the present-day {{nowrap|[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]]}} in football since then,<!--thru 2015--> with winless all-time records against {{nowrap|[[USC Trojans football|USC]] (0–9)}} and [[California Golden Bears football|California]] {{nowrap|(0–4).}}


The road victory over Stanford was Idaho's only win in the PCC in 1947, and struggled on offense with just thirteen points scored in their four losses. That included a humbling {{nowrap|21–0}} shutout at home to [[1947 Montana Grizzlies football team|Montana]] for the [[Little Brown Stein]] on a Friday afternoon in November;<ref name=mgdfid47>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ijBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZOUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4763%2C2835388 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|last=Miller |first=Bob |title=Montana Grizzlies defeat Idaho's Vandals, 21-0, at Moscow |date=November 8, 1947|page=10}}</ref> the Grizzlies had also won with a shutout the [[1946 Montana Grizzlies football team|previous year]], {{nowrap|19–0}} in [[Dornblaser Field|Missoula]].<ref name=msvilclr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XihmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eS8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1272%2C2664135 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Montana shoves Vandals into loop cellar |date=November 3, 1946 |page=10 }}</ref> The season finale the next week in Boise was an improvement, with a 13–6 upset of [[1947 Utah Utes football team|Utah]] in the rain at Public School Field to finish at {{nowrap|4–4}}.<ref name=ikutdn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sKwnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YuUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4411%2C519475 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|agency=Associated Press |title=Idaho knocks Utah down, 13-6 |date=November 16, 1947|page=1, sports}}</ref> It was the first Vandal football game in Boise in five years and had a record overflow crowd;<ref name=srrcitlt/> Idaho improved its record in Boise games (southern homecoming) to {{nowrap|12–0–2}}<ref name=ikutdn/> (they won the next three years, then only three of nine from {{nowrap|1951–59).}}<!-- two losses in 1953, no game in 1956 -->
The next week, the undefeated Vandals suffered a nineteenth straight loss in the [[Battle of the Palouse]] with neighbor [[1938 Washington State Cougars football team|Washington State]], falling {{nowrap|7–0}} at homecoming in Moscow.<ref name=fsvn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fBg0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=X-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6737%2C1671625 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=Cougars claw Idaho Vandals 7-0 |date=October 5, 1947 |page=1-sports}}</ref><ref name=gfpnl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k-5XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qPUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3526%2C1458396 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=Grid fans pack Moscow stadium |date=October 4, 1947 |page=1}}</ref> With the excitement after the win at Stanford, the game at Neale Stadium drew an overflow attendance of 22,500, then a record gathering of any kind for the [[Palouse]] and the state of Idaho. The loss ran the winless streak against the Cougars to 21 games, a record of {{nowrap|0–20–1}} since taking three straight in {{nowrap|[[1923 Idaho Vandals football team|1923]]–[[1925 Idaho Vandals football team|25]]}}; the Vandals tied again in [[1950 Idaho Vandals football team|1950]] and finally broke the streak in [[1954 Idaho Vandals football team|1954]] in&nbsp;Pullman.<ref name=srbop54>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aWopAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SuYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=986%2C4301393 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|title=Idaho thumps WSC, 10-0|last=Boni|first=Bill|date=October 24, 1954|page=1, sports}}</ref>

The road victory over Stanford was Idaho's only win in the PCC in 1947, and struggled on offense with just thirteen points scored in their four losses. That included a humbling {{nowrap|21–0}} shutout at home to [[1947 Montana Grizzlies football team|Montana]] for the [[Little Brown Stein]] on a Friday afternoon in November;<ref name=mgdfid47>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ijBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZOUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4763%2C2835388 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|last=Miller |first=Bob |title=Montana Grizzlies defeat Idaho's Vandals, 21-0, at Moscow |date=November 8, 1947|page=10}}</ref> the Grizzlies had also won with a shutout the [[1946 Montana Grizzlies football team|previous year]], {{nowrap|19–0}} in [[Dornblaser Field|Missoula]].<ref name=msvilclr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XihmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eS8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1272%2C2664135 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Montana shoves Vandals into loop cellar |date=November 3, 1946 |page=10 }}</ref> The season finale the next week in Boise was an improvement, with a 13–6 upset of [[1947 Utah Redskins football team|Utah]] in the rain at Public School Field to finish at {{nowrap|4–4}}.<ref name=ikutdn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sKwnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YuUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4411%2C519475 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|agency=Associated Press |title=Idaho knocks Utah down, 13-6 |date=November 16, 1947|page=1, sports}}</ref> It was the first Vandal football game in Boise in five years and had a record overflow crowd;<ref name=srrcitlt/> Idaho improved its record in Boise games (southern homecoming) to {{nowrap|12–0–2}}<ref name=ikutdn/> (they won the next three years, then only three of nine from {{nowrap|1951–59).}}<!-- two losses in 1953, no game in 1956 -->

Following the war and the single-win seasons of the previous two years, the 1947 team had the best record since [[1938 Idaho Vandals football team|1938]]. Despite the improvement, it was Howell's best season at Idaho and a winning football season was still sixteen years away; the [[1963 Idaho Vandals football team|1963]] team went {{nowrap|5–4}} under {{nowrap|[[Dee Andros]]}} (with the final game canceled). In&nbsp;between, two seasons also had even .500 records: [[1952 Idaho Vandals football team|1952]] and [[1957 Idaho Vandals football team|1957]].


Following the war and the single-win seasons of the previous two years, the 1947 team had the best record since [[1938 Idaho Vandals football team|1938]]. Despite the improvement, it was Howell's best season at Idaho and a winning football season was still sixteen years away; the [[1963 Idaho Vandals football team|1963]] team went {{nowrap|5–4}} under {{nowrap|[[Dee Andros]]}} (with the final game cancelled). In between, two seasons also had even .500 records: [[1952 Idaho Vandals football team|1952]] and [[1957 Idaho Vandals football team|1957]].
==Schedule==
==Schedule==
{{CFB schedule
{{CFB Schedule Start|time=|rank=no|ranklink=|rankyear=1947|tv=no|attend=yes}}
| timezone = Pacific
{{CFB Schedule Entry

| date = September 20
|{{CFB schedule entry
| time = 2:00 pm
| date = September 20
| w/l = w
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| homecoming =
| w/l = w
| away =
| nonconf = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1947|team=Puget Sound Loggers|title=Puget Sound}}
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1947|team=Puget Sound Loggers|title=Puget Sound}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = [[Neale Stadium]]
| site_stadium = [[Neale Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Moscow, Idaho|Moscow, ID]] <ref name=revcps/>
| site_cityst = [[Moscow, Idaho|Moscow, ID]]
| score = 27–7
| attend = &nbsp; 7,500
| gamename =
| source = <ref name=revcps/>
| tv = no
| score = 27–7
| overtime =
| attend = 7,500
}}
}}
{{CFB Schedule Entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 27
| date = September 27
| time = 2:30 pm
| time = 2:30 pm
| w/l = w
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away = y
| opponent = [[1947 Stanford Indians football team|Stanford]]
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = [[1947 Stanford Indians football team|Stanford]]
| opprank =
| site_stadium = [[Stanford Stadium]]
| site_stadium = [[Stanford Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Stanford, California|Stanford, CA]] <ref name=honmis/><!-- or was it just "Palo Alto" in 1947? -->
| site_cityst = [[Stanford, California|Stanford, CA]]
| gamename =
| score = 19–16
| tv = no
| attend = 15,000
| source = <ref>{{cite news|title=Vandals Come From Behind in 2nd Half|newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner|author=Walter Gamage|date=September 28, 1947|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28645961/vandals_come_from_behind_in_2nd_half/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
| score = 19–16
| overtime =
| attend = 15,000
}}
}}
{{CFB Schedule Entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 4
| date = October 4
| time = 2:00 pm
| time = 2:00 pm
| w/l = l
| w/l = l
| nonconf =
| homecoming = y
| opponent = [[1947 Washington State Cougars football team|Washington State]]
| homecoming = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = [[1947 Washington State Cougars football team|Washington State]]
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Neale Stadium
| site_stadium = Neale Stadium
| site_cityst = Moscow, ID <ref name=fsvn/><ref name=gfpnl/>
| site_cityst = Moscow, ID
| gamename = [[Battle of the Palouse]]
| gamename = [[Battle of the Palouse]]
| tv = no
| score = 0–7
| attend = 22,500
| score = &nbsp;0–7
| source = <ref name=fsvn/><ref name=gfpnl/>
| overtime =
| attend = 22,500
}}
}}
{{CFB Schedule Entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 11
| date = October 11
| time = 2:00 pm
| time = 2:00 pm
| w/l = l
| w/l = l
| nonconf =
| away = y
| opponent = [[1947 Oregon State Beavers football team|Oregon State]]
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = [[1947 Oregon State Beavers football team|Oregon State]]
| opprank =
| site_stadium = [[Bell Field]]
| site_stadium = [[Bell Field]]
| site_cityst = [[Corvallis, Oregon|Corvallis, OR]] <ref name=oscdrops>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZbFeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1i8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=2181%2C897320 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |title=OSC drops Vandals 33-6 |date=October 12, 1947 |page=8}}</ref>
| site_cityst = [[Corvallis, Oregon|Corvallis, OR]]
| score = 6–33
| attend = 10,000
| source = <ref name=oscdrops>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZbFeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1i8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=2181%2C897320 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |title=OSC drops Vandals 33-6 |date=October 12, 1947 |page=8}}</ref>
| gamename =
| tv = no
| score = &nbsp;6–33
| overtime =
| attend = 10,000
}}
}}
{{CFB Schedule Entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 18
| date = October 18
| time =
| time =
| w/l = w
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| nonconf = y
| opponent = [[1947 Portland Pilots football team|Portland]]
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1947|team=Portland Pilots|title=Portland}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Neale Stadium
| site_stadium = Neale Stadium
| site_cityst = Moscow, ID
| site_cityst = Moscow, ID <ref name=ppopotld>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bLFeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1i8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1760%2C1445354 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Prayer pass gives Vandals 20-14 win over Portland |date=October 19, 1947 |page=8 }}</ref>
| gamename =
| score = 20–14
| tv = no
| attend = 6,000
| source = <ref name=ppopotld>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bLFeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1i8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1760%2C1445354 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Prayer pass gives Vandals 20-14 win over Portland |date=October 19, 1947 |page=8 }}</ref>
| score = 20–14
| overtime =
| attend = 6,000
}}
}}
{{CFB Schedule Entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 1
| date = November 1
| time = 2:00 pm
| time = 2:00 pm
| w/l = l
| w/l = l
| nonconf =
| away = y
| opponent = [[1947 Oregon Webfoots football team|Oregon]]
| homecoming =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = [[1947 Oregon Webfoots football team|Oregon]]
| opprank =
| site_stadium = [[Hayward Field]]
| site_stadium = [[Hayward Field]]
| site_cityst = [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene, OR]] <ref name=ergeztlt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=648RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hugDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4559%2C4107718 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon)|last=Love |first=Bill |title=Oregon grabs easy tilt from Vandals, 34-7 |date=November 3, 1947 |page=1}}</ref>
| site_cityst = [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene, OR]]
| score = 7–34
| attend = 8,300
| source = <ref name=ergeztlt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=648RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hugDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4559%2C4107718 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon)|last=Love |first=Bill |title=Oregon grabs easy tilt from Vandals, 34-7 |date=November 3, 1947 |page=1}}</ref>
| gamename =
| tv = no
| score = &nbsp;7–34
| overtime =
| attend = 8,300
}}
}}
{{CFB Schedule Entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 7 <!-- Friday -->
| date = {{dow tooltip|November 7, 1947}}
| time = 2:00 pm
| time = 2:00 pm
| w/l = l
| w/l = l
| opponent = [[1947 Montana Grizzlies football team|Montana]]
| nonconf =
| homecoming =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = no
| opponent = [[1947 Montana Grizzlies football team|Montana]]
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Neale Stadium
| site_stadium = Neale Stadium
| site_cityst = Moscow, ID <ref name=mgdfid47/>
| site_cityst = Moscow, ID
| gamename = [[Little Brown Stein]]
| gamename = [[Little Brown Stein]]
| tv = no
| score = 0–21
| attend = 5,000
| score = &nbsp;0–21
| source = <ref name=mgdfid47/>
| overtime =
| attend = 5,000
}}
}}
{{CFB Schedule Entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 15
| date = November 15
| time =
| time =
| w/l = w
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| nonconf = y
| homecoming =
| neutral = y
| opponent = [[1947 Utah Utes football team|Utah]]
| away =
| site_stadium = [[Albertsons Stadium#Public School Field|Public School Field]]
| neutral =
| site_cityst = [[Boise, Idaho|Boise, ID]]
| rank = no
| score = 13–6
| opponent = [[1947 Utah Utes football team|Utah]]
| opprank =
| attend = 8,000
| source = <ref name=ikutdn/>
| site_stadium = [[Albertsons Stadium#Public School Field|Public School Field]].
| site_cityst = [[Boise, Idaho|Boise, ID]] <ref name=ikutdn/>
| gamename =
| tv = no
| score = 13–6
| overtime =
| attend = 8,000
}}
}}
}}
{{CFB Schedule End|rank=no|timezone=[[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific Time]]}}

==All-conference==
No Vandals were named to the [[1947 All-Pacific Coast football team|All-Coast]] team; halfback Billy&nbsp;Williams was named to the third team. Honorable mention were end Orville Barnes, tackle Will&nbsp;Overgaard<!--1925-2015-->, and guard Jack&nbsp;Dana.<ref name=sdcaalc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bdpXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nfUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6904%2C3373204 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Northwest grid players ignored on A.P. All-Coast |date=November 25, 1947 |page=17}}</ref><ref name=lmtaco>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kbFeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1i8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3421%2C4383017 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=USC, Bears dominate AP All-Coast team |date=November 25, 1947 |page=8}}</ref>

==NFL draft==
One senior from the 1947 Vandals was selected in the [[1948 NFL draft]]:<ref name=prfbref48>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1948.htm |work=Pro Football Reference |title=1948 NFL Draft |access-date=November 12, 2017}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="45%"
|- style="background:#B3A369;color:black;"
| '''Player''' || '''Position''' || '''Round''' || &nbsp; '''Pick''' &nbsp;|| '''Franchise'''
|-
| align=left|Ed&nbsp;Watkins{{spaces|5}}||[[Tackle (gridiron football position)|T]] || [[1948 NFL draft#Round twenty-seven|27th]] || 248 ||[[1948 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]
|}

Two sophomores were selected in the [[1950 NFL draft]]:<ref name=prfbref50>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1950.htm |work=Pro Football Reference |title=1950 NFL Draft |access-date=November 12, 2017}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="45%"
|- style="background:#B3A369;color:black;"
| '''Player''' || '''Position''' || '''Round''' || &nbsp; '''Pick''' &nbsp;|| '''Franchise'''
|-
| align=left|Carl&nbsp;Kiilsgaard||[[Tackle (gridiron football position)|T]] || [[1950 NFL draft#Round five|5th]] || 61 ||[[1950 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]]
|-
| align=left|Jerry&nbsp;Diehl||[[Halfback (American football)|HB]]|| [[1950 NFL draft#Round twenty-eight|28th]] || 360 ||{{spaces|2}}[[1950 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]{{spaces|2}}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1948/286 ''Gem of the Mountains:'' 1948 University of Idaho yearbook] – 1947 football season
*[https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1948/286 ''Gem of the Mountains:'' 1948 University of Idaho yearbook] – 1947 football season
*[https://gomightyvandals.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/1947-rare-success/ Go Mighty Vandals] – 1947 football season
*[https://gomightyvandals.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/1947-rare-success/ Go Mighty Vandals] – 1947 football season
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxTZqgDr3vw WSU Libraries: Game video (color)] – Washington State at Idaho – October 4, 1947
*[http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/i/idaho/1945-1949_yearly_results.php College Football Data Warehouse] – Idaho Vandals (1945–49)
*[http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/argonaut/years/1947.html ''Idaho Argonaut''] – student newspaper – 1947 editions


{{Idaho Vandals football navbox}}
{{Idaho Vandals football navbox}}
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[[Category:1947 Pacific Coast Conference football season|Idaho]]
[[Category:1947 Pacific Coast Conference football season|Idaho]]
[[Category:Idaho Vandals football seasons]]
[[Category:Idaho Vandals football seasons]]
[[Category:1947 in Idaho]]
[[Category:1947 in sports in Idaho|Idaho Vandals football]]

Latest revision as of 21:33, 2 December 2024

1947 Idaho Vandals football
ConferencePacific Coast Conference
Record4–4 (1–4 PCC)
Head coach
Home stadiumNeale Stadium
Seasons
← 1946
1948 →
1947 Pacific Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 8 USC $ 6 – 0 – 0 7 – 2 – 1
No. 15 California 5 – 1 – 0 9 – 1 – 0
Oregon 5 – 1 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
UCLA 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Montana 2 – 1 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Oregon State 3 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Washington 2 – 5 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
Washington State 2 – 5 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
Idaho 1 – 4 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
Stanford 0 – 7 – 0 0 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1947 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1947 college football season. The Vandals were led by first-year head coach Dixie Howell,[1] and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference. Home games were played on campus in Moscow at Neale Stadium, with one game in Boise at Public School Field. The Vandals were 4–4 overall and 1–4 in conference play.

Howell, age 34, had been the head coach at Arizona State before the war and was a finalist for the Idaho job six years earlier in 1941,[2] which went to Francis Schmidt. He played with Don Hutson and Bear Bryant at Alabama, and was the passer and a consensus All-American on the undefeated 1934 team that won the Rose Bowl and the national title.[3][4]

Idaho was ranked at No. 119 (out of 500 college football teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1947.[5]

Led on the field by 26-year-old passing halfback Billy (The Rifle) Williams,[6] Idaho compiled a 4–4 overall record.

The Vandals opened the season at home with a 27–7 win over the Puget Sound Loggers of Tacoma,[7] then traveled to northern California and defeated Stanford 19–16,[8] their only win in the series, after five defeats.[9] After a 6–3–1 season the previous year, Stanford fielded one of its poorest teams in 1947 and went winless at 0–9. (They have met only once since, Stanford crushed Idaho 63–0 two years later in 1949.)[10]

At the time, it was thought to be the first Idaho football win over a California school in the PCC, and 5,000 greeted the team at the Moscow train station on Monday morning; classes were canceled and the public schools were closed.[11] It was actually the second win, as first-year member UCLA lost in Moscow in 1928.[12][13] But it stands as the only road win and the most recent overall, as Idaho has not defeated any of the four California schools of the present-day Pac-12 in football since then, with winless all-time records against USC (0–9) and California (0–4).

The next week, the undefeated Vandals suffered a nineteenth straight loss in the Battle of the Palouse with neighbor Washington State, falling 7–0 at homecoming in Moscow.[14][15] With the excitement after the win at Stanford, the game at Neale Stadium drew an overflow attendance of 22,500, then a record gathering of any kind for the Palouse and the state of Idaho. The loss ran the winless streak against the Cougars to 21 games, a record of 0–20–1 since taking three straight in 1923–25; the Vandals tied again in 1950 and finally broke the streak in 1954 in Pullman.[16]

The road victory over Stanford was Idaho's only win in the PCC in 1947, and struggled on offense with just thirteen points scored in their four losses. That included a humbling 21–0 shutout at home to Montana for the Little Brown Stein on a Friday afternoon in November;[17] the Grizzlies had also won with a shutout the previous year, 19–0 in Missoula.[18] The season finale the next week in Boise was an improvement, with a 13–6 upset of Utah in the rain at Public School Field to finish at 4–4.[19] It was the first Vandal football game in Boise in five years and had a record overflow crowd;[6] Idaho improved its record in Boise games (southern homecoming) to 12–0–2[19] (they won the next three years, then only three of nine from 1951–59).

Following the war and the single-win seasons of the previous two years, the 1947 team had the best record since 1938. Despite the improvement, it was Howell's best season at Idaho and a winning football season was still sixteen years away; the 1963 team went 5–4 under Dee Andros (with the final game canceled). In between, two seasons also had even .500 records: 1952 and 1957.

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 202:00 pmPuget Sound*
W 27–7  7,500[7]
September 272:30 pmat Stanford
W 19–1615,000[20]
October 42:00 pmWashington Statedagger
L 0–722,500[14][15]
October 112:00 pmat Oregon State
L 6–3310,000[21]
October 18Portland*
  • Neale Stadium
  • Moscow, ID
W 20–146,000[22]
November 12:00 pmat Oregon
L 7–348,300[23]
November 72:00 pmMontana
L 0–215,000[17]
November 15vs. Utah*
W 13–68,000[19]

All-conference

[edit]

No Vandals were named to the All-Coast team; halfback Billy Williams was named to the third team. Honorable mention were end Orville Barnes, tackle Will Overgaard, and guard Jack Dana.[24][25]

NFL draft

[edit]

One senior from the 1947 Vandals was selected in the 1948 NFL draft:[26]

Player Position Round   Pick   Franchise
Ed Watkins      T 27th 248 Washington Redskins

Two sophomores were selected in the 1950 NFL draft:[27]

Player Position Round   Pick   Franchise
Carl Kiilsgaard T 5th 61 Chicago Cardinals
Jerry Diehl HB 28th 360   Pittsburgh Steelers  

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Howell signed by Idaho U." Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). Associated Press. February 27, 1947. p. 9.
  2. ^ "Dixie Howell views Idaho". Prescott Evening Courier. (Arizona). Associated Press. March 14, 1941. p. 5.
  3. ^ "New A-Day award will honor Howell". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). April 20, 1971. p. 6.
  4. ^ Browning, Al (April 26, 1981). "Howell wasn't just whistling 'Dixie'". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). p. B1.
  5. ^ Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 18, 1947). "Michigan National Champion in Final Litkenhous Ratings". Times. p. 47 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "Record crowd Idaho tilt". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 15, 1947. p. 9.
  7. ^ a b "Revitalized Vandals win opener over CPS, 27-7". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. September 21, 1947. p. 8.
  8. ^ "Honest, Mister, Idaho beat Stanford - 19 to 16!". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. September 28, 1947. p. 8.
  9. ^ "Idaho scores upset win over Stanford Indians". Eugene Register-Guard. United Press. September 28, 1947. p. 22.
  10. ^ "Stanford humbles Idaho, 63–0". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 13, 1949. p. 8.
  11. ^ "Howell acclaimed hero for Idaho win". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). Associated Press. September 30, 1947. p. 6.
  12. ^ "Tromple Bruins". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 28, 1928. p. 15.
  13. ^ "Idaho is victor over UCLA, 20-6". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). October 28, 1928. p. 1, sports.
  14. ^ a b "Cougars claw Idaho Vandals 7-0". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). October 5, 1947. p. 1-sports.
  15. ^ a b "Grid fans pack Moscow stadium". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). October 4, 1947. p. 1.
  16. ^ Boni, Bill (October 24, 1954). "Idaho thumps WSC, 10-0". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  17. ^ a b Miller, Bob (November 8, 1947). "Montana Grizzlies defeat Idaho's Vandals, 21-0, at Moscow". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 10.
  18. ^ "Montana shoves Vandals into loop cellar". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 3, 1946. p. 10.
  19. ^ a b c "Idaho knocks Utah down, 13-6". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 16, 1947. p. 1, sports.
  20. ^ Walter Gamage (September 28, 1947). "Vandals Come From Behind in 2nd Half". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "OSC drops Vandals 33-6". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). October 12, 1947. p. 8.
  22. ^ "Prayer pass gives Vandals 20-14 win over Portland". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 19, 1947. p. 8.
  23. ^ Love, Bill (November 3, 1947). "Oregon grabs easy tilt from Vandals, 34-7". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1.
  24. ^ "Northwest grid players ignored on A.P. All-Coast". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. November 25, 1947. p. 17.
  25. ^ "USC, Bears dominate AP All-Coast team". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 25, 1947. p. 8.
  26. ^ "1948 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  27. ^ "1950 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
[edit]
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