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Idaho Vandals football
2024 Idaho Vandals football team
First season1893; 131 years ago (1893)
Athletic directorTerry Gawlik
Head coachJason Eck
3rd season, 25–12 (.676)
StadiumKibbie Dome
(capacity: 15,250)
Year built1971 (enclosed in 1975)
Field surfaceRealGrass Pro
LocationMoscow, Idaho
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceBig Sky
Past conferencesSun Belt (2014–2017)
Independent (2013)
WAC (2005–2012)
Sun Belt (2001–2004)
Big West (1996–2000)
Big Sky (1965–1995)
Independent (1959–1964)
Pacific Coast (1922–1958)
Independent (1894–1921)
All-time record460–614–26 (.430)
Bowl record3–0 (1.000)
Playoff appearances13   (Div. I-AA/FCS)
Playoff record6–11 (.353)
Conference titles11
RivalriesIdaho State (rivalry)
Montana (rivalry)
Eastern Washington
Boise State (rivalry)
Washington State (rivalry)
Consensus All-Americans1
ColorsSilver and gold[1]
   
Fight songGo, Vandals, Go
MascotJoe Vandal
Marching bandThe Sound of Idaho
OutfitterNike
WebsiteGoVandals.com

The Idaho Vandals are the college football team that represents the University of Idaho and plays its home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.[2] Idaho is a member of the Big Sky Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Vandals are coached by Jason Eck.

The Idaho football program began 131 years ago in 1893,[3] and through the 2019 season, the Vandals have an all-time record of 460–614–26 (.430).[4] They have played in three bowl games in their history, all victories in the Humanitarian/Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise in 1998, 2009, and 2016.[5] As a Division I-AA (FCS) program for 18 seasons (19781995), Idaho made the playoffs eleven times and advanced to the national semifinals twice (1988, 1993).

On April 28, 2016, university president Chuck Staben announced the football program would return to the Big Sky and FCS in 2018. This followed the Sun Belt Conference's announcement on March 1 that the associate membership of Idaho and New Mexico State for football would end after the 2017 season. Idaho is the first FBS program to voluntarily drop to FCS.[6]

History

Coach Griffith, head coach from 1902–1906 and 1910–1914.

The University of Idaho fielded its first football team in 1893.[7] It wasn't until 1917 that the program earned its nickname, the Vandals, after the UI basketball team under alumnus Hec Edmundson played defense with such ferocity that they "vandalized" their opponents and, thus, the nickname of Vandals was adopted for all school sports.[8]

Conference affiliations

Timeline

Conference history

The Idaho football program began competing 131 years ago in 1893,[3] and was a member of the Pacific Coast Conference from 1922 to 1958. It was then an independent until 1965, when it began league play in the Big Sky Conference. At the time, the other four football programs in the conference were members of the College Division (today's Division II), while Idaho remained a member of the University Division (today's Division I) through 1977, except for an involuntary demotion for 1967 and 1968.[10][11] It maintained its status by playing a majority of games against University Division opponents.[12]

A charter member of the Big Sky in 1963, Idaho did not participate in league play for football until 1965,[13][14][15] the Big Sky's third year, after the conference demanded it. With its upper division status, the Vandals were ineligible for the College Division (D-II) playoffs. Notably, in 1971, the Vandals won their first outright conference title in school history. However, runner-up Boise State received the Big Sky's automatic berth. Because of its hybrid status, Idaho requested to retain its higher allotment of football scholarships (75) than the other conference members (62),[12][16] which was expectedly disallowed.[17] The university received an invitation in 1973 to join the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (later the Big West Conference),[18][19] but the state board of education (concurrent board of regents) rejected it by a vote of 4 to 3.[17][20][21] The Big Sky moved up to the new Division I-AA in 1978 (while Idaho moved down).

Idaho experienced its best years in football from 1985 to 1995, when it made the I-AA national playoffs in ten of 11 seasons with four different head coaches, reaching the semifinals twice. After 18 years in Division I-AA, Idaho returned to Division I-A competition (now called the FBS) in 1996 in the Big West.

Idaho rejoined the Sun Belt Conference in 2014 after a season as an independent in 2013, and eight seasons in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), which dropped football after the 2012 season. The Vandals were previously in the Sun Belt (also football only) from 2001 through 2004, after the Big West dropped football.

On August 18, 2012, Idaho was cleared to stay in the Football Bowl Subdivision as an independent[22] after the WAC announced it would drop football effective with the end of the 2012 season.[23] Idaho would only remain a football independent for the 2013 season; on March 27 of that year, the Sun Belt Conference announced that Idaho would return as a football-only member starting with the 2014 season.[24] Nearly two years later in 2016, the Sun Belt Conference announced via teleconference that neither the University of Idaho nor New Mexico State University would be renewed after the 2017 football season.[25] In 2018, Idaho resumed full membership in the Big Sky Conference, which participates in the Football Championship Subdivision.[26]

Conference championships

The Vandals have won 11 conference championships in their history, nine in the Big Sky.[27]

Season Conference Head coach Overall record Conference record
  1927 Pacific Coast Charles Erb    4–1–3    2–0–2
  1965 Big Sky Steve Musseau 5–4 3–1
  1968 Big Sky Y C McNease 5–5 3–1
1971 Big Sky Don Robbins 8–3 4–1
  1982 Big Sky Dennis Erickson 9–4 5–2
1985 Big Sky Dennis Erickson 9–3 6–1
1987 Big Sky Keith Gilbertson 9–3 7–1
1988 Big Sky Keith Gilbertson 11–2   7–1
1989 Big Sky John L. Smith 9–3 8–0
  1992 Big Sky John L. Smith 9–3 6–1
1998 Big West Chris Tormey 9–3 4–1
Co-champions

Division I-AA/FCS playoffs

For eighteen seasons (197895), Idaho was a member of Division I-AA, and in 2018 returned to compete in what is now called the FCS Subdivision. The Vandals have participated in the I-AA/FCS playoffs thirteen times to compile a 7–13 (.350) playoff record. The Vandals are 5–5 at home and 2–8 on the road, with a 4–8 record in the first round (2–4 at home, 2–4 away).

The best advancements were to the national semifinals in 1988 and 1993, but both seasons ended with road losses by large margins to the eventual national champions. The 1982 and 1990 teams advanced to the quarterfinals, but both lost close road games to the eventual national champions.[28]

Season Round Score Head coach
1982 First @ Idaho 21 Montana 7 Dennis Erickson
(1–2)
Quarterfinal @ E. Kentucky 38 Idaho 30
1985 First E. Washington 42 @ Idaho 38
1986 First @ Nevada-Reno 27 Idaho 7 Keith Gilbertson
(2–3)
1987 First Weber St. 59 @ Idaho 30
1988 First @ Idaho 38 Montana 19
Quarterfinal @ Idaho 38 Northwestern St. 30
Semifinal @ Furman 38 Idaho 7
1989 First E. Illinois 38 @ Idaho 21 John L. Smith
(3–5)
1990 First Idaho 41 @ SW Missouri St. 35
Quarterfinal @ Georgia So. 28 Idaho 27
1992 First McNeese St. 23 @ Idaho 20
1993 First Idaho 34 @ NE Louisiana 31
Quarterfinal @ Idaho 21 Boston U. 14
Semifinal @ Youngstown St. 35 Idaho 16
1994 First @ McNeese St. 38 Idaho 21
1995 First @ McNeese St. 33 Idaho 3 Chris Tormey (0–1)
2022 First @ Southeastern Louisiana 45 Idaho 42 Jason Eck
(2–2)
2023 First Bye – (#4 seed)
Second @ Idaho 20 Southern Illinois 17
Quarterfinal Albany 30 @ Idaho 22
2024 First Bye – (#8 seed)
Second @ Idaho 34 Lehigh 13
Quarterfinal #8 Idaho @ #1 Montana State

Bowl games

In their time in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), Idaho participated in three bowl games, all in Boise. The Vandals had a 3–0 record.[5]

Year Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1998 Chris Tormey Humanitarian Bowl Southern Miss W 42–35
2009 Robb Akey Humanitarian Bowl Bowling Green W 43–42
2016 Paul Petrino Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Colorado State W 61–50

Head coaches

Coach Tenure Seasons Wins Losses Ties Pct. Conf. championships Playoffs/bowls
Fred Herbold 1900–1901 2 4 2 1 .643 0 0
John G. Griffith (a) 1902–1906 5 13 9 1 .587 0 0
John R. Middleton 1907–1908 1 3 4 0 .429 0 0
John S. Grogan 1909 1 2 3 0 .400 0 0
John G. Griffith (b) 19101914 5 15 13 1 .534 0 0
Charles Rademacher 1915 1 1 4 1 .250 0 0
Wilfred C. Bleamaster 19161917 2 5 8 0 .385 0 0
Ralph Hutchinson 1919 1 2 3 0 .400 0 0
Thomas Kelley 19201921 2 8 5 1 .607 0 0
Matty Mathews 19221925 4 16 14 2 .531 0 0
Charles Erb 19261928 3 10 9 5 .521 1 (1927) 0
Leo Calland 19291934 6 21 30 0 .412 0 0
Ted Bank 19351940 6 18 33 3 .361 0 0
Francis Schmidt 19411942 2 7 12 0 .368 0 0
Babe Brown 19451946 2 2 15 0 .118 0 0
Dixie Howell 19471950 4 13 20 1 .397 0 0
Babe Curfman 19511953 3 7 19 1 .278 0 0
Skip Stahley 19541961 8 22 51 1 .304 0 0
Dee Andros 19621964 3 11 16 1 .411 0 0
Steve Musseau 19651967 3 13 17 0 .433 1 (1965) 0
Y C McNease 19681969 2 7 13 0 .350 1 (1968) 0
Don Robbins 19701973 4 20 24 0 .455 1 (1971) 0
Ed Troxel 19741977 4 16 25 3 .398 0 0
Jerry Davitch 19781981 4 15 29 0 .341 0 0
Dennis Erickson (a) 19821985 4 32 15 0 .681 2 (1982, 1985) 2 (1982, 1985)
Keith Gilbertson 19861988 3 28 9 0 .757 2 (1987, 1988) 3 (1986–1988)
John L. Smith 19891994 6 53 21 0 .716 2 (1989, 1992) 5 (1989, 1990, 1992–1994)
Chris Tormey 19951999 5 33 23 0 .589 1 (1998) 2 (1995, 1998)
Tom Cable 20002003 4 11 35 0 .239 0 0
Nick Holt 20042005 2 5 18 0 .217 0 0
Dennis Erickson (b) 2006 1 4 8 0 .333 0
Robb Akey 20072012 6 20 50 0 .286 0 1 (2009)
   Jason Gesser ^ 2012 1^ 0 4 0 .000 0
Paul Petrino 20132021 9 34 66 0 .340 0 1 (2016)
Jason Eck 2022 2 16 9 0 .640 0 2 (2022, 2023)
^ Interim head coach – Gesser coached the final four games of 2012 after Akey was relieved on October 21.

Rivalries

Boise State

The University of Idaho formerly enjoyed an in-state rivalry with Boise State University.[29] The Boise State–Idaho rivalry began with a Bronco victory in the first meeting in 1971. They met every year through 2010, and with the exception of four years, (2001–2004), the matchup was a conference game. The rivalry was dominated by streaks as Idaho won 12 straight years from 1982 to 1993, while Boise State won the most recent 12 games between 1999 and 2010, mostly by large margins.[30] BSU leads the rivalry with a series record of 22–17–1 (.563). Since Boise State's move to the Mountain West Conference in 2011, Boise State has refused to play Idaho home-and-home in football.[31] In response, Idaho has refused to play Boise State at ExtraMile Arena for men's basketball.[31] As of 2017, no future games for football or men's basketball are scheduled. To add a humorous and somewhat frivolous twist to the rivalry in 2009, Idaho athletic director Rob Spear refused to board a Horizon Air flight on November 11, after learning the plane bore Boise State's blue and orange colors.[32]

Idaho State

The University of Idaho enjoys another in-state rivalry with Idaho State University.[33] Known as the Battle of the Domes,[34] the rivalry was at its most competitive in the 1970s and 1980s, with neither team three-peating. Idaho has won twelve of the last fifteen and leads the overall series at 30–13 (.698). Idaho's move into the Football Bowl Subdivision put the rivalry on hold for several years, the two schools only playing each other four times during Idaho's stay in the FBS. The series was revived in 2018 when Idaho dropped back to FCS and rejoined the Big Sky Conference in football (its other sports rejoined in 2014).

The "Battle of the Domes" theme began in 2017, and is applied to multiple sports.[34][35] Idaho State was the first of the pair to play its home games indoors, opening the Holt Arena (originally ASISU Minidome) in 1970. The Kibbie Dome in Moscow was enclosed in 1975, after four years as an outdoor venue; the last two outdoor games in this series were played there in 1971 and 1973, then known as new Idaho Stadium.[36] In opposite regions of Idaho and in different time zones, the driving distance between the campuses is over 530 miles (850 km), and further if routed through western Montana.

Montana

The University of Idaho also enjoys a rivalry with the University of Montana.[37] Known as the Little Brown Stein game, Idaho and Montana first played 121 years ago in 1903 and have played 84 times, and the stein was introduced 86 years ago in 1938,[38][39][40] at the 25th meeting. Idaho has dominated the overall series 55–27–2 (.667),[41] which also includes two Division I-AA playoff wins at home in the 1980s. Montana has had the upper hand since 1991, winning eight of the last ten. Since Idaho moved back up to Division I-A in 1996, the teams have met five times, with Montana winning the last four.[42][43][44] The schools are about 200 miles (320 km) apart; Moscow and Missoula are on opposite sides of the lower Idaho Panhandle, separated by the Bitterroot Mountains over Lolo Pass.

Both were members of the old Pacific Coast Conference (the forerunner of today's Pac-12);[45] Montana departed after the 1949 season, and the PCC disbanded in the summer of 1959. The universities were charter members of the Big Sky Conference in 1963,[46][47] (although Idaho remained an independent in football until 1965) and their final season as conference opponents was in 1995. While Montana has been in the Big Sky since its inception, Idaho has changed its conference affiliation no fewer than five times since 1995: Idaho moved to the Big West for all sports in 1996, returning to Division I-A after 18 years in I-AA. After the 2000 season, the Big West dropped football. Idaho became a football-only member of the Sun Belt Conference in 2001 while remaining a full Big West member. Idaho joined the WAC for all sports in 2005 as part of a major NCAA conference realignment. After the WAC experienced a near-complete membership turnover in the early 2010s, it dropped football after the 2012 season. Idaho football was an FBS independent for one season in 2013, then returned to the Big Sky in 2014 except for football, which rejoined the Sun Belt. Idaho will drop back to FCS in 2018 and resume football membership in the Big Sky.[41][48]

Washington State

Known as the Battle of the Palouse, the first football game between the University of Idaho and Washington State University was played in November 1894 and resulted in a win for Washington State.[citation needed] The game in 1898 was not played because Idaho had an ineligible ringer from Lapwai, F.J. McFarland, a recent All-American from Carlisle.[49][50][51] The Vandals' first-ever forward pass was attempted against the Cougars in 1907: it was completed for a touchdown from a drop-kick formation in the fourth quarter and led to a 5–4 victory.[52]

Washington State has dominated the local rivalry, holding a 73–16–3 lead. The record since 1926 is even more dominant, with a 58–5–2 advantage for the Cougars. The longest winning streak for Idaho was three games (19231925), and has only five victories since that three-peat (1954, 1964, 1965, 1999, & 2000) and two ties (1927, 1950) to offset the 56 losses. The games were skipped in 1969 and 1971, which was unfortunate for Idaho as the 1971 Vandals posted one of the best records (8–3) in school history, while WSU was 4–7. The rivalry became increasingly one-sided as WSU dominated in the 1970s (except for 1974) and the original series ended, following the 1978 game.[53] From 1979 to 1997, the game was played just twice (1982, and 1989) until the ten-year renewal from 1998 to 2007. Since their last wins in 1999 and 2000, Idaho has been physically outmatched in most of the ten games; the game has been played only three times since 2007: in 2013, 2016, and 2022, the most recent was a competitive seven-point margin.

As two universities are in close proximity, from 1938 to 1968 there was a tradition called The Loser's Walk, where during the week following the game students of the losing school walked from their own campus to the winners', then receive rides back home from the winning side. This has frequently been misreported as students walking back to their own campus immediately following the game. In 1954, the walk made national news when about 2,000 students from Washington State College made the trek east from Pullman to Moscow after the Cougars lost to Idaho for the first time in 29 years.[54][55][56][57]

In a span of less than five months, from November 1969 to April 1970, both schools' aged wooden stadiums (Idaho's Neale Stadium and WSU's Rogers Field) burned down due to suspected arson. The WSU–Idaho game in 1970 was dubbed the Displaced Bowl, which was held in Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane on September 19. The Cougars won the game (their only win that season), as well as the next ten against the Vandals.[58] The 1970 game was the first in the rivalry played on AstroTurf, which was new to Joe Albi that season. In 1978, the NCAA split Division I football in two: I-A (now FBS) and I-AA (now FCS). Washington State was in Division I-A as part of the Pac-10 Conference and Idaho downgraded to I-AA as part of the Big Sky Conference, whose other football members moved up from Division II. In the late 1970s, I-A football programs were allowed 50% more scholarships and twice as many assistant coaches as I-AA teams.[53] During the years they were in different divisions, the schools met only twice, 1982 in Spokane and 1989 in Pullman. In 1996, Idaho moved back up to Division I-A in the Big West Conference, and Idaho and WSU rekindled their century-old rivalry. Since the rivalry was reinstated in 1998, every game has been played at Martin Stadium in Pullman, except for the matchup in 2003, which was played at Seattle's Seahawks Stadium. The last game played on the Idaho side of the border was in 1966, a come-from-behind 14–7 Cougar victory on a very muddy field to prevent a Vandal three-peat.[59][60]

After ten years of the renewed rivalry, Vandals head coach Robb Akey, previously WSU's defensive coordinator, said in 2008 that he preferred the game not be played every year, instead saying he would prefer it as a "once-in-a-while thing."[61] Only one game was played during Akey's tenure, in his first season in 2007, and he was fired in October 2012.[62] The meeting in 2013 on September 21 was a one-year revival,[63] and WSU won 56–6 in 2016.[64] The Cougars won 24–17 in 2022, but the Vandals were significantly more competitive under first-year head coach Jason Eck.

College Football Hall of Fame

College Football Hall of Fame
Name Position Year Inducted Ref
Dennis Erickson Head Coach 19821985, 2006 2019 [65]
John Friesz QB 1986–1989 2006 [66]

Erickson began his head coaching career in 1982 at Idaho, where he became the first Vandal head coach since 1938 to post consecutive winning seasons and the first in program history with four consecutive winning seasons. He led Idaho to the Big Sky Conference title in 1985 and had two trips to the Division I-AA (FCS) Playoffs (1982, 1985).

Friesz averaged 367.4 passing yards a game as a quarterback and he was the first quarterback to win the Walter Payton Award as the outstanding player in I-AA football in 1989, when he threw for 4,041 yards and 31 touchdowns.

National award winners

Chris Schenkel Award
Year Name Position
2008 Bob Curtis Broadcaster
Walter Payton Award
Year Name Position
1989 John Friesz Quarterback
1993 Doug Nussmeier Quarterback

The Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the most

outstanding offensive player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) of college football.

Jerry Rice Award
Year Name Position
2022 Gevani McCoy Quarterback

The Jerry Rice Award is awarded annually in the United States to the most outstanding freshman player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of college football as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors.

All Americans

Ray McDonald was a Consensus All-American in 1966.

All Americans
Year Name Position Team
1924 Skippy Stivers QB 3rd
1965 Ray McDonald RB AP-2nd
1965 Ray McDonald FB 3rd
1966 Ray McDonald RB Time 1st, TSN 1st/ AP-2nd, UPI-2nd
1976 John Yarno C AP-1st

Notable players

NFL

CFL

Coaches

(former Vandal football players coaching in either college or professional football)

Other

Retired numbers

No. Player Position(s) Seasons No. ret. Ref.
9 Ken Hobart QB 198083 [70]
17 John Friesz QB 198689 2006 [71]
53 Wayne Walker LB / C / LS 195557 [72]
56 John Yarno C 197376 1977 [73]
64 Jerry Kramer G / DT / K 195557 1963 [74][75]

Top NFL draft selections

Player Position Overall Round Draft Franchise
Ray McDonald   RB 13 1st 1967 Washington Redskins
Mike Iupati G 17 1st 2010 San Francisco 49ers
Jerry Kramer G / PK 39 4th 1958 Green Bay Packers
Wayne Walker LB / C / LS / PK 45 4th 1958 Detroit Lions
Carl Kiilsgaard T 61 5th 1950 Chicago Cardinals
Ryan Phillips LB 68 3rd 1997 New York Giants
Jim Prestel DT 70 6th 1959 Cleveland Browns
Jim Norton S / P 75 7th 1960 Detroit Lions
John Yarno C 87 4th 1977 Seattle Seahawks
Jerry Hendren WR 89 4th 1970 Denver Broncos
Jeff Robinson DE / TE / LS 98 4th 1993 Denver Broncos
Reggie Carolan TE 102 8th 1961 Los Angeles Rams
Doug Nussmeier QB 116 4th 1994 New Orleans Saints
Ron Porter LB 126 5th 1967 Baltimore Colts
Mao Tosi DT 136 5th 2000 Arizona Cardinals
John Friesz QB 138 6th 1990 San Diego Chargers
Jake Scott G 141 5th 2004 Indianapolis Colts
Marvin Washington DE 151 6th 1989 New York Jets
Korey Toomer LB 154 5th 2012 Seattle Seahawks
Sam Merriman LB 177 7th 1983 Seattle Seahawks
Kaden Elliss LB 244 7th 2019 New Orleans Saints
David Vobora LB 252 7th 2008 St. Louis Rams
Mark Schlereth G 263 10th 1989 Washington Redskins

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of August 11, 2024.

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
at Oregon at San Jose State at Utah at Washington State at Oregon State Utah Tech at Utah Tech
at Wyoming at Washington State Lamar at North Dakota North Dakota at South Dakota South Dakota
Albany at St. Thomas Abilene Christian St. Thomas at Washington State
at Abilene Christian Utah Tech

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Starting in 1968, the Big Sky competed at the highest level (university division) in all sports except football (college division). The sole exception was the Vandals, in the university division for football through 1977 (except 1967 and 1968).[9] Football moved to the new Division I-AA in 1978, including Idaho. So, the Vandals football team competed in:
  1. ^ "University of Idaho Color Identity". January 31, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  2. ^ "Kibbie Dome". IdahoPTV. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Idaho Historical Data". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 22, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  4. ^ "Football Bowl Subdivision Records". NCAA. p. 66. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Idaho Bowl History". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
  6. ^ "Idaho to be 1st school to drop from FBS to FCS". ESPN. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  7. ^ "Across the Cougar sideline: Scouting the Idaho Vandals – KSL.com". ksl.com. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  8. ^ "The Story of Joe Vandal". May 24, 2011.
  9. ^ "Big Sky steps up". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). May 24, 1968. p. 12.
  10. ^ "Ostyn says Pacific cost major status". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. August 9, 1967. p. 15.
  11. ^ "NCAA ups 4 colleges". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 2, 1969. p. 22.
  12. ^ a b "Axe falls on Idaho football program". Ellensburg Daily Record. Washington. UPI. December 7, 1973. p. 7.
  13. ^ Johnson, Bob (January 31, 1964). "Vandals versus Big Sky". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 11.
  14. ^ "Only winning will satisfy Idaho this gridiron season". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. September 14, 1965. p. 18.
  15. ^ Payne, Bob (October 23, 1965). "Idaho opens campaign for Big Sky crown". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 11.
  16. ^ Johnson, Bob (November 27, 1972). "Even 110 rides too few". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 17.
  17. ^ a b "Idaho bid is rejected again". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. July 17, 1973. p. 15.
  18. ^ "Idaho given PCAA bid". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. June 8, 1973. p. 24.
  19. ^ "League accepts Vandals; Big Sky vote key factor". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. June 8, 1973. p. 17.
  20. ^ Payne, Bob (July 22, 1973). "Robbins:'Gotta say something...'". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 1–sports.
  21. ^ "Idaho board delays withdrawal action". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. June 16, 1973. p. 16.
  22. ^ "State board approves Idaho becoming FBS independent". USAToday. August 17, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  23. ^ Murphy, Brian (October 9, 2012). "WAC adds Utah Valley, CSU Bakersfield; Will it be able to keep Idaho?". Idaho Statesman. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  24. ^ "Idaho and New Mexico State to Join Sun Belt Conference As Football members in 2014" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. March 27, 2013. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  25. ^ "Sun Belt Football to be 10 Teams in 2018". Sun Belt Conference. March 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  26. ^ "Idaho Moving Football to Big Sky Conference". Big Sky Conference. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  27. ^ "Idaho Conference Championships". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
  28. ^ "FCS Championship History (Known as I-AA from 1978–2006)". The FCS College Football Weekly Preview. Archived from the original on November 22, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
  29. ^ "Boise State-Idaho Rivalry Exists, Is Very Mean". July 28, 2010.
  30. ^ "mcubed.net : NCAAF Football : Series records : Idaho vs. Boise St". mcubed.net.
  31. ^ a b Staples, Andy (July 30, 2010). "Andy Staples: Boise State becoming what it once fought against".
  32. ^ "Idaho AD won't ride Boise State-themed plane". ESPN.com. November 12, 2009.
  33. ^ "Idaho State and Idaho Athletics UnveilL Multi-Year Rivalry Series Entitled "Battle of the Domes"". Idaho State University. September 6, 2017.
  34. ^ a b "Battle of the Domes Unveiled". Idaho Athletics. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  35. ^ "Idaho State and Idaho Athletics unveil multi-year rivalry series entitled "Battle of the Domes"". Idaho State Athletics. September 6, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  36. ^ Emerson, Paul (November 18, 1973). "Idaho bruises Bengals behind rugged defense". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 17.
  37. ^ "Game on! Idaho, Montana will renew longtime football rivalry beginning in 2018".
  38. ^ "Vandals still seeking a win". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. October 20, 1948. p. 18.
  39. ^ Payne, Bob (October 18, 1974). "Tips riding two-game win streak". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 29.
  40. ^ "Football". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1943. p. 233.
  41. ^ a b Welsch, Jeff (April 30, 2016). "Idaho's twice-bruised ego offers cautionary tale for Griz, Cats". Billings Gazette. Montana. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  42. ^ Meehan, Jim (September 28, 2003). "Idaho collapses in Montana". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. C13.
  43. ^ Bauer, Doug (September 28, 2003). "Griz catch Vandals with pants down". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1B.
  44. ^ "Idaho opponents: vs. Montana". CFB Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
  45. ^ "Montana eleven wallops Vandals". Bend Bulletin. Oregon. United Press. November 8, 1947. p. 2.
  46. ^ Missildine, Harry (February 26, 1963). "Six western schools create Big Sky athletic conference". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 12.
  47. ^ "Big Sky is ready for league action". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. February 26, 1963. p. 13.
  48. ^ "Idaho football to Big Sky Conference". Big Sky Conference. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  49. ^ Brown, Bruce (August 20, 1975). "Another View". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 45.
  50. ^ "For the record; Idaho, Washington St. game erased". Lakeland Ledger. Florida. Associated Press. August 21, 1975. p. 3B.
  51. ^ "Just forget it". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. August 22, 1975. p. 31.
  52. ^ "WSU-Idaho series has sparkling past". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. October 22, 1959. p. 13.
  53. ^ a b "WSU-Idaho grid series diminishes". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. January 21, 1978. p. 10.
  54. ^ "Become a University of Idaho Tradition Keeper". Student Alumni Relations Board – University of Idaho. p. 3/7. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  55. ^ ""Win Made Us Ball Club", says Skip Stahley". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. October 25, 1954. p. 17.
  56. ^ "WSC walks". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1955. p. 26. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
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