1981 Idaho Vandals football team
Encyclopedia
The 1981 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho
in the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals
, led by fourth-year head coach Jerry Davitch
, were members of the Big Sky Conference
and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome
, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow
, Idaho
.
Led by sophomore quarterback Ken Hobart
in the veer
offense, the Vandals finished 3-8 in the regular season and 0-7 in the Big Sky to finish last. Idaho lost to rival Boise State
for the fifth straight year, but it was the Broncos' last win over Idaho until 1994
, as the Vandals won a dozen straight in the interim.
After a fifth straight loss and no wins in six conference games, Davitch was fired nine days before the final game against Boise State. Several weeks later Dennis Erickson
was hired and immediately turned the Vandal program around in 1982
, reaching the quarterfinals of the 12-team Division I-AA playoffs.
In 1981, Idaho State
and Boise State were the top two teams in the Big Sky and both advanced to the 8-team Division I-AA playoffs and won their first round games. Boise State was stopped at home in the semifinals by , whom Idaho State defeated the following week in Texas to win the national title.
changed from an option quarterback in the veer to a prolific passer under Erickson. He led the Vandals to a 9-4 record in 1982
and an 8-3 record in 1983
as a senior, when he was a Division I-AA All-American. Hobart played a season in the USFL
with Jacksonville
in 1984 and several in the CFL
.
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
in the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals
Idaho Vandals
The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Idaho. They participate in NCAA Division I - FBS in the Western Athletic Conference ....
, led by fourth-year head coach Jerry Davitch
Jerry Davitch
Jerry J. Davitch is a former college football coach and secondary school administrator. Since 2004 he has served as the superintendent of schools in Richland Township, just northeast of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He served in a similar capacity for eight years in nearby Conemaugh Township in...
, were members of the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome
Kibbie Dome
The William H. Kibbie-ASUI Activity Center is a multi-purpose indoor athletic stadium in Moscow, Idaho, on the campus of the University of Idaho...
, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
.
Led by sophomore quarterback Ken Hobart
Ken Hobart
Kenneth Charles "Ken" Hobart is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the USFL and CFL, where he played from 1985-90.-Collegiate career:...
in the veer
Veer
The Veer is an option running play often associated with option offenses in American football, made famous at the collegiate level by the Houston Cougars. It is currently run primarily on the high school level, with some usage at the collegiate and the professional level with varying degrees of...
offense, the Vandals finished 3-8 in the regular season and 0-7 in the Big Sky to finish last. Idaho lost to rival Boise State
1981 Boise State Broncos football team
The 1981 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at Bronco Stadium, an outdoor facility on campus in Boise, Idaho...
for the fifth straight year, but it was the Broncos' last win over Idaho until 1994
1994 Boise State Broncos football team
The 1994 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1994 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho.The Broncos were led by second-year head coach Pokey Allen.Boise...
, as the Vandals won a dozen straight in the interim.
After a fifth straight loss and no wins in six conference games, Davitch was fired nine days before the final game against Boise State. Several weeks later Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona...
was hired and immediately turned the Vandal program around in 1982
1982 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1982 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1982 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by first-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...
, reaching the quarterfinals of the 12-team Division I-AA playoffs.
In 1981, Idaho State
Idaho State Bengals football
The Idaho State Bengals football program represents Idaho State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . As of the end of the 2010 season they have an all-time record of 449–463–20...
and Boise State were the top two teams in the Big Sky and both advanced to the 8-team Division I-AA playoffs and won their first round games. Boise State was stopped at home in the semifinals by , whom Idaho State defeated the following week in Texas to win the national title.
Notable players
Sophomore quarterback Ken HobartKen Hobart
Kenneth Charles "Ken" Hobart is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the USFL and CFL, where he played from 1985-90.-Collegiate career:...
changed from an option quarterback in the veer to a prolific passer under Erickson. He led the Vandals to a 9-4 record in 1982
1982 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1982 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1982 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by first-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...
and an 8-3 record in 1983
1983 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1983 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by second-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...
as a senior, when he was a Division I-AA All-American. Hobart played a season in the USFL
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
with Jacksonville
Jacksonville Bulls
The Jacksonville Bulls were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League during its final two seasons, 1984 and 1985...
in 1984 and several in the CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
1981 season schedule
External link
- Lewiston Morning Tribune - 1981 opening game starters - 1981-09-05 - p.5B