1989 Idaho Vandals football team
Encyclopedia
The 1989 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho
in the 1989 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals
, led by first-year head coach John L. Smith
, 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 consecutive conference title (fourth in five years), and made the I-AA playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. Led by senior All-American quarterback John Friesz
, Idaho finished the regular season at 9-2 and 8-0 in the Big Sky.
and Portland State, the Vandals won nine straight, which included an undefeated conference record of 8-0. It was the only time in school history that the football team has posted an unblemished conference record. The Vandals defeated Montana, their only conference loss the previous season, on a Thursday night in the Kibbie Dome, televised by ESPN
. Idaho beat long-time nemesis for the third straight year, only the fourth time in the twelve meetings since the Wolf Pack joined the Big Sky in 1979. The Vandals defeated rival for the eighth consecutive year, the eighth of twelve straight over the Broncos before a record crowd of 17,600 in the Kibbie Dome.
at home but lost 21-38. The game was played before a sparse crowd at the Kibbie Dome
two days after Thanksgiving and ended the Vandals' season at 9-3.
, a future collegiate hall of fame
quarterback as a three-year starter (1987-89). Friesz was the winner of the Walter Payton Award
in 1989 and was selected by the San Diego Chargers
in the 1990 NFL Draft
. He was in the NFL
for the next decade with four teams.
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 1989 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
, led by first-year head coach John L. Smith
John L. Smith
John L. Smith is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the special teams coach at the University of Arkansas, under head coach Bobby Petrino...
, 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....
.
The Vandals won their third consecutive conference title (fourth in five years), and made the I-AA playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. Led by senior All-American quarterback John Friesz
John Friesz
John Melvin "Deep" Friesz is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, and the New England Patriots....
, Idaho finished the regular season at 9-2 and 8-0 in the Big Sky.
Notable games
Following two non-conference road losses to open the season at Washington StateWashington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
and Portland State, the Vandals won nine straight, which included an undefeated conference record of 8-0. It was the only time in school history that the football team has posted an unblemished conference record. The Vandals defeated Montana, their only conference loss the previous season, on a Thursday night in the Kibbie Dome, televised by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. Idaho beat long-time nemesis for the third straight year, only the fourth time in the twelve meetings since the Wolf Pack joined the Big Sky in 1979. The Vandals defeated rival for the eighth consecutive year, the eighth of twelve straight over the Broncos before a record crowd of 17,600 in the Kibbie Dome.
Division I-AA playoffs
For the fifth consecutive season, Idaho returned to the 16-team I-AA playoffs. The Vandals, on a nine-game winning streak, hosted Eastern IllinoisEastern Illinois Panthers
The Eastern Illinois Panthers are the men's and women's athletic teams representing Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. Eastern Illinois University's colors are blue and gray. Eastern Illinois sports teams, except for men's soccer and swimming teams, participate in NCAA Division I in...
at home but lost 21-38. The game was played before a sparse crowd 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...
two days after Thanksgiving and ended the Vandals' season at 9-3.
Notable players
The 1989 team included John FrieszJohn Friesz
John Melvin "Deep" Friesz is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, and the New England Patriots....
, a future collegiate hall of fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
quarterback as a three-year starter (1987-89). Friesz was the winner of the Walter Payton Award
Walter Payton Award
The Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding offensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors...
in 1989 and was selected by the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 1990 NFL Draft
1990 NFL Draft
The 1990 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1990...
. He was in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the next decade with four teams.