1971 Idaho Vandals football team
Encyclopedia
The 1971 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho
in the 1971 college football season
. The Vandals
, led by second-year head coach Don Robbins, were members of the Big Sky Conference
and played three of their five home games at the new Idaho Stadium
, an outdoor facility on campus in Moscow
, Idaho
.
The Vandals won their first outright conference title in 1971, which included an eight game winning streak after opening with two losses. Idaho finished 8-3 in the regular season and 4-1 in the Big Sky. At the time, the season was the best in school history.
in the first meeting between the two teams, creating an instant rivalry game. This was actually an Idaho "home game" moved to Boise, because the new stadium in Moscow was not completed. Boise State had been a junior college program through 1967; they moved up to NAIA in 1968 as an independent, and joined the NCAA "college division" (Division II) and Big Sky in 1970. Idaho had played a home game every season in Boise
in the old wooden Bronco Stadium
through 1968; this ended when Boise State joined the Big Sky.
The Colorado State
game was played at Joe Albi Stadium
in Spokane
on September 25, as the new Idaho Stadium was not quite finished and there was no suitable stadium available on the Palouse
. After Idaho's wooden Neale Stadium
was condemned before the 1969 season, the Vandals played their limited schedule of Palouse home games at the wooden Rogers Field
at WSU
in nearby Pullman
in 1969
and 1970
. Rogers Field was razed in 1971 and in its footprint Martin Stadium
was constructed; the new facility opened in September 1972. The Vandals shut out the CSU Rams 10-0 to begin their eight game winning streak. The Rams' star running back was Lawrence McCutcheon
, who later played with the Los Angeles Rams.
The new Idaho Stadium opened with a 40-3 Vandal victory over Idaho State on October 9th. The outdoor concrete stadium in Moscow
replaced Neale Stadium in the same footprint and had a natural grass surface. Artificial turf
was installed in 1972, and the facility was enclosed in 1975 to become the multi-purpose Kibbie Dome
.
After four consecutive road victories, the Vandals finished the 1971 season at home with a 40-2 victory over Montana State to wrap up the Big Sky title, and a disappointing 13-42 non-conference loss to Utah State
in the finale. Boise State finished at 10-2, but its two losses were in league play and finished second in the Big Sky at 3-2.
by playing only "university division" opponents in its non-conference schedule. When the Division II playoffs
arrived in 1973, the Vandals were ineligible, as they were in Division I. (Idaho was a member of the conference primarily for basketball.)
The Big Sky
moved up to the new Division I-AA In 1978
, and Idaho was forced to move down. In 18 seasons in I-AA, the Vandals reached the post-season playoffs 11 times, missing only once in the final 11 seasons of 1985
-95.
Idaho returned to Division I-A in 1996
with a move to the Big West
, and then to the WAC
in 2005
. (The Big West dropped football after 2000
; Idaho was a "football only" member of the Sun Belt
for four seasons, 2001-04.)
1 "home game" played off-campus (Boise, Spokane)
, which lasted seventeen rounds (442 selections).
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 1971 college football season
1971 college football season
The 1971 college football season saw Coach Bob Devaney's Nebraska Cornhuskers repeat as national champions. After being ranked 2nd in the preseason poll, Nebraska captured first place the following week and remained there for the rest of 1971 and won the Orange Bowl 38–6 in a #1 vs...
. 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 second-year head coach Don Robbins, 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 three of their five home games at the new Idaho Stadium
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 outdoor 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 first outright conference title in 1971, which included an eight game winning streak after opening with two losses. Idaho finished 8-3 in the regular season and 4-1 in the Big Sky. At the time, the season was the best in school history.
Notable games
The Vandals opened the season with a stunning 14-42 upset loss at Boise StateBoise State Broncos football
This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West...
in the first meeting between the two teams, creating an instant rivalry game. This was actually an Idaho "home game" moved to Boise, because the new stadium in Moscow was not completed. Boise State had been a junior college program through 1967; they moved up to NAIA in 1968 as an independent, and joined the NCAA "college division" (Division II) and Big Sky in 1970. Idaho had played a home game every season in Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
in the old wooden Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference. Since 1997, it has hosted the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos...
through 1968; this ended when Boise State joined the Big Sky.
The Colorado State
Colorado State Rams football
The Colorado State Rams football program, established in 1893, represents Colorado State University and is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mountain West Conference under head coach Steve Fairchild...
game was played at Joe Albi Stadium
Joe Albi Stadium
Joe Albi Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Spokane, Washington. Primarily used for football, it is located in the northwest part of the city, just east of the Spokane River. It opened in 1950 as "Memorial Stadium," with a natural grass field, cinder running track, and a seating capacity of...
in Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
on September 25, as the new Idaho Stadium was not quite finished and there was no suitable stadium available on the Palouse
Palouse
The Palouse is a region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of southeastern Washington, north central Idaho and, in some definitions, extending south into northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, primarily producing wheat and legumes...
. After Idaho's wooden Neale Stadium
Neale Stadium
Neale Stadium was an outdoor athletic stadium in Moscow, Idaho, on the west end of the campus of the University of Idaho. Opened in 1937 for college football , it was used for over three decades, through the 1968 season...
was condemned before the 1969 season, the Vandals played their limited schedule of Palouse home games at the wooden Rogers Field
Rogers Field (Washington State)
Rogers Field was an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. It was the home venue of the WSU Cougars football and track teams until severely damaged by a fire in April 1970...
at WSU
Washington 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...
in nearby Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
in 1969
1969 college football season
The 1969 college football season was celebrated as the 100th anniversary of college football. During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no playoff for the college football teams that would later be described as "Division I-A"...
and 1970
1970 college football season
The 1970 college football season was marked by tragedy, due to two airplane crashes. On October 2, one of the planes carrying the Wichita State football team crashed on the way to a game against Utah State, killing 31 people on board, including 14 players...
. Rogers Field was razed in 1971 and in its footprint Martin Stadium
Martin Stadium
Martin Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pullman, Washington, United States, on the campus of Washington State University. It is the home field of the Washington State Cougars of the Pacific-12 Conference, and is the smallest football stadium in the conference...
was constructed; the new facility opened in September 1972. The Vandals shut out the CSU Rams 10-0 to begin their eight game winning streak. The Rams' star running back was Lawrence McCutcheon
Lawrence McCutcheon
Lawrence McCutcheon is a former American football running back for the Los Angeles Rams from 1972–1980, the Denver Broncos & Seattle Seahawks in 1980 and finished his playing career in 1981 with the Buffalo Bills, reuniting with his former Rams coach Chuck Knox.-Professional Career:McCutcheon was...
, who later played with the Los Angeles Rams.
The new Idaho Stadium opened with a 40-3 Vandal victory over Idaho State on October 9th. The outdoor concrete stadium 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...
replaced Neale Stadium in the same footprint and had a natural grass surface. Artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
was installed in 1972, and the facility was enclosed in 1975 to become the multi-purpose 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...
.
After four consecutive road victories, the Vandals finished the 1971 season at home with a 40-2 victory over Montana State to wrap up the Big Sky title, and a disappointing 13-42 non-conference loss to Utah State
Utah State Aggies football
The Utah State Aggies are a college football team that competes in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I, representing Utah State University. The Utah State college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Romney Stadium since 1968...
in the finale. Boise State finished at 10-2, but its two losses were in league play and finished second in the Big Sky at 3-2.
Division I
Although a charter member of a conference whose other members were "college division" (Division II) for football, Idaho maintained its status as a "university division" (Division I) program with the NCAANational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
by playing only "university division" opponents in its non-conference schedule. When the Division II playoffs
NCAA Division II national football championship
The NCAA Division II National Football Championship began in 1973. Prior to 1973, four regional bowl games were played in order to provide postseason action for what was then called the NCAA College Division and a poll determined the final champion....
arrived in 1973, the Vandals were ineligible, as they were in Division I. (Idaho was a member of the conference primarily for basketball.)
The Big Sky
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,...
moved up to the new Division I-AA In 1978
1978 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first season of Division I-A football; Division I-A was created in 1978 from the splitting of Division I for football only. The season came down to a rare #1 vs. #2 post-season meeting as #1 Penn State and #2 Alabama met in the New Year's Day Sugar...
, and Idaho was forced to move down. In 18 seasons in I-AA, the Vandals reached the post-season playoffs 11 times, missing only once in the final 11 seasons of 1985
1985 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1985 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1984 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by fourth-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...
-95.
Idaho returned to Division I-A in 1996
1996 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the Florida Gators crowned National Champions, but not as unanimously as the Bowl Alliance would have hoped....
with a move to the Big West
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
, and then to the WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
in 2005
2005 Idaho Vandals football team
The 2005 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in NCAA Division I-A college football during the 2005 season. Idaho competed as a first-year member of the Western Athletic Conference , and played their home games in the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus...
. (The Big West dropped football after 2000
2000 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the Oklahoma Sooners claiming their first national championship and their first conference championship since the departure of head coach Barry Switzer....
; Idaho was a "football only" member of the Sun Belt
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
for four seasons, 2001-04.)
Schedule
1 "home game" played off-campus (Boise, Spokane)
NFL Draft
Three Vandals were selected in the 1972 NFL Draft1972 NFL Draft
The 1972 National Football League Draft was held on February 1–2, 1972.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
, which lasted seventeen rounds (442 selections).
| Player | Position | Round | Overall Pick |
Franchise |
| Fred Riley | WR Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
6th | 146 | Atlanta Falcons 1972 Atlanta Falcons season The 1972 Atlanta Falcons season was their 7th in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 7-6-1, finishing 7-7 and failing to reach the playoffs.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:... |
| Andy Kupp | G Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
10th | 241 | New Orleans Saints 1972 New Orleans Saints season The 1972 New Orleans Saints season was the team's sixth as a member of the National Football League. They failed to improve on their previous season's output of 4-8-2, winning only two games... |
| Ron Linehan | LB Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
17th | 428 | Pittsburgh Steelers 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season The 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the 40th in franchise history. The team went 11–3 that season, and won their first-ever AFC Central Division title.-Depth chart:-Schedule:- Week 1 : Oakland Raiders :... |