1980 Boise State Broncos football team
Encyclopedia
The 1980 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University
in the 1980 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 fifth-year head coach Jim Criner
. The 1980 "Four Horseman" senior backfield of BSU featured quarterback Joe Aliotti, fullback David Hughes
, and halfback Cedric Minter
, with halfback Terry Zahner in reserve.
The Broncos finished the regular season at 8–3 and 6–1 in conference to win their fifth Big Sky title in 11 seasons, their first since 1976. BSU defeated their two Division I-A opponents, but lost a road contest in November to , the 1980 Division II national champions. The Broncos easily defeated rival
Idaho
for the fourth consecutive year in mid-October in Boise. During halftime of the game on November 8, BSU dedicated the playing field at Bronco Stadium to athletic director
and former head coach Lyle Smith
.
The Broncos were invited to the four-team I-AA playoffs. As Big Sky champions with a substantial stadium and fan base, BSU was chosen to host in the first round, a national semifinal on December 13, three weeks after the completion of the regular season. The opponent was , coached by legend Eddie Robinson. The Broncos won 14–9 and advanced to the I-AA national championship game the following week at Sacramento
, California
, against defending champion , coached by Roy Kidd
. In a back-and-forth contest played in the fog at Hughes Stadium, Boise State won 31–29 to win their only I-AA national title.
The Broncos returned to the I-AA title game in 1994
, then moved up to Division I-A in 1996
.
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
in the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in 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 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...
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,...
, 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 Broncos were led by fifth-year head coach Jim Criner
Jim Criner
Jim Criner is a former American football player and coach in the United States. He served as the head football coach at Boise State University from 1976 to 1982 and at Iowa State University from 1983 to 1986, compiling a career college football record of 76–46–3...
. The 1980 "Four Horseman" senior backfield of BSU featured quarterback Joe Aliotti, fullback David Hughes
David Hughes (American football)
David Augustus Hughes III is a former professional American football player from Kailua. He played six seasons in the National Football League, the first five with the Seattle Seahawks and the final one with the Pittsburgh Steelers...
, and halfback Cedric Minter
Cedric Minter
Cedric Alwyn Minter, , is a former professional football player, and an award-winning running back in the Canadian Football League.-Early years:...
, with halfback Terry Zahner in reserve.
The Broncos finished the regular season at 8–3 and 6–1 in conference to win their fifth Big Sky title in 11 seasons, their first since 1976. BSU defeated their two Division I-A opponents, but lost a road contest in November to , the 1980 Division II national champions. The Broncos easily defeated rival
Boise State – Idaho rivalry
The Boise State–Idaho rivalry is a college football game between the Boise State University Broncos and the University of Idaho Vandals, the only two Division I FBS programs in the state of Idaho. The game had been played annually from 1971–2010, and with the exception of the 2001–04 games, the...
Idaho
1980 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1980 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals were led by third-year head coach Jerry Davitch and were members of the Big Sky Conference...
for the fourth consecutive year in mid-October in Boise. During halftime of the game on November 8, BSU dedicated the playing field at Bronco Stadium to athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
and former head coach Lyle Smith
Lyle Smith
Lyle H. Smith is a former American football and basketball player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the Untied States. He served as the head football coach at Boise Junior College—now Boise State University—from 1947 to 1950 and from 1952 to 1967, compiling a record of...
.
The Broncos were invited to the four-team I-AA playoffs. As Big Sky champions with a substantial stadium and fan base, BSU was chosen to host in the first round, a national semifinal on December 13, three weeks after the completion of the regular season. The opponent was , coached by legend Eddie Robinson. The Broncos won 14–9 and advanced to the I-AA national championship game the following week at Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, against defending champion , coached by Roy Kidd
Roy Kidd
Roy Kidd is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Eastern Kentucky University from 1964 to 2002, compiling a record of 314–124–8. Kidd's Eastern Kentucky Colonels won NCAA Division I-AA Football Championships in 1979 and 1982 and were runners-up...
. In a back-and-forth contest played in the fog at Hughes Stadium, Boise State won 31–29 to win their only I-AA national title.
The Broncos returned to the I-AA title game in 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...
, then moved up 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....
.