1981 Boise State Broncos football team
Encyclopedia
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
. The Broncos were led by sixth-year head coach Jim Criner
and were the defending champions of Division I-AA.
Idaho
for the fifth consecutive year, in the regular season finale in Moscow
. The Vandals were winless in the Big Sky in 1981, which caused a change in head coaches. (BSU would not defeat the Vandals again until 1994
, losing twelve straight).
, and won 19–7. The semifinal game was played at home against , whom the Broncos had narrowly defeated in the title game the year before. This time the Colonels prevailed 23–17, but would lose the title game to Idaho State the following week in Texas.
The Broncos returned to the I-AA playoffs in 1988, the semifinals in 1990, and the title game in 1994
, then moved up to Division I-A in 1996
.
and safety Rick Woods
. Defensive lineman Randy Trautman
played four seasons in the Canadian Football League
and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1999.
stayed seven seasons at Boise State before departing for Iowa State
following the 1982 season. Defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich
was promoted to head coach and would stay for four seasons (1983–86). The defensive secondary coach at BSU in 1981 was future NFL
head coach John Fox.
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 1981 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...
, an outdoor facility on campus 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 sixth-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...
and were the defending champions of Division I-AA.
Regular season
The Broncos finished the regular season at 9–2 and 6–1 in conference to tie for first in the Big Sky, but lost the tiebreaker due to the head-to-head loss to champion in the conference opener. The Broncos avenged their 1980 loss , beating the 1980 Division II national champions 17–6 in Boise, but lost at , whom they defeated in 1980 in Boise. The Broncos narrowly defeated rivalBoise 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
1981 Idaho Vandals football team
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...
for the fifth consecutive year, in the regular season finale 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...
. The Vandals were winless in the Big Sky in 1981, which caused a change in head coaches. (BSU would not defeat the Vandals again 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...
, losing twelve straight).
I-AA Playoffs
The Broncos were again invited to the I-AA playoffs, expanded to eight teams for 1981. As Big Sky runner-up, BSU played on the road in the quarterfinals at Jackson StateJackson State Tigers football
The Jackson State Tigers are the college football team representing the Jackson State University. The Tigers play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-College Football Hall of Fame members:*Kevin Dent...
, and won 19–7. The semifinal game was played at home against , whom the Broncos had narrowly defeated in the title game the year before. This time the Colonels prevailed 23–17, but would lose the title game to Idaho State the following week in Texas.
The Broncos returned to the I-AA playoffs in 1988, the semifinals in 1990, and the 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....
.
Notable players
Future NFL players included linebacker John RadeJohn Rade
John Rade, was a linebacker in the NFL from 1983 to 1991.Was a 8th round draft choice in 1983. In 1988 John led his team in tackles with 137 for the second straight year. He had 4 100 plus tackle seasons in 6 years...
and safety Rick Woods
Rick Woods
Rick L. Woods is a former professional football player, a defensive back in the NFL. He played safety and cornerback for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ....
. Defensive lineman Randy Trautman
Randy Trautman
Randy Trautman is a former Canadian football defensive lineman in the Canadian Football League for the Calgary Stampeders. He played college football for Boise State University, where he was a two-time All-American and the 1981 Big Sky Conference defensive player of the year...
played four seasons in the Canadian Football League
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....
and was inducted into the College Football 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...
in 1999.
Coaches
Head coach Jim CrinerJim 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...
stayed seven seasons at Boise State before departing for Iowa State
Iowa State Cyclones football
The Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University in college football. The Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. ISU started playing football in 1892, however, it did not become an official sport until 1894...
following the 1982 season. Defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich
Lyle Setencich
-External links:...
was promoted to head coach and would stay for four seasons (1983–86). The defensive secondary coach at BSU in 1981 was future 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...
head coach John Fox.