1985 Idaho Vandals football team
Encyclopedia
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 Moscow
, Idaho
.
The Vandals won their first outright conference title since 1971
(the 1982 team
tied for the title, but lost the head-to-head tiebreaker to ). Led by redshirt
junior quarterback Scott Linehan
, Idaho finished the regular season at 9-2 and 6-1 in the Big Sky. Keith Gilbertson
returned as offensive coordinator in 1985, following three spring seasons in the USFL
.
The 1985 season marked the first time in school history that the Vandals had four consecutive winning seasons in football.
in Corvallis
, whom they had defeated the year before in Moscow. After six straight losses to , Idaho recorded its first conference victory over the Wolf Pack, who joined the Big Sky in 1979. The Vandals defeated rival for the fourth consecutive year, the fourth of twelve straight over the Broncos. A key one-point road loss to in late October prevented the Vandals from attaining an important first round bye in the I-AA playoffs.
, two days after Thanksgiving. (EWU joined the Big Sky in 1987, raising league membership to nine institutions.)
For the following season in 1986, the I-AA playoffs expanded from 12 to 16 teams, which eliminated the bye week for the top four seeds.
head coaches: quarterback Scott Linehan
and offensive lineman Tom Cable
. Future NFL players with lengthy pro careers included guard Mark Schlereth
(redshirt freshman) and true freshman John Friesz
, a future collegiate hall of fame
quarterback as a three-year starter (1987-89), but inactive in 1985 as a redshirt
.
. Following his departure for Wyoming
, offensive coordinator Keith Gilbertson
was promoted to head coach for 1986
. Defensive coordinator John L. Smith
followed Erickson to Laramie
in 1986 and Washington State
in 1987. Smith returned to the Vandals in January 1989
to succeed Gilbertson, who left for an assistant's position in Seattle
, as offensive line coach under head coach Don James at Washington.
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 1984 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 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...
, 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 first outright conference title since 1971
1971 Idaho Vandals football team
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...
(the 1982 team
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...
tied for the title, but lost the head-to-head tiebreaker to ). Led by redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
junior quarterback Scott Linehan
Scott Linehan
Scott Thomas Linehan is an American football coach, currently the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the NFL. He was previously the head coach of the St...
, Idaho finished the regular season at 9-2 and 6-1 in the Big Sky. Keith Gilbertson
Keith Gilbertson
Keith Gilbertson, Jr. is an American football coach and former player. He is currently a scout with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL...
returned as offensive coordinator in 1985, following three spring seasons 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...
.
The 1985 season marked the first time in school history that the Vandals had four consecutive winning seasons in football.
Notable games
The Vandals opened the season with a 15-point loss at Oregon State1985 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 1985 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the 1985 college football season. The Beavers started the season 2-0, their best start in 18 years, but lost all but one of their remaining games to post their 18th consecutive losing season. The Beavers' 3-8 record...
in Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
, whom they had defeated the year before in Moscow. After six straight losses to , Idaho recorded its first conference victory over the Wolf Pack, who joined the Big Sky in 1979. The Vandals defeated rival for the fourth consecutive year, the fourth of twelve straight over the Broncos. A key one-point road loss to in late October prevented the Vandals from attaining an important first round bye in the I-AA playoffs.
Division I-AA playoffs
After a two season absence, Idaho returned to the 12-team I-AA playoffs, hosting independent , whom they had defeated four weeks earlier by three touchdowns. The Eagles won the rematch, a back-and-forth contest before a sparse crowd at the Kibbie DomeKibbie 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. (EWU joined the Big Sky in 1987, raising league membership to nine institutions.)
For the following season in 1986, the I-AA playoffs expanded from 12 to 16 teams, which eliminated the bye week for the top four seeds.
Notable players
The 1985 team included two future NFLNational 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 coaches: quarterback Scott Linehan
Scott Linehan
Scott Thomas Linehan is an American football coach, currently the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the NFL. He was previously the head coach of the St...
and offensive lineman Tom Cable
Tom Cable
-NFL:-References:...
. Future NFL players with lengthy pro careers included guard Mark Schlereth
Mark Schlereth
Mark Frederick Schlereth is a former professional football player and current television sportscaster. Schlereth played guard in the NFL for 12 seasons with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos. He is currently a football analyst for ESPN on NFL Live, Sportscenter, and other programs...
(redshirt freshman) and true freshman 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....
, 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), but inactive in 1985 as a redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
.
Coaches
This was the fourth and final season at Idaho for head coach Dennis EricksonDennis 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...
. Following his departure for Wyoming
Wyoming Cowboys football
The Wyoming Cowboys are a college football team that represents the University of Wyoming. They compete in the Mountain West Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I. The team has won 15 conference titles...
, offensive coordinator Keith Gilbertson
Keith Gilbertson
Keith Gilbertson, Jr. is an American football coach and former player. He is currently a scout with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL...
was promoted to head coach for 1986
1986 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1986 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by first-year head coach Keith Gilbertson, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in...
. Defensive coordinator 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...
followed Erickson to Laramie
Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie is a city in and the county seat of Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 30,816 at the . Located on the Laramie River in southeastern Wyoming, the city is west of Cheyenne, at the junction of Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 287....
in 1986 and Washington State
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 1987. Smith returned to the Vandals in January 1989
1989 Idaho Vandals football team
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...
to succeed Gilbertson, who left for an assistant's position in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, as offensive line coach under head coach Don James at Washington.