1988 Idaho Vandals football team
Encyclopedia
The 1988 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho
in the 1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals
, led by third-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 Moscow
, Idaho
.
The Vandals won their third conference title in four seasons, and made the I-AA playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Led by redshirt
junior quarterback John Friesz
, Idaho finished the regular season at 9-1 and 7-1 in the Big Sky. The Vandals scheduled only ten regular season games for the first time since 1969. Idaho would play only ten regular season games again in 1995, their final year the Big Sky. The shortened regular season was beneficial in 1988, as the Vandals played three post-season games, falling on the road in the national semifinals in Gilbertson's final game as the Vandals' head coach.
two days after Thanksgiving. Idaho also hosted in the quarterfinals, and defeated (La.
) 38-30, but lost quarterback John Friesz with an ankle sprain in the third quarter.
In the semifinals Idaho was eliminated 38-7 on the road at in Greenville, South Carolina
, ending the Vandals' season at 11-2. With their third-string quarterback and many other reserves playing against the top-ranked defense in Division I-AA, the Vandals were only down 10-0 at the half, but the score mounted to 38-0 before the Vandals scored. The Vandal defense gave up 320 rushing yards to the Paladins. Furman went on to win the I-AA title the following week.
players with lengthy pro careers: guard
Mark Schlereth
(fifth-year senior) and junior John Friesz
, the future collegiate hall of fame
quarterback was a three-year starter (1987–89).
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 1988 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 third-year head coach 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...
, 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 conference title in four seasons, and made the I-AA playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. 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 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 9-1 and 7-1 in the Big Sky. The Vandals scheduled only ten regular season games for the first time since 1969. Idaho would play only ten regular season games again in 1995, their final year the Big Sky. The shortened regular season was beneficial in 1988, as the Vandals played three post-season games, falling on the road in the national semifinals in Gilbertson's final game as the Vandals' head coach.
Notable games
Following a sole loss on the road to conference rival , Idaho won its final seven games of the regular season. The Vandals defeated for a second consecutive year, only the third time in the eleven meetings since the Wolf Pack joined the Big Sky in 1979. The Vandals defeated rival for the seventh consecutive year, the seventh of twelve straight over the Broncos.Division I-AA playoffs
For the fourth consecutive season, Idaho returned to the I-AA playoffs. In the first round, the Vandals hosted conference foe , who had handed the Vandals their only defeat. The Vandals won the rematch 38-19 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. Idaho also hosted in the quarterfinals, and defeated (La.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
) 38-30, but lost quarterback John Friesz with an ankle sprain in the third quarter.
In the semifinals Idaho was eliminated 38-7 on the road at in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, ending the Vandals' season at 11-2. With their third-string quarterback and many other reserves playing against the top-ranked defense in Division I-AA, the Vandals were only down 10-0 at the half, but the score mounted to 38-0 before the Vandals scored. The Vandal defense gave up 320 rushing yards to the Paladins. Furman went on to win the I-AA title the following week.
Notable players
The 1988 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...
players with lengthy pro careers: guard
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....
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...
(fifth-year senior) and junior 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....
, the 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 was a three-year starter (1987–89).