1987 Idaho Vandals football team American college football season
The 1987 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season . The Vandals, led by second-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 second conference title in three seasons, and made the I-AA playoffs for the third consecutive season. Led by redshirt sophomore quarterback John Friesz , Idaho finished the regular season at 9–2 and 7–1 in the Big Sky.
Notable games
Following a non-conference loss at home to Central Michigan ,[ 1] [ 2] and a road loss to struggling intrastate rival Idaho State ,[ 3] [ 4] [ 5] Idaho won its final six games of the regular season. The Vandals defeated Nevada for only the second time in the ten meetings since the Wolf Pack joined the Big Sky in 1979 ,[ 6] [ 7] and defeated rival Boise State for the sixth consecutive year, the sixth of twelve straight over the Broncos.
Division I-AA playoffs
For the third consecutive season, Idaho returned to the 16-team I-AA playoffs . The Vandals hosted conference foe Weber State , whom they had defeated in Utah four weeks earlier by three points. The Wildcats won the rematch 59–30, before a sparse crowd at the Kibbie Dome two days after Thanksgiving , ending the Vandals' season at 9–3.[ 8]
Notable players
The 1987 team included two future NFL players with lengthy pro careers: guard Mark Schlereth and redshirt sophomore John Friesz , a future collegiate hall of fame quarterback as a three-year starter (1987–89 ).
Schedule
Date Time Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 5 7:00 pm Mankato State * No. 20 W 31–177,600 [ 9] [ 10]
September 12 7:00 pm Central Michigan * No. 20 L 18–308,000 [ 1] [ 2]
September 19 7:00 pm at No. 6 (D-II ) Portland State * W 17–108,535 [ 11] [ 12]
September 26 7:00 pm at Northern Arizona W 46–379,029 [ 13] [ 14]
October 3 6:30 pm at Idaho State No. 15 L 21–3010,764 [ 3] [ 4] [ 5]
October 10 7:00 pm Montana W 31–259,500 [ 15] [ 16] [ 17] [ 18]
October 17 1:00 pm No. 11 Nevada W 38–2815,100 [ 6] [ 7]
October 24 7:00 pm Eastern Washington No. 14 W 31–2411,500 [ 19] [ 20]
October 31 12:00 pm at No. 7 Weber State No. 12 W 41–3813,486 [ 21]
November 7 12:00 pm at Montana State No. 10 W 14–76,007 [ 22]
November 21 4:30 pm Boise State No. 5 W 40–3416,500 [ 23]
November 28 12:30 pm No. 10 Weber State* No. 5 L 30–594,900 [ 8]
Source: [ 24]
Roster
1987 Idaho Vandals football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
FL
6
Eric Jorgensen
Jr
SE
John Jake
QB
Steve Nolan
Fr
QB
17
John Friesz
So
RB
Bruce Harris
Fr
RB
20
Todd Hoiness
Jr
RB
Larry Leverett
So
TE
Craig Robinson
Sr
TE
Chris Slater
Jr
OT
70
Greg Hale
Jr
G
67
Todd Neu
So
C
Steve Unger
So
G
60
Mark Schlereth
Jr
OT
63
Troy Wright
So
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
CB
1
Richard Carey
Jr
FS
8
Ernest Sanders
Sr
CB
29
Virgil Paulsen
Sr
SS
Dan McCanna
Sr
LB
51
Jerry Medved
Jr
LB
Jim Medved
Jr
LB
Mark Matthews
Fr
LB
31
Kevin Johnson
Sr
DE
Pete Wilkins
Sr
DT
Craig Dowdy
Sr
DT
Michael Bailey
Jr
DE
Kord Smith
Sr
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
K
Brian Decicio
Jr
P
John Pleas
Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Bill Diedrick (OC)
Barry Lamb (DC)
Mike Cox (LB)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Source: [ 17] [ 25] [ 26] [ 27] [ 28]
All-conference
Six Vandals were named to the all-conference team: quarterback John Friesz , tackle Greg Hale, guard Todd Neu, defensive end Pete Wilkins, safety Ernest Sanders, and cornerback Virgil Paulsen. Second team selections were wide receiver Eric Jorgensen, tight end Craig Robinson, and punter John Pleas. Honorable mention were wide receiver/kick returner John Jake, running back Todd Hoiness, center Steve Unger, defensive linemen Kord Smith and Jim Routos, and placekicker Brian Decicio.[ 29] [ 30] [ 31] [ 32]
Friesz, from Coeur d'Alene , was also named the Big Sky's outstanding offensive player.[ 33] [ 34]
References
^ a b Pierce, Oliver (September 12, 1987). "UI must ground Chippewas' rush" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 1D.
^ a b Pierce, Oliver (September 14, 1987). "CMU has too much for gutty Vandals" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 1B.
^ a b Tatko, Mike (October 3, 1987). "Vandals problem: Getting excited for ISU" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 1B.
^ a b Pierce, Oliver (October 3, 1987). "Idaho's life on top could get better by downing ISU" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 1D.
^ a b Tatko, Mike (October 4, 1987). "ISU's bad luck ends with Idaho" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 1B.
^ a b Pierce, Oliver (October 17, 1987). "Idaho: classic battle of run versus pass" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 1D.
^ a b Pierce, Oliver (October 19, 1987). "UI, scoreoard both prove functional" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 1B.
^ a b "Weber State 59, Idaho 30" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). November 29, 1987. p. 3B.
^ Jacobson, Bryan (September 5, 1987). "Let the seasons begin" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 1D.
^ Pierce, Oliver (September 7, 1987). "Idaho land attack takes air out of Mavericks" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 1B.
^ Pierce, Oliver (September 19, 1987). "Strength vs. strength for UI, Portland State" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 1D.
^ "UI defense wins case with Vikings" . Idahonian . (Moscow). September 21, 1987. p. 1B.
^ Pierce, Oliver (September 26, 1987). "Idaho: Big Sky play draws tough opener" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 1D.
^ "Vandals axe Lumberjacks, 46-37" . Idahonian . (Moscow). September 28, 1987. p. 1B.
^ Tatko, Mike (October 10, 1987). "Cougars, Vandals at home after long absence" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 1B.
^ Tatko, Mike (October 11, 1987). "Idaho outruns Montana" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 1C.
^ a b Spevak, Jeff (October 11, 1987). "Idaho's medical list grows as injuries plague team" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 8C.
^ Pierce, Oliver (October 12, 1987). "UI rekindles Big Sky title hopes" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 7A.
^ Pierce, Oliver (October 24, 1987). "Governor's Cup tilt" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 1D.
^ Pierce, Oliver (October 26, 1987). "Idaho can treat itself to crown" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 8A.
^ Pierce, Oliver (October 31, 1987). "Big Sky chase" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 1D.
^ "Idaho holds off Bobcats, moves closer to Big Sky title" . Reno Gazette-Journal . November 8, 1987. Retrieved December 7, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Friesz guides Vandals to BSC crown" . South Idaho Press . November 22, 1987. Retrieved December 7, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ College Football Data Warehouse Archived 2010-02-16 at the Wayback Machine – Idaho 1985–89 – accessed August 14, 2010
^ "UI: Medved twins have big shoes to fill in the middle" . Idahonian . (Moscow). September 1, 1987. p. 1C.
^ "UI: Vandals should be strong at defensive end" . Idahonian . (Moscow). September 2, 1987. p. 6A.
^ "UI: Secondary is a strength" . Idahonian . (Moscow). September 3, 1987. p. 1C.
^ "Starting line-ups" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). October 3, 1987. p. 4B.
^ "All-Big Sky teams" . Spokane Chronicle . (Washington). Associated Press. December 2, 1987. p. D3.
^ "EWU's Stein makes All-Big Sky" . Spokane Chronicle . (Washington). staff and wire reports. December 2, 1987. p. D1.
^ "Six Vandals on Big Sky first team" . Idahonian . (Moscow). Associated Press. December 2, 1987. p. 10A.
^ "Friesz, Buenzli top All=Big Sky teams" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). December 2, 1987. p. D2.
^ "Idaho's Friesz best in Big Sky" . Idahonian . (Moscow). Associated Press. December 4, 1987. p. 1B.
^ "Friesz captures Big Sky MVP award" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 4, 1987. p. 33.
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