1983 Idaho Vandals football team

The 1983 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by second-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.

1983 Idaho Vandals football
Conference	Big Sky Conference
1983 record	8–3 (4–3 Big Sky)
Head coach	Dennis Erickson (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Dan Cozzetto (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	John L. Smith (2nd season)
Home stadium	Kibbie Dome

1983 Big Sky Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 11 Nevada* $^	6	–	1	–	0			10	–	4	–	0
No. 12 Idaho State ^	5	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Idaho	4	–	3	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
Boise State	4	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Weber State	3	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Montana	3	–	4	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
Northern Arizona	2	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Montana State	1	–	6	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant * – Nevada was given a win on the Fremont Cannon after UNLV was forced to forfeit the game after an investigation found that ineligible players had participated in the 1983 and 1984 seasons. Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Poll

Led by senior quarterback Ken Hobart, the Vandals finished 8–3 in the regular season and 4–3 in the Big Sky to tie for third with rival Boise State, whom they defeated in consecutive years for the first time. It was Idaho's first win in Moscow in the series in six tries, and was the second of twelve straight over the Broncos, through 1993.

The Vandals won four of five home games in 1983, losing to Nevada for the fifth year in a row.[1] They also lost to conference runner-up Idaho State;[2][3] both of whom were selected for the 12-team I-AA playoffs.[1] Idaho won all four of its non-conference games, but three were against Division II and NAIA opponents.

Although Idaho missed the postseason, 1983 marked the first time in 45 years that the Vandals had consecutive winning seasons in football, last accomplished in 1938 under head coach Ted Bank.[4] After just two seasons, Erickson's seventeen victories placed him sixth in career wins among Vandal head coaches.[5]

Notable players

Senior quarterback Ken Hobart, a walk-on four-year starter, led the 1983 Vandals to an 8–3 record and named a Division I-AA All-American. Selected in the second round of the 1984 USFL Draft by Jacksonville, he was traded to Denver during the season and then spent six seasons (1985–90) in the CFL. He was selected tenth in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft by the New York Jets, but never played in the NFL.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance
Sep 10	7:00 pm	Southern Colorado (NAIA)*		Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho	W 43–28	12,500
Sep 17	12:30 pm	at Montana State		Reno H. Sales Stadium Bozeman, Montana	W 23–0
Sep 24	6:30 pm	at No. 13 Idaho State	No. 11	ISU MiniDome Pocatello, Idaho (Rivalry)	L 31–41	12,983
Oct 01	7:00 pm	Eastern Washington (Div. II)*	No. 20	Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho	W 38–24	12,500
Oct 08	7:00 pm	at Portland State (Div. II)*	No. 19	Civic Stadium Portland, Oregon	W 17–16	3,853
Oct 15	6:00 pm	at Weber State	No. 19	Wildcat Stadium Ogden, Utah	L 10–28	15,632
Oct 22	1:30 pm	Montana		Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho (Little Brown Stein)	W 45–24	16,400
Oct 29	2:00 pm	at Pacific (Div. I-A)*	No. 19	Pacific Memorial Stadium Stockton, California	W 31–19	11,500
Nov 05	6:30 pm	at Northern Arizona	No. 14	Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, Arizona	W 40–10	7,138
Nov 12	7:00 pm	Nevada	No. 14	Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho	L 24–43	15,000
Nov 19	7:00 pm	Boise State		Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho (Rivalry)	W 45–24	15,400
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from NCAA (Div. I-AA) All times are in Pacific time

Roster

1983 Idaho Vandals football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 7 Brian Allen Sr QB 9 Ken Hobart Sr QB 10 Scott Linehan  So TE 12 Scott Auker So QB 15 Darel Tracy Fr RB 23 Mike Shill Jr RB 26 Marlon Barrow Jr RB 32 Steve Jackson So RB 34 Kerry Hickey Sr G 55 Lance West Jr C 60 Shawn Jackson Sr T 62 Steve Seman Sr G 68 Matt Watson Jr T 77 Dave Thorsen Sr TE 87 Kurt Vestman Sr WR 89 Ron Whittenburg Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class CB 2 Calvin Loveall Jr CB 4 Steve Simpson Jr CB Mike Johnston Jr FS 16 Mark Tidd Fr LB 33 John Crout Sr LB 38 Tom Hennessey Fr SS 42 Boyce Bailey Sr DE 44 Frank Moreno   Sr DE 47 Darby Lewis Sr LB Todd Fryhover Jr LB Ed Rifilato Jr DT 64 Joe Smiley So DT 66 John Alwine Sr DT John Andrews Sr DE Dan Anderson Jr DE Sam Manoa Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 3 Tim McMonigle Jr P 9 Ken Hobart Sr P Darin Magnuson Fr	Head coach Dennis Erickson (2nd year) Coordinators/assistant coaches Dan Cozzetto (OC) John L. Smith (DC) Chris Tormey (DL) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Source:[6][7][8]

All-conference

Quarterback Hobart, flanker Brian Allen, and safety Boyce Bailey were named to the Big Sky all-conference team;[9][10] Hobart repeated as the league's outstanding offensive player.[11] Vandals named to the second team were tight end Kurt Vestman, wide receiver Ron Whittenburg, running back Kerry Hickey, guard Lance West, and linebacker / defensive end Sam Manoa.[9][10]

NFL Draft

One Vandal senior was selected in the 1984 NFL Draft, which lasted twelve rounds (336 selections).

Player	Position	Round	Overall	Franchise
Kurt Vestman	TE	10th	266	Chicago Bears

Source:[12]

Hobart was a second round selection of the Jacksonville Bulls in the 1984 USFL Draft,[13] and signed a contract in January.[14]

References

1. Stalwick, Howie (November 21, 1983). "Nevada-Reno, Idaho State in playoffs; Vandals are out". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. C2.
2. Stalwick, Howie (September 26, 1983). "McMonigle can't celebrate record". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. 17.
3. Stalwick, Howie (November 15, 1983). "Is there still life for the Vandals?". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. 18.
4. College Football Data Warehouse Archived 2012-03-03 at the Wayback Machine – Idaho Vandals – yearly totals – accessed 2011-10-02
5. Ramsdell, Paul (November 28, 1983). "Vandals post an 8-3 record and hope for more". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
6. "Starting line-ups". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). September 10, 1983. p. 6C.
7. "Vandals field veteran lineup". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 7, 1983. p. C4.
8. Ramsdell, Paul (November 19, 1983). "Football feud: Idaho, BSU resume rivalry". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
9. "Hobart, Allen make first team". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). December 1, 1983. p. 1B.
10. "Idaho's Boyce Bailey lands spot on All-Big Sky defensive team". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). December 2, 1983. p. 1B.
11. "Hobart grabs conference's top honor". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). December 3, 1983. p. 1B.
12. Devlin, Vince (May 2, 1984). "WSU lineman picked in 1st round". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 17.
13. USFL.info Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine - Jacksonville - 1984 Draft - accessed 2010-05-27
14. Stalwick, Howie (January 30, 1984). "Ken Hobart signs huge USFL pact". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. 13.

External links

• Gem of the Mountains: 1984 University of Idaho yearbook – 1983 football season
• Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1983 editions