1984 Idaho Vandals football team

The 1984 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1984 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by third-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.

1984 Idaho Vandals football
Conference	Big Sky Conference
1984 record	6–5 (4–3 Big Sky)
Head coach	Dennis Erickson (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Dan Cozzetto (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	John L. Smith (3rd season)
Home stadium	Kibbie Dome

1984 Big Sky Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 2 Montana State $^	6	–	1	–	0			12	–	2	–	0
Nevada	5	–	2	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Idaho	4	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Boise State	4	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Idaho State	4	–	3	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Weber State	3	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Northern Arizona	2	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
Montana	0	–	7	–	0			2	–	8	–	1
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Poll

After the departure of four-year starter QB Ken Hobart following the 1983 season, Idaho struggled with injuries and inexperience, falling to a 2–5 record before winning their last four. Led by quarterbacks Scott Linehan (redshirt sophomore) and Rick Sloan (junior, transfer from San Jose State), the Vandals finished 6–5 in the regular season and 4–3 in the Big Sky.[1]

Although the 1984 season was less successful than the previous two, it marked the first time in nearly eight decades that the Vandals had three consecutive winning seasons in football; it was last accomplished in 1905.[2]

Erickson's 23 wins in three seasons made him the winningest head coach in Vandal history; John L. Smith later posted 53 wins in six seasons.

Notable games

The Vandals defeated Oregon State of the Pac-10 41–22 in Moscow,[3] but lost to upstart independent Eastern Washington in Spokane in the inaugural Governors' Cup,[4][5] (EWU joined the Big Sky in 1987).[6][7] Nevada continued its dominance over the Vandals, winning its sixth straight since joining the conference in 1979.[8][9][10] Double-digit leads in the second half were squandered in both disappointing home losses to Montana State and Weber State.[1][11]

Idaho defeated rival Boise State for the third consecutive year, a streak that extended to twelve straight in 1993. The 1984 game was the most lopsided to date, with the Vandals recording a 37–0 shutout on the road at Bronco Stadium in the season finale.[12] In its seventeen years competing as a four-year school, Boise State had neither been shut out nor lost by more than 35 points.[13] Senior Tim McMonigle wrapped up his third year as placekicker with thirteen points (3 FG, 4 PAT) to become the Vandals' all-time leading scorer at 224 points, passing 1960s fullback Ray McDonald.[13]

Division I-AA playoffs

Idaho missed the I-AA playoffs again, but returned in ten of the next eleven seasons, then departed for the Big West Conference after the 1995 season. In 1984, the mercurial Montana State Bobcats won the Big Sky title and the I-AA national title (MSU was 1–10 in 1983, 12–2 in 1984, 2–9 in 1985). The Bobcats were the only selection from the West in the 12-team playoffs. Idaho closed out the decade with conference titles in 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1989 (and runner-up in 1986), not missing the I-AA playoffs until 1991.

Notable players

The 1984 team included two future NFL head coaches: quarterback Scott Linehan and offensive lineman Tom Cable.[14]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
September 8	7:00 pm	Portland State (Div. II)*	Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho	W 49–14	10,500
September 15	1:00 pm	at Cal State Fullerton (Div. I-A)*	Santa Ana Stadium Santa Ana, California	L 7–28	5,650
September 22	7:00 pm	Montana State	Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho	L 28–34	11,600
September 29	7:00 pm	Oregon State (Div. I-A)*	Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho	W 41–22	10,700
October 6	1:00 pm	at Nevada	Mackay Stadium Reno, Nevada	L 17–23	9,525
October 13	1:30 pm	Weber State	Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho	L 37–40	13,700
October 20	2:00 pm	at Eastern Washington*	Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, Washington (Governors' Cup)	L 25–32	10,000
October 27	1:00 pm	at Montana	Dornblaser Field Missoula, Montana (Little Brown Stein)	W 40–39
November 3	7:00 pm	Northern Arizona	Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho	W 37–9	7,500
November 10	1:30 pm	Idaho State	Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho	W 45–42	7,500
November 17	12:30 pm	at Boise State	Bronco Stadium Boise, Idaho (Rivalry)	W 37–0	20,430
*Non-conference game Homecoming All times are in Pacific time

Roster

1984 Idaho Vandals football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 1 Eric Yarber Jr QB 10 Scott Linehan So TE 12 Scott Auker Jr QB 14 Rick Sloan Jr QB 15 Darel Tracy So RB 23 Mike Shill Sr RB 26 Marlon Barrow Sr RB 32 Steve Jackson Jr WR 33 Brant Bengen Fr WR Ricky Love Sr FL Kevin Juma Sr G 55 Lance West Sr G Tom Cable Jr G 64 Joe Smiley Jr C 68 Matt Watson Jr T 77 Dave Thorsen Sr OL, DL Mark Schlereth  Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class CB 2 Calvin Loveall Sr CB 4 Steve Simpson Sr SS 16 Mark Tidd So FS Ernest Sanders Fr FS Kevin Johnson Fr LB 38 Tom Hennessey So FS 42 Paul Ramsey So DE 44 Frank Moreno  Sr LB Nolan Harper So LB Mike Cox So LB Ed Rifilato Sr DE Dan Hunter Sr DE Ron Crick Jr DT Pete Ruhl So DE Troy Ballard So DT John Andrews Jr DE 99 Sam Manoa Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 3 Tim McMonigle Sr P 7 Darin Magnuson So	Head coach Dennis Erickson (3rd year) Coordinators/assistant coaches Dan Cozzetto (OC) John L. Smith (DC) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Source:[15][16][17]

All-conference

Wide receiver Eric Yarber, center Matt Watson, and cornerback Calvin Loveall were named to the Big Sky all-conference team.[18][19][20] Vandals on the second team were guard Lance West, tight end Scott Auker, running back Mike Shill, defensive end Sam Manoa, and placekicker Tim McMonigle.[18][20]

References

1. Barrows, Bob (November 23, 1984). "Comin' on strong: after dismal start, Vandals show their stuff at end". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
2. College Football Data Warehouse Archived 2012-03-03 at the Wayback Machine – Idaho Vandals – yearly totals – accessed 2011-10-02
3. Stalwick, Howie (September 30, 1984). "Vandals pull off an upset". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. D1.
4. Stewart, Chuck (October 19, 1984). "Cup clash's spoils: Apples or potatoes". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. 21.
5. Weaver, Dan (October 22, 1984). "Raver crawled out of bed to watch the Eagles soar". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. 17.
6. Gerheim, Earle (December 11, 1986). "Sky finally opens wide for Eastern Eagles". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. D1.
7. Blanchette, John (December 11, 1986). "Big Sky club took time issuing Eagles' membership card". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. D2.
8. "Idaho (2-2) at Nevada-Reno (2-2)". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). October 6, 1984. p. 15.
9. Bob, Barrows (October 6, 1984). "Idaho's very defensive over Reno". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
10. Bob, Barrows (October 7, 1984). "Time runs out on Idaho comeback as Reno hangs on, 23-17". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
11. Barrows, Bob (October 14, 1984). "Second half Weber State rally spells defeat for Idaho, 40-37". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1D.
12. Barrows, Bob (November 18, 1984). "Everything goes Idaho's way, including Gem trophy". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
13. Stalwick, Howie (November 18, 1984). "Vandals have it their in Boise". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. D1.
14. "Starting rosters – ISU @ UI". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). November 11, 1984. p. 4C.
15. "Starting line-ups". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). October 6, 1984. p. 5C.
16. "Starting line-ups". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). November 3, 1984. p. 5C.
17. "Starting line-ups". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). November 17, 1984. p. 6C.
18. "UI's Yarber, Watson named All-Big Sky". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). November 28, 1984. p. 1B.
19. "Vandal trio named All-Big Sky". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. November 28, 1984. p. 26.
20. "Idaho's Loveall grabs honor from Big Sky". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). November 29, 1984. p. 1C.

External links

• Gem of the Mountains: 1985 University of Idaho yearbook – 1984 football season
• Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1984 editions