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 Moscow, Idaho.

1986 Idaho Vandals football
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
1986 record8–4 (5–2 Big Sky)
Head coachKeith Gilbertson (1st season)
Offensive coordinatorBill Diedrick (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorKent Baer (1st season)
Home stadiumKibbie Dome
1986 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 1 Nevada $^ 7 –0 –0  13 –1 –0
No. 16 Idaho ^ 5 –2 –0  8 –4 –0
Northern Arizona 5 –2 –0  7 –4 –0
Montana* 4 –4 –0  6 –4 –0
Boise State 3 –4 –0  5 –6 –0
Weber State 2 –5 –0  3 –8 –0
Montana State 2 –5 –0  3 –8 –0
Idaho State* 1 –7 –0  2 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
  • * – Montana and Idaho State played twice.
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Poll

Continuing upon the success of the previous four seasons under Dennis Erickson, the Vandals were defending conference champions and finished the regular season at 8–3 and 5–2 in the Big Sky, tied for second. Led by senior quarterback Scott Linehan, Idaho qualified for the I-AA playoffs for the second straight season.[1]

Notable games

The Vandals defeated rival Boise State for the fifth consecutive year, the fifth of twelve straight over the Broncos, but lost twice to Nevada, who were top-ranked in I-AA and undefeated in the regular season.[2] Uncommon for a playoff team, the Vandals were shut out at home 24–0 by Northern Arizona in late October.[3]

Division I-AA playoffs

The I-AA playoffs were expanded from 12 to 16 teams in 1986, eliminating the first round bye for the top four seeds. Idaho and Big Sky champion Nevada were the only two teams selected from the West, and were paired up in the first round in Reno two days after Thanksgiving. In mid-October the teams played a close defensive game, and the Vandals came up short by four points.[4] The rematch in the post-season was not close as the Wolf Pack prevailed 27–7,[2] improving their record over Idaho to 8–1 since joining the Big Sky in 1979.

Notable players

The 1986 team included two future NFL head coaches: quarterback Scott Linehan[5] and offensive lineman Tom Cable. Future NFL players with lengthy pro careers included guard Mark Schlereth (redshirt sophomore) and redshirt freshman John Friesz, a future collegiate hall of fame quarterback was Linehan's back-up in 1986. Friesz was a three-year starter (1987–89) and defeated Nevada-Reno all three seasons, including the first-ever victory in Reno in 1988.

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 66:30 pmPortland State (Div. II)*
W 42–10
September 1310:00 amat Central Michigan (Div. I-A)*
L 21–34
September 201:00 pmCal State Fullerton (Div. I-A)*
  • Kibbie Dome
  • Moscow, Idaho [6]
W 25–1712,500
September 271:00 pmat No. 6 Eastern Washington*
W 27–107,835
October 46:30 pmIdaho StateNo. 17
  • Kibbie Dome
  • Moscow, Idaho
W 38–269,500
October 181:00 pmat No. 1 NevadaNo. 12
L 17–2313,825
October 256:30 pmNorthern ArizonaNo. 15
  • Kibbie Dome
  • Moscow, Idaho
L 0–24
November 112:00 pmat Montana
W 38–31
November 86:30 pmMontana State
  • Kibbie Dome
  • Moscow, Idaho
W 44–17
November 156:30 pmWeber State
  • Kibbie Dome
  • Moscow, Idaho
W 31–17
November 2212:30 pmat Boise StateNo. 20
W 21–1421,275
November 2912:00 pmat No. 1 Nevada*No. 16
L 7–2713,715

Source:[2][3]

Roster
1986 Idaho Vandals football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 10 Scott Linehan Sr
QB 17 John Friesz Fr
RB Freddie Lloyd Sr
RB Todd Hoiness So
RB 32 Steve Jackson Sr
WR 33 Brant Bengen Sr
TE Craig Robinson Jr
TE Chris Slater So
TE, LB Pete Wilkins Jr
T Paul Taggert Sr
G Scott Katz Jr
C Phil Benson Jr
G Troy Wright Fr
T Greg Hale So
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
SS 13 Chris Able So
FS 16 Mark Tidd Sr
CB 29 Virgil Paulson Jr
SS Dan McCanna Jr
LB 38 Tom Hennessey Sr
DE, LB Nolan Harper Sr
LB Mike Cox Sr
LB Dave Parker Sr
LB Shawn Nilsson Sr
DT, OL 60 Mark Schlereth So
DT Craig Dowdy
DE Kord Smith Jr
DE Troy Ballard Sr
DT Charlie Porter Fr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K Brian Decicio So
P 7 Darin Magnuson Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt
Source:[7][8]

All-conference

Linebacker Tom Hennessey was a repeat selection to the all-conference team.[9][10] Eight Vandals were included on the second team: safety Mark Tidd, linebacker Nolan Harper, defensive end Kord Smith, quarterback Scott Linehan, running back Steve Jackson, wide receiver Brant Bengen, and tackles Paul Taggert and Greg Hale.[9]

gollark: No, gibson wins.
gollark: When umnikos votes, vote counts please.
gollark: Not very over, then.
gollark: I am not potato; potatOS is potatOS.
gollark: Nobody is, in all cases, wrong.

References
  1. Boling, Dave (December 3, 1986). "Dennis who?". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. D1.
  2. Stoffer, Jeff (December 1, 1986). "UI no obstruction for top-rated Reno". Idahonian. (Moscow). p. 9.
  3. "Idaho 1985-89". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  4. Boling, Dave (October 19, 1986). "Idaho fumbles a chance to beat Reno, 17-13". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. D1.
  5. "Hennessey again on first team". Idahonian. Moscow. Associated Press. December 3, 1986. p. 8.
  6. "Idaho 25, CS Fullerton 17". The Los Angeles Times. September 21, 1986. p. III-19. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Starting line-ups". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). September 20, 1986. p. 4B.
  8. "Starting line-ups". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). September 27, 1986. p. 3B.
  9. "Hennessey honored in Sky". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). December 3, 1986. p. D3.
  10. "Hennessey again on first team". Idahonian. (Moscow). Associated Press. December 3, 1986. p. 8.
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