1952 Idaho Vandals football team

1952 Idaho Vandals football
ConferencePacific Coast Conference
Record4–4–1 (1–3 PCC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeSplit-T[1]
Home stadiumNeale Stadium
Seasons
← 1951
1953 →
1952 Pacific Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 5 USC $ 6 – 0 – 0 10 – 1 – 0
No. 6 UCLA 5 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0
Washington 6 – 2 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
California 3 – 3 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Washington State 3 – 4 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
Stanford 2 – 5 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Oregon 2 – 5 – 0 2 – 7 – 1
Idaho 1 – 3 – 0 4 – 4 – 1
Oregon State 1 – 6 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1952 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1952 college football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Raymond A. Curfman and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one game in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.

Led on the field by quarterback Wayne D. Anderson,[2] Idaho compiled a 4–4–1 overall record and were 1–3 in the PCC.[3]

In the home opener against Oregon on October 4, Idaho outplayed the visitors for 56 minutes, but gave up two late touchdowns and lost by six.[4][5]

The Vandals suffered a second straight loss in the Battle of the Palouse with neighbor Washington State, falling 36–6 at Rogers Field in Pullman on November 1.[6][7] The previous two editions had been competitive, with a 7–7 tie in 1950 and 9–6 battle in Moscow in 1951.[8][9] The loss prevented the first winning season for Idaho football since 1938. It ran the winless streak against the Cougars to 26 games, a record of 0–24–2 since taking three straight in 1923–25; the Vandals broke the streak two years later in Pullman.[10]

Idaho regrouped and concluded the season with two convincing wins over Montana at home and Oregon State in Corvallis in the last varsity game played at Bell Field.

Following his playing days, Anderson was a head coach for the Vandals in baseball (1958–66) and basketball (1966–74); he was also an assistant athletic director (1971–74, 1982–94).

  1. ^ "Underdog Vandals have upset ideas". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 18, 1952. p. 13.
  2. ^ "WSC-Idaho lineups". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 1, 1952. p. 10.
  3. ^ "Pacific Coast Conference standings". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 17, 1952. p. 11.
  4. ^ Strite, Dick (October 5, 1952). "Webfoots defeat Idaho 20-14 for first win". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1C.
  5. ^ "Vandals outplay Ducks for 56 minutes before bowing 20-14". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 5, 1952. p. 9.
  6. ^ "Dazzling Cougar air attack stuns fumbling Idaho 36-6". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 2, 1952. p. 10.
  7. ^ "Oregon next for WSC; Vandals crushed 36-6". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). November 3, 1952. p. 19.
  8. ^ Boni, Bill (November 1, 1952). "WSC favored by 19 points". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 10.
  9. ^ "Speculation high on outcome of WSC-Idaho tilt". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). October 31, 1952. p. 15.
  10. ^ Boni, Bill (October 24, 1954). "Idaho thumps WSC, 10-0". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.