1978 Idaho Vandals football team

1978 Idaho Vandals football
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
Record2–9 (2–4 Big Sky)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBill Tripp (1st season)
Offensive schemeVeer
Defensive coordinatorGreg McMackin (2nd season)
Base defense5–2
Home stadiumKibbie Dome
Seasons
← 1977
1979 →
1978 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 7 Northern Arizona $ 6 – 0 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
No. T–9 Montana State 4 – 2 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
Montana 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Boise State 3 – 3 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Weber State 2 – 4 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Idaho 2 – 4 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Idaho State 0 – 6 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA AP Poll

The 1978 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the Big Sky Conference during the 1978 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by new head coach Jerry Davitch, the Vandals played home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

With sophomore quarterbacks Jay Goodenbour and Mike McCurdy running the veer offense,[1][2][3] the Vandals were 2–9 overall (2–4 in Big Sky, fifth).[4][5] Projected starter Rocky Tuttle injured an ankle in the final scrimmage, had tendon surgery, and redshirted;[1][6] as a fifth-year senior in 1979, he started as a running back and receiver.

The final win was an unplayed forfeit by Idaho State for a scheduled night game in Moscow in November. Flying from Pocatello to the Palouse on the afternoon of the game to forego lodging, one of ISU's two chartered Convair 440 aircraft had carburetor problems soon after takeoff and had to land. It carried the defensive players; the other with the offense landed safely at the Moscow-Pullman airport two hours later.[7][8] After difficulties in arranging a viable makeup date, a forfeit win was awarded to the Vandals.[9][10] It was the conference finale for both,[11] and ISU finished winless in the Big Sky for the second time in three seasons.

This was the first season for the newly created Division I-AA,[12][13] which the Big Sky joined. In Division I for other sports, it was previously a Division II conference for football, except for Division I member Idaho, which moved down to I-AA this season. Idaho had maintained its upper division status in the NCAA by playing Division I non-conference opponents.

Hired in January, Davitch was previously an assistant at the Air Force Academy for five seasons under longtime head coach Ben Martin, preceded by four years as a high school head coach in Tucson, Arizona.[14][15][16][17]

Season tickets for the five home games cost thirty-two dollars.[18]

  1. ^ a b "Goodenbour's one guy not worried". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 6, 1978. p. 21.
  2. ^ Stewart, Chuck (September 11, 1978). "'Future' arrives fast for young Vandal QB". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 21.
  3. ^ "McCurdy snares quarterback job". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. September 26, 1978. p. 17.
  4. ^ Barrows, Bob (November 20, 1978). "Idaho football". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1B.
  5. ^ Payne, Bob (November 26, 1978). "Vandals kiss this sort of season goodbye". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. C5.
  6. ^ "Vandals' QB looking fine". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). September 6, 1978. p. 22.
  7. ^ Barrows, Bob (November 12, 1978). "No Vandal game, ISU can't make it". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1B.
  8. ^ "One platoon arrived, one did not – sorry". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. November 12, 1978. p. C2.
  9. ^ "Bengals forfeit to Idaho". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. November 14, 1978. p. 15.
  10. ^ Drosendahl, Glenn (November 12, 1978). "Vandals claim a forfeit". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1B.
  11. ^ Barrows, Bob (November 11, 1978). "Vandals, Idaho State try to salvage something". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 3B.
  12. ^ "Big schools win battle". St. Petersburg Independent. Florida. Associated Press. January 13, 1978. p. 5C.
  13. ^ Underwood, John (January 23, 1978). "The NCAA splits its decision". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  14. ^ "UI names grid boss". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). January 10, 1978. p. 18.
  15. ^ Emerson, Paul (January 11, 1978). "Davitch named UI coach". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. B1.
  16. ^ Missildine, Harry (January 11, 1978). "Davitch new Idaho football coach". Spokesman Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 15.
  17. ^ "Vandal cagers investigated". Spokesman Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 12, 1978. p. 25.
  18. ^ "UI season ticket holders have time". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). July 7, 1978. p. 3B.