1987 Idaho Vandals football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1987 Idaho Vandals football Big Sky Conference Big Sky 9–3 7–1 Keith Gilbertson 2nd Bill Diedrick 2nd Barry Lamb 1st 4–3 Kibbie Dome Big Sky champion NCAA Division I-AA First Round L 30–59 vs. Weber State 5 The 1987 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by second-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. The Vandals won their second conference title in three seasons, and made the I-AA playoffs for the third consecutive season. Led by redshirt sophomore quarterback John Friesz, Idaho finished the regular season at 9–2 and 7–1 in the Big Sky. Notable games Following a non-conference loss at home to Central Michigan,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pfUuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zdAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1874%2C1317835 Idahonian Moscow Pierce Oliver UI must ground Chippewas' rush September 12, 1987 1Dhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n_UuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zdAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4015%2C1431481 Idahonian Moscow Pierce Oliver CMU has too much for gutty Vandals September 14, 1987 1B and a road loss to struggling intrastate rival Idaho State,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MoFfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5928%2C736674 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Tatko Mike Vandals problem: Getting excited for ISU October 3, 1987 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FJQrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2924%2C406812 Idahonian Moscow Pierce Oliver Idaho's life on top could get better by downing ISU October 3, 1987 1Dhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M4FfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3489%2C940957 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Tatko Mike ISU's bad luck ends with Idaho October 4, 1987 1B Idaho won its final six games of the regular season. The Vandals defeated Nevada for only the second time in the ten meetings since the Wolf Pack joined the Big Sky in 1979,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FpQrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3946%2C1962980 Idahonian Moscow Pierce Oliver Idaho: classic battle of run versus pass October 17, 1987 1Dhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FpQrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6219%2C2109189 Idahonian Moscow Pierce Oliver UI, scoreoard both prove functional October 19, 1987 1B and defeated rival Boise State for the sixth consecutive year, the sixth of twelve straight over the Broncos. Division I-AA playoffs For the third consecutive season, Idaho returned to the 16-team I-AA playoffs. The Vandals hosted conference foe Weber State, whom they had defeated in Utah four weeks earlier by three points. The Wildcats won the rematch 59–30, before a sparse crowd at the Kibbie Dome two days after Thanksgiving, ending the Vandals' season at 9–3.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VuhVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=euEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3322%2C7142286 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Weber State 59, Idaho 30 November 29, 1987 3B Notable players The 1987 team included two future NFL players with lengthy pro careers: guard Mark Schlereth and redshirt sophomore John Friesz, a future collegiate hall of fame quarterback as a three-year starter (1987–89). Schedule 1987 NCAA (Div. I-AA) Pacific September 5 7:00 pm w y 20 1987 Minnesota State Mavericks Mankato State Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 31–17 7,600 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u_UuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zdAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2047%2C599258 Idahonian Moscow Jacobson Bryan Let the seasons begin September 5, 1987 1Dhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wvUuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zdAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4203%2C693294 Idahonian Moscow Pierce Oliver Idaho land attack takes air out of Mavericks September 7, 1987 1B September 12 7:00 pm l y 20 Central Michigan Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 18–30 8,000 September 19 7:00 pm w y y 1987 Portland State Vikings Portland State 6 (D-II) Civic Stadium Portland, OR 17–10 8,535 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qfUuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zdAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2676%2C2086416 Idahonian Moscow Strength vs. strength for UI, Portland State Pierce Oliver September 19, 1987 1Dhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tfUuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zdAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4118%2C2190235 Idahonian Moscow UI defense wins case with Vikings September 21, 1987 1B September 26 7:00 pm w y Northern Arizona Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ 46–37 9,029 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=svUuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zdAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4016%2C2806947 Idahonian Moscow Idaho: Big Sky play draws tough opener Pierce Oliver September 26, 1987 1Dhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q_UuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zdAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1816%2C2950495 Idahonian Moscow Vandals axe Lumberjacks, 46-37 September 28, 1987 1B October 3 6:30 pm l y 15 Idaho State ISU MiniDome Pocatello, ID rivalry 21–30 10,764 October 10 7:00 pm w Montana Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID Little Brown Stein 31–25 9,500 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NoFfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3585%2C2681278 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Tatko Mike Cougars, Vandals at home after long absence October 10, 1987 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NoFfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2879%2C2942034 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Tatko Mike Idaho outruns Montana October 11, 1987 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NoFfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3922%2C2996543 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Spevak Jeff Idaho's medical list grows as injuries plague team October 11, 1987 8Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EJQrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5357%2C1296181 Idahonian Moscow Pierce Oliver UI rekindles Big Sky title hopes October 12, 1987 7A October 17 1:00 pm w y Nevada 11 Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 38–28 15,100 October 24 7:00 pm w 14 Eastern Washington Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID Governors Cup 31–24 11,500 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GZQrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6185%2C2955134 Idahonian Moscow Governor's Cup tilt Pierce Oliver October 24, 1987 1Dhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E5QrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6306%2C3062688 Idahonian Moscow Idaho can treat itself to crown Pierce Oliver October 26, 1987 8A October 31 12:00 pm w y 12 Weber State 7 Wildcat Stadium Ogden, UT 41–38 13,486 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G5QrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6140%2C3833629 Idahonian Moscow Big Sky chase Pierce Oliver October 31, 1987 1D November 7 12:00 pm w y 10 Montana State Reno H. Sales Stadium Bozeman, MT 14–7 6,007 https://www.newspapers.com/article/reno-gazette-journal-idaho-holds-off-bob/160491326/ Reno Gazette-Journal Idaho holds off Bobcats, moves closer to Big Sky title November 8, 1987 December 7, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 4:30 pm w 5 Boise State Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID rivalry 40–34 16,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-idaho-press-friesz-guides-vandals/160491441/ South Idaho Press Friesz guides Vandals to BSC crown November 22, 1987 December 7, 2024 Newspapers.com November 28 12:30 pm l y 5 Weber State 10 Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID NCAA Division I-AA First Round 30–59 4,900 Roster 1987 Idaho Vandals f 6 Jr Eric Jorgensen FL John Jake SE Fr Steve Nolan QB 17 So John Friesz QB y Fr Bruce Harris RB 20 Jr Todd Hoiness RB So Larry Leverett RB Sr Craig Robinson TE Jr Chris Slater TE 70 Jr Greg Hale T 67 So Todd Neu G So Steve Unger C 60 Jr Mark Schlereth G y 63 So Troy Wright T 1 Jr Richard Carey CB 8 Sr Ernest Sanders FS 29 Sr Virgil Paulsen CB Sr Dan McCanna SS 51 Jr Jerry Medved LB Jr Jim Medved LB Fr Mark Matthews LB 31 Sr Kevin Johnson LB Sr Pete Wilkins DE Sr Craig Dowdy DT Jr Michael Bailey DT Sr Kord Smith DE Jr Brian Decicio K Jr John Pleas P *Keith Gilbertson (2nd year) Bill Diedrick (OC) Barry Lamb (DC) Mike Cox (LB) Source:https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w_UuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zdAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4265%2C94550 Idahonian Moscow UI: Medved twins have big shoes to fill in the middle September 1, 1987 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pPUuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zdAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4280%2C159086 Idahonian Moscow UI: Vandals should be strong at defensive end September 2, 1987 6Ahttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p_UuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zdAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5443%2C321957 Idahonian Moscow UI: Secondary is a strength September 3, 1987 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MoFfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4354%2C755712 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Starting line-ups October 3, 1987 4B All-conference Six Vandals were named to the all-conference team: quarterback John Friesz, tackle Greg Hale, guard Todd Neu, defensive end Pete Wilkins, safety Ernest Sanders, and cornerback Virgil Paulsen. Second team selections were wide receiver Eric Jorgensen, tight end Craig Robinson, and punter John Pleas. Honorable mention were wide receiver/kick returner John Jake, running back Todd Hoiness, center Steve Unger, defensive linemen Kord Smith and Jim Routos, and placekicker Brian Decicio.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CuoTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3voDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5476%2C361477 Spokane Chronicle Washington Associated Press All-Big Sky teams December 2, 1987 D3https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CuoTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3voDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6539%2C354282 Spokane Chronicle Washington staff and wire reports EWU's Stein makes All-Big Sky December 2, 1987 D1https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s04tAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5dAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6043%2C226853 Idahonian Moscow Associated Press Six Vandals on Big Sky first team December 2, 1987 10Ahttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C0YjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=APADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6773%2C1168331 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Friesz, Buenzli top All=Big Sky teams December 2, 1987 D2 Friesz, from Coeur d'Alene, was also named the Big Sky's outstanding offensive player.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sE4tAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5dAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6093%2C629294 Idahonian Moscow Associated Press Idaho's Friesz best in Big Sky December 4, 1987 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DUYjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=APADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6907%2C2797657 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Friesz captures Big Sky MVP award December 4, 1987 33 References External links Gem of the Mountains: 1988 University of Idaho yearbook – 1987 football season Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1987 editions Idaho Category:Idaho Vandals football seasons Category:Big Sky Conference football champion seasons Idaho Vandals football Idaho