1981 Idaho Vandals football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1981 Idaho Vandals football Big Sky Conference Big Sky 3–8 0–7 Jerry Davitch 4th Bill Tripp 4th Veer Leland Kendall 2nd Idaho Stadium The 1981 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by fourth-year head coach Jerry Davitch, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho. Led by sophomore quarterback Ken Hobart in the veer offense, the Vandals finished 3–8 in the regular season but were winless in the Big Sky. In the season finale, Idaho lost to rival Boise State for the fifth straight year, but it was the Broncos' last win over Idaho until 1994, as the Vandals won a dozen straight in the interim. In their third and final win in early October, running back Russell Davis set a school record with 345 rushing yards at Portland State.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w7ZeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3614%2C1564537 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Davis rewrites record book in UI romp October 4, 1981 2Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cLRQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VOIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2727%2C956639 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon wire services Idaho rocks Portland State October 4, 1981 6Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xbZeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4905%2C2333225 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press UI's Davis tops nation's rushers October 6, 1981 2C In August, Sports Illustrated had picked the Vandals as one of the top teams in Division I-AA,https://www.si.com/vault/1981/08/31/825900/small-colleges Sports Illustrated Mike DeInagro Small colleges August 31, 1981 64https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i7JeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4C8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4096%2C194509 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Sports Illustrated picks Vandals to win Big Sky September 1, 1981 3C with high expectations to improve on the previous year's 6–5 record.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SvhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cu4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4346%2C1350004 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Missildine Harry Jerry Davitch's big secret: 'Ignorance keeps us going' September 4, 1981 31 But after a fifth straight loss and no wins in six conference games, Davitch was fired nine days before the final game against Boise State.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8vhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0-4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5709%2C5889668 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Missildine Harry Blanchette John UI fires Davitch November 13, 1981 29 Several weeks later Dennis Erickson was hired and immediately turned the Vandal program around in 1982, reaching the quarterfinals of the 12-team Division I-AA playoffs. In 1981, Idaho State and Boise State were the top two teams in the Big Sky and both advanced to the 8-team Division I-AA playoffs, won their first-round games, and hosted the semifinals. Boise State was stopped by Eastern Kentucky, whom Idaho State defeated the following week in Texas to win the national title. Notable players Sophomore quarterback Ken Hobart of Kamiah changed from an option quarterback in the veer to a prolific passer under Erickson. He led the Vandals to a 9–4 record in 1982 and an 8–3 record in 1983 as a senior, when he was a Division I-AA All-American. Hobart played a season in the USFL with Jacksonville in 1984 and several in the CFL. Junior linebacker Sam Merriman from Tucsonhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fKhfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hTIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3251%2C3985985 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Lucky Sam Merriman Ramsdell Paul November 27, 1982 1C was selected in the seventh round (177th overall) of the 1983 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. A four-year starter for the Vandals, he played five seasons with Seattle, primarily on special teams.http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MERRISAM01 Database Football Sam Merriman September 9, 2016 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20161010003915/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MERRISAM01 October 10, 2016 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YFhWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=--4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6619%2C1254133 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Weaver Dan Low in the draft, high on the team July 18, 1984 15https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gZUrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B9EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2173%2C2658686 Idahonian Moscow Jacobson Bryan Like riding a bike December 20, 1986 25 A serious knee injury in a 1988 preseason game ended his playing career.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hllWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0e8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3294%2C7137755 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Seahawks lose Merriman for year August 13, 1988 B1https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=55MrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x9AFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6095%2C1460297 Idahonian Moscow Pierce Oliver Merriman isn't merry on sidelines September 14, 1988 9Ahttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g7syAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zu8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1477%2C2091417 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Seahawks cut Merriman, two others April 18, 1989 C3 Fallen teammate At the close of the 1981 spring semester, Vandal wide receiver Joe Keogh, age 20, was killed in a mid-morning automobile accident. En route to Seattle on Saturday, May 16, he was one of four occupants in a vehicle westbound on Interstate 90, west of Ellensburg. The driver, a family friend, lost control and veered off the road and the car ended on its side. Keogh, a 1979 graduate of Gonzaga Prep in Spokane,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dr1eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DjEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2955,8162627&dq=joe+keogh&hl=en Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Football signings February 22, 1979 5B was the only fatality.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5HdfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ny8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5150%2C455951 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Car accident kills UI football player May 17, 1981 3Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lK4SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5660%2C150104 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington 13 are killed on highways May 18, 1981 1 Keogh's Vandal teammates wore his number 4 on the right side of their helmets during the 1981 season.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_IJfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sDAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5638%2C5330105 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Emerson Paul An instinct for the ball October 27, 1981 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rbZeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5501,3672989 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho '96 Vandals will sport new look April 28, 1996 6B It was the second death for the football team in less than ten months: prior to his senior season, standout running back Glen White had died in August 1980 after a brief battle with aplastic anemia.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PaVfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3075%2C3277851 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho UI running back dies August 10, 1980 2B Schedule 1981 NCAA Division I-AA NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Pacific September 5 7:30 p.m. w y 1981 Simon Fraser Clan Simon Fraser Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 52–7 10,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province-clan-clipped-in-grid-debut/158152461/ The Province Clan clipped in grid debut September 6, 1981 October 30, 2024 Newspapers.com September 12 6:30 p.m. l y Weber State Wildcat Stadium Ogden, UT 21–42 15,900 https://www.newspapers.com/article/great-falls-tribune-weber-st-stuns-idah/158150866/ Great Falls Tribune Weber St. stuns Idaho in opener September 13, 1981 October 30, 2024 Newspapers.com September 19 7:30 p.m. w y Northern Iowa Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 59–14 12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-news-idaho-drills-northern-iow/158096825/ The Times-News Idaho drills Northern Iowa September 20, 1981 October 30, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 10:30 p.m. l y y Hawaii Aloha Stadium Halawa, HI 6–21 43,719 https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin-idaho-gives-rainb/158152542/ Honolulu Star-Bulletin Idaho gives Rainbows a 21–6 fight September 27, 1981 October 30, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 7:00 p.m. w y y 1981 Portland State Vikings Portland State Civic Stadium Portland, OR 56–9 3,727 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-davis-vandals-romp/158156522/ The Idaho Statesman Davis, Vandals romp 56–9 October 4, 1981 October 30, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 7:30 p.m. l Montana Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID Little Brown Stein 14–16 11,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-sun-grizzlies-stun-idaho-v/158148599/ Arizona Daily Sun Grizzlies stun Idaho Vandals, 16–14 October 11, 1981 October 30, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 1:00 p.m. l y Montana State Reno H. Sales Stadium Bozeman, MT 28–29 10,017 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81773610/the-independent-record/ The Independent-Record Newspapers.com October 18, 1981 Wintrode, Warren MSU nips Idaho 29-28 October 24 1:30 p.m. l y Nevada Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 14–23 14,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-news-reno-topples-vandals/158150438/ The Times-News Reno topples Vandals October 25, 1981 October 30, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 7:30 p.m. l Idaho State 3 Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 14–24 10,500 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m4RfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_TAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2894%2C184872 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Emerson Paul Machurek guides ISU past Idaho November 1, 1981 1C November 7 6:30 p.m. l y Northern Arizona Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ 3–24 10,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-news-nau-rips-idaho/158156637/ The Times-News NAU rips Idaho November 8, 1981 October 30, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 7:30 p.m. l Boise State 4 Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID rivalry 43–45 14,000 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V6pfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=njIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3893%2C2820468 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Ramsdell Paul Idaho bids farewell to Davitch with loss November 22, 1981 2D Roster 1981 Idaho Vandals f 3 Sr Russell Davis RB 7 Sr Jack Klein FL 9 So Ken Hobart QB y 11 So Mark Vigil QB 16 Carmen Espinoza QB 30 Sr Dave Jeranko QB RB 34 Randy Zimmerman RB 35 Jr Wally Jones RB 33 Jr Terry Idler RB 45 Jr Tim Payne RB 56 Jr Kima Sua LG 62 Jr Steve Seman RG 63 Jr Dave Frohnen LT 64 Jr Bob Wartella C 72 Sr Tony Cotta LG 74 Sr Bruce Fery RT 76 Jr Greg Diehl LT 80 Sr Tom Coombs TE 87 So Kurt Vestman TE 88 Jr Vic Wallace WR Jr Curtis Johnson WR 2 Fr Calvin Loveall CB 22 Sr Mike Keough CB 25 Sr Kelly Miller SS 41 Sr Greg Jennings CB 42 So Boyce Bailey FS 43 Jr Howard Wilcox CB 44 So Frank Moreno DE 47 So Darby Lewis NG 52 Jr Sam Merriman LB y 57 So Larry White LB 79 Jr Paul Griffin NG 83 Sr Dan Saso DT 84 Sr Jay Hayes DE 85 Jr John Fortner DT 90 So Lloyd Williamson DE 2 Fr Calvin Loveall KR 6 Sr Pete O'Brien PK, P *Jerry Davitch (4th year) Bill Tripp (OC) Leland Kendall (DC) Source:https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j7JeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4C8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4783%2C2091578 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Probable starters September 5, 1981 5Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a8peAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3224%2C4843258 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Probable starters September 26, 1981 3Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ybZeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4615%2C4211665 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Probable starters October 10, 1981 5Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AINfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sDAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4685%2C7116998 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Probable starters October 31, 1981 3Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VqpfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=njIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2540%2C2250212 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Probable starters November 21, 1981 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4FROAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3388%2C2200670 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Missildine Harry Davitch's last Idaho hurrah November 21, 1981 17https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VghMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5431%2C1892258 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Stewart Chuck Memories November 20, 1981 18 All-conference No Vandals made the first team; second team selections included quarterback Ken Hobart, wide receiver Jack Klein, and linebackers Sam Merriman and Jay Hayes.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lkFYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5357%2C92202 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Former I.E. stars on Big Sky team December 1, 1981 18https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g5xfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2523%2C579157 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho staff and wire reports Idaho's Davis overlooked December 2, 1981 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hJxfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2678%2C1041684 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Idaho not ignored on defense December 3, 1981 3B Honorable mention were tackle Bruce Fery, guard Steve Seman, defensive linemen John Fortner and Dan Saso, and safety Kelly Miller. Despite leading the conference with over 111 yards rushing per game, running back Russell Davis was overlooked. NFL draft Two Vandal seniors were selected in the 1982 NFL draft,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xPhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ie4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4526%2C6419724 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press NFL teams grab best local talent April 29, 1981 27https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iQNMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5708%2C3762477 Spokane Chronicle Washington Four Cougars, two Vandals picked April 29, 1982 35https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2steAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3053%2C5670076 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho NFL teams add Idaho players in late rounds April 29, 1982 1C which lasted twelve rounds (334 selections). Player Position Round Overall Franchise Tom Coombs TE 7th 181 New York Jets Russell Davis RB 11th 305 Cincinnati Bengals References External links Gem of the Mountains: 1982 University of Idaho yearbook – 1981 football season Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1981 editions Idaho Category:Idaho Vandals football seasons Idaho Vandals football