1953 Idaho Vandals football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1953 Idaho Vandals football Pacific Coast Conference PCC 1–8 0–3 Raymond A. Curfman 3rd Neale Stadium The 1953 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1953 college football season. The Vandals were led by third-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 two games in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College. Led on the field by quarterback George Eidam, Idaho compiled a 1–8 record and were winless in their three PCC games. The Vandals suffered another loss in the Battle of the Palouse with neighbor Washington State, falling, 30–13, at Neale Stadium on October 17.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6DBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LeYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3992%2C3711361 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Boni Bill Muscle, manpower and ability beat Vandals October 18, 1953 1, sports https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WsZeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1045%2C3930620 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Berry paces Cougars to 30-13 victory of feisty Vandals October 18, 1953 10 It ran the winless streak against the Cougars to 27 games, a record of 0–25–2 since taking three straight from 1923 to 1925; the Vandals broke the streak the next year in Pullman under new head coach Skip Stahley.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aWopAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SuYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=986%2C4301393 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Idaho thumps WSC, 10-0 Boni Bill October 24, 1954 1, sports In the rivalry game with Montana at Missoula two weeks earlier, the Vandals ran their winning streak over the Grizzlies to three and retained the Little Brown Stein.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TMZeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1538%2C2778467 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Clicking Vandal ground, air attack stops Montana 20-12 October 4, 1953 8 Idaho scored twenty unanswered points to win 20–12,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gh1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t-IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6868%2C846734 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon United Press Weston Don Vandals bump Montana 20-12 October 4, 1953 2D in their sole victory of the season.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EsJeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ozEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1574%2C1806579 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Idaho alumni ask Curfman be replaced at grid helm November 21, 1953 8https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jS9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=POYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4117%2C2924310 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Replace Curfman is now demand of Idaho 'Lums November 21, 1953 10https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FcJeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ozEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3458%2C2023608 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Coaching job action awaits January meet November 24, 1953 2https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v_NXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=f_YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6909%2C3489309 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Idaho regents meet in January; Babe Curfman's position unsettled November 23, 1953 15 Curfman made headlines in 1953 as his overmatched Vandals struggled in conference play in the PCC,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kR1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t-IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5925%2C3106902 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Vandal gridders rated too 'pure' October 20, 1953 3B and was under fire from alumni and boosters after a disappointing season. Following his resignation in December,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mvlXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ivYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7088,4249361 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Curfman and three aides resign posts at Idaho December 21, 1953 21https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s31WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KOYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7021%2C1024932 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington 'Circumstances' force Curfman's resignation December 22, 1953 12https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m_lXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ivYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5326%2C4516937 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Idaho plans thorough search for coach; Curfman out December 22, 1953 12 he was hired as the business manager for the Spokane Indians minor league baseball team in January 1954.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19540129&id=saEnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PuYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1425,7097828 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington May Danny Indians sign Curfman as business manager January 29, 1954 8 Schedule Pacific September 18, 1953 7:00 pm l y y San Jose State Spartan Stadium San Jose, CA 6–34 8,500–12,000 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PMZeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2696%2C1424174 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Veteran Idaho team opposes San Jose in opener tonight September 18, 1953 10https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PcZeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1540%2C1522936 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Spartans rake Vandals 34-6 September 19, 1953 8 September 26 7:00 pm l y y Utah Ute Stadium Salt Lake City, UT 0–21 17,361 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TJ1aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8E0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6940%2C4699499 Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Utah is two-touchdown favorite over Vandals September 26, 1953 A-3https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RcZeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1438%2C2179205 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Utah clubs Idaho 21-0 September 27, 1953 8https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TZ1aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8E0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6947%2C4960009 Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Miller Hack Utes meet Hawaii September 28, 1953 2-B October 3 w y y Montana Dornblaser Field Missoula, MT Little Brown Stein 20–12 5,294 October 10 1:00 pm l y y BYU old Bronco Stadium Boise, ID 14–20 8,600 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U8ZeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1038%2C3323655 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press BYU downs Vandals 20-14 October 11, 1953 9https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4TBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LeYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5486%2C1287276 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Vandal fumbles hand BYU 20-14 win in Boise tilt October 11, 1953 1, sports October 17 2:00 pm l Washington State Neale Stadium Moscow, ID Battle of the Palouse 13–30 10,880 October 24 2:00 pm l y Oregon State Neale Stadium Moscow, ID 0–19 9,200 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lh1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t-IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2891%2C3782800 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon United Press Withrow sparks OSC to 19-0 win over Idaho October 25, 1953 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7zBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LeYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3806%2C6283370 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Boni Bill 303-minute drought finally ends as OSC tops Idaho, 19-0 October 25, 1953 1, sports November 7 1:30 pm l y Oregon Hayward Field Eugene, OR 6–25 10,000 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oh1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t-IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6578%2C5582223 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Strite Dick Webfoots, Vandals slate Saturday contest here November 6, 1953 2Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pB1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t-IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3172%2C5779723 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Strite Dick Webfoots defeat Vandal eleven 25-6 November 8, 1953 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BcJeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ozEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1536%2C674735 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Shaw leads Oregon past Vandals 25-6 November 8, 1953 11 November 14 1:30 pm l y Pacific (CA) Neale Stadium Moscow, OD 0–33 3,000 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DMJeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ozEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1492%2C1270827 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press O'Brien Jerry New COP passing star helps sink weakened Idaho 33-0 November 15, 1953 10https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hy9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=POYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6230%2C979774 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Boni Bill COP aces Vandals, 33-0, before thin Dad's Day crowd November 15, 1953 1, sports November 21 1:00 pm l y y Utah State old Bronco Stadium Boise, ID 7–19 5,000 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EsJeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ozEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2142%2C1805561 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Vandals lose another man November 21, 1953 8https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ji9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=POYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2541%2C3184977 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Utah State smothers impotent Idaho, 19-7 November 22, 1953 2, sportshttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3N4qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h04DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5692%2C3952974 Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Miller Hack Aggies point for COP grid tangle November 23, 1953 2-B 1953 Idaho Vandals Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/idaho/1953-schedule.html College Football at Sports-Reference.com Sports Reference January 17, 2026 Schedule/Results (1953 Idaho) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/402927 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics January 17, 2026 Coaching staff Chuck Gottfried, line Dixie B. White, backs Mack Flenniken, ends Clem Parberry, freshmen All-conference No Vandals were on the All-PCC team; fullback Flip Kleffner was named to the second team and center Mel Bertrand was honorable mention.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v_NXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=f_YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2710%2C3484983 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Associated Press Four Northern stars named on All-Coast November 23, 1953 14https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jy9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=POYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5540%2C3643803 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Myers Bob Stanford air line operators dominate All-Coast eleven November 23, 1953 8https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FMJeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ozEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1508%2C1991983 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Berry, Kleffner make second team All-Coast November 23, 1953 6 NFL draft One senior from the 1953 Vandals was selected in the 1954 NFL draft:https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1954.htm Pro Football Reference 1954 NFL Draft November 7, 2017 November 23, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101123080221/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1954.htm dead Player Position Round   Pick   FranchiseMel BertrandC 29th 349 6Detroit Lions6 One junior was selected in the 1955 NFL draft:https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1955.htm Pro Football Reference 1955 NFL Draft November 7, 2017 November 22, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101122091201/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1955.htm dead Player Position Round   Pick   FranchiseBurdette HessG 15th 178 San Francisco 49ers Often incorrectly listed as a UI Vandal, tackle Norm Hayes (1954 draft, #217) played at the College of Idaho in Caldwell.http://static.yoteathletics.com/custompages/stats/football/records/FootballCoachingRecords17.pdf College of Idaho Athletics Football: All-Conference Awards November 14, 2017 References External links Gem of the Mountains: 1954 University of Idaho yearbook – 1953 football season Go Mighty Vandals – 1953 football season Official game program: Idaho at Utah – September 26, 1953 Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1953 editions Idaho Category:Idaho Vandals football seasons Idaho Vandals football