1979 Idaho Vandals football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1979 Idaho Vandals football Big Sky Conference Big Sky 4–7 2–5 Jerry Davitch 2nd Bill Tripp 2nd Veer Tim Hundley 1st 5–2 Idaho Stadium The 1979 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1979 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Jerry Davitch and were members of the Big Sky Conference. They played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho. With quarterbacks Jay Goodenbour and Rob Petrillo running the veer offense,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jMNeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5486%2C1000036 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John Pulls no punches September 4, 1979 1C the Vandals were 4–7 overall and 2–5 in the Big Sky. They won four of five in mid-season, but dropped their final four games.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7r1eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3305%2C2527812 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Peaks and valleys November 22, 1979 1B Idaho lost to rival Boise State for the third straight year; the Broncos went undefeated in conference play but were on probation for a scouting violation and not eligible for the title or the I-AA playoffs.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XspeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3451%2C5112238 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John Idaho: possibility looms for a winning season October 13, 1979 1C Notable players Junior running back Glen White was the Vandals' leading rusher in 1979,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fcpeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4811%2C5470630 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John Prodigal son: Glen White came back to Idaho and everybody's happy he did November 14, 1979 1C the best season by a UI running back in the 1970s. He missed the opener at Fresno,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TP1jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LvkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2334%2C3988019 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington White leads Vandals against Boise State Stewart Chuck October 12, 1979 25 but gained 889 yards and averaged 5.0 yards per carry in the final ten games; in the game at Idaho State, he rushed for 163 yards on 19 carries. A military brat, White graduated from Kaiserslautern American High School in West Germany in 1977. All-Europe for two seasons,http://hsfootballeurope.net/Old_Website/all_europe/1975.html High School Football Europe All-Europe 1975 May 21, 2018http://hsfootballeurope.net/Old_Website/all_europe/1976.html High School Football Europe All-Europe 1976 May 21, 2018 he had not been recruited by college football programs; a high school coach was a former Vandal and alerted UI head coach Ed Troxel. While in off-season training in February 1980, White felt weakness and underwent medical testing in Moscow and Seattle.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LK0SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KfkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7008%2C1556616 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Idaho back stricken February 21, 1980 23 Diagnosed with aplastic anemia, he battled it for several months until his death from complications on August 9 at an Oklahoma City hospital, near his parents' home at Fort Sill.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PaVfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3075%2C3277851 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho UI running back dies August 10, 1980 2Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oIBRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZQgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3850%2C4999650 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press UI grid star dies of anemia August 11, 1980 17 https://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/cdm/ref/collection/argonaut/id/9733?_ga=2.21894963.92134003.1526958901-2101260250.1525192126 Argonaut Moscow, Idaho (University of Idaho) White's memory lives on August 26, 1980 23 May 22, 2018 May 22, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180522111537/https://digital.lib.uidaho.edu/cdm/ref/collection/argonaut/id/9733?_ga=2.21894963.92134003.1526958901-2101260250.1525192126 dead White, age 22, was posthumously designated an honorary team captain for all eleven games in 1980,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e8heAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6178%2C1138967 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Vandals September 18, 1980 4C and his Vandal teammates wore his number 32 on the left side of their helmets in tribute.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z2VOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=S_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3898%2C4453273 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington White memory spurs Vandals to big victory November 18, 1980 30https://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 Future NFL linebacker Sam Merriman of Tucson, Arizona,http://www.nfl.com/player/sammerriman/2521057/profile NFL.com Sam Merriman (historical players) September 8, 2016http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MERRISAM01 Database Football Sam Merriman September 8, 2016 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20161010003915/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MERRISAM01 October 10, 2016 was a standout on defense in 1979 as a true freshman. Schedule 1979 NCAA Division I-AA AP Pacific September 8 7:30 p.m. l y y Fresno State Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA 10–30 11,418 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kMNeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6050%2C3088958 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John Vandals September 8, 1979 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kcNeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2263%2C3412092 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John Vandals: Fresno St. delivers 30-10 loss September 9, 1979 1D September 15 7:00 p.m. l y Northern Arizona NAU Skydome Flagstaff, AZ 18–29 13,056 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=l6tfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4487%2C171189 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John Lumberjacks fell Vandals in wild one, 29-18 September 16, 1979 1D September 22 7:30 p.m. w y Pacific (CA) Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 17–13 10,500 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nqtfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5783%2C2975605 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John Idaho nips Pacific September 23, 1979 1D September 29 7:30 p.m. w y 1979 Puget Sound Loggers Puget Sound Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 34–10 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=patfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6186%2C5833871 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John Vandals drown Puget Sound September 30, 1979 1Dhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R_1jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LvkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5514%2C102127 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Stewart Chuck Vandals erupt late to 'win for Lappano' October 1, 1979 17 October 6 7:00 p.m. w y 1979 Idaho State Bengals football Idaho State ASISU Minidome Pocatello, ID 28–23 8,175 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WMpeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4281%2C2621930 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Emerson Paul Vandals stop ISU for 3rd straight win October 6, 1979 1D October 13 7:30 p.m. l Boise State Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID rivalry 17–41 15,500 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X8peAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5220%2C5468364 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John End of a Vandal winning streak October 14, 1979 1D October 20 1:30 p.m. w y Montana Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID Little Brown Stein 20–17 14,200 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XcFeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mjEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5232%2C2259674 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Emerson Paul Winners by a foot October 21, 1979 5D October 27 12:30 p.m. l y Montana State 9 Reno H. Sales Stadium Bozeman, MT 20–28 7,127 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZMFeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mjEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3449%2C5191067 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Emerson Paul Bad day at Bozeman October 28, 1979 2D November 3 1:30 p.m. l Nevada Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 26–38 5,500 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cspeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5592%2C981026 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John Vandals November 3, 1979 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c8peAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3548%2C1367070 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Emerson Paul High rollers November 4, 1979 8D November 10 12:30 p.m. l y Weber State Wildcat Stadium Ogden, UT 7–12 2,323 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ecpeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6196%2C4102401 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Vandals November 10, 1979 3Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=espeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3581%2C4259888 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Cornered cats can kill November 11, 1979 4D November 17 1:30 p.m. l y 1979 South Dakota State Jackrabbits South Dakota State 8 (D-II) Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 13–27 6,000 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6b1eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2871%2C661500 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John In the Dome November 17, 1979 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6r1eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4281%2C1058156 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Barrows Bob Hard-hitting Jackrabbits November 18, 1979 4D Roster 1979 Idaho Vandals f 10 Jr Jay Goodenbour QB So Rob Petrillo QB 3 So Russell Davis RB 12 Sr Rocky Tuttle RB WR C 30 Sr Tim Lappano RB y 32 Jr Glen White RB 33 So Terry Idler RB y y 40 Jr Randy Davenport RB Fr Al Swenson TE 85 Sr Dan Meyer TE 88 Sr Mike Hagadone WR TE 7 So Jack Klein WR Jr John Palumbo WR 74 So Bruce Fery LT Jr Royal Hart LT Jr Dave Monico LG 69 Sr Larry Coombs C Jr John Girnt RG 70 Sr Kyle Riddell RT 43 Jr Larry Barker DE 78 Sr Steve Parker DT So Steve Nelson NG 75 Jr Monty Elder NG 71 Sr Mark McNeal DT C So Jay Hayes DE 50 Sr Mike Hasfurther LB Sr Marty Marshall LB 51 Sr Chris Eads LB 52 Fr Sam Merriman LB y 83 Sr Phil Vance LB 90 Fr Lloyd Williamson LB 34 Jr Mike Keough CB 22 Jr Ray McCanna FS 25 So Kelly Miller SS Marc Watts SS Jr Rick Brown SS Jr Carlton McBride CB 20 Sr Ron Jessie CB 2 So Dion Jergo P Jr Chris Brockman P Sr Mike Browne PK 6 So Pete O'Brien PK *Jerry Davitch (2nd year) Bill Tripp (OC) Tim Hundley (DC) Source:https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jMNeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5486%2C1000036 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John Pulls no punches September 4, 1979 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H1tOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1856%2C810014 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Stewart Chuck Vandal boss stresses 'love' September 5, 1979 15https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kMNeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2314%2C3138329 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Probable starters September 8, 1979 4Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=natfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4696%2C2691010 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Probable starters September 22, 1979 3C All-conference Tackle Kyle Riddell, center Larry Coombs, defensive tackle Mark McNeal, and placekicker Pete O'Brien were named to the all-conference team.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kdIvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3895%2C1234828 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Associated Press 3 Vandals honored December 5, 1979 30https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k9IvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3458%2C2202308 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington 2 Vandals on stars December 7, 1979 28 Second team selections were safety Ray McCanna and linebacker Sam Merriman, a true freshman. NFL draft One Vandal senior was selected in the 1980 NFL draft,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FKxfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6107%2C10644525 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho NFL Draft: Two Palouse players go in early rounds April 30, 1980 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FvhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6912%2C7657689 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Patera: We got the best April 30, 1980 C2 which lasted 12 rounds (333 selections). Player Position Round Overall Franchise Mark McNeal DE 6th 153 Seattle Seahawks References External links Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1979 editions Idaho Category:Idaho Vandals football seasons Idaho Vandals football