1931 Idaho Vandals football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1931 Idaho Vandals football Pacific Coast Conference PCC 3–4 1–4 Leo Calland 3rd MacLean Field The 1931 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1931 college football season. The Vandals were led by third-year head coach Leo Calland, and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference. Home games were played on campus in Moscow at MacLean Field, with none in Boise this season. Idaho compiled a 3–4 overall record and lost all but one of its five games in the PCC. The Vandals were led on the field by undersized sophomore quarterback Wee Willie Smith, then known as "Little Giant" Willis Smith of Boise.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CdBXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1fQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7334%2C175099 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Idaho takes Bulldogs in hard-fought battle November 2, 1931 12https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DdBXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1fQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7446%2C1440611 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Prospects point to first close Cougar-Vandal battle for four long years November 6, 1931 25 Three years later in 1934, he was a backup in the NFL with the New York Giants in their championship season.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0d0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QugDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5210%2C4223247 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon United Press McLemore Henry Hank interviews "Little Giant" Smith of Idaho December 7, 1934 12 In the Battle of the Palouse with neighbor Washington State, the Vandals suffered a fourth straight loss, falling by one point at Rogers Field in Pullman on November 7.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MZ5fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1729%2C553685 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Vandals nearly slough Cougars November 8, 1931 7https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D9BXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1fQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6403%2C1776240 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Vandals, Cougars give wild-eyed crowd thrill November 9, 1931 12 Idaho's most recent win in the series was six years earlier in 1925 and the next was 23 years away in 1954. Schedule September 26 w y 1931 Whitman Fighting Missionaries Whitman MacLean Field Moscow, ID 32–7 Whitman defeated by Idaho, 32 to 7 Statesman Journal September 27, 1931 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104373843/whitman-defeated-by-idaho-32-to-7/ June 24, 2022 Newspapers.com October 3 l y Oregon Multnomah Stadium Portland, OR 0–9 10,000 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3JFfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6TAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1445%2C2350118 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Oregon barely defeats Idaho October 4, 1931 7 October 10 w Montana MacLean Field Moscow, ID rivalry 21–19 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=45FfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6TAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1333%2C2852826 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Vandals victors October 11, 1931 7 October 17 l y Washington Husky Stadium Seattle, WA 7–38 10,000 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=izdWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XOgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6402%2C6525176 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Washington wins from Idaho 38-7 October 18, 1931 8 October 31 w y y Gonzaga MacLean Field Moscow, ID rivalry 7–6 5,000 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Lp5fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1542%2C53143 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Idaho defeats Gonzaga 7 to 6 November 1, 1931 9 November 7 l y Washington State Rogers Field Pullman, WA Battle of the Palouse 8–9 10,000 Field goal in last two minutes of play gives Washington State 9–8 win over Idaho The Los Angeles Times November 8, 1931 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104373943/field-goal-in-last-two-minutes-of-play-g/ June 24, 2022 Newspapers.com November 14 l y California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA 0–18 15,000 Golden Bears defeat Idaho on home field The Ogden Standard-Examiner November 15, 1931 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104374038/golden-bears-defeat-idaho-on-home-field/ June 24, 2022 Newspapers.com All-conference No Vandals were named to the All-Coast team; honorable mention were center Arthur Spaugy, guard Elmer Martin, and sophomore quarterback Willis Smith.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=39BXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2fQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7565%2C836206 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Associated Press Five Trojans selected on first, three on second 1931 All-Pacific Coast eleven December 3, 1931 16https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QZ5fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2803%2C2340725 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Newland Russell J. Schwegler only Northern player on All-Pacific Coast star team December 4, 1931 11 References External links Gem of the Mountains: 1932 University of Idaho yearbook – 1931 football season Go Mighty Vandals – 1931 football season Official game program: Idaho at Washington State – November 7, 1931 Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1931 editions Idaho Category:Idaho Vandals football seasons Idaho Vandals football