1978 Idaho Vandals football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1978 Idaho Vandals football Big Sky Conference Big Sky 2–9 2–4 Jerry Davitch 1st John McMahon 1st Veer Greg McMackin 2nd 5–2 Idaho Stadium The 1978 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the Big Sky Conference during the 1978 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by new head coach Jerry Davitch, the Vandals played home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho. With sophomore quarterbacks Jay Goodenbour and Mike McCurdy running the veer offense,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Db8RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4O0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5261%2C1897263 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Goodenbour's one guy not worried September 6, 1978 21https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vaMSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3659%2C2371747 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Stewart Chuck 'Future' arrives fast for young Vandal QB September 11, 1978 21https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b7IvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5292%2C2492629 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington McCurdy snares quarterback job September 26, 1978 17 the Vandals were 2–9 overall (2–4 in Big Sky, fifth).https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=78teAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4835%2C7746746 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Barrows Bob Idaho football November 20, 1978 1B https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oUpOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=De4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6773%2C5040622 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Payne Bob Vandals kiss this sort of season goodbye November 26, 1978 C5 Projected starter Rocky Tuttle injured an ankle in the final scrimmage, had tendon surgery, and redshirted;https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uaMSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5460%2C1109088 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Vandals' QB looking fine September 6, 1978 22 as a fifth-year senior in 1979, he started as a running back and receiver. The final win was an unplayed forfeit by Idaho State for a scheduled night game in Moscow in November. Flying from Pocatello to the Palouse on the afternoon of the game to forego lodging, one of ISU's two chartered Convair 440 aircraft had carburetor problems soon after takeoff and had to land. It carried the defensive players; the other with the offense landed safely at the Moscow-Pullman airport two hours later.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=58teAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6075%2C4744392 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Barrows Bob No Vandal game, ISU can't make it November 12, 1978 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SPZLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8-0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6690%2C5734775 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington One platoon arrived, one did not – sorry November 12, 1978 C2 After difficulties in arranging a viable makeup date, a forfeit win was awarded to the Vandals.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SvZLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8-0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4758%2C6130446 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Bengals forfeit to Idaho November 14, 1978 15 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6cteAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3313%2C5368436 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Drosendahl Glenn Vandals claim a forfeit November 12, 1978 1B It was the conference finale for both,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5steAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4257%2C4530651 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Barrows Bob Vandals, Idaho State try to salvage something November 11, 1978 3B and ISU finished winless in the Big Sky for the second time in three seasons. This was the first season for the newly created Division I-AA,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GGFQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j1gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5884,2458519 St. Petersburg Independent Florida Associated Press Big schools win battle January 13, 1978 5Chttps://vault.si.com/vault/1978/01/23/the-ncaa-splits-its-decision https://web.archive.org/web/20201129023224/https://vault.si.com/vault/1978/01/23/the-ncaa-splits-its-decision dead November 29, 2020 Sports Illustrated Underwood John The NCAA splits its decision January 23, 1978 August 22, 2023 which the Big Sky joined. In Division I for other sports, it was previously a Division II conference for football, except for Division I member Idaho, which moved down to I-AA this season. Idaho had maintained its upper division status in the NCAA by playing Division I non-conference opponents. Hired in January, Davitch was previously an assistant at the Air Force Academy for five seasons under longtime head coach Ben Martin, preceded by four years as a high school head coach in Tucson, Arizona.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I_tLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AfkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6656%2C1726415 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington UI names grid boss January 10, 1978 18https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hoRfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4DAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4660%2C2796631 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Davitch named UI coach Emerson Paul January 11, 1978 B1https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p_YjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zu0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5424%2C3574750 Spokesman Review Spokane, Washington Missildine Harry Davitch new Idaho football coach January 11, 1978 15https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5_onAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zu0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3549,4312749 Spokesman Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Vandal cagers investigated January 12, 1978 25 Season tickets for the five home games cost thirty-two dollars.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s75eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3934%2C1868588 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho UI season ticket holders have time July 7, 1978 3B Schedule 1980 AP poll (Div. I-AA), top ten only Pacific September 9 7:00 pm l y y San Jose State (Div. I-A) Spartan Stadium San Jose, CA 14–31 10,011 https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-cruz-sentinel-san-jose-state-whips/154982619/ Santa Cruz Sentinel San Jose State whips Idaho, 31–14 September 10, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com September 16 1:00 pm l y y Washington State (Div. I-A) Martin Stadium Pullman, WA Battle of the Palouse 0–28 16,950 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-error-prone-ui-fall/154982738/ The Spokesman-Review Error-prone UI falls to Cougars September 17, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com September 23 5:30 pm l y y Wichita State (Div. I-A) Cessna Stadium Wichita, KS 6–28 13,123 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72137943/wsu-trounces-idaho-286/ The Wichita Eagle WSU trounces Idaho 28–6 September 24, 1978 February 26, 2021 Newspapers.com September 30 7:00 pm l Northern Arizona 9 Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 29–34   8,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-win-special-for-log/154979509/ The Arizona Republic Win special for Loggers October 1, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com October 7 7:30 pm l y y UNLV (Div. I-A) Silver Bowl Whitney, NV 14–53 18,944 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-runnin-rebels-expl/154982890/ The Spokesman-Review Runnin' Rebels explode October 8, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 1:00 pm w y Montana Dornblaser Field Missoula, MT Little Brown Stein 34–30   8,286 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-missoulian-64-points-later-vandals/154981171/ The Missoulian 64 points later, Vandals win by 4 October 15, 1978 September 8, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 7:00 pm l Montana State 1 Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 21–57   9,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette-dennehys-arm-carri/154980343/ The Billings Gazette Dennehy's arm carries Bobcats October 22, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 2:00 pm l y Weber State Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 6–51 13,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-weber-lets-hill-ru/154978374/ The Salt Lake Tribune Weber lets Hill run wild, 51–6 October 29, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 12:30 pm l y Boise State rivalry Bronco Stadium Boise, ID 10–48 20,235 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4MteAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4894%2C1967388 Lewiston Morning Tribune Barrows Bob A punter's nightmare November 5, 1978 1B September 9, 2024 Google News Archive November 11 7:00 pm w Idaho State rivalry Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 1–0 Forfeit November 18 7:00 pm l y Fresno State (Div. I-A) Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID 28–41   5,600 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-fresno-state-capture/154983040/ The Idaho Statesman Fresno State captures 41–28 victory over Idaho November 19, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com Roster 1978 Idaho Vandals f 1 Jr Jett Taylor FL 7 So Jack Klein SE 10 So Jay Goodenbour QB 11 So Mike McCurdy QB 12 Sr Rocky Tuttle QB y y 18 Sr Kirk Allen SE 25 Sr Robert Brooks RB 30 Sr Tim Lappano RB y y y 32 So Glen White RB 33 Fr Terry Idler RB 35 So Glenn Ford RB 40 So Randy Davenport RB 58 Sr Dan Cozzetto LG 61 Sr Dick Wilkin RG 68 Sr Bryan Zimmermann RT 69 Jr Larry Coombs C 69 Jr Kyle Riddell OL 77 Sr Tom Randel OL 84 Sr Rick Mayfield TE 82 Fr Al Swenson TE 88 Sr Mike Hagadone FL TE y y 3 Fr Russell Davis DB 4 So Ron Powell FS 20 Jr Ron Jessie CB 24 Sr Rick Linehan SS 35 So Mike Keough CB 42 Sr Brian Rekofke DE 43 So Larry Barker LB 51 Jr Chris Eads LB 52 Sr Bob Cafferty LB 53 Jr Kelly Grimes LB 71 Jr Mark McNeal DT 75 So Monty Elder NG 78 Jr Steve Parker DT 83 Jr Phil Vance LB 84 Fr Jay Hayes DE 80 Fr Lloyd Williamson DE 2 Fr Dion Jergo P 5 Fr Jeff Wellmann PK 6 Fr Pete O'Brien P *Jerry Davitch (1st year) Bill Tripp (OC) Greg McMackin (DC) Fred Manuel (DB) Source:https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sfZLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7-0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4176%2C101206 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Rosters September 16, 1978 21https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mkpOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=De4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6823%2C888570 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Payne Bob Vandals to end frustrating season November 17, 1978 35 All-conference No Vandals were chosen for All-Big Sky first team, but seven were selected for the second team; the two picks on offense were tackle Kyle Riddell and center Larry Coombs. The five on the defense were linebacker Brian Rekofke, defensive linemen Mark McNeal and Steve Parker, and defensive backs Rick Linehan and Ron Jessie.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8MteAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3325%2C8013281 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press All Big Sky (offense) November 21, 1978 3Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=88teAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3949%2C9105941 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Big Sky Defensive teams named November 24, 1978 3B NFL draft No Vandals were selected in the 1979 NFL draft, which lasted 12 rounds (330 selections). One Vandal junior was later 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 also 12 rounds (333 selections). Player Position Round Overall Franchise Mark McNeal DE 6th 153 Seattle Seahawks References External links Gem of the Mountains: 1979 University of Idaho yearbook – 1978 football season Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1978 editions Game program: Idaho at Washington State – September 16, 1978 Idaho Category:Idaho Vandals football seasons Idaho Vandals football