1971 Idaho Vandals football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1971 Idaho Vandals football Big Sky Conference Big Sky 8–3 4–1 Don Robbins 2nd Bobby Thompson 3rd Ray Fulton 2nd Ron Linehan Jack Goddard Ron Linehan Idaho StadiumBronco StadiumJoe Albi Stadium Big Sky champion The 1971 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. Lled by second-year head coach Don Robbins, the Vandals played the final three of their five home games at the new Idaho Stadium, an outdoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho. The Vandals won their first outright conference title in 1971, which included an eight-game winning streak after opening with two losses. Idaho finished 8–3 in the regular season and 4–1 in the Big Sky. At the time, it was the best record in school history. Notable games A third consecutive season opened without a home field, as the new Idaho Stadium was not quite finished and there was no suitable venue available on the Palouse.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RpRfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4787,2026417 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho First two Vandal grid games shifted from Neale Stadium July 10, 1971 10https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=epBfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6181%2C5519292 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Idaho officials told stadium will be ready August 27, 1971 17 After the wooden Neale Stadium (1937) was condemned in August 1969, the Vandals played their limited schedule of Palouse home games at the wooden Rogers Field at WSU in nearby Pullman in 1969 and 1970.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mJJYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ifgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5260%2C2385238 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Johnson Bob Vandals coming home January 25, 1971 17 The primary (south) grandstand of Rogers burned in April 1970,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qMJWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZOsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6745%2C2071379 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Fast blaze ruins Pullman stadium April 6, 1970 1 and was razed in 1971; in its footprint Martin Stadium was constructed and opened in September 1972.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KM8RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7075%2C905565 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Missildine Harry Utah beats Cougars 44-25 October 1, 1972 1, sportshttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A6JYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mfgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4496%2C110832 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Brown Brunce Mistakes sink Cougars October 2, 1972 21 The Vandals' season opener was a stunning 14–42 upset loss at Boise State in the first meeting between the two teams, creating an instant rivalry game.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RaJfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4101%2C2470165 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Bacharach Sam A. Broncos kick Vandals September 12, 1971 15https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ne5LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g-wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4219%2C4687873 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Boise stuns Idaho Payne Bob September 12, 1971 1, sports This was actually an Idaho "home game" moved south to Boise,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M-5LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g-wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6966%2C3199594 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Idaho sets vet lineup for Boise September 10, 1971 20 because the new stadium in Moscow was behind schedule and not completed.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RKJfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4057%2C2298640 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Bacharach Sam A. Vandals shift home to Boise for opening game against Broncos tonight September 11, 1971 15 Boise State had been a junior college program through 1967, moved up to NAIA in 1968 as an independent, and joined the NCAA "college division" (Division II) and Big Sky in 1970.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Mu5LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g-wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7214%2C2964019 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Boise State's quick rise amazes North Idahoans Payne Bob September 9, 1971 28 Idaho had played a home game every season in Boise in the old wooden Bronco Stadium through 1968; this ended when Boise State joined the Big Sky. The Colorado State game on September 25 was played at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UaJfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3722%2C5203233 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Bacharach Sam A. Idaho's third starting QB in 3 games to play Rams September 25, 1971 12 The Vandals shut out the CSU Rams 10–0 to begin their eight-game winning streak;https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UqJfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5398%2C5398003 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Bacharach Sam A. Vandals blank Colorado State 10-0 for first grid victory of season September 26, 1971 17 the Rams' star running back was Lawrence McCutcheon,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V6dYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j_gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5086%2C2943214 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington (photo) Offensive threat September 24, 1971 15 who was selected for multiple Pro Bowls while with the Los Angeles Rams. The new Idaho Stadium opened with a 40–3 Vandal victory over Idaho State on October 9.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PixOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v-wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7172%2C3832091 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Idaho likes home cookin' Payne Bob October 10, 1971 1, sports The unlit outdoor concrete stadium in Moscow replaced Neale Stadium in the same footprint and continued with a natural grass surface. It was the first game played on campus in nearly three years, the last was a win on November 2, 1968. Artificial turf, 3M Tartan Turf, was installed in 1972,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VrozAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oPgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3758,3048488&dq=tartan&hl=en Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington King football makes move August 10, 1972 24 and the facility was enclosed in 1975 to become the multi-purpose Kibbie Dome. After four consecutive road victories,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ge9LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Mu0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7432,2883719 Spokesman Review Spokane, Washington Those amazing, streaking Idaho Vandals: Did 'wild bunch' forget how to lose? Payne Bob November 9, 1971 19 the Vandals finished the 1971 season at home with a 40–2 victory over Montana State to wrap up the Big Sky title, and a disappointing 13–42 non-conference loss to Utah State in the finale.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o8lhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fX8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5290%2C5056515 Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Ferguson George Vandals, Aggies clash in Moscow November 19, 1971 E2https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MPAjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4027%2C2551978 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Payne Bob Aggies break off Idaho win streak November 21, 1971 1, sportshttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NCYfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s1gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6870%2C5618991 Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Ferguson George Great finish for Ags November 22, 1971 D2 Boise State finished at 10–2 with a postseason win, but its two losses were in league play and finished second in the Big Sky at 4–2.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CLwzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pPgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2795%2C1994625 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Great Idaho year has rough finish November 22, 1971 29 Division I Although a charter member of a conference whose other members were "college division" (Division II) for football, Idaho maintained its status as a "university division" (Division I) program with the NCAA by playing only "university division" opponents in its non-conference schedule.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1jdWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1egDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4374,2583457 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Ostyn says Pacific cost major status Associated Press August 9, 1967 15https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P8pRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=D20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2968,291028 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette NCAA ups 4 colleges Associated Press July 2, 1969 22 That is why runner-up Boise State went to the Camellia Bowl in 1971,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o5EtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ugkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2427%2C2664814 Sunday Star-News Wilmington, North Carolina UPI Boise St. trims Chico St., 32–28 December 12, 1971 6C and when the Division II playoffs arrived in 1973, the Vandals were again ineligible, as they were in Division I. (Idaho was a member of the conference primarily for basketball, in Division I.) The Big Sky moved up to the new Division I-AA in 1978, and Idaho was forced to move down. In 18 seasons in I-AA, the Vandals reached the post-season playoffs 11 times, missing only once in the final 11 seasons of 1985–95. Idaho returned to Division I-A in 1996 with a move to the Big West, and then to the WAC in 2005. (The Big West dropped football after 2000; Idaho was a "football only" member of the Sun Belt for four seasons, 2000–04.) The WAC dropped football after the 2012 season and Idaho athletics rejoined the Big Sky in 2013 for all sports except football, which was independent in 2013, rejoined the Sun Belt in 2014, and the Big Sky (FCS) in 2018. Schedule 1971 Δ Home game played off-campus (Boise, Spokane) Pacific September 11 7:00 pm l Boise StateΔ Bronco Stadium Boise, ID rivalry 14–42 16,123 September 18 11:30 am l y y Iowa State Clyde Williams Field Ames, IA 7–24 25,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-iowa-state-trims-id/160901250/ The Kansas City Star Iowa State trims Idaho September 19, 1971 December 14, 2024 Newspapers.com September 25 7:30 pm w y Colorado StateΔ Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA 10–0 12,600 October 2 12:30 pm w y Montana Dornblaser Field Missoula, MT Little Brown Stein 21–12 12,000 https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1044&context=grizzlyfootball_programs_asc University of Montana (ScholarWorks) Game program: Montana - Idaho October 2, 1971 August 17, 2022https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NyxOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v-wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3840%2C1516397 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Paine Bob Seefried, Vandal defense end Montana's supremacy October 3, 1971 1, sports October 9 1:30 pm w y Idaho State Idaho Stadium Moscow, ID rivalry 40–3 14,200 October 16 2:00 pm w y y Pacific (CA) Pacific Memorial Stadium Stockton, CA 13–12 10,132–10,281 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-vandals-nip-uop-on-bo/160901410/ The Sacramento Bee Vandals nip UOP on boot October 17, 1971 December 14, 2024 Newspapers.com October 23 6:00 pm w y y West Texas State Buffalo Bowl Canyon, TX 26–0 14,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120815356/vandals-spoil-homecoming-with-shutout-of/ The Spokesman-Review Vandals spoil homecoming with shutout of Buffaloes October 24, 1971 March 13, 2023 Newspapers.com October 30 6:30 pm w y y New Mexico State Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, NM 19–14 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-vandals-gain-sixth/160901613/ The Spokesman-Review Vandals gain sixth victory October 31, 1971 December 14, 2024 Newspapers.com November 6 12:30 pm w y Weber State Wildcat Stadium Ogden, UT 24–20 8,404 November 13 12:30 pm w Montana State Idaho Stadium Moscow, ID 40–2 12,900 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette-idaho-rocks-msu-to/160901699/ The Billings Gazette Idaho rocks MSU to set record, 40–2 November 14, 1971 December 14, 2024 Newspapers.com November 20 12:30 pm l y Utah State Idaho Stadium Moscow, ID 13–42 15,100 Roster 1971 Idaho Vandals f 10 Sr Tom Ponciano QB 12 So Bruce Cole QB 18 So Rick Seefried QB 20 Sr Fred Riley RB 22 Sr Robert Williams RB 24 Jr Jerry Hall FL 30 So Alan Head WR 35 Jr Bernie Rembert RB 36 So Mike Clements RB 38 Jr Kim Giordano RB 40 Jr Randy Peterson RB 43 Sr Malcolm Smith RB 44 Jr Frank Doctor RB 45 Sr Jim Wilund TE 50 Jr Ken Muhlbeier C 51 So Dennis Feeney C 59 Jr Daryl Hanauer C 70 Sr Richard Beaver T 72 Jr Larry Bosma OL 73 Sr Faustin Riley G, T 74 Jr Dave Crnich OL 75 Sr Rich Kushlan G 76 So Bob Van Duyne OL y 77 Jr Larry Warren OL 78 Sr Andy Kupp G, T 79 So Jerry Secrest OL 80 So Jay Curcio WR 82 Jr Darrell Burchfield TE 84 So Jim Welch TE 83 Jr Kevin Ault WR 89 Sr Jack Goddard WR C 11 So Bucky Bruns S 16 Jr Steve Hunter S 23 Fr Ross Nelson S 25 So Randy Hall S y Randy Hall (American football) 26 Sr Loren Dantzler DB 27 Sr Pat Sprute S 33 Jr Rod Maynard CB 34 Sr Bob Miller S 37 Jr Kirby Cook CB 42 Jr Kelly Courage CB 52 So John Bligh LB 53 Jr Rand Marquess LB 54 So Fred Morschek LB 55 So Lindsey Burgess LB 56 Jr Mark Busch DL 58 Jr Ralph Sletager LB 61 Sr Ron Linehan LB C 62 Jr Steve Mabry DL 65 Sr Bill Cady DT 66 So Rick Clute DL 67 Sr Steve Barker NG 68 So Lloyd Gramsrud DL 69 So Tom Aldershoe DL 71 Jr Mike Newell DT 81 Sr Tom Jarman DE 85 Jr Rick Simmons DE 86 So Tom Doud DE 87 So Alan Vance DL 88 So Oscar Nelson DL 7 Sr Ricardo Castillo PK 16 Jr Steve Hunter P *Don Robbins (2nd year) Bob Thompson (OC) Ray Fulton (DC) Don Matthews (OL) Ed Troxel Source:https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PSxOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v-wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4478%2C3171397 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Bengals vs. Vandals: probable lineups October 9, 1971 12 All-conference Six Vandals were named to the all-Big Sky team, two on offense and four on defense: halfback Fred Riley, guard Andy Kupp, defensive end Rick Simmons, noseguard Steve Barker, and linebackers Ron Linehan and Rand Marquess. The second team also had six Idaho players, with four on offense and two on defense: fullback Frank Doctor, wide receiver Jack Goddard, tackle Larry Bosma, center Ken Muhlbeier, defensive tackle Bill Cady, and defensive back Kelly Courage.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M_AjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7068%2C3572898 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Idaho lands six gridders on Big Sky all-star team November 25, 1971 31https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C7wzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pPgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2550%2C3507611 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Six Vandals are honored November 25, 1971 69 Linehan's selection was his third consecutive, and he was also named the team's most valuable player.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o8leAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5689%2C2517316 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Vandals pick Ron Linehan as most valuable player December 10, 1971 19 Three weeks after the season ended, he received a gunshot wound to his left side;https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pcleAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2990%2C2903721 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Lewiston man in Moscow jail after shooting December 12, 1971 5 he spent less than two days at Gritman hospital and was released.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p8leAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6329%2C3447683 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Steven E. Oetken arraigned on shooting charge December 14, 1971 5https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qMleAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3400%2C3724502 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Guilty plea entered December 15, 1971 14 His younger brothers were also starters for the Vandals: Rick was the strong safety in the late 1970s and Scott was the quarterback in the mid-1980s. NFL draft Three Vandal seniors were selected in the 1972 NFL draft, which lasted 17 rounds (442 selections). Player Position Round Overall Franchise Fred Riley WR 6th 146 Atlanta Falcons Andy Kupp G 10th 241 New Orleans Saints Ron Linehan LB 17th 428 Pittsburgh Steelers One junior was selected in the following year's draft in 1973, also 17 rounds (442 selections). Player Position Round Overall Franchise Ken Muhlbeier C 16th 400 Denver Broncos Two sophomores were selected in the 1974 NFL draft, which lasted 17 rounds (442 selections). Player Position Round Overall Franchise Bob Van Duyne G 10th 240 Baltimore Colts Randy Hall DB 13th 317 Baltimore Colts References External links Gem of the Mountains: 1972 University of Idaho yearbook – Idaho State at Idaho – October 9, 1971 Montana State and Utah State home games Go Mighty Vandals – 1971 – The Wild Bunch Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1971 editions Idaho Category:Idaho Vandals football seasons Category:Big Sky Conference football champion seasons Idaho Vandals football