Idaho Vandals football#Head coaches

{{main|Battle of the Palouse}}

Known as the Battle of the Palouse, the first football game between the University of Idaho and Washington State University was played in November 1894 and resulted in a win for Washington State.{{cn|date=September 2024}} The game in 1898 was not played because Idaho had an ineligible ringer from Lapwai, F.J. McFarland, a recent All-American from Carlisle.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fU9OAAAAIBAJ&pg=6746%2C1012489 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |last=Brown |first=Bruce |title=Another View |date=August 20, 1975 |page=45}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YlVNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4258%2C5570204 |newspaper=Lakeland Ledger |location=Florida |agency=Associated Press |title=For the record; Idaho, Washington St. game erased |date=August 21, 1975 |page=3B }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iiBOAAAAIBAJ&pg=2385%2C2801249 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Just forget it |agency=Associated Press |date=August 22, 1975 |page=31}} The Vandals' first-ever forward pass was attempted against the Cougars in 1907: it was completed for a touchdown from a drop-kick formation in the fourth quarter and led to a 5–4 victory.{{cite news|date=October 22, 1959|title=WSU-Idaho series has sparkling past|page=13|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=Idaho|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=isxeAAAAIBAJ&pg=5184%2C3399173}}

Washington State has dominated the local rivalry, holding a {{nowrap|73–16–3}} lead. The record since 1926 is even more dominant, with a {{nowrap|58–5–2}} advantage for the Cougars. The longest winning streak for Idaho was three games (1923–1925), and has only five victories since that three-peat (1954, 1964, 1965, 1999, & 2000) and two ties (1927, 1950) to offset the 56 losses. The games were skipped in 1969 and 1971, which was unfortunate for Idaho as the 1971 Vandals posted one of the best records (8–3) in school history, while WSU was 4–7. The rivalry became increasingly one-sided as WSU dominated in the 1970s (except for 1974) and the original series ended, following the 1978 game.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C_tLAAAAIBAJ&pg=3090%2C1463826 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=WSU-Idaho grid series diminishes |date=January 21, 1978 |page=10 }} From 1979 to 1997, the game was played just twice (1982, and 1989) until the ten-year renewal from 1998 to 2007. Since their last wins in 1999 and 2000, Idaho has been physically outmatched in most of the ten games; the game has been played only three times since 2007: in 2013, 2016, and 2022, the most recent was a competitive seven-point margin.

As two universities are in close proximity, from 1938 to 1968 there was a tradition called The Loser's Walk, where during the week following the game students of the losing school walked from their own campus to the winners', then receive rides back home from the winning side. This has frequently been misreported as students walking back to their own campus immediately following the game. In 1954, the walk made national news when about 2,000 students from Washington State College made the trek east from Pullman to Moscow after the Cougars lost to Idaho for the first time in 29 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.uidaho.edu/~/media/Files/orgs/Advancement/Alumni/Sarb_trdtns_pgs |title=Become a University of Idaho Tradition Keeper |publisher=Student Alumni Relations Board – University of Idaho|page=3/7 |access-date=September 15, 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GwNYAAAAIBAJ&pg=5876%2C6504624|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=Washington|title="Win Made Us Ball Club", says Skip Stahley|date=October 25, 1954|page=17}}{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1955/30|publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook|title=WSC walks|year=1955|access-date=August 16, 2012|page=26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ0i7XAplps |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/WJ0i7XAplps |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title= Battle of the Palouse – Losers' Walk|date=November 3, 1959|agency=(video)|publisher=Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections|access-date=September 15, 2013}}{{cbignore}}

In a span of less than five months, from November 1969 to April 1970, both schools' aged wooden stadiums (Idaho's Neale Stadium and WSU's Rogers Field) burned down due to suspected arson. The WSU–Idaho game in 1970 was dubbed the Displaced Bowl, which was held in Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane on September 19. The Cougars won the game (their only win that season), as well as the next ten against the Vandals.{{cite web |url=http://washingtonstate.scout.com/2/243292.html |work=Cougfan.com |title=The Smilin' Irishman |last=Fry |first=Richard B. |date=March 17, 2004 |access-date=September 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002011344/http://washingtonstate.scout.com/2/243292.html |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |url-status=dead }} The 1970 game was the first in the rivalry played on AstroTurf, which was new to Joe Albi that season. In 1978, the NCAA split Division I football in two: I-A (now FBS) and I-AA (now FCS). Washington State was in Division I-A as part of the Pac-10 Conference and Idaho downgraded to I-AA as part of the Big Sky Conference, whose other football members moved up from Division II. In the late 1970s, I-A football programs were allowed 50% more scholarships and twice as many assistant coaches as I-AA teams. During the years they were in different divisions, the schools met only twice, 1982 in Spokane and 1989 in Pullman. In 1996, Idaho moved back up to Division I-A in the Big West Conference, and Idaho and WSU rekindled their century-old rivalry. Since the rivalry was reinstated in 1998, every game has been played at Martin Stadium in Pullman, except for the matchup in 2003, which was played at Seattle's Seahawks Stadium. The last game played on the Idaho side of the border was in 1966, a come-from-behind 14–7 Cougar victory on a very muddy field to prevent a Vandal three-peat.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WrJfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4122%2C3769782 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho|title=Mud replaces turf in football's annual Battle of Palouse in Moscow |agency=(photos) |date=October 23, 1966 |page=14}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hmtYAAAAIBAJ&pg=6016%2C1928337|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington|title=Kennedy en route to a TD |agency=(photo) |date=October 24, 1966 |page=18}}

After ten years of the renewed rivalry, Vandals head coach Robb Akey, previously WSU's defensive coordinator, said in 2008 that he preferred the game not be played every year, instead saying he would prefer it as a "once-in-a-while thing."{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/cougars/2003488062_coug21.html |newspaper=The Seattle Times|title=Cougars: Akey talks of commitment at Idaho |date=April 15, 2008}} Only one game was played during Akey's tenure, in his first season in 2007, and he was fired in October 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/10/22/2318817/vandals-fire-akey-after-1-7-start.html |last=Murphy|first=Brian|newspaper=Idaho Statesman|location=Boise|title=Vandals fire Akey after 1–7 start|date=October 21, 2012|access-date=October 22, 2012}} The meeting in 2013 on September 21 was a one-year revival,{{cite web|url=http://www.wsucougars.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/050112aaa.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105113101/http://www.wsucougars.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/050112aaa.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 5, 2013 |publisher=Washington State University Athletics |title=Cougars add Idaho to 2013 football schedule |date=May 1, 2012 |access-date=August 16, 2012 }} and WSU won 56–6 in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/university-of-idaho/article102518187.html|title=Idaho Vandals fall to Falk, Washington State 56–6}} The Cougars won 24–17 in 2022, but the Vandals were significantly more competitive under first-year head coach Jason Eck.

Erickson began his head coaching career in 1982 at Idaho, where he became the first Vandal head coach since 1938 to post consecutive winning seasons and the first in program history with four consecutive winning seasons. He led Idaho to the Big Sky Conference title in 1985 and had two trips to the Division I-AA (FCS) Playoffs (1982, 1985).

Friesz averaged 367.4 passing yards a game as a quarterback and he was the first quarterback to win the Walter Payton Award as the outstanding player in I-AA football in 1989, when he threw for 4,041 yards and 31 touchdowns.

• Walter Payton Award

The Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the most

outstanding offensive player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) of college football.

• Jerry Rice Award

The Jerry Rice Award is awarded annually in the United States to the most outstanding freshman player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of college football as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors.

Ray McDonald was a Consensus All-American in 1966.

{{see also|Category:Idaho Vandals football players}}

• Jesse Davis – guard for the Miami Dolphins (2017–21) and Minnesota Vikings (2022–present)
• John Friesz – quarterback in the College Football Hall of Fame, 1989 Walter Payton Award, NFL (1990–2000){{College Football HoF|id=2170|name=John Friesz}}
• Mike Iupati – consensus All-American guard, 17th overall pick in 2010 NFL draft, (2010–20); San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks
• Jerry Kramer – five-time All-Pro guard (five NFL & two Super Bowl titles) with the Green Bay Packers (1958–68); author and Pro Football Hall of Famer (2018)
• Benson Mayowa – defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals (2018), Dallas Cowboys (2016-17), Oakland Raiders (2014–15, 2019), Seattle Seahawks (2013, 2020-21), including Super Bowl XLVIII.
• Ray McDonald – 13th overall pick in 1967 draft, running back for the Washington Redskins, 1967–68.
• Jim Norton – safety, all-time AFL interceptions leader, first number retired (#43) by the Houston Oilers (1960–68)
• Jeff Robinson – 1993–2009, Denver Broncos, Rams, Cowboys, Rams, Seahawks. Super Bowl Champion in Super Bowl XXXIV (Rams).
• Mark Schlereth – two-time Pro Bowl guard, three Super Bowl titles with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos (1989–2000){{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SchlMa00.htm |title=Mark Schlereth Statistics |publisher=Pro-football-statistics.com |access-date=December 23, 2010}}
• Jake Scott – guard for the Philadelphia Eagles (2012), Tennessee Titans (2008–11), Indianapolis Colts (2004–07), including Super Bowl XLI.
• Wee Willie Smith – New York Giants (1934 NFL Champions)
• Korey Toomer – linebacker (2012–18): Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers
• David Vobora – Mr. Irrelevant of the 2008 NFL draft, linebacker with the Seattle Seahawks
• Wayne Walker – All-Pro linebacker with the Detroit Lions (1958–72), started 200 games; sportscaster[https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft10/news/story?id=5070884 ESPN.com] – NFL Draft 2010 – "Idaho's '58 Specials" – April 10, 2010
• Marvin Washington – defensive end (1989–1999) for Jets, 49ers, Broncos. Super Bowl Champion (XXXIII, Broncos).
• John Yarno – first of two All-Americans from Idaho at FBS level, five-year starter at center for the Seattle Seahawks (1978–82)

• Brian Allen – wide receiver, Edmonton Eskimos (1984)
• Jerry Campbell – LB, (1966–75), inducted into Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1996
• Ken Hobart – quarterback (QB), USFL (1984–85), CFL (1985–90), winner of Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy in 1985
• Craig Juntunen – QB, (1978–79)
• Rolly Lumbala – fullback, BC Lions (2008–2018)
• Aaron Grymes – defensive back, Edmonton Elks (2013–2024)
• David Ungerer – wide receiver, Toronto Argonauts (2023–present)

(former Vandal football players coaching in either college or professional football)

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Steve Belko
• Steve Buratto
• Tom Cable
• Tony Knap
• Mike Kramer
• Scott Linehan
• Don Matthews
• Doug Nussmeier
• Bud Riley
• Lyle Smith
• Chris Tormey

{{div col end}}

• Anthony Curcio, author, public speaker, and former career criminal
• Dennis Eichhorn, writer
• Bill Fagerbakke, actor
• Dan Monson, college basketball coach
• Kendrick Trotter, entrepreneur

{{also|List of NCAA football retired numbers}}

{{See also|List of Idaho Vandals in the NFL draft}}

Announced schedules as of January 7, 2025.{{cite web| title=Idaho Vandals Football Schedules and Future Schedules|publisher=fbschedules.com| url=http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/sun-belt/idaho-vandals.php|access-date=January 7, 2025}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Idaho Vandals football navbox}}

{{University of Idaho}}

{{Big Sky Conference football navbox}}

{{Idaho}}

Category:American football teams established in 1893

Category:1893 establishments in Idaho