1978 Idaho Vandals football team

The 1978 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1978 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals were led by new 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. 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.

1978 Idaho Vandals football
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
1978 record2–9 (2–4 Big Sky)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBill Tripp (1st season)
Offensive schemeVeer
Defensive coordinatorGreg McMackin
(2nd season)
Base defense5–2
Home stadiumKibbie Dome
1978 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 7 Northern Arizona $ 6 –0 –0  8 –2 –0
No. T–9 Montana State 4 –2 –0  8 –2 –0
Montana 4 –2 –0  5 –6 –0
Boise State 3 –3 –0  7 –4 –0
Weber State 2 –4 –0  4 –7 –0
Idaho 2 –4 –0  2 –9 –0
Idaho State 0 –6 –0  2 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA AP Poll

With sophomore quarterbacks Jay Goodenbour and Mike McCurdy running the veer offense,[1][2][3] the Vandals were 2–9 overall and 2–4 in the Big Sky in 1978.[4][5] Projected starter Rocky Tuttle injured an ankle in the final scrimmage, had tendon surgery, and redshirted;[1][6] 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 because of unavailable 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.[7][8] After difficulties in arranging a viable makeup date, a forfeit win was awarded to the Vandals.[9][10] It was the conference finale for both teams,[11] and Idaho State finished winless in the Big Sky.

This was the first season for the newly created Division I-AA,[12] which the Big Sky joined. 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.

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 97:00 pmat San Jose State (Div. I-A)*
L 14–3110,011
September 161:00 pmat Washington State (Div. I-A)*
L 0–2816,950
September 23at Wichita State (Div. I-A)*
L 6–28
September 307:00 pmNo. 9 Northern Arizona
L 29–348,200
October 77:30 pmat UNLV (Div. I-A)*
L 14–5318,944
October 141:00 pmat Montana
W 34–308,286
October 217:00 pmNo. 1 Montana State
  • Kibbie Dome
  • Moscow, ID
L 21–579,000
October 282:00 pmWeber State
  • Kibbie Dome
  • Moscow, ID
L 6–5113,500
November 412:30 pmat Boise State
L 10–4820,235
November 117:00 pmIdaho State
  • Kibbie Dome
  • Moscow, ID
W 1–0Forfeit
November 187:00 pmFresno State (Div. I-A)*
  • Kibbie Dome
  • Moscow, ID
L 28–415,600

Roster
1978 Idaho Vandals football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
FL 1 Jett Taylor
SE 7 Jack Klein So
QB 10 Jay Goodenbour So
QB 11 Mike McCurdy So
QB 12 Rocky Tuttle   Sr
SE 18 Kirk Allen Sr
RB Robert Brooks Sr
RB Russell Davis Fr
RB 30 Tim Lappano   Sr
RB 32 Glen White So
RB 33 Terry Idler Fr
RB 35 Glenn Ford So
RB 40 Randy Davenport So
LG 58 Dan Cozzetto Sr
RG 61 Dick Wilkin Sr
RT 68 Bryan Zimmermann Sr
C 69 Larry Coombs Jr
OL 69 Kyle Riddell Jr
OL 77 Tom Randel Sr
TE 84 Rick Mayfield Sr
TE Al Swenson Fr
FL, TE 88 Mike Hagadone   Sr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
FS 4 Ron Powell So
CB 20 Ron Jessie Jr
SS 24 Rick Linehan Sr
CB 35 Mike Keough So
DE 42 Brian Rekofke Sr
LB 43 Larry Barker So
LB 51 Chris Eads Jr
LB 52 Bob Cafferty Sr
LB 53 Kelly Grimes Jr
DT 71 Mark McNeal Jr
NG 75 Monty Elder So
DT 78 Steve Parker Jr
LB 83 Phil Vance Jr
DE Jay Hayes Fr
DE Lloyd Williamson Fr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
P 2 Dion Jergo Fr
PK 5 Jeff Wellmann
P 6 Pete O'Brien
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt
Source:[13][14]

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.[15][16]

NFL Draft

No Vandals were selected in the 1979 NFL Draft, which lasted twelve rounds (330 selections).

One Vandal junior was later selected in the 1980 NFL Draft,[17][18] also twelve rounds (333 selections).

PlayerPositionRoundOverallFranchise
Mark McNealDE6th153Seattle Seahawks

References
  1. "Goodenbour's one guy not worried". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 6, 1978. p. 21.
  2. Stewart, Chuck (September 11, 1978). "'Future' arrives fast for young Vandal QB". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 21.
  3. "McCurdy snares quarterback job". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. September 26, 1978. p. 17.
  4. Barrows, Bob (November 20, 1978). "Idaho football". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1B.
  5. Payne, Bob (November 26, 1978). "Vandals kiss this sort of season goodbye". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. C5.
  6. "Vandals' QB looking fine". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). September 6, 1978. p. 22.
  7. Barrows, Bob (November 12, 1978). "No Vandal game, ISU can't make it". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1B.
  8. "One platoon arrived, one did not – sorry". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. November 12, 1978. p. C2.
  9. "Bengals forfeit to Idaho". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. November 14, 1978. p. 15.
  10. Drosendahl, Glenn (November 12, 1978). "Vandals claim a forfeit". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1B.
  11. Barrows, Bob (November 11, 1978). "Vandals, Idaho State try to salvage something". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 3B.
  12. "Big schools win battle". St. Petersburg Independent. Florida. Associated Press. January 13, 1978. p. 5C.
  13. "Rosters". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 16, 1978. p. 21.
  14. Payne, Bob (November 17, 1978). "Vandals to end frustrating season". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 35.
  15. "All Big Sky (offense)". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 21, 1978. p. 3B.
  16. "Big Sky Defensive teams named". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 24, 1978. p. 3B.
  17. "NFL Draft: Two Palouse players go in early rounds". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). April 30, 1980. p. 1B.
  18. "Patera: We got the best". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. April 30, 1980. p. C2.
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