1974 Idaho Vandals football team

Coordinates: 46°43′34″N 117°01′05″W / 46.726°N 117.018°W / 46.726; -117.018

1974 Idaho Vandals football
Conference Big Sky Conference
1974 record 2–8–1 (2–2–1 Big Sky)
Head coach Ed Troxel (1st year)
Offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson (1st year)
Offensive scheme Veer [1]
Defensive coordinator Andy Christoff (1st year)
Base defense 5–2 [1]
Home stadium new Idaho Stadium
1974 Big Sky football standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
Boise State $^ 6 – 0 – 0     10 – 2 – 0
Montana State 4 – 2 – 0     7 – 3 – 0
Idaho 2 – 2 – 1     2 – 8 – 1
Montana 2 – 3 – 1     3 – 6 – 1
Northern Arizona 2 – 3 – 0     3 – 6 – 0
Idaho State 2 – 4 – 0     5 – 5 – 0
Weber State 1 – 5 – 0     4 – 7 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – Division II playoff participant
  • Boise State advanced to Div. II playoffs.

The 1974 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. The Vandalsw were led by first-year head coach Ed Troxel and were members of the Big Sky Conference, then in Division II. They played their home games at new Idaho Stadium, an unlit outdoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.[2]

Troxel was promoted to head coach in December 1973,[3] after seven seasons at Idaho as an assistant under three head coaches, and several years as head coach of the track team. He was previously very successful at the high school level in Boise at Borah High School.[4] Troxel had previously declined the job in 1970 and days earlier in 1973, but was persuaded to reconsider by player support.[3][5][6]

Season

With quarterbacks Dave Comstock, Dennis Ballock, and Ken Schrom running the veer offense, [1][7] the Vandals were 2–8–1 overall and 2–2–1 in the Big Sky.[8][9]

In the Battle of the Palouse, Idaho suffered a seventh straight loss to neighbor Washington State of the Pac-8, falling 17–10 at Martin Stadium in Pullman on September 21.[10] In the fourth game with new rival Boise State, the Vandals fell for the third time as the Broncos repeated as conference champions.[8][11] Idaho did not schedule Northern Arizona until 1975 and both played only five games in conference.

This was the last year the Vandals played outdoors on campus; its new Idaho Stadium opened in October 1971 in the same footprint as its predecessor, wooden Neale Stadium (1937–1968), and neither venue had lights.[2] Artificial turf was installed in 1972; the 3M Tartan Turf was the first in the world produced in one continuous piece to allow it to be rolled up.[12] Following the 1974 season,[13][14] an arched roof and end walls were constructed in ten months to enclose it and the inaugural indoor game at the renamed Kibbie Dome was played on September 27, 1975.[15]

Notable players and coaches

Sophomore center John Yarno was a first-team AP All-American as a senior in 1976; he was selected in fourth round of the 1977 NFL Draft and played six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, the last five as a starter. Although quarterback Ken Schrom was projected as the starter for 1976 as a redshirt junior, he opted to pursue professional baseball after the 1976 baseball draft.[16] A pitcher, he was a major leaguer for seven seasons and an all-star as a reliever in 1986.

Dennis Erickson, age 27, was in his first year as an offensive coordinator,[17][18] and stayed for two seasons. He left for Fresno State and later San Jose State, then returned to the UI program in 1982 as head coach and began a streak of fifteen consecutive winning seasons.

Division I

Through 1977, the Big Sky was a Division II conference for football, except for Division I member Idaho, which moved down to I-AA in 1978. Idaho maintained its upper division status in the NCAA by playing Division I non-conference opponents (and was ineligible for the Division II postseason).

Schedule

Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance
Sep 14 12:30 pm at Air Force* Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, CO [19] L  0–37   32,364
Sep 21 1:30 pm at Washington State* Martin Stadium • Pullman, WA [10] - (Battle of the Palouse) L 10–17   19,300
Sep 28 10:30 am at Villanova* Villanova Stadium • Villanova, PA [20] L  7–15   9,857
Oct 05 7:00 pm at Idaho State ISU Minidome • Pocatello, ID [21] W 28–9   12,000
Oct 12 1:30 pm West Texas State* new Idaho Stadium • Moscow, ID [22] L  6–21   15,200
Oct 19 1:30 pm Montanadagger new Idaho Stadium • Moscow, ID [23] - (Little Brown Stein) T 35–35   16,500
Oct 26 12:30 pm at Montana State Reno H. Sales Stadium • Bozeman, MT [24] L 21–36   6,117
Nov 02 12:30 pm Utah State* new Idaho Stadium • Moscow, ID [25] L  3–17   5,500
Nov 09 12:30 pm Weber State new Idaho Stadium • Moscow, ID [26] W 38–13   6,000
Nov 16 11:30 am at Northern Illinois* Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL [27] L 21–27   3,712
Nov 23 12:30 pm at Boise State Bronco Stadium • Boise, ID [8][11] - (BSU-UI rivalry) L 29–53   14,486
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Pacific Time.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Payne, Bob (September 8, 1974). "Idaho has some bodies, now...". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 6, sports.
  2. 1 2 Barrows, Bob (November 2, 1974). "Aggies, with 'Sweet Louie,' invade Idaho". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 11.
  3. 1 2 Shelledy, Jay (December 20, 1973). "'Trox' changes mind, accepts Vandal grid challenge". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 17.
  4. ↑ "Vandals name Ed Troxel as defensive line coach". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 24, 1967. p. 12.
  5. ↑ "Troxel motivated by players' pleas". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). December 20, 1973. p. 27.
  6. ↑ Emerson, Paul (January 17, 1974). "Idaho AD eyes '75 for 'doming' Idaho Stadium". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 17.
  7. ↑ "Vandals vs. Cougars: rosters". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 21, 1974. p. 12.
  8. 1 2 3 "Boise State rips Idaho in shootout". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 24, 1974. p. 1, sports.
  9. ↑ "Troxel hopes conqueror captures playoff honors". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). November 25, 1974. p. 17.
  10. 1 2 Brown, Bruce (September 23, 1974). "WSU's potential stays dormant". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 15.
  11. 1 2 Emerson, Paul (November 24, 1974). "Boise State roars past Vandals, 53-29". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1B.
  12. ↑ "Football field rolls up". Southeast Missourian. (Cape Girardeau). Associated Press. February 22, 1973. p. 12.
  13. ↑ "Idaho Stadium roof near reality as 'gift' aids project approval". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 9, 1974. p. 11.
  14. ↑ Martin, Vicki (November 9, 1974). "Regents okay stadium roof". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 9.
  15. ↑ Emerson, Paul (September 28, 1975). "Early ISU burst brings down roof on Vandal debut". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1B.
  16. ↑ Barrows, Bob (October 25, 1980). "Ken Schrom glad he switched to baseball". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 5B.
  17. ↑ "Knecht only UI aide to return". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. January 17, 1974. p. 18.
  18. ↑ "Idaho hires grid coaches". Ellensburg Daily Record. (Washington). UPI. January 18, 1974. p. 6.
  19. ↑ Payne, Bob (September 15, 1974). "Falcons rip fumbly Idaho". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  20. ↑ "Safety big help; Villanova winner". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. September 29, 1974. p. 64.
  21. ↑ Drosendahl, Glenn (October 6, 1974). "Early-striking Vandals sack Idaho State 28-9". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 15.
  22. ↑ Emerson, Paul (October 13, 1974). "Buffaloes control Vandals". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 15.
  23. ↑ Drosendahl, Glenn (October 20, 1974). "Idaho, Montana race to 35-35 tie". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 13.
  24. ↑ Barrows, Bob (October 27, 1974). "MSU spurt spells Idaho loss, 36-21". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 13.
  25. ↑ Barrows, Bob (November 3, 1974). "Utah St. raps Vandals". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 17.
  26. ↑ Drosendahl, Glenn (November 10, 1974). "Vandals flex muscles, beat Weber 38-13". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 17.
  27. ↑ Emerson, Paul (November 17, 1974). "Idaho rallies, but not enough". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1B.

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