1994 Idaho Vandals football team
American college football season
The 1994 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1994 NCAA Division I-AA football season . The Vandals, led by sixth-year head coach John L. Smith , were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome , an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho .
Led by quarterbacks Eric Hisaw and Brian Brennan, Idaho finished the regular season at 9–2 and 5–2 in the Big Sky, and the Vandals again made the Division I-AA playoffs.[ 1]
Notable games
After advancing to the semifinals in 1993 , Idaho was ranked tenth in the preseason I-AA poll, won their first seven games, and climbed to third in late October.[ 2] They traveled to Missoula and top-ranked Montana won the Little Brown Stein for the fourth consecutive year.[ 3] The Grizzlies then lost two in a row to fall to third in the Big Sky standings.[ 4] [ 5]
In the regular season finale for the conference title,[ 6] [ 7] the Vandals lost to rival Boise State for first time since 1981 , as the Broncos won 27–24 in Boise .[ 8] [ 9]
Division I-AA playoffs
For the ninth time in ten seasons, the Vandals made the 16-team I-AA playoffs and were ranked sixth in the regular season's final poll.[ 10]
With Boise State and Montana hosting, Idaho was sent on the road in the first round,[ 11] and they lost 21–38 at fifth-ranked McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana .[ 12] Montana advanced to the semifinals but fell to Youngstown State , who defeated Boise State in the championship game.[ 13] [ 14]
Notable players and coaches
Sophomore defensive end Ryan Phillips was a four-year starter;[ 15] he moved to outside linebacker as a senior in 1996,[ 16] [ 17] and was selected in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft by the New York Giants . He played five seasons in the NFL, including Super Bowl XXXV in January 2001 .
Two future Vandal head coaches were on the staff: Nick Holt (defensive coordinator/defensive line) and Paul Petrino (receivers).
This was Smith's final year as head coach at Idaho and his 53 wins leads the Vandals' all-time list; Dennis Erickson is next, with 36 in five seasons.
Schedule
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 3 6:00 pm at Southern Utah * No. 10 W 43–10[ 18] [ 19]
September 17 7:00 pm at UNLV * No. 6 W 48–388,820 [ 20] [ 21]
September 24 1:05 pm No. 15 Stephen F. Austin * No. 7 W 58–2610,200 [ 22] [ 23]
October 1 1:07 pm Idaho State No. 6 W 70–218,750 [ 24]
October 8 11:07 am at Eastern Washington No. 4 PSN W 40–155,873 [ 25]
October 15 1:07 pm Montana State No. 4 W 27–139,076 [ 26]
October 22 1:07 pm Northern Arizona No. 4 W 41–1414,252 [ 27]
October 29 11:07 am at No. 1 Montana No. 3 L 21–4515,466 [ 2] [ 3]
November 5 1:05 pm Northern Iowa * No. 6 W 21–1210,200 [ 28]
November 12 1:05 pm Weber State No. 4 W 79–309,300 [ 29]
November 19 12:05 pm at No. 6 Boise State No. 3 KUID L 24–2723,701 [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
November 26 5:00 pm at No. 5 McNeese State * No. 6 L 20–2316,000 [ 11] [ 12]
References
^ Sahlberg, Bert (November 21, 1994). "Vandals open at McNeese State" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ a b "UI rises to No. 3" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. Associated Press. October 25, 1994. p. 1B.
^ a b Sahlberg, Bert (October 30, 1994). "Grizzly outcome" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ "ISU 28, Montana 23" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Idaho-Washington. Associated Press. November 14, 1994. p. 5C.
^ "College football standings" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. Associated Press. November 15, 1994. p. 2B.
^ a b Sahlberg, Bert (November 19, 1994). "Intrastate arch-rivals go at it" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ a b Sullivan, Tim (November 19, 1994). "It's title time for Idaho, Boise State" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Idaho-Washington. p. 1D.
^ a b Sahlberg, Bert (November 20, 1994). "End of the line" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ a b Sullivan, Tim (November 21, 1994). "Streak snapped as BSU tops Vandals for crown" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Idaho-Washington. p. 1C.
^ "Sports Network final I-AA poll" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. Associated Press. November 22, 1994. p. 2B.
^ a b Sahlberg, Bert (November 27, 1994). "Vandals singing in the rain" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ a b Sahlberg, Bert (November 27, 1994). "Ambushed" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ "Youngstown St. powers past Boise St. in I-AA title game" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Idaho-Washington. Associated Press. December 19, 1994. p. 4C.
^ "Youngstown State wins" . Sunday Gazette . Schenectady, New York. wire services. December 18, 1994. p. D3.
^ Sullivan, Tim (August 18, 1994). "Vandals boast experience on talented defensive line" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Idaho-Washington. p. 1D.
^ Sullivan, Tim (August 28, 1996). "Linebacker life suits Idaho sack-master Phillips" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Idaho-Washington. p. 1B.
^ Sahlberg, Bert (April 19, 1997). "Idaho: Phillips' daredevil hobby catches recruiters' eyes" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ Sullivan, Tim (September 3, 1994). "Defense holds key in Idaho's opener" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Idaho-Washington. p. 1C.
^ Sullivan, Tim (September 6, 1994). "Vandals fulfill prophecy" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Idaho-Washington. p. 1C.
^ Sullivan, Tim (September 16, 1994). "Vandals look to strike down UNLV" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Idaho-Washington. p. 1D.
^ Sullivan, Tim (September 19, 1994). "Vandals 3/4's good in win" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Idaho-Washington. p. 1C.
^ Sullivan, Tim (September 24, 1994). "Vandals face true test in 'Jacks" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Idaho-Washington. p. 1D.
^ Sullivan, Tim (September 26, 1994). "UI puts second-half shelling on SFU" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Idaho-Washington. p. 1C.
^ Robinson, Jeff (October 2, 1994). "Vandals get rough with ISU" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ Sahlberg, Bert (October 23, 1994). "Vandals give Eagles no refuge" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ Sahlberg, Bert (October 16, 1994). "Vandals get by" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ Sahlberg, Bert (October 23, 1994). "Marauding Vandals level NAU" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ Sahlberg, Bert (November 6, 1994). "Vandals shake lethargy, UNI" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ Sullivan, Tim (November 14, 1994). "Vandals put the hurt on Weber, 79-30" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Idaho-Washington. p. 1C.
External links
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