# 1988 Idaho Vandals football team

The 1988 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by third-year head coach Keith Gilbertson, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.
The Vandals won their third conference title in four seasons, and made the I-AA playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Led by redshirt junior quarterback John Friesz, Idaho finished the regular season at 9–1 and 7–1 in the Big Sky. The Vandals scheduled only ten regular season games for the first time since 1969; Idaho played only ten regular season games again in 1995, their final year in the Big Sky.
The shortened regular season was beneficial in 1988, as the Vandals played three post-season games, falling on the road in the national semifinals in Gilbertson's final game as the Vandals' head coach. He left for an assistant's position in the Pac-10 in Seattle, as offensive line coach under head coach Don James at Washington.

## Notable games

Following a sole loss on the road to conference rival Montana, Idaho won its final seven games of the regular season. The Vandals defeated Nevada for a second consecutive year, only the third time in the eleven meetings since the Wolf Pack joined the Big Sky in 1979. The Vandals defeated rival Boise State for the seventh consecutive year, the seventh of twelve straight over the Broncos. Idaho entered the post-season with the top ranking in Division I-AA.

## Division I-AA playoffs

For the fourth consecutive season, Idaho returned to the I-AA playoffs. In the first round, the Vandals hosted conference foe Montana, who had handed the Vandals their only defeat. The Vandals won the rematch 38–19 at the Kibbie Dome two days after Thanksgiving. Idaho also hosted in the quarterfinals, and defeated Northwestern State (La.) 38–30, but lost quarterback John Friesz with an ankle sprain in the third quarter.
In the semifinals Idaho was eliminated 38–7 on the road at Furman in Greenville, South Carolina, ending the Vandals' season at 11–2. With their third-string quarterback and many other reserves playing against the top-ranked defense in Division I-AA, the Vandals were only down 10–0 at the half, but the score mounted to 38–0 before the Vandals scored. The Vandal defense gave up 320 rushing yards to the Paladins. Furman went on to win the I-AA title the following week.

## Notable players

The 1988 team included three future NFL players with lengthy pro careers: defensive end Marvin Washington, guard Mark Schlereth, and junior John Friesz, the future collegiate hall of fame quarterback was a three-year starter (1987–89). Washington was on a basketball scholarship and this was his only season of Vandal football.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 10 | 7:00 pm | No. 2 (D-II) Portland State* | No. 9 | Kibbie DomeMoscow ID | W 27–18 | 10,100 |
| September 17 | 6:30 pm | at Pacific (CA)* | No. 9 | Pacific Memorial StadiumStockton, CA | W 36–26 | 13,868 |
| September 24 | 12:00 pm | at No. 16 Montana | No. 5 | Washington–Grizzly StadiumMissoula, MT (Little Brown Stein) | L 17–26 | 12,009 |
| October 1 | 1:30 pm | Northern Arizona | No. 12 | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID | W 31–20 | 16,100 |
| October 8 | 7:00 pm | Montana State | No. 8 | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID | W 41–24 | 9,200 |
| October 15 | 2:00 pm | at Eastern Washington | No. 7 | Joe Albi StadiumSpokane, WA | W 31–22 | 6,644 |
| October 22 | 7:00 pm | Weber State | No. 4 | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID | W 27–24 | 9,500 |
| November 5 | 1:00 pm | at Nevada | No. 4 | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | W 32–31 | 16,410 |
| November 12 | 7:00 pm | Idaho State | No. 2 | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID (rivalry) | W 41–7 | 9,200 |
| November 19 | 1:30 pm | at No. 13 Boise State | No. 2 | Bronco StadiumBoise, ID (rivalry) | W 26–20 | 23,687 |
| November 26 | 1:00 pm | No. 16 Montana* | No. 1 | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID (NCAA Division I-AA First Round) | W 38–19 | 5,500 |
| December 3 | 1:00 pm | No. 8 Northwestern State* | No. 1 | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal) | W 38–30 | 6,800 |
| December 10 | 10:30 am | at No. 4 Furman* | No. 1 | Paladin StadiumGreenville, SC (NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal) | L 7–38 | 11,645 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Pacific time ||||||||

## Roster

    Source:

## All-conference

Quarterback John Friesz and tackle Greg Hale returned to the all-conference team as unanimous selections. Also on the first team were wide receiver John Jake, center Steve Unger, defensive end Marvin Washington, and safety Brian Smith. Vandals on the second team were tackle Todd Neu, guard Mark Schlereth, cornerback Richard Carey, and linebackers Roger Cecil and Jerry Medved. Honorable mention were wide receiver Lee Allen, guard Troy Wright, running back Bruce Harris, placekicker Thayne Doyle, and defensive linemen Kord Smith, Jim Routos, and Mike Zeller.
Friesz repeated as the Big Sky's outstanding offensive player, and was a first-team Kodak All-American in Division I-AA.

## NFL Draft

Two Vandal seniors were selected in the 1989 NFL draft, which lasted twelve rounds (335 selections).
| Player | Position | Round | Overall | Franchise |
| Marvin Washington | DE | 6th | 151 | New York Jets |
| Mark Schlereth | G | 10th | 263 | Washington Redskins |
One Vandal junior was selected in the following year's draft in 1990, also twelve rounds (332 selections).
| Player | Position | Round | Overall | Franchise |
| John Friesz | QB | 6th | 138 | San Diego Chargers |