# 1987 Idaho Vandals football team

The 1987 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by second-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 second conference title in three seasons, and made the I-AA playoffs for the third consecutive season. Led by redshirt sophomore quarterback John Friesz, Idaho finished the regular season at 9–2 and 7–1 in the Big Sky.

## Notable games

Following a non-conference loss at home to Central Michigan, and a road loss to struggling intrastate rival Idaho State, Idaho won its final six games of the regular season. The Vandals defeated Nevada for only the second time in the ten meetings since the Wolf Pack joined the Big Sky in 1979, and defeated rival Boise State for the sixth consecutive year, the sixth of twelve straight over the Broncos.

## Division I-AA playoffs

For the third consecutive season, Idaho returned to the 16-team I-AA playoffs. The Vandals hosted conference foe Weber State, whom they had defeated in Utah four weeks earlier by three points. The Wildcats won the rematch 59–30, before a sparse crowd at the Kibbie Dome two days after Thanksgiving, ending the Vandals' season at 9–3.

## Notable players

The 1987 team included two future NFL players with lengthy pro careers: guard Mark Schlereth and redshirt sophomore John Friesz, a future collegiate hall of fame quarterback as a three-year starter (1987–89).

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 5 | 7:00 pm | Mankato State* | No. 20 | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID | W 31–17 | 7,600 |
| September 12 | 7:00 pm | Central Michigan* | No. 20 | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID | L 18–30 | 8,000 |
| September 19 | 7:00 pm | at No. 6 (D-II) Portland State* | | Civic StadiumPortland, OR | W 17–10 | 8,535 |
| September 26 | 7:00 pm | at Northern Arizona | | Walkup SkydomeFlagstaff, AZ | W 46–37 | 9,029 |
| October 3 | 6:30 pm | at Idaho State | No. 15 | ISU MiniDomePocatello, ID (Rivalry) | L 21–30 | 10,764 |
| October 10 | 7:00 pm | Montana | | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID (Little Brown Stein) | W 31–25 | 9,500 |
| October 17 | 1:00 pm | No. 11 Nevada | | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID | W 38–28 | 15,100 |
| October 24 | 7:00 pm | Eastern Washington | No. 14 | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID (Governors Cup) | W 31–24 | 11,500 |
| October 31 | 12:00 pm | at No. 7 Weber State | No. 12 | Wildcat StadiumOgden, UT | W 41–38 | 13,486 |
| November 7 | 12:00 pm | at Montana State | No. 10 | Reno H. Sales StadiumBozeman, MT | W 14–7 | 6,007 |
| November 21 | 4:30 pm | Boise State | No. 5 | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID (Rivalry) | W 40–34 | 16,500 |
| November 28 | 12:30 pm | No. 10 Weber State* | No. 5 | Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID (Div. I-AA playoffs) | L 30–59 | 4,900 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from NCAA (Div. I-AA)All times are in Pacific time ||||||||
    Source:

## Roster

    Source:

## All-conference

Six Vandals were named to the all-conference team: quarterback John Friesz, tackle Greg Hale, guard Todd Neu, defensive end Pete Wilkins, safety Ernest Sanders, and cornerback Virgil Paulsen. Second team selections were wide receiver Eric Jorgensen, tight end Craig Robinson, and punter John Pleas. Honorable mention were wide receiver/kick returner John Jake, running back Todd Hoiness, center Steve Unger, defensive linemen Kord Smith and Jim Routos, and placekicker Brian Decicio.
Friesz, from Coeur d'Alene, was also named the Big Sky's outstanding offensive player.