Boise State–Idaho football rivalry

Boise State–Idaho football rivalry
SportFootball
First meetingSeptember 11, 1971
Boise State, 42–14 [1][2]
Latest meetingNovember 12, 2010
Boise State, 52–14
TrophyGovernor's (since 2001)
Statistics
Meetings total40
All-time seriesBoise State, 22–17–1 (.563)[3]
Largest victoryBoise State, 65–7 (2004)
Longest win streak12, Boise State (1999–present)
12, Idaho (19821993)
Current win streak12, Boise State (1999–present)

The Boise State–Idaho football rivalry is an intrastate college football rivalry in Idaho between the Broncos of Boise State University and Vandals of the University of Idaho in Moscow. The game was played annually 1971–2010, and with the exception of the 2001–2004 games, the rivalry was a conference game (Big Sky 1971–1995, Big West 1996–2000, and WAC 2005–2010). Boise State moved from the WAC to the Mountain West Conference in 2011 and the rivalry went on hiatus, with no future games currently scheduled.

The teams have played for the Governor's Trophy since 2001, won by BSU every year. In 2009, the game was televised nationally for the first time on ESPNU from Bronco Stadium in Boise. The fortieth and most recent game in the rivalry in 2010 was televised live in prime time on ESPN2 on Friday, November 12, from the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.[4]

Early games

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The first meeting was 53 years ago in 1971,[5] a season-opening night game at the year-old Bronco Stadium in Boise on September 11. The game was originally scheduled to be played in Moscow,[5] but due to inclement weather in the spring, the Vandals' new stadium was a month behind schedule.[6][7]

Idaho rented BSU's stadium and was the "home" team,[7] but the "visiting" Broncos built a 28–7 lead at halftime and pulled off a convincing 42–14 upset before 16,123 for an instant rivalry.[1][2] Tony Knap's Broncos went 10–2 in 1971 and won the Camellia Bowl, but their two losses were both in conference. Idaho went 8–3 for the best record to date in school history; Don Robbins' Vandals were Big Sky champions, won eight consecutive games (a school record), and had three players selected in the 1972 NFL draft.

The second game was played at the end of the 1972 season, again in Boise before 14,516 on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The Vandals took a 7–0 halftime lead but Boise State responded in the third quarter with three touchdowns. Idaho returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown and the Vandal freshman back-up quarterback ran for a touchdown with three minutes remaining to pull within a point; another run on the two-point conversion gave Idaho the win and evened the series at a game each. It was the first Big Sky home loss for the Broncos, who dropped to 7–4.[8][9] Idaho finished 1972 at 4–7.[10]

Bronco Stadium was expanded after the 1974 season and had the highest seating capacity in the Big Sky Conference. The rivalry contests with Idaho in Boise from 1976 through 1994 were the conferences' highest-attended games for those seasons.

Streaks

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The Boise State–Idaho rivalry has been dominated by streaks. Upstart underdog Boise State College of the College Division (Division II) easily won the initial game over University Division (Division I) Idaho in the season opener in 1971;[1][2] it was Boise State's first-ever game against a University Division opponent.[7][11] BSU became a university in 1974 and the Big Sky Conference moved to the new Division I-AA in 1978. BSU was 8–2–1 in the first eleven meetings with the Vandals, including five in a row (197781). Idaho immediately followed with twelve straight wins 198293,[12][13] and won 15 of 17 thru 1998.

Boise State began its current 12-game winning streak in 1999, in which BSU has dominated the Vandals. The composite score for the most recent dozen games is 613–213, an average BSU victory margin of over 33 points per game, ranging from 14 to 58 points.[14] Boise State has won 13 of 15 games over Idaho since both teams moved up to Division I-A (now FBS) in 1996. Idaho returned to FCS (and the Big Sky) in 2018.

Governor's Trophy

[edit]
Boise State raises the Governor's Trophy again in 2010 at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow

When the Big West dropped football following the 2000 season, Boise State and Idaho joined different conferences. The Broncos moved up to the WAC, while Idaho joined the distant Sun Belt as a "football only" member (and remained in the Big West for all other sports). In an effort to keep the intrastate rivalry strong, then Governor Dirk Kempthorne, a UI alumnus (1975) and former student body president,[15] commissioned the Governor's Trophy, a traveling trophy awarded to the winning team. Since its inception in 2001 for the 31st game, the trophy has yet to travel, as Boise State has won all ten games.

During the four seasons (2001–2004) as a non-conference game, it was played early in the season. Idaho joined the WAC in 2005 to return the rivalry to a late-season conference game. Idaho has never won the trophy; BSU has handily won all ten games played for it. Since the 2010 game, no games have been scheduled and none are scheduled for the immediate future.[16]

A few months before the teams' most recent meeting in Moscow in 2010, BSU president Bob Kustra expressed his displeasure with the behavior of Idaho fans. He told the editorial board of the Idaho Statesman (Boise) that he and his wife no longer attended the series games in Moscow because Idaho fans had "a culture that is nasty, inebriated and civilly doesn't give our fans the respect that any fan should expect when visiting an away team."[17][18] Subsequently, a Moscow bar sold T-shirts reading "Nasty, inebriated" for Idaho fans.[19]

Accomplishments

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Team Idaho Boise State
Claimed National Titles 0 2
Unclaimed National Titles 0 2
Bowl appearances 3 19
Postseason bowl record 3-0

(1.00)

12-7

(.632)

Conference titles 10 20
All-time program record 460-614-26

(.430)

471-175-2

(.728)

Game results

[edit]
Boise State victoriesIdaho victoriesTie games
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 September 11, 1971 Boise, ID Boise State 42–14
2 November 25, 1972 Boise, ID Idaho 22–21
3 September 15, 1973 Moscow, ID Boise State 47–24
4 November 23, 1974 Boise, ID #3 Boise State 53–29
5 October 11, 1975 Moscow, ID Tie31–31
6 September 11, 1976 Boise, ID Idaho 16–9
7 November 26, 1977 Moscow, ID #5 Boise State 44–14
8 November 4, 1978 Boise, ID Boise State 48–10
9 October 13, 1979 Moscow, ID Boise State 41–17
10 October 11, 1980 Boise, ID Boise State 44–21
11 November 21, 1981 Moscow, ID #4 Boise State 45–43
12 October 30, 1982 Boise, ID #17 Idaho 24–17
13 November 19, 1983 Moscow, ID Idaho 45–24
14 November 17, 1984       Boise, ID       Idaho 37–0
15 November 23, 1985 Moscow, ID #5 Idaho 44–27
16 November 22, 1986 Boise, ID #20 Idaho 21–14
17 November 21, 1987 Moscow, ID #5 Idaho 40–34
18 November 19, 1988 Boise, ID #2 Idaho 26–20
19 November 18, 1989 Moscow, ID #5 Idaho 26–21
20 November 17, 1990 Boise, ID #14 Idaho 21–14
21 November 23, 1991 Moscow, ID Idaho 28–24
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
22 November 21, 1992 Boise, ID #5 Idaho 62–16
23 November 20, 1993 Moscow, ID #11 Idaho 49–16
24 November 19, 1994 Boise, ID #6 Boise State 27–24
25 November 18, 1995 Moscow, ID #25 Idaho 33–13
26 November 23, 1996 Boise, ID Idaho 64–19
27 November 22, 1997 Moscow, ID Boise State 30–23OT
28 November 21, 1998 Boise, ID Idaho 36–35OT
29 November 20, 1999 Pullman, WA Boise State 45–14
30 November 18, 2000 Boise, ID Boise State 66–24
31 September 29, 2001 Pullman, WA Boise State 45–13
32 August 31, 2002 Boise, ID Boise State 38–21
33 September 13, 2003 Moscow, ID Boise State 24–10
34 September 4, 2004 Boise, ID Boise State 65–7
35 November 19, 2005 Boise, ID Boise State 70–35
36 October 21, 2006 Moscow, ID #18 Boise State 42–26
37 November 17, 2007 Boise, ID #17 Boise State 48–15
38 November 15, 2008 Moscow, ID #9 Boise State 45–10
39 November 14, 2009 Boise, ID #6 Boise State 63–25
40 November 12, 2010 Moscow, ID #4 Boise State 52–14
Series: Boise State leads 22–17–1[3]

Coaching records

[edit]

Since first game in 1971

Boise State

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Head Coach Team Games Seasons Wins Losses Ties Pct.
Tony Knap Boise State 5 19681975 3 1 1 .700
Jim Criner Boise State 7 19761982 5 2 0 .714
Lyle Setencich Boise State 4 19831986 0 4   .000
Skip Hall Boise State 6 19871992 0 6   .000
Pokey Allen Boise State 4 19931996 1 3   .250
Houston Nutt  Boise State  1 1997 1 0   1.000 
Dirk Koetter Boise State 3 19982000 2 1   .667
Dan Hawkins Boise State 5 20012005 5 0   1.000 
Chris Petersen Boise State 5 20062013 5 0   1.000 
Bryan Harsin Boise State 0 20142020        
Andy Avalos Boise State 0 2021        

Idaho

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Head Coach Team Games Seasons Wins Losses Ties Pct.
Don Robbins Idaho 3 19701973 1 2 0 .333
Ed Troxel Idaho 4 19741977 1 2 1 .375
Jerry Davitch Idaho 4 19781981 0 4 0 .000
Dennis Erickson (a)  Idaho 4 19821985 4 0   1.000 
Keith Gilbertson Idaho 3 19861988 3 0   1.000 
John L. Smith Idaho 6 19891994 5 1   .833
Chris Tormey Idaho 5 19951999 3 2   .600
Tom Cable Idaho 4 20002003 0 4   .000
Nick Holt Idaho 2 20042005 0 2   .000
Dennis Erickson (b) Idaho 1 2006 0 1   .000
Robb Akey Idaho 4 20072012 0 4   .000
Paul Petrino Idaho 0 20132021        
Jason Eck Idaho 0 2022        
  • Only tie was in 1975; the Big Sky enacted overtime for conference games in 1980,[20] and all Division I games went to overtime in 1996.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Bacharach, Sam A. (September 12, 1971). "Broncos kick Vandals". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 15.
  2. ^ a b c Payne, Bob (September 12, 1971). "Boise stuns Idaho". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1-sports.
  3. ^ a b "Winsipedia - Boise State Broncos vs. Idaho Vandals football series history". Winsipedia.
  4. ^ Go Vandals.com – Vandals announce 2010 football schedule – March 22, 2010
  5. ^ a b "Boise, Idaho sign for 10 grid meetings". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. February 15, 1970. p. 12.
  6. ^ "Idaho officials told stadium will be ready". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. August 27, 1971. p. 17.
  7. ^ a b c "Vandals switch home to Boise for opening game against Broncos tonight". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). September 11, 1971. p. 15.
  8. ^ Emerson, Paul (November 26, 1972). "Comstock's runs lead Idaho past Boise State 22-21". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 21.
  9. ^ "Vandals stun Boise 22-21". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 26, 1972. p. 1-sports.
  10. ^ "Big Sky Conference final standings". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). November 27, 1972. p. 18.
  11. ^ "Vandals begin tonight". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). September 11, 1971. p. 8.
  12. ^ Miedema, Laurence (November 22, 1993). "Same old story: Idaho over BSU". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Idaho-Washington. p. 1C.
  13. ^ Sahlberg, Bert (November 21, 1993). "Vandals: 'Nuss said". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1B.
  14. ^ "Idaho opponents – BSU". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  15. ^ "ASUI Senate". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1975. p. 107.
  16. ^ Boise State ready for stretch Idaho Statesman October 3, 2014 [dead link]
  17. ^ Frank, Jared (July 28, 2010). "BSU President: Vandal Culture is 'Nasty', 'Inebriated'". KHQ-TV. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  18. ^ Smith, Erick (July 29, 2010). "Boise State president calls Idaho culture 'nasty' and 'inebriated'". USA Today. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  19. ^ "Moscow Bar Has Market Cornered on Vandal T-Shirts". The Wiz of Odds. August 2, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  20. ^ Kasper, John (September 25, 2013). "No. 48 Big Sky Innovation". Big Sky Conference. Retrieved June 11, 2016.