Defensive coordinator Andy Christoff (2nd year) | ||
The 1975 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Ed Troxel and were members of the Big Sky Conference, then in Division II. They played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.
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Season
With quarterbacks Dave Comstock and Ken Schrom running the veer offense, the Vandals were 4–5–2 overall and 2–2–2 in the Big Sky.
In the Battle of the Palouse, the Vandals suffered an eighth straight loss to neighbor Washington State of the Pac-8, falling 84–27 at Martin Stadium in Pullman on November 15. The score was 56–14 at the half and 77–27 after three quarters. The Cougars went winless in the Pac-8 in 1975 and were 3–8 overall.
This was the first year the Vandals played home games indoors; the Kibbie Dome's arched roof and end walls were constructed in ten months following the 1974 season. Opened in October 1971, it was an unlit outdoor venue known as new Idaho Stadium for four seasons, the last three with artificial turf. Its predecessor Neale Stadium was also without lights, so this was the first season of night football games on campus. The Vandals lost the opener to Idaho State on September 27, and tied Boise State in the dedication game two weeks later.
Notable players and coaches
Junior center John Yarno was selected in fourth round of the 1977 NFL Draft played six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. Although quarterback Schrom was projected as the starter for 1976 as a redshirt junior, he opted to pursue professional baseball after the 1976 baseball draft. A pitcher, he was a major leaguer for seven seasons and an all-star as a reliever in 1986.
Dennis Erickson, age 28, completed his second year as offensive coordinator, then left for Fresno State; he returned to the UI program in 1982 as head coach.
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).