1959 Idaho Vandals football team

The 1959 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1959 NCAA University Division football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Skip Stahley, the Vandals were an independent in the NCAA's University Division and had a 1–9 record. Two home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.

1959 Idaho Vandals football
Conference	Independent
Record	1–9
Head coach	Skip Stahley (6th season)
Home stadium	Neale Stadium
Seasons ← 1958 1960 →

1959 NCAA University Division independents football records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Syracuse			–					11	–	0	–	0
No. 12 Penn State			–					9	–	2	–	0
Oregon			–					8	–	2	–	0
Rutgers			–					6	–	3	–	0
Detroit			–					6	–	4	–	0
Holy Cross			–					6	–	4	–	0
Miami (FL)			–					6	–	4	–	0
Oklahoma State			–					6	–	4	–	0
No. 20 Pittsburgh			–					6	–	4	–	0
Washington State			–					6	–	4	–	0
Boston College			–					5	–	4	–	0
Pacific (CA)			–					5	–	4	–	0
Air Force			–					5	–	4	–	1
Navy			–					5	–	4	–	1
Army			–					4	–	4	–	1
No. 17 Notre Dame			–					5	–	5	–	0
Boston University			–					4	–	5	–	0
Florida State			–					4	–	6	–	0
San Jose State			–					4	–	6	–	0
Texas Tech			–					4	–	6	–	0
Dayton			–					3	–	7	–	0
Marquette			–					3	–	7	–	0
Oregon State			–					3	–	7	–	0
Colgate			–					2	–	7	–	0
Idaho			–					1	–	9	–	0
Villanova			–					1	–	9	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The Pacific Coast Conference disbanded in the spring, and Idaho was an independent in football for the next six seasons. They played ten games for the first time; the first six were on the road, and two games were played at night (at Arizona and Pacific).

The Vandals suffered a fifth straight loss in the Battle of the Palouse with neighbor Washington State; Idaho led at halftime, but fell 5–27 at Rogers Field in Pullman. In the rivalry game with Montana at Neale Stadium, the Vandals narrowly retained the Little Brown Stein in the finale to avoid going winless.

After this season, Stahley took on the dual role of athletic director in July 1960.^[1][2]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 19	12:30 p.m.	at Utah State	old Romney Stadium Logan, UT	L 0–14	3,231	^[3]
September 26	2:00 p.m.	at Washington	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	L 0–23	24,476	^[4]^[5]
October 3	7:00 p.m.	at Arizona	Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ	L 14–16
October 10	12:30 p.m.	at Air Force	DU Stadium Denver, CO	L 0–21	17,393	^[6]
October 17	1:30 p.m.	at Oregon State	Parker Stadium Corvallis, OR	L 18–66	10,628	^[7]^[8]
October 24	2:00 p.m.	at Washington State	Rogers Field Pullman, WA (Battle of the Palouse)	L 5–27	19,200	^[9]^[10]^[11]
October 31	1:30 p.m.	Oregon	Neale Stadium Moscow ID	L 7–45	7,000	^[12]^[13]
November 7	12:30 p.m.	vs. Utah	old Bronco Stadium Boise, ID	L 13–47	8,500	^[14]
November 14	8:00 p.m.	at Pacific (CA)	Pacific Memorial Stadium Stockton, CA	L 13–28	8,000	^[15]
November 21	1:00 p.m.	Montana	Neale Stadium Moscow, ID (Little Brown Stein)	W 9–6	4,000	^[16]^[17]
Homecoming All times are in Pacific time

Coaching staff

• Don Swartz, line
• Ed Knecht, backs
• J. V. Johnson, ends
• Wayne D. Anderson, freshmen

All-Coast

Main article: 1959 All-Pacific Coast football team

No Vandals made the All-Coast team or the second team. Honorable mention were end Jim Norton and tackle Jim Prestel;^[18][19][20] both went on to lengthy pro careers.

NFL Draft

Two seniors from the 1959 Vandals were selected in the 1960 NFL Draft:^[21][22]

Player	Position	Round	Overall	Franchise
Jim Norton	WR	7th	75	Detroit Lions
Stan Fanning	T	11th	128	Chicago Bears

One fifth-year senior was previously selected in the 1959 NFL Draft:^[23]

Player	Position	Round	Overall	Franchise
Jim Prestel	T	6th	70	Cleveland Browns

References

1. "Stahley new Idaho "A.D." in addition to grid post". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 22, 1960. p. 13.
2. "Stahley assumes dual role at Idaho as Gibb departs". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. July 2, 1960. p. 2.
3. "Utah State shocks Idaho eleven, 14-0". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. September 20, 1959. p. 1, sports.
4. Missildine, Harry (September 27, 1959). "Huskies batter Idaho, 23-0". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
5. "Fast-starting Huskies subdue Vandals 23-0". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. September 27, 1959. p. 12.
6. "Air Force strafes Vandals". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 11, 1959. p. 9.
7. "Winless OSC, Idaho clash at Corvallis". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 16, 1959. p. 2B.
8. Mullin, Bob (October 18, 1959). "OSC rips Vandals by 66-18". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 2B.
9. Missildine, Harry (October 24, 1959). "Warm, dry day seen for Washington State - Idaho game". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 10.
10. "WSU's second half thrusts bury plucky Vandals 27-5". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 25, 1959. p. 10.
11. Missildine, Harry (October 25, 1959). "Cougars beat Idaho with big second half". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
12. "Oregon favored at Idaho". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). October 31, 1959. p. 9.
13. "Talented Cougars win; Idaho walloped". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 1, 1959. p. 1, sports.
14. "Utes crush Vandals with late outburst". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 8, 1959. p. 2.
15. "COP rolls over Idaho, 28-13". Lodi News-Sentinel. (California). November 16, 1959. p. 10.
16. "Vandals edge tough Montana to end victory drouth". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 22, 1959. p. 8.
17. Dillman, Dick (November 22, 1959). "Vandals win, muscular Huskies demolish WSU". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
18. "1959 AP All-Coast". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 25, 1959. p. 28.
19. "Lincoln is named to All-Coast team". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. November 25, 1959. p. 12.
20. "Keith Lincoln named to All-Coast eleven". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 25, 1959. p. 8.
21. "8 PNW gridders chosen by pros". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 1, 1959. p. 15.
22. "1960 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
23. . Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved November 2, 2017.

External links

• Gem of the Mountains: 1960 University of Idaho yearbook – 1959 football season
• Go Mighty Vandals – 1959 football season
• Official game program: Idaho at Washington State – October 24, 1959
• Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1959 editions