The 1948 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1948 college football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Dixie Howell and were members of the Pacific Coast Conference.
Idaho was ranked at No. 90 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System ratings for 1948.
Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one game in Boise at Public School Field.
Idaho was overall and won one of their six PCC games; future schedules had fewer conference matchups. A night game was played in late September in Salt Lake City, a loss to Utah.
The Vandals' losing streak in the Battle of the Palouse with neighbor Washington State reached twenty games, with a loss in Pullman on October 30. Idaho tied the Cougars two years later, but the winless streak continued
In the rivalry game with Montana in Moscow a week earlier, Idaho won to regain the Little Brown Stein. Montana won it back two years later with a one-point then the Vandals won eight straight, through 1959.
Schedule
Coaching staff Ben Enis, line Gene Harlow, guards Perron Shoemaker, ends Steve Belko, freshmen
All-conference No Vandals were named to the All-Coast team; honorable mention were tackles Carl Kiilsgaard and Will Overgaard, guard Wilbur Ruleman, and back John Brogan.
NFL draft Two juniors from the 1948 Vandals were selected in the 1950 NFL draft:
Player Position Round Pick FranchiseCarl KiilsgaardT 5th 61 Chicago CardinalsJerry DiehlHB 28th 360 Pittsburgh Steelers
Three sophomores were selected in the 1951 NFL draft:
Player Position Round Pick FranchiseBill FrayT 16th 191 New York YanksKing BlockFB 21st 250 Detroit LionsJim ChadbandHB 28th 335 New York Yanks
References
External links Gem of the Mountains: 1949 University of Idaho yearbook – 1948 football season Go Mighty Vandals – 1948 football season Official game program: Idaho at Washington State – October 30, 1948 Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1948 editions