It's 1-A all the way for Vandal football program
By Howie Stalwick, Coeur d'Alene Press

January 14, 1998

The University of Idaho football program, the ugly stepchild of NCAA Division I-A football the past two years, received some welcome plastic surgery Tuesday.

The NCAA granted Idaho a two-year waiver that makes the Vandals a I-A football program. If the Vandals average 17,000 fans per home game in 1998 or 1999, they will attain permanent I-A status.

"Before, the light at the end of the tunnel was an oncoming train," Idaho athletic director Oval Jaynes said. "Now the light is a move into I-A football."

It remains to be seen if Jaynes will see the light at Idaho next season. He interviews today for the AD job at Tennessee-Chattanooga. The interviews were originally set for Tuesday, but Jaynes only had dinner with UTC chancellor Bill Stacy on Tuesday.

The Vandals remain on campus in the 16,000-seat Kibbie Dome next season, then play at 37,600-seat Martin Stadium of Washington State for at least 1999.

Home games with WSU and Boise State, Idaho's biggest rivals, plus Utah State, Arkansas State and North Texas are tentatively planned for '99.

The NCAA permitted Idaho to move up from I-AA to the I-A Big West Conference in 1996. The Vandals abide by all I-A rules and regulations, but for scheduling and bowl-qualifying purposes, the NCAA had continued to identify Idaho as a I-AA school until Tuesday.

The NCAA's reasoning was that Idaho did not meet the I-A minimums of a 30,000-seat stadium or one season with a 17,000 home attendance average during a four-year period.

The Vandals argued that they were I-A in every other way, play in a I-A league and qualify for the Humanitarian Bowl if they win the Big West.

Idaho officials claim they were not told the Vandals would be considered I-AA for scheduling purposes. Wins over I-AA teams have not counted toward the I-A bowl minimum of six, though recent legislation makes one such win permissable every four years, beginning next fall.

The six-win rule made some schools hesitant to schedule Idaho. California pulled out of a game last year, costing the Vandals $150,000.

"It's a big shot in the arm for our program," Idaho football coach Chris Tormey said.

WSU has said Idaho will be scheduled annually as long as the Vandals are I-A. The Vandals continue to negotiate a five-year deal for use of Martin Stadium. UI president Bob Hoover said no decision has been made on whether to continue playing away from the Kibbie Dome if Idaho earns permanent I-A status.

The Vandals had asked for a three-year waiver, but only received two years by an undisclosed majority vote of the nine school presidents on the I-A Board of Directors. The vote was held at the NCAA convention in Atlanta.

Hoover said Idaho officials remain convinced I-A football is the best bet financially. After breaking even or making small profits for years, the Vandal athletic department suffered record losses of more than $300,000 each of the past two fiscal years despite record budgets of approximately $5 million.

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