1980 Boise State Broncos football team

Regular season

The Broncos finished the regular season in 1980 at 8–3 and 6–1 in conference to win their fifth Big Sky title in eleven seasons, their first since 1977. BSU defeated their two Division I-A opponents, but lost a road contest in November to Cal Poly-SLO, the eventual Division II national champions, whom they had routed at the end of the previous season.

The Broncos easily defeated rival Idaho, then ranked ninth, for the fourth consecutive year in mid-October in Boise. During halftime of the Nevada-Reno game on November 8, BSU dedicated the playing field at Bronco Stadium to athletic director and former head coach Lyle Smith. The only conference setback was a one-point loss in late September at Montana State, the difference was a last-minute two-point conversion.

Division I-AA playoffs

The Broncos were invited to the four-team I-AA playoffs. As Big Sky champions with a substantial stadium and fan base, BSU was chosen to host in the first round, a national semifinal on December 13, three weeks after the completion of the regular season. The opponent was Grambling State, coached by legend Eddie Robinson. The Broncos won 14–9 in sub-freezing fog and advanced to the championship game the following week in California against defending champion Eastern Kentucky, coached by Roy Kidd.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tYNfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=szAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4696%2C5743393 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Lewiston, Idaho

The Broncos returned to the I-AA semifinals the following season and 1990, and the title game in 1994; they moved up to Division I-A in 1996.

Schedule

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Roster

• Gene Dahlquist (OC)
• Lyle Setencich (DC)
• Dave Wasick (DL)
• Claude Tomasini (LB)
• John Fox (DB)
• Mitch Britzman
• Mike Solari
• Jeff Skocko
• Jim Farmer
• Ed Lambert
• Randy Stewart
• Bob Markovich
• John Williams (manager)
• Ed Pflefer (assistant trainer)
• Kevin Roberts (assistant trainer)
• Jim Neal (assistant trainer)
• Ted Choules (assistant trainer)
• T.J. Byrne (assistant trainer) :Source:

NFL draft

One Bronco senior was selected in the 1981 NFL draft, which lasted 12 rounds (332 selections).

References

References

1. Rock, Brad. (September 6, 1980). "Utes ready for opener with Boise tonight". Deseret News.
2. (November 18, 1979). "Broncos stampede Cal-Poly SLO 56-14". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
3. (November 19, 1979). "'Our bowl game,' cries Criner". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
4. (November 26, 1979). "College standings". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
5. (November 16, 1978). "Boise St. coach admits to scouting violation". Daily News.
6. (December 17, 1978). "Big Sky's down hard on Boise". Spokesman-Review.
7. (December 18, 1978). "Probation slapped on Boise State football". Ellensburg Daily Record.
8. BSU Game Day program – November 8, 1980 – p.8
9. (September 28, 1980). "Montana State stuns Broncos". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
10. (December 15, 1980). "Boise State gains finale". Spokane Daily Chronicle.
11. (December 20, 1980). "Camellia: who vs. who?". Spokesman-Review.
12. (December 21, 1980). "Broncos squeak by Colonels, take title". Spokesman-Review.
13. (December 22, 1980). "Boise gets title". Spokane Daily Chronicle.
14. Rock, Brad. (September 8, 1980). "Start believing, Utah, Nebraska's up next". Deseret News.
15. (September 14, 1980). "S.E. Louisiana stuns Boise State 17–13". The Times-News.
16. (21 September 1980). "BSU holds on to edge Northern Arizona". The Idaho Statesman.
17. (September 28, 1980). "Bobcat gamble succeeds". The Billings Gazette.
18. (October 5, 1980). "Boise blasts Grizzlies". Great Falls Tribune.
19. (October 12, 1980). "Boise State blasts Idaho". The Arizona Republic.
20. (October 19, 1980). "Boise State rolls past Fullerton 26–11". The Idaho Statesman.
21. (October 26, 1980). "Broncos smack Weber". Arizona Daily Sun.
22. (November 9, 1980). "Boise St. tops UN–Reno". The Daily Spectrum.
23. (November 16, 1980). "Cal Poly stuns Boise State on game-closing field goal". The Times-News.
24. (November 23, 1980). "Broncos best Bengals". The Idaho Statesman.
25. (December 14, 1980). "Nasty Boise defense, cold stall Grambling". The Shreveport Times.
26. (December 21, 1980). "Last-grasp pass lifts Boise 31–29". The Sacramento Bee.
27. BSU gameday program – Boise State vs. Nevada, Reno – November 8, 1980 – Probable starters, rosters, p. 21–25