What Is 1936 Idaho Vandals football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1936 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho during the 1936 college football season, finishing with a 4–5 record under head coach Ted Bank. They competed as an independent and played home games at Neale Stadium in Moscow, Idaho.

Key Facts

The 1936 Idaho Vandals finished the season with a 4–5 overall record
Head coach Ted Bank led the team in his third season at the helm
The Vandals played their home games at Neale Stadium in Moscow, Idaho
They competed as an independent with no conference affiliation
The team scored 103 points while allowing 121 across nine games

Overview

The 1936 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1936 college football season. Competing as an independent, the team was led by head coach Ted Bank in his third year and played its home games at Neale Stadium in Moscow, Idaho.

Despite a challenging schedule, the Vandals showed moments of promise, finishing the season with a 4–5 overall record. They scored a total of 103 points while allowing 121, reflecting a competitive but inconsistent performance across nine games.

Season Record: The team ended the year with a 4–5 overall win-loss record, indicating a below-.500 performance but several close contests.
Head Coach: Ted Bank was in his third season as head coach, having taken over in 1934 and working to rebuild the program’s competitiveness.
Home Venue: All home games were played at Neale Stadium, a wooden grandstand facility located on the University of Idaho campus in Moscow.
Scoring Output: The Vandals accumulated 103 total points during the season, averaging about 11.4 points per game across nine contests.
Defensive Performance: Idaho allowed 121 points, averaging 13.4 points per game against, highlighting defensive struggles in several key matchups.

Season Performance and Game Results

The 1936 season featured a mix of regional opponents and challenging non-conference matchups. As an independent, Idaho did not belong to a formal athletic conference, which allowed scheduling flexibility but reduced path to postseason recognition.

September 26: Opened the season with a 19–0 win over Whitman College, showing early offensive potential and solid defense.
October 3: Lost 7–6 to the University of the Pacific, a narrow defeat that underscored missed opportunities in close games.
October 10: Suffered a 20–0 shutout loss to Oregon State, revealing gaps against stronger Pacific Coast Conference teams.
October 24: Earned a 19–7 victory over Gonzaga, marking a key win against a regional rival and boosting morale.
November 7: Lost 14–7 to Washington State, a hard-fought battle against a more established program in the Northwest.
November 21: Concluded the season with a 20–19 win over Montana, a dramatic one-point victory to end on a high note.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1936 Idaho Vandals' performance can be better understood when compared to their regional peers in the Northwest. The following table highlights key statistics from similar teams during the same season.

Team	Overall Record	Points For	Points Against	Head Coach
Idaho Vandals	4–5	103	121	Ted Bank
Oregon State	5–3–1	113	79	Lon Stiner
Washington State	5–2–2	128	88	Babe Hollingbery
Gonzaga	4–5	98	103	Mike Pecarovich
Montana	4–5	99	107	Owen J. Quinn

Idaho’s record matched those of Gonzaga and Montana, both also finishing 4–5. However, their point differential was slightly worse than Montana’s, and they trailed behind Washington State and Oregon State in both scoring and defensive efficiency. This comparison illustrates Idaho’s mid-tier standing among regional programs during the 1936 season.

Why It Matters

While the 1936 season did not result in a championship or national recognition, it contributed to the long-term development of the Idaho football program. The team’s performance reflected the challenges and opportunities of mid-tier college football in the pre-World War II era.

Program Development: The season helped shape coaching strategies under Ted Bank, laying groundwork for future improvements in the late 1930s.
Regional Rivalries: Games against Washington State, Gonzaga, and Montana strengthened longstanding regional rivalries still relevant today.
Independent Status: As an independent, Idaho had scheduling freedom but lacked the structure and postseason access of conference-affiliated teams.
Historical Record: The 1936 season is preserved in athletic archives, contributing to the University of Idaho’s football legacy.
Player Development: Several athletes from this season went on to letter in subsequent years, gaining experience under competitive conditions.
Era Context: The season reflects the state of college football in the 1930s, with modest budgets, limited travel, and growing regional interest.

The 1936 Idaho Vandals may not be remembered as one of the program’s most successful teams, but they played a role in maintaining continuity and competitiveness during a formative period. Their season remains a piece of the broader narrative of college football’s evolution in the American Northwest.