What Is 2002 Idaho Vandals football team

Content on WhatAnswers is provided "as is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees. Content is AI-assisted and should not be used as professional advice.

Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2002 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho during the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. They finished with a 2–10 overall record under head coach Tom Cable, playing their home games at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho.

Key Facts

The 2002 Idaho Vandals finished the season with a 2–10 overall record
Head coach Tom Cable led the team for the final time in 2002 before departing for the NFL
The team played home games at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho
They were an independent team in 2002, not affiliated with a conference
Idaho’s only wins came against Western Michigan and New Mexico State

Overview

The 2002 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. Competing as an independent, the team struggled throughout the year, finishing with a 2–10 overall record under head coach Tom Cable.

The season marked the final year for Cable, who left to join the Oakland Raiders as an assistant offensive line coach. Playing their home games at the Kibbie Dome, a unique indoor stadium on campus in Moscow, Idaho, the Vandals faced a challenging non-conference schedule.

Record: The team finished with a 2–10 overall record, their worst performance since joining Division I-A in 1996.
Head coach:Tom Cable coached his final season with Idaho before moving to the NFL, compiling a 27–33 record over six seasons.
Home stadium: All home games were played at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility with artificial turf in Moscow, Idaho.
Conference status: Idaho competed as an independent in 2002, having left the Big West Conference after 2000 and not yet joining the Sun Belt.
Wins: The Vandals secured victories only against Western Michigan (27–24) and New Mexico State (31–28), both in non-conference play.

Season Performance and Key Games

The 2002 season was defined by close losses and offensive inconsistency. Despite showing flashes of competitiveness, Idaho failed to secure a winning streak or a conference affiliation.

Season opener: Lost 38–21 to UNLV on August 29, setting a tone of defensive vulnerability.
Western Michigan win: A narrow 27–24 victory on September 21 marked their first win of the season.
Close loss to Washington: Lost 24–21 to in-state rival Washington on September 28, showing improvement against Power Five competition.
New Mexico State win: Defeated New Mexico State 31–28 on November 9, their final win of the season.
Season finale: Ended with a 38–17 loss to San Jose State on November 23, finishing 2–10.
Offensive stats: Averaged 18.4 points per game while allowing 30.2, highlighting defensive struggles.

Comparison at a Glance

How the 2002 Idaho Vandals compared to recent seasons in terms of performance and structure:

Season	Record (Overall)	Conference	Head Coach	Key Result
2000	3–8	Independent	Tom Cable	Final Big West season; transition to independence
2001	4–7	Independent	Tom Cable	Improved record; close losses to Washington State, Hawaii
2002	2–10	Independent	Tom Cable	Only wins: Western Michigan, New Mexico State
2003	5–6	Sun Belt (joining)	Nigel Burton (interim)	First season under new leadership; rebuilding year
2004	5–6	Sun Belt	Nick Bobenmeyer	Full conference schedule; modest improvement

The 2002 season stands out as a low point in Idaho’s transition era. While the team had struggled before, the drop from 4–7 in 2001 to 2–10 in 2002 highlighted instability. The lack of conference affiliation limited scheduling stability and postseason opportunities. After 2002, Idaho began planning a move to the Sun Belt Conference, which took effect in 2003, bringing more structure to future seasons.

Why It Matters

The 2002 Idaho Vandals season is significant as a turning point in the program’s modern history. It underscored the challenges of independence and prompted administrative changes that led to conference realignment.

End of an era: Marked Tom Cable’s final season, ending a six-year tenure with mixed results.
Conference realignment: The struggles accelerated Idaho’s move to the Sun Belt Conference in 2003.
Recruiting impact: Poor performance made it harder to attract top-tier talent in the Pacific Northwest.
Stadium legacy: Continued use of the Kibbie Dome emphasized Idaho’s unique home-field advantage despite losses.
Program transition: Set the stage for future shifts, including eventual reclassification to FCS in 2018.
Historical context: One of only two 2–10 seasons in Idaho’s FBS era (1996–2017).

The 2002 season serves as a case study in the difficulties faced by smaller FBS programs without conference support. While not a successful year on the field, it played a crucial role in shaping Idaho’s future decisions in collegiate football alignment and long-term strategy.