BOISE, Idaho — This Day In Sports…November 19, 1994, 30 years ago today:
Anybody with roots in the old Boise State-Idaho rivalry knows this story. Depending upon what side you were on, it was the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat. Going into this game three decades ago, the Vandals had beaten the Broncos 12 years in a row in football. “The Streak” divided families and offices and neighborhoods. It was exhilarating for silver and gold and torture for blue and orange, especially considering that six in a row during that run were decided by seven points or less (1986-91).
But the last two in The Streak were not competitive, with Idaho winning 62-16 in 1992 (spurring the resignation of a coach) and 49-16 in 1993. Boise State coach Pokey Allen said to friends right after the 1993 season, “This town isn’t going to put up with 3-8—I gotta do something.” That became a head-first dive into that era’s version of the transfer portal: junior colleges. Allen brought in 23 JC newcomers and transformed the Broncos roster. The result was a 9-1 season amid an instant culture switch, tough to accomplish with that many new faces.
So there’s your scene-setter. A then-record 23,701 fans packed Bronco Stadium—there to witness history, one way or the other. It was a winner-take-all game for the Big Sky championship and state bragging rights (the Vandals were also 9-1). Boise State jumped out to a 13-0 lead behind quarterback Tony Hilde and wide receiver Ryan Ikebe, two sophomore holdovers from the 1993 team. But you knew Idaho would not go quietly. The Vandals fought back to pull within three points and were about to get the ball back in the final minute for one last push. But a roughing the kicker call on Idaho against Broncos punter Danny Weeks ended it.
Boise State hung on to beat Idaho 27-24, ending The Streak. To this day, storming the field is rare on the blue turf, but it happened spontaneously after this game. Fans mobbed the goal posts in the north end zone, and Broncos offensive coordinator Al Borges wanted to join them. They pulled Borges up to the crossbar by his belt, and he pretty much made it. The dramatic day capped off a 10-1 regular season under Allen and company and gave the Broncos their first league title since 1980. Boise State would go on to win three home games in the Division I-AA Playoffs before falling to Youngstown State at the national championship game in Huntington, WV, to finish 13-2.
(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment during the football season on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra and anchors four sports segments each weekday on 95.3 FM KTIK. He also served as color commentator on KTVB’s telecasts of Boise State football for 14 seasons.)
