▁after ▁a ▁season ▁as ▁an ▁independent ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁and ▁eight ▁seasons ▁in ▁the ▁Western ▁Athlet ic ▁Conference ▁( W AC ), ▁which ▁dropped ▁football ▁after ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁season . ▁ ▁The ▁V and als ▁were ▁previously ▁in ▁the ▁Sun ▁B elt ▁( also ▁football ▁only ) ▁from ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁through ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁after ▁the ▁Big ▁West ▁Conference ▁dropped ▁football . ▁ ▁The ▁Id aho ▁football ▁program ▁began ▁compet ing ▁ ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 3 , ▁and ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Coast ▁Conference ▁from ▁ 1 9 2 2 ▁to ▁ 1 9 5 8 . ▁It ▁was ▁then ▁an ▁independent ▁until ▁ 1 9 6 5 , ▁when ▁it ▁began ▁league ▁play ▁in ▁the ▁Big ▁Sky ▁Conference . ▁At ▁the ▁time , ▁the ▁other ▁four ▁football ▁programs ▁in ▁the ▁conference ▁were ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁College ▁Division ▁( today ' s ▁Division ▁II ), ▁while ▁Id aho ▁remained ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁University ▁Division ▁( today ' s ▁Division ▁I ) ▁through ▁ 1 9 7 7 , ▁except ▁for ▁an ▁invol unt ary ▁dem otion ▁for ▁ 1 9 6 7 ▁and ▁ 1 9 6 8 . ▁It ▁maintained ▁its ▁status ▁by ▁playing ▁a ▁majority ▁of ▁games ▁against ▁University ▁Division ▁oppon ents . ▁ ▁A ▁char ter ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Big ▁Sky ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 3 , ▁Id aho ▁did ▁not ▁particip ate ▁in ▁league ▁play ▁for ▁football ▁until ▁