▁in ▁Division ▁I - AA ▁by ▁Sports ▁Illustr ated ▁before ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁season . ▁The ▁V and als ▁lost ▁close ▁games ▁and ▁then ▁were ▁hit ▁by ▁inj uries ; ▁they ▁lost ▁their ▁final ▁six ▁games ▁to ▁finish ▁at ▁ 3 – 8 ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁win less ▁and ▁in ▁last ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁Big ▁Sky . ▁( Mer cur ial ▁Id aho ▁State ▁won ▁the ▁Big ▁Sky ▁and ▁the ▁Division ▁I - AA ▁title ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 1 .) ▁Dav itch ▁compiled ▁a ▁record ▁of ▁ 1 5 – 2 9 ▁() ▁in ▁his ▁four ▁seasons ▁in ▁Moscow ▁and ▁became ▁the ▁fifth ▁consecutive ▁head ▁coach ▁to ▁fired . ▁He ▁was ▁not ified ▁nine ▁days ▁before ▁his ▁final ▁game ▁( a ▁ 4 3 – 4 5 ▁home ▁loss ▁to ▁rival ▁Bo ise ▁State , ▁the ▁def ending ▁I - AA ▁national ▁champions ). ▁ ▁Dennis ▁Er ick son ▁era ▁( 1 9 8 2 – 1 9 8 5 ) ▁ ▁On ▁December ▁ 1 1 , ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁San ▁Jose ▁State ▁off ensive ▁coordin ator ▁Dennis ▁Er ick son ▁was ▁named ▁the ▁ 2 6 th ▁head ▁football ▁coach ▁of ▁the ▁Id aho ▁V and als . ▁Er ick son ▁had ▁prior ▁t ies ▁to ▁the ▁V and als ▁football ▁program , ▁serving ▁as ▁off ensive ▁coordin ator ▁under ▁Ed ▁Tro x el ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 4 – 1 9 7 5 . ▁He ▁had ▁also