The 1949 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho as a member for the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) During the 1949 college football season. Led by third-year head coach Dixie Howell, the Vandals compiled an overall record of 3âÂÂ5 with a mark of 1âÂÂ4 in conference play, placing ninth in the PCC. The team played home game on campus, at Neale Stadium in Moscow, Idaho.
The Vandals' losing streak in the Battle of the Palouse with neighbor Washington State reached 21 games, with a 35âÂÂ13 homecoming loss in Moscow. Idaho tied the Cougars the next year, but the winless streak continued until five years later. In the rivalry game with Montana in Missoula the following week, Idaho won to retain the Little Brown Stein in the Grizzlies' last year in the PCC. Montana returned the favor in Moscow the next year with a one-point upset, then the Vandals won eight straight, through 1959.
Babe Curfman was hired as the ends coach in February 1949; he became head coach in
Tackle Carl Kiilsgaard was named to the All-Coast team; honorable mention were tackle Will Overgaard, guard Roy Colquitt, quarterback John Brogan, and halfback Jerry Diehl.
Kiilsgaard was invited to play in the College All-Star Game in Chicago, held in August 1950; in which the College All-Stars defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, the defending NFL champions.
Two seniors from the 1949 Vandals were selected in the 1950 NFL draft:
Three juniors were selected in the 1951 NFL draft:
One sophomore was selected in the 1952 NFL draft: