John Friesz, a charter member of the Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame, added another hall of fame honor Tuesday with his induction into the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame. Friesz, along with four others, was honored at a noon luncheon at Spokane.
"This is an individual award but, in my case, I truly believe it's a team award," said Friesz, who also is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the North Idaho Hall of Fame. "I want my teammates to continue to know they are a big part of this award."
One of the most prolific passers in NCAA and Idaho history, Friesz was a three-time Big Sky Player of the Year. He holds NCAA D-1AA records for consecutive 300-yard passing games (10) and total 300-yard passing games in a season (10). Friesz ranks ninth in D-1AA history in career passing yards per game (305.6) and 12th in total passing yards (10,697).
Friesz won the 1989 Walter Payton National Player of the Year Award after leading the nation in passing and earning First Team All-America honors for the second consecutive season. Friesz was voted team MVP in 1989. The award has been named after him.
He holds Idaho's career record for passes completed (801), attempted (1,350) and average passing yards per game (305.6). Friesz had six 400-yard passing games in his career and his 98-yard toss to Lee Allen is the longest in school history. Friesz holds to the top two single-season passing totals in Idaho history, with 4,041 in 1989 and 3,677 in 1988.
Friesz was enshrined in Idaho and NCAA history in 2006 when his number 17 was retired at Idaho and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
