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Vandals California bound
Time to polish off the game preview for Idaho's game at top-ranked USC. I'll warn you now, there isn't anything from the USC angle.
Holt likes UI-USC
S-R columnist John Blanchette has this take on Nick Holt's insistence on putting Idaho on USC's schedule.
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Vandals challenge - to score
You knew it was coming, the Los Angeles media doesn't think much of the Vandals, who face top-ranked USC on Saturday. The Trojans, 10 prep all-American running backs strong a few short days ago, are now down to about four possible starters.
And former Vandal coach Nick Holt still thinks this game is a good idea.
Vandals preview
The first of our college football previews this week is Idaho, with new coach Robb Akey giving the Vandals not only a new look but a new attitude. It includes a list of five changes for the program.
The two deep that ran with the story is on the previous post.
Also, the Robb Akey Radio Show starts on Wednesday.
Vandal depth charge
Idaho football fans, a sneak peak at the Vandals depth chart.
Idaho scheduling philosophy
We started out our college football previews with a look at the Idaho and Washington State scheduling philosphies.
Monday is our Idaho preview but as of yet we haven't received the two-deep roster.
Help the Vandals
The Vandal Soccer team will be holding a fundraising Car Wash tomorrow from 9 am to 1 pm in the Palouse Empire Mall parking lot by Sherwin Williams.
This fundraiser is to help pay for their spring trip to England. It is a donation Car Wash and they would love to see everyone there!
The Vandal football team practices Saturday at 2:45 until about 5 p.m.
Vandals focus on Vandals, thinking USC
Maybe it's a gorilla on their back, an on-coming freight train in a tunnel or a chance to make history.
Whatever, it's a season opener like none other the Idaho Vandals have faced since the first kickoff in 1894.
The Vandals face USC next Saturday, the top-ranked team in college football and the darkhorse pick to grab a wildcard berth in the NFL playoffs.
As UI coach Robb Akey said at practice Thursday: The question is: Is USC ready for us?
Vandals start Hall of Fame
Idaho is starting a Hall of Fame and it's an impressive list of names that are going in in 2007 and 2008.
What are your thoughts on the two classes and memories of some of the members?
Also, booster lunches begin Monday.
Joseph suspended one game
Third string quarterback Chris Joseph has been suspended for Idaho's season opener at USC.
Vandals arrested
From the Moscow-Pullman Daily News:
"Two current University of Idaho football players, one former Vandal and a track and field athlete were charged Sunday with misdemeanor marijuana possession. All were given criminal citations and released.
"Idaho’s third string quarterback Chris Joseph, injured wide receiver Wes Williams, former Vandal defensive lineman Ryan Davis and track athlete Lindsey Goodman were stopped Sunday heading westbound on state route 270 toward Pullman. The car the four were traveling in was stopped after the police received a call at 7:40 p.m. from another motorist complained the car was tailgating her."
Vandal defense shines
Oh, what a great Sunday ... rainy weather and all.
After a nice Saturday with my wife - her birthday is not at the perfect time to prepare for a football season, it is at a good time to share a special day before a season where there is rarely a day off - I could hardly wait to read the Sunday paper.
In addition to the Idaho scrimmage, I didn't know anything about what happened in the sports world on Saturday. Mariners and Seahawks, nothing. A quiet cup of coffee and the paper.
It's good the hear coach Akey is happy the Vandals are making progress, though the offensive numbers weren't as good as they were on Wednesday.
The Lewiston Tribune had more.
The Daily News has this update on the Kibbie Dome remodel.
An alert Vandal, OK, so he leaves in Oregon, forwarded this Dennis Erickson story out of the Portland Tribune. Raise your hand if you've heard this before but it ends with Erickson saying he feel fortunate to be able to finish his career at Arizona State. Will Sund Devil fans be upset if he leaves for a $5 million NFL offer?
Vandal offense improves
The roller coaster ride that is fall football camp continued for the Idaho Vandals but Wednesday's ride was considerably smoother than last Saturday’s camp-opening scrimmage.
Vandals release BB schedule
The University of Idaho men’s basketball team has announced its schedule for the 2007-08 season. The season marks Idaho’s third as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.
“We really like our schedule and it fits well with where we are at right now,” Idaho coach George Pfeifer said.
The Vandals begin the non-conference season at home for the second-consecutive season when they match up with Cascade College, Nov. 9. Idaho also will face Idaho State and Eastern Washington at home and will be on the road to meet 2007 NCAA Tournament participants Gonzaga and Washington State, UC Riverside, and Arizona State. The Vandals also will play a home-and-home series with South Dakota State and Central Arkansas.
“We are set to face some challenging opponents during the non-conference season and Gonzaga and Washington State will be top-ranked teams again. We should be competitive during the non-conference portion and it will help us get ready for WAC play,” Pfeifer said.
The WAC schedule begins with Idaho at home for three games beginning Jan. 2 vs. New Mexico State.
“The WAC schedule offers us better spacing than last season as far as our home and away game placement. It should offer us a better opportunity to seek success in the league,” Pfeifer said.
Idaho again will be a part of the ESPNU Bracket Buster Tournament field and the Vandals will meet their opponent Feb. 23.
Vandal update
It's a newsy Monday morning for Idaho fans and once again we'll try the "missing" link to update you on football and golf.
WAC roundup
News and notes of interest to Idaho fans....
Boise State's golf coach didn't fare as well as Vandal grad Ryan Benzel in the first round of the PGA Championship. (By the way, Benzel, who had an opening 71, tees of late today and at last check the diary wasn't updated after Thursday's round.)
The Broncos expect wide receiver help from two true freshmen ... By the way, BSU could play in China in 2009.
The intensity is up at Fresno State.
Greg McMackin goes to great lengths to coach defense for Hawaii.
News from New Mexico State and the Aggies plays for a 3-4 defense.
There was a skirmish at Nevada, between player and coach, and the Wolf Pack lose a top recruit.
Louisiana Tech gets underway ... The focus at Utah State is offense with a wide-open quarterback battle.
Benzel shots 71
Playing with Steve Flesch and Bradley Dredge in the first group of the No. 1 tee, Idaho alum Ryan Benzel shot a 1-over 71 in the first round of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., on Thursday.
When Benzel finished his round, the leading score was a 1-under by Mark Wilson, who was in the first group off the 10th tee at 5:30 a.m.
Flesch and Dredge shot 72 and 73, respectively.
At that time, the leaders, Aaron Oberholser and John Daly, were 4-under on the backside of their rounds. Tiger Woods had dropped from 3-under to 1-under through 13. There were many high scors for golfers still on the course but Phil Mickelson was among the afternoon tee times.
Vandals depth
Vandal fans, I hope you're reading the diary from Ryan Benzel's trip to the PGA. Wednesday's entry isn't up. Benzel went off with the first group at 5:30 this morning. He is one of par through 10 holes.
I'm going to test my extended link and talk about football. ... And, after further review, the extended link still isn't ready so here we go:
Did you ever have the sinking feeling you were forgetting something and you didn't know what it was? That happened to me yesterday and late last night I remembered I was going to share with you an unofficial depth chart from the first pad practice.
Sorry it's late but maybe this will help you if you catch the scrimmage today at 2:30.
First offense:
QB Nathan Enderle, RB Deonte Jackson, FB Rolly Lumbala, TE Eddie Williams, WR Raymond Fry, Max Komar, Lee Smith, LT Billy Bates, LG Mike Iupati, C Adam Korby, RG Adam Juratovac, RT Kris Anderson.
Second offense:
QB Brian Nooy, RB Jayson Bird, TE Peter Bjorvik, WR Maurice Shaw, Eric Greenwood, Steve Brown, Ryan Heacock, LT Kellen Beam, LG Brandon Schulte, C Irvin Stevens III, RG Marcis Fennell, RT Bryce Sinclair.
Third offense:
QB Chris Joseph, RB Devon Sturdivant, WR Bobby Corey, Nick Conley, David Hardy, Dewey Hale, LT Matt Cleveland, LG Kal Jensen, (apprently I missed the center) RG Spencer Towne, RT Tyrone Novikoff.
Keep in mind, it was just three offenses running plays down the field. When they went against the defense, a lot of players mixed and matched. Also, I'm still struggling to match names and numbers and it takes a while as I glance at my roster because of double numbers. But it's a starting point.
First defense:
DL Siua Musika, Josh Shaw, Aaron Lavarias, Ben Alexander, LB Jo Artis Ratti, Brandon Ogletree, David Vobora, CB Stanley Franks, Eric Hunter, S Shiloh Keo, Chris Smith.
Second defense:
DL Jonah Sataraka, Taylor Rust, Fonomanu Sekona, LB Paul Senescall, Justin Allen, Joseph Dickson, Jonathan Faraimo, CB T.J. Taylor, Breyon Williams, S Brandon Nystrom, Quin Ashley (who sprained an ankle).
Defense is a little harder to follow with a 3-4 at DE can be standing as a linebacker (Ben Alexander) or there can be four linebackers. Plus, a safety crowds the line. But again, it's a starting spot to start following battles.
Vandals don full pads
The Idaho football team took the field Tuesday morning in full pads for the first time.
But, before we get to that, apologizes to Vandal fans. In past posts I've put a line "In other news" at the end of the post and nothing followed. It's a technical thing I can blame colleague Jim Meehan for. We have two screens we can type in, one for the lead and then another for extended entry. That keeps the posts from being real long on the surface, then there is a link that says Read full entry. Unfortunately, you have to request to get that activated and Jim didn't, and I didn't know that. (Now I know that is where all that WAC information I filed from San Jose went. So, sorry Vandal fans, I'll get that fix tomorrow.
Here is that extended entry from Monday: Joe Vandal produces some good publicity for Idaho. ... The volleyball team is picked third in the preseason WAC poll. ... UI distance star Melinda Ouwerkert was honored by the Western Athletic Conference. ... Three former Vandals fared well in their national track championships. ... The women's tennis team added a player out of Brazil and another from Romania. ... The women's soccer team is playing host to Junior Day on Sunday. ... I mentioned the new turf going into the Kibbie Dome but it is a week behind schedule because of a slight problem getting started. Apparently the first shipment was defective. There should be no problems because crews are working around the clock to get the job done well before the opener. ... With the right system, fans can see up to eight football games on TV. ... The UI football schedule is the 55th toughest in the nation. .... Idaho is among the best in gender equity.
Now, about the first day in pads. Tomorrow's story is from the eyes of center Adam Korby, the offensive captain. He gives his taken on the green offensive skill players and the thin defensive line. He's confident and coach Robb Akey is happy.
Limited space kept a little more out of the paper and I'll add that here.
Akey said they were down to two veterans (from five) in question: one finishing summer classes, the other waiting on grades, but there should be no issues. The NCAA Clearing House has not finished its business with a few newcomers and only one has Akey worried.
If you're wondering why coach Akey started his first fall two days before the Cougars, who play their first game on the same day, and a week before Eastern, which plays its first game a day earlier, here's his explanation.
"We all get the same opportunities," he said. "What we did was come in as early as we possibly could. That way we got the kids around here longer. The practice times are going to be the same but we have maybe a little more retention time, a little more teaching time to try to get some new things together with new kids and even returners because this is their first fall camp with us.
"You wouldn’t mind having a couple more practices. At the same time, they’ve done a nice job of taking care of their bodies. With ou
Idaho update
It's time to catch up with non-football Idaho news and there is no better place to start than with golf - hey, summer isn't quite over yet, except for football teams.
Former Vandal Ryan Benzel has qualified for the PGA Championships is week and there is a daily blog update on the Vandal website. The blog is being written by former UI coach Brad Rickel. In case you missed it, Rickel just took the job at Gonzaga.
In other news....
Family first practice for Vandals
Sorry about the delay in posting the story about the Vandals' first football practice.
It's another lovely day and I couldn't pass up the chance to start it with a long bicycle ride. When I got home, the boss was washing cars and I got drafted. Until it was time to fix three sprinklers, I couldn't think of an excuse to get out of work.
Vandals first practice
Just returned from Moscow and the Vandals' first football practice.
Rookie coach Robb Akey was his usual enthusiastic self, leading his team through a fast-paced and pretty crisp practice.
Very little news to report. There are 73 scholarship players (a dozen below the limit) with five players waiting on summer school grades. The coach expects no problems.
All the recruits made it in, although a couple are waiting to get the OK from the NCAA Clearing House. One may have an issue.
He also welcomed 26 walk-ons and said all would get a chance.
And, as you alert readers already knew, WR Corey Rhoane did not return. The decision became final last week and surprised the coach.
It's time to write a story, which we'll link to tomorrow.
Vandals practice
Here is the practice schedule for Idaho football team, leading up to school and the season opener at USC on Sept. 1.
Aug. 3 - 2:30 p.m. practice (helmets only)
Aug. 4 - 2:30 p.m. practice (helmets only)
Aug. 5 - 9 a.m. practice (shells)
Aug. 6 - 9 a.m. practice (shells)
Aug. 7 - 9 a.m. practice (full pads)
Aug. 8 - 9 a.m./7 p.m.
Aug. 9 - 2:30 p.m. scrimmage
Aug. 10 - 9 a.m./7p.m.
Aug. 11 - 2:30 p.m. scrimmage
Aug. 12 - 2:30 p.m.
Aug. 13 - 9 a.m./7 p.m.
Aug. 14 - 2:30 p.m.
Aug. 15 - 9 a.m./7 p.m.
Aug. 16 - 2:30 p.m. scrimmage
Aug. 17 - 9 a.m./7 p.m.
Aug. 18 - 2:30 p.m. scrimmage
Aug. 19 - off
Aug. 20 - off, school starts
We'll be at the first practice to check in and count bodies.
WAC wrap
Here's a wrap up of stories from the WAC football preview gathering in California, starting with our story on the player reaction to new Idaho coach Robb Akey.
Of interest to Idaho fans is that new turf is being installed in the Kibbie Dome this week.
