Catching up with Idaho: Will the Vandals keep winning in 2010?
by Kevan Lee on Apr 1, 2010 7:59 AM PDT
in Boise State football
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PrintLast year's Idaho Vandals team was historically okay, even going so far as to win a bowl game. Was Vandal success an aberration? Or did it signal a turnaround for the Idaho program?
Share your thoughts after the jump, and see what the Vandals have been up to this spring and how they plan on replacing OG Mike Iupati. What are your thoughts on the 2010 Vandals? Think Robb Akey is a tool? Let's discuss.
All this week, OBNUG will be checking in with Boise State's 2010 opponents to see how their spring is going. Now: Idaho. Next: Hawaii and Utah State. Previously: Virginia Tech. Wyoming. Oregon State. Toledo. Louisiana Tech. San Jose State and New Mexico State.
The last indelible image of Idaho's 2009 season
The Vandals capped off a surprising 8-5 season with a Human Bowl win on a last-second two-point conversion that local media and fans erroneously and sacrilegiously compared to Boise State's 2007 Fiesta Bowl heroics.
Seriously?
The 2007 Fiesta Bowl: Brilliantly scripted plays run to perfection, an undefeated season on the line, a BCS bowl, 60,000-plus in attendance and a national network audience.
The 2009 Humanitarian Bowl: A fluky catch to get in the red zone, a pretty bad throw for a TD, bad clock management (not shown), absolutely zero stakes, 30,000 or so in attendance plus a curious and confused ESPN2 audience, the distinct smell of Moscow.
Not the same.
How the Vandals did against the Broncos last year
In what was billed as the renewal of a storied rivalry, the Broncos used a Titus Young kickoff return and a Brian Reader turnover fest to cruise to a 63-25 win in a game that was often not even that close.
What has changed
The Vandals are without all-world, world-sized OG Mike Iupati as well as three other starting offensive linemen from last season. Starting with four fresh faces on the line will be tough enough. Replacing leading rusher DeMaundray Woolridge and leading Ed McCaffrey look-a-like Max Komar will be even tougher. But the toughest of all? Playing your home games in a giant tupperware.
The biggest change for the Vandals will be that teams will give the requisite 110 percent against them this year as opposed to the 75 to 80 percent that Idaho got in years past. This is a Vandal team with a target on its back - a small, rather insignificant target, but a target nonetheless. Colorado State's revenge will be sweet.
What hasn't changed
A whopping ten players return on defense for the Vandals, including overrated safety Shiloh Keo. Is bringing 10 players back on defense really a good thing for a defense that gave up 157 points in three consecutive games to close the season? Nope.
Nathan Enderle is back under center and fresh off being named one of Sporting News' Top 25 quarterbacks of 2010. Enderle is apparently the new Chase Holbrook. Deonte Jackson will likely be the team's new running back now that he is fresh of a one-year stint of not mattering because Idaho had better players for awhile there.
Biggest spring storyline
Who will fill in along the offensive line?
How important is the offensive line to the success of the Idaho Vandals? Well, the defense isn't going to stop anyone. Nathan Enderle cannot exactly be described as "evasive" (I would go with "slippery portly"). And the best chance that Idaho has of winning games is outscoring the other team and hoping that Robb Akey doesn't have to make late-game clock management decisions.
The Rat Pack of Vandal line possibilities include Guy Reynolds, Jr., Clell Hasenback, Tevita HalaHolo, and Tyron Novikoff. And I am pretty sure that at least one of those is a real person.
The question: Have the Vandals turned the program around or are these still the same old Vandals?
Last year's 8-5 season came out of nowhere, considering that Idaho had been all kinds of bad in years prior. The Vandals were considered one of college football's biggest surprises, and with a complete lack of historical perspective, media sources have pegged U of I as one of the WAC's strongest teams heading into 2010.
How can that be? The Vandals I know are inept, bumbling, and outmatched in almost every way. Could they really have gone from jayvee to annual bowl eligibility in the span of one season?
There are plenty of people who believe so. Those who are pro-Vandals credit Robb Akey with a tremendous turnaround, and they believe the team has that ethereal quality of simply knowing how to win.
Those who are anti-Vandals believe that the real Idaho was the team that lost four of five down the stretch, gave up copious amounts of points, and benefited from the inevitable swing of parity.
Which side do you take?
Before you answer, here are couple of things to consider about how the Vandals might turn out in 2010. First, here is a look at Idaho's nonconference schedule:
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- UNLV
- Colorado State
- Western Michigan
The Little Giants could go 4-1 against that schedule, which is fitting because I always pictured Rick Moranis playing Robb Akey in the Robb Akey career biopic Oh Mustache, My Mustache.
Now consider this: The Vandals went 5-1 in games decided by seven points or less last season. Football is a funny game in that a bounce of the ball one way or another can often decide close games. Chances are good that you cannot replicate a 5-1 record in close games year after year. One can assume that Idaho was no better than five of the teams they beat. The Vandals were only more fortunate.
So are the Vandals destined to repeat the success of 2009? Or was last year a once-in-a-blue-moon season?
You may start disliking this person
Robb Akey
If you weren't disliking him before, you should really be disliking him now. The affable Akey has gone from public whipping boy to media darling. People love his quotes. They love his enthusiasm. They consider him one of the hottest coaching prospects in all of America and yes we are talking American football coaching prospects.
Akey is now mentioned in the same sentence as Chris Petersen, and I do not mean sentences like, "Chris Petersen is the best coach in America and - hey, Robb Akey, I was still eating that!" That fact alone is enough reason for me to dislike him.
Spring schedule
- March 23: Spring practice began
- April 23: Spring game
Spring reading
I want so badly for the Vandals to have a fan blog so that I can have an archenemy and you all can have a place for flame wars. Oh, Joe Vandal, why must you be illiterate? In lieu of a blogger, Vandal coverage can be found at the Lewiston Tribune and Scout.com. The closest thing to a blog is the work of student journalist Travis Mason-Bushman who has a mad crush on Vandal basketball.
To the comments ...
Are the Idaho Vandals for real? What are your thoughts on the supposed renaissance of Idaho football? Do you think Nathan Enderle will be a competent quarterback in 2010? Share your thoughts in the comments and in the poll.
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I never saw the resemblance before, but now . . .
"I said, if I were smart then I would save up for a piece of string and a rock to wind the string around. Everybody wants a rock to wind a piece of string around."
by casketbase on Apr 1, 2010 8:31 AM PDT reply actions 4 recs
Same Old Vandals, Same Old WAC
First off, this article took me twice as long to read as it should have. I was laughing the whole way. Well done Kevan, well done.
I don’t see much difference in the Vandals. I agree, now you get more effort out of them, at that is probably due to have a consistent coaching staff, but they are the same old Vandals. It seems every year in the WAC there is a surprise team, and it always seems to be different from the preseason pick of surprise WAC team.
I do think the Vandals could make a bowl game again this year, but I do not see them knocking off the Boise State, Fresno State, or Nevada again this year. Their defense is still terrible and Nathan Enderle does not scare anyone.
"All we can do is win the games on our schedule" - Coach Pete
Will the Vandals keep winning in 2010?
Is this an April fools joke? Because I’m laughing really hard.
"Gandhi didn't take a knee, Martin Luther King didn't take a knee, Thomas Edison didn't take a knee, and I sure as hell am not going to take a knee." - Dan Hawkins
Vandals Will Go Undefeated
They cruise through their non-conference schedule undefeated, including blowouts of Nebraska in Lincoln and Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. Next, they win the WAC by frightful scores, including an embarrassing beatdown of Boise State in the dome.
In the bowl, the Vandals take their 4th ranked team to Glendale and stomp on Texas 56-6, ending up with a final ranking of #2, nine poll points below Alabama.
April Fool’s
dude
The point of an April Fool’s joke is to actually get people to buy into it. ;)
by hummerofdoom on Apr 1, 2010 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions
He had me going...
up until I saw the words “April Fool’s”
Catch me on the BroncoNation Podcast!
by OBNUG Intern on Apr 1, 2010 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions
kudos
what galled me earlier this year was people saying that the H-bowl was the ‘best’ bowl of last season.
i hadn’t paid attention that people were serious about the comparison to the FB ’07.
now i’m upset.
Dr. William Block: You gotta lose the arm, Joe.
Joe: Lose the arm? What do you mean, lose the arm? My arm?
and isn't enderle a 10th year senior?
i graduated from highschool in ’02 and i swear he was the starter then too.
Dr. William Block: You gotta lose the arm, Joe.
Joe: Lose the arm? What do you mean, lose the arm? My arm?
Spring Reading...
Don’t forget Joe Vandal’s Twitter page. It’s just the type of beer-fueled douchiness that you’ve come to expect from Vandal fans.
i ALMOST started to follow him. you know, enemies closer thing. instead i follow some other dude whose name i don’t remember. not as much douchiness (though don’t get me wrong, by definition, as a vandal fan, he is a douche).
Dr. William Block: You gotta lose the arm, Joe.
Joe: Lose the arm? What do you mean, lose the arm? My arm?
haha ....
GREAT POST KEVAN!!
I couldn’t help but laugh all the way through!!
and for those that voted for a new vandal team??
Really??
Ur vote is better needed to save the children from (D)UI….
We even have a 2 for 1 deal, save one vandal we’ll through in a doggie bone for good treat.
Be Perfect Waterbug!!
what happened to the Vandal's strenghth of schedule?
Didn’t the Vandoll faithful brag for years about their bodybag games?
‘Boise State doesn’t play anyone, but we get hammered by the second stringers of really good teams!’
North Dakota
Nebraska
UNLV
Colorado State
Western Michigan
Playing at Nebraska for a paycheck and no return home game is ok, but the rest of this list appears to be a Jeopardy answer—‘What are four teams that shouldn’t play D1 football?’
8-5 against that schedule? 5-1 in close games against crummy teams?
I’ll take ‘Crappy Teams with low expectations for $200’ Alex.
"Directional Michigan" has actually improved over recent years
Except for Eastern Michigan (0-12). And they play at Ohio State next season. No line, I’ll betcha (s’cuz the pun).
And that's another Bronco... FIRST DOWN!!
Will Vandals Keep Winning in 2010?
Let’s keep our perspective gentlemen. Enderle is a solid veteran qb and a match for the best in the WAC save KM. He could easily have made the difference in a couple of ‘09 Vandal losses had he not been injured. The ability of a re-tooled O-line to protect an immobile Enderle will make or break Idaho‘s offense, but the Vandals have recruited well at the position.
Idaho also signed by far the best JC class in the WAC for ‘10 (six of eight players garnering blue chip status by Rivals.com) to fill holes on both offense and defense (WR, C, OT, LB, DT (2), & CB, S). As Thomas Magnum would say, "I know what you’re thinking" ten players return from a poor defense. The D likely can’t get worse and key JC players (DT, S and CB) are expected to fill the gaps immediately.
Iupati was an exceptional O-lineman, the other three graduating senior O-linemen are much more easily replaced. One of the blue chip JC transfers, Sam Tupua, was recruited by ASU, K-State, Iowa State, TCU and Southern Miss and considered by many to be the best JC center available for ‘10.
JCs is JCs
There is a reason that top schools take few JC guys each year if any. Hawaii and Idaho seem to be making a point of it. Quick fix = no long-term growth.
by Drew Roberts on Apr 1, 2010 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
before BSU became huge
they picked up a lot of JC guys. it makes the team and program look good for a few years and then you start bringing in those high school players. they are a young program and building. Im a big BSU fan but like the quote goes “keep ur friends close and enemies closer”. UofI is stealing a page out of BSUs book.
Enderle... perspective?
I just don’t know how he got on that Top 25 list. The QB roster for next season will be abysmal. You need to remember Akey himself pulled Enderle from games — not because of injury, but because he was losing the game for the Vandals. Reader came in to win (and lose) some of those last second, including Colorado State.
"Everyone counted us out. I don't know why they keep doing that." -- Kyle Wilson
i'm a homer fan
while i’m not belligerant (sp?) or outright disrespectful, i am super biased and don’t really have a balanced outlook towards dUI.
Dr. William Block: You gotta lose the arm, Joe.
Joe: Lose the arm? What do you mean, lose the arm? My arm?
They'll win some games
Some=San Jose and New Mexico State.
They will go 2-5 OOC.
That means 4 wins. That also means same old DAVs.
BSU don't need smoke and mirrors to get the job done, they got orange pants.
My in-laws are all Vandals(and there's lots of 'em)
so it was in the spirit of beneficent goodwill that I succumbed to an invitation to be entertained the same week as the Vandal victory over the vaunted Bowling Green Whatever-the-bw’s. I should have known better. I initially thought they were kidding when they compared the Humanitarian Bowl to our Fiesta win-but they weren’t. I haven’t heard so much delusion since NBC aired Jim Jones’ tapes from the Guyana Kool-Aid festival.
tvmunson
did you entertain them for the Fiesta Bowl '10?
Dr. William Block: You gotta lose the arm, Joe.
Joe: Lose the arm? What do you mean, lose the arm? My arm?
Wow, thats just classic! Im still laughing!!!
Akey is now mentioned in the same sentence as Chris Petersen, and I do not mean sentences like, “Chris Petersen is the best coach in America and – hey, Robb Akey, I was still eating that!”
"dont talk about it, be about it"
I find it funny......
I think that its funny that the Vandies are playing Western Michigan. If they win they can say " We beat the Broncos! (of western Michigan) " But it also sets up the potential for an 0 and 2 season against teams with the Bronco mascot.
"I think I know what you guys are trying to say.....We need to build a space helicopter." Nathan Explosion
Vandals
I can’t imagine the Vandals having two “good” seasons in a row. Vandal football and suckiness will always be synonymous in my book.
"Hell, I can get you a toe by 3 o'clock this afternoon... with nail polish."
Correct me if I'm wrong
Isn’t this finally the year where the Vandals can’t tout the “streak” of 12 wins over Boise after we beat them? I mean, they still can say, “We did it first,” but it only serve them one more bullet to shoot into their foot.
"Everyone counted us out. I don't know why they keep doing that." -- Kyle Wilson
You're right
I just looked it up. With Boise State’s depth, I really can’t see us losing to Idaho in the foreseeable future.
"Hell, I can get you a toe by 3 o'clock this afternoon... with nail polish."
Compare the scores from the two streaks
Idaho’s win streak has lots of close games. Boise State’s win streak has none.
One twelve game win streak does not equal the other.
Back to Candals
I think they will earn that name again this year. Last year I couldn’t really call them that except during the BSU game. They definitely got blown out there.
BSU don't need smoke and mirrors to get the job done, they got orange pants.
one thing to note
i think, Kevan, you were being overgenerous w/ attendance. with basically home field advantage they couldn’t sell out the stadium. so 30k “or so” is really giving them the benefit of the doubt.
Dr. William Block: You gotta lose the arm, Joe.
Joe: Lose the arm? What do you mean, lose the arm? My arm?
well
if Idaho really goes 4-1 against that non-conference schedule, they should do at least as good – if not better – than they did last year. If they beat UNLV, Colorado State and Western Michigan, then the likes of San Jose State, New Mexico State et. al. shouldn’t be a problem.
Also, I thought the end of the humanitarian bowl this year was pretty exciting. One of the best bowl games of the year, actually (other than the Fiesta Bowl, obviously). Definitely not 2007 Fiesta Bowl (come on, nothing is 2007 Fiesta Bowl), but still pretty cool.
last years team
was full of seniors and now they are gone, yes they filled some holes with the JC kids. i dont see the vandals being the lowly vandals like they used to be. i see them being a .500 team or maybe even 7-6 with another H-Bowl appearance. I give them at least 4 wins and no more than 7 wins next year. the way is see it now is the H-Bowl will be the Vandals bowl game and BSU will be playing BCS Bowl games. kinda like the H-Bowl belonged to BSU for a few years before we became the power house we are now. Idaho will be mediocre/ok, they might be good but they wont be great.
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