The Front Row with MARK NELKE September 5, 2010

Greater expectations ... greater scrutiny?

Coming off their first bowl appearance in 11 seasons, the Idaho Vandals had a lot more attention focused on them this past Thursday, when they opened their football season at home vs. North Dakota.

The Vandals won, which they were supposed to, against a team from the lower Football Championship Subdivision that was picked to finish at or near the bottom of its conference.

In the old days, a 45-0 victory would have been cause for blanket excitement. On Thursday, the Vandals were happy to win of course, but knew there were many things to improve on - pass protection, and overall precision on offense to name a couple.

But the bottom line is clear - more is expected of the Vandals after last season's 8-5 record - Idaho's first winning season since 1999.

"All day in the hotel I was (among) the most nervous I've been," said senior wide receiver Eric Greenwood, who caught a touchdown pass and also recovered an onside kick at the start of the second half to give the Vandals an emotional boost. "Not just so much for this game per se, but for this season, because I feel like we have so much talent and we have a lot to prove. I was just really excited to get it going."

The Vandals racked up 547 total yards, so maybe talk about blocking and route-running is a certain amount of nitpicking. One thing's for sure - quarterback Nate Enderle has developed a cannon for an arm. Several of his passes - particularly on seam routes - were lasers that would have knifed through defenses at just about any level.

IDAHO's DEFENSE pitched its first shutout since 1997. In past years the Vandals played soft and got picked apart. Last year was a little better, but Idaho still allowed 36 points and 451 yards per game.

This year, with 10 starters back, Idaho forced five turnovers vs. North Dakota. Safety Shiloh Keo, a fifth-year senior, was in on three of them, with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and stepping in front of a receiver for an interception and a 44-yard return.

"We have to keep proving to ourselves and the rest of the country that, hey, this is a good defense," Keo said. "And we have depth - we haven't had that in the five years I've been here."

Added Idaho coach Robb Akey: "The numbers haven't been great, and they're kind of tired of everybody banging on their backs, (saying) 'When are you going to play some defense around here?' I promise you, there was some pride and that (a shutout) was a goal."

"That (negative talk) just puts a chip on our shoulders," Keo said. "We understand that a lot of people don't really respect our defense, and that pushes us, through practices and in games. We talk about how we want to prove to this whole country, to the WAC, that hey, we're a defense to be reckoned with. You don't want to overlook the Vandals."

LAST YEAR, the countdown was to six victories to get bowl eligible. Idaho won seven in the regular season, then produced that stirring 43-42 victory over Bowling Green in the Humanitarian Bowl.

This year, Idaho must win seven to become bowl eligible, since the Vandals play 13 games this season instead of 12.

After Thursday it's one down, six to go. In two weeks, Idaho plays host to UNLV, then is on the road for its next three - at Colorado State and Western Michigan, followed by the Western Athletic Conference opener at Louisiana Tech.

Idaho is also home vs. New Mexico State, Nevada, Boise State and San Jose State in WAC play, and travels to Hawaii, Utah State and Fresno State.

The Vandals beat Colorado State, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, Hawaii and San Jose State last year. Idaho was 3-1 in nonconference games last year, and a 4-1 start this year before WAC play doesn't seem out of the question.

One game most people aren't counting as a victory is this Saturday's trip to No. 8 Nebraska, which beat Western Kentucky ???? on Saturday in its season opener.

But you never know. In any event, it should shape up as an emotional homecoming for Enderle, the fifth-year senior who played high school ball in North Platte, Neb.

"It'll be fun," said Enderle, who played some 225 miles away from Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. "My friends back home are excited about it, they've never seen me play. A lot of my family back home are excited."

How many tickets did you get for the game, he was asked.

"Enough," Enderle replied, amid laughter.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via e-mail at mnelke@cdapress.com.