Vandals, Rams headed in opposite directions

A year ago when Idaho and Colorado State met, it was a matchup of 3-1 teams with high hopes.

One year later, one team still has high hopes and the other is hurting as Idaho (2-1) visits Colorado State (0-3) today at Hughes Stadium in Fort Collins, Colo.

Last year at the Kibbie Dome, Colorado jumped out to a 14-0 lead after one quarter. Idaho chipped away, finally taking the lead early in the fourth quarter. The Rams closed to within two points late, but missed on a two-point conversion and threw an interception in the final 2 minutes and Idaho held on for a 31-29 win.

The Vandals, of course, went on to earn a bowl invitation for the first time in 11 years.

"Our football team might have been out of its comfort zone at that point in time, because we had won three games in the first four weeks of the season, and it had taken us two years to win three games," Idaho coach Robb Akey said. "At halftime we were down two scores and in the second half we came out and performed better, and saw who we were, and I like the way that we played, and it put us on a great streak.

"It was kind of a launching pad for our season, the way we turned things there in the second half."

Colorado State, meanwhile, hasn't won since. The Rams' loss to Idaho was its second straight. CSU then lost seven more to finish the season, then three more to start this season to currently hold a 12-game losing streak.

And the Rams, who are starting a true freshman (Pete Thomas) at quarterback, are also making changes on their offensive line to beef up an offense which is averaging just 42.7 rushing yards per game and has allowed 12 sacks in three games.

"We're going to get tested this week, because this is the best front four we've faced by far," Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild said. "So they'll come after us, and we're going to have to play well on the line to have any chance."