Spotlight on seniors in Vandals' final home game

At the tender age of 33, interim Idaho football coach Jason Gesser is not too far removed from his senior day game, in 2002 as the quarterback at Washington State.

"I remember my last home game at Martin Stadium, and ended up getting hurt and not being able to finish that game and losing that game (the Apple Cup, to the Washington Huskies). And it sucks. Even though we were having a successful season, that last game ... it means more than most people would know."

Idaho will honor 19 seniors today, when the Vandals (1-9, 1-3 Western Athletic Conference) play host to UTSA (6-4, 1-3) at the Kibbie Dome.

One of those 19 players is linebacker Robert Siavii, who came back after missing last year with a knee injury.

"I have the utmost respect and love for that kid," Gesser said. "The passion he plays with and the things that he does, it's amazing."

Siavii missed last week with an injury, and Gesser said "I sure hope" he can play today.

In any event, the Vandals are making him an honorary captain this week.

"I can't say enough about the guy - I wish we had 85 Rob Siaviis running around out there, because he plays with so much heart, so much passion, he just lays it all on the line," Gesser said. "He's our motor, he's our juice, he's our flame."

UTSA, led by former Miami coach Larry Coker, is in just its third year as a football program, and its first and only year in the WAC. The Roadrunners will join Conference USA in 2013.

UTSA is scoring 30.2 points per game and allowing 28.7 per game. Junior quarterback Eric Soza has passed for 1,653 yards and 17 touchdowns, with just one interception. He missed two games with an injury.

"They have a really good offense, they're scoring about 30 points a game," Gesser said. "They're a bend-but-don't-break defense. They're going to come in here very hungry, because they're trying to get a bowl berth."

Of course, Idaho has bigger worries than what the other team does. The Vandals lead the 120-team FBS with 32 turnovers this season.

"They're not our opponent this week," Gesser said. "We are our opponent this week - controlling the things that we need to control, and executing, making the block, making the run, making the catch, making the throw."