Not all one-win seasons are alike
By MARK NELKE
The win totals are similar, but second-year Idaho football coach Paul Petrino said the Vandals have made great strides from last year's 1-11 season to this year's season.
Idaho is 1-9 (1-6 Sun Belt) heading into Saturday's season finale vs. Appalachian State (6-5, 5-2) in Boone, N.C.
"I've been very optimistic all year," Petrino said earlier this week. "I think we did take a little step back the last game (a 34-17 home loss to Troy two weeks ago); that was upsetting to me. But I think on the whole year, we've improved greatly. We're a way better program where we're at right now, than we were last year at this time. Now we just need to finish this thing with a great effort, play as hard as we can, show improvement, go get a win, and then it all starts with recruiting. Have a great recruiting season, and then our offseason program ... "
Comparing scores from last season to this season would also bear that out.
see VANDALS, B2
In 2013, Idaho averaged 18.2 points per game, and allowed 46.8.
This year, Idaho is averaging 24.7 points per game, and allowing 36.5 per game.
Last year's numbers include that 80-14 whipping by eventual national champion Florida State. If you took that score out, Idaho was still outscored by an average of 43.7-18.5 points per game.
This year's numbers obviously don't include the Florida game, which was canceled shortly after the opening kickoff due to lightning.
"I know we're way better than we were last year at this time," Petrino said. "Now the journey and the goal is to get way better from now until spring ball, with the guys that we bring here in recruiting, and with the guys that we have here now, developing them into being better players."
Ailing QB: Sophomore quarterback Chad Chalich was still slowed by hip and groin injuries earlier this week. He missed the Troy game two weeks ago, after being hurt the week before at San Diego State.
Petrino said he was questionable for this week.
"He still isn't moving real well," Petrino said Tuesday. "Hopefully, at least he can be a backup, but as far as right now, he'd still be questionable."
If he can't play, that would leave freshman Matt Linehan as the lone available quarterback, as the Vandals are hoping to redshirt Jake Luton.
Petrino, asked about tweets from Sam Adams of SWX that Chalich was planning to transfer to Montana after the season, said, "That's something I really don't want to address until the season's over."
A couple of weeks ago, Petrino said he had spoken to Chalich about those reports.
Asked Tuesday if the two had spoken about the reports since then, Petrino replied, "that's something between me and him, and we'll address it when the season ends."