THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Oct. 25, 2014

A funny thing happened on the way to baseball practice at the College of Idaho for former Lakeland High standout Troy Carr.

He joined an up-and-coming football team in the Treasure Valley.

No, not that one.

The one that is just getting started again.

AFTER PLAYING his freshman year on the NAIA College of Idaho baseball team last spring, Carr still had an itch to scratch with football.

"By the end of last year, I just missed playing football," Carr said. "I'm just happy to have a chance to put the pads on again, because I know there's some that don't get that opportunity."

Fortunately, after a 37-year hiatus, the Caldwell school brought back football this fall. Carr opted to walk on to the football team last spring, and has been with them for spring drills and through summer camps.

"It's been awesome," Carr said, who is 5-foot-11, 175 pounds. "Our coaches have done a really good job of getting us ready. It's a pretty darn good group of guys, and we've been able to compete."

"At College of Idaho, there are going to be a few crossover players for both football and baseball," College of Idaho defensive backs coach/special teams coordinator Chris Petrilli said. "(Football) coach (Mike) Moroski and (baseball) coach (Shawn) Humberger have been great advocates of this, which we hope expands the type of athletes both staffs will recruit here in the future. We know Troy is a key player for them, and can't wait to support him when he's off the gridiron and in the ballpark."

Carr hit .247 as a freshman on the baseball team in 39 games last spring.

College of Idaho is 4-3, 3-3 in the Frontier Conference entering today's game against seventh-ranked Southern Oregon at Simplot Stadium in Caldwell.

The Coyotes trailed 34-28 after the third quarter in the teams' first matchup on Sept. 20 in Ashland, Ore., before the Raiders pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 56-28 win.

"We kind of fell apart in that game," Carr said. "But our coaches have done a good job of getting us ready for the game."

While playing football, Carr is missing fall baseball workouts, where he was the starting left fielder for the Coyotes last season as a freshman.

"I'm mad I missed out on fall baseball this year, but the baseball coach seemed OK with it," Carr said. "Once football season is done, it's baseball season. You've got to stay in touch with your coaches, but it's still possible to do both. It's all football until that last game is over."

AS THE program was rebuilding from its layoff, most players on campus just practiced, lifted weights and prepared for this season, using their redshirt season.

"They were running and lifting, and when spring ball rolled around, they could do that," Carr said. "I was able to do both summer camps and got rolling from there."

That was, until he injured his hamstring.

"I was out for the first seven weeks, but they gave me an opportunity and put me in on the second string," Carr said. "I started to play some of the game, didn't start, but a good amount and started getting noticed a little more and the first-string guy got hurt."

Carr, now a starting strong safety, has played in three games, and has nine tackles, one for a loss.

"He is a very conscious player and always wants to do the right thing," Petrilli said. "I think at first he held back a little wanting to make sure he was in the right position. Once he fully grasped the scheme, I was impressed at his willingness and passion for coming up in the run game and making some big hits for us."

FOR THE team's first home game against Montana Western on Sept. 13 in Caldwell, 4,961 fans showed up for the game. The Coyotes are unbeaten at home with a 3-0 record.

"It's awesome," Carr said. "The last two homes games, we've had 5,000 people come and watch. It really seems like this area is ready for an NAIA game."

In a little bit of a scheduling quirk, the Coyotes haven't shared a home date - at least right now - with Boise State.

"It's awesome," Carr said. "It's crazy how big of a fan base we're getting. I enjoy it."

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.