Big Sky: Homeward bound

That big, blue sky looks more beautiful than ever right about now.

Yes, put us in the Vandal fan club that’s happy to see the University of Idaho commit to playing in the Big Sky Conference again starting in two years, pending Board of Education approval. But be warned: There’s certain to be turbulence ahead.

We’re bullish on the Big Sky for two main reasons. One, as longtime Idaho supporters, we remember the excitement of college football Saturdays when the Vandals squared off against the likes of Montana, Montana State and Idaho State week in and week out. Anybody who thinks UI should be disparaged for “stepping down” from the highest level of college football to the second highest level should review how Big Sky teams have fared over the years. They’re good. Montana and Eastern Washington are powerhouses that consistently challenge for the national championship at their level. These rivals closest to Moscow will ensure fans will see great football in closely contested battles.

The other reason we applaud President Chuck Staben’s decision for the gridiron Vandals to rejoin the Big Sky is because, frankly, we’re tired of seeing our team get slobberknocked more often than not while trying not to get lost in Boise State’s shadow. Boise State, with stronger urban fan and corporate support, succeeded in moving “up” to the highest level back in 1996. For the Broncos, there’s no looking back — and no reason to.

For Idaho? There’s nowhere to go but back up. Consider that when the Vandals played in the Big Sky from 1965 to 1995, they won nine conference championships — and yes, Boise State was a Big Sky member most of those years. But now? Here’s the painful truth according to Wikipedia:

The Idaho football program began competing 123 years ago in 1893,[2] and through the 2015 season, the Vandals have an all-time record of 314–518–26 (.381). This is the worst winning percentage in NCAA football history.[3] They have played in two bowl games in their history, close victories in the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise in 1998 and 2009.[4]

Ouch!

To help manage fans’ expectations, look not just over the long-term past but for the realities ahead. The Vandals should be pretty darn good this year, so success on the field in 2016 and 2017 might make fence-sitters believe the move back to the Big Sky was premature, if not flat-out wrong. This could create further fan frustration and division when unity is what’s desperately needed.

And because the Big Sky is so strong, don’t assume the Vandals will dominate just because they’re used to playing teams at a higher level. Idaho will be playing with the same number of scholarship players as everyone else in their division, so there will be no real advantage.

The truth is, Idaho probably had no other realistic option than moving back to the Big Sky. To us, however, it feels like going home — and it’s a mighty good feeling.

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Editor’s note: For another perspective, see Sports Editor Mark Nelke’s column in today’s Sports section.