Same record, two different perceptions
One of the state’s college football teams is 2-2, probably should be 3-1, but is still pretty happy where it is one-third of the way into the season.
Another one of the state’s college football teams is also 2-2, but their fans are freaking out, wondering if they have the right coach, the right cornerback ... and what about those empty seats in their expanded stadium?
Both Idaho and Boise State are on a bye this week, giving their faithful an extra week to reflect on where they are, and where they’re going.
VANDAL FANS probably pencilled in the UNLV game as a win, so getting shellacked 44-16 at home by the Rebels was a bit of a setback on the Race to 6 (wins to be bowl-eligible). Picking off South Alabama last week in that seven-hour, double-overtime, lightning-delayed ordeal kinda/sort of made up for it.
Losing 37-28 at Western Michigan, a game Idaho led 28-19 late in the third quarter, could come back to haunt the Vandals.
Idaho has eight games remaining — seven of them Sun Belt Conference games.
The lone nonconference game is at Missouri on Oct. 21. The Tigers are 1-3, also on a bye this week, and could be 1-5 and ripe for being upset when the Vandals roll into Columbia, Mo.
Of the league games, Idaho is currently ranked (by Sagarin) ahead of Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Coastal Carolina and Georgia State, and lower than the other three teams — Appalachian State, Troy and, yes, New Mexico State.
What does that mean? Not much, really. Most of those matchups should be so close that, if Idaho gets on a roll, the Vandals could finish 8-4 for a second straight regular season. If bad luck strikes, they could be home watching during bowl season.
BOISE STATE’s start is perplexing from the standpoint that some are wondering if the Broncos just don’t have the horses they used to, as it were.
I don’t know about that, but BSU needs to pick it up over the next eight weeks to meet its usual lofty standards.
How different the feelings would have been down there if Boise State hadn’t coughed up a three-touchdown lead at Washington State? It maybe — maybe — would have eased the shock of getting trucked on the Blue last week by Virginia, a squad whose biggest win coming into the game might have been over William and Mary (though the Cavaliers only got credit for one win).
Next up is a chance to get after it at a 1-4 BYU squad which is struggling even worse than the Broncos.
After that, Boise State’s toughest games figure to be at San Diego State and Colorado State, as well as home matchups with Wyoming and Air Force.
BSU still has the moxie and the talent to plow through the rest of its opponents. But if the Broncos can’t figure it out and stumble a few more times, the rumblings will be felt throughout the state.
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.