Back to the past for Vandals, Bengals
Even though it was a quarter-century ago, Paul Petrino remembers the old Idaho-Idaho State rivalry in football.
Petrino, in his sixth year as Idaho head coach, was a Vandal assistant for three seasons (1992-94). The 1993 game was played at Holt Arena in Pocatello, won by Idaho 56-27.
“It’s a great atmosphere,” he recalled. “We’ve sold all our tickets there (200, plus another 150 comps for players and coaches). I’m sure with them winning their last two games, it’ll be a packed dome. Probably be loud, enthusiastic.”
Petrino said on Sunday at practice, “I had everybody raise their hand who’s been a state champ. because this is the state championship — two teams in the same state, in the same conferemce, go battle for it and see who wins. I think there will be a lot of excitement — should be a great atmosphere.”
Idaho also won in 1992 and ’94 when Petrino was on the Vandals staff, prevailing 49-18 and 70-21 at the Kibbie Dome.
Idaho leads the all-time series 27-11. The last time the teams played when both were in the Big Sky, Idaho State won 26-21 in Pocatello in 1995. Idaho moved up to FBS in 1996, and moved back down to FCS this season.
The teams have met four times since then, with Idaho winning all four — in 1997 at Holt Arena, and in ’98, 2006 and ’08 at the Kibbie Dome.
“You just hear about the old rivalry, and being able to experience it for the first time ... it’s going to be fun,” said Idaho cornerback Dorian Clark, a fifth-year senior from Jacksonville, Fla.
WE REMEMBER YOU: ISU backup quarterback Gunnar Amos, a junior from Coeur d’Alene High, originally signed with Idaho, then transferred to Idaho State just prior to the 2017 season.
If he get the chance to talk trash to his former teammate, “I feel like I have to,” Clark said with a laugh. “We were in the dorms together; he’s a very good friend of mine. It would only make things right if I talk a little trash to him.”
FOUR FOR FOUR: Junior wide receiver Jeff Cotton, who redshirted last season after transferring from junior college, has a touchdown pass in each of Idaho’s first four games this season. For the season, he has 15 catches for 248 yards.
“I think it’s just getting the opportunities, getting my number called and making the most of my opportunities,” Cotton said. “Just going in with the mindset of beating the guy in front of me.”
NOTES: Petrino said both quarterbacks — Mason Petrino and Colton Richardson — will play Saturday. Both split time in the first three games. Richardson was suited up for last week’s win over Portland State, but didn’t play after suffering a sprained right wrist the week before at UC Davis. ... Idaho sports information director Michael Walsh said Idaho sold its allotment of tickets for the ISU game by Sept. 17, and the school has been encouraging fans to buy tickets through Idaho State since then.