Northwest Notes Oct. 10, 2020
Zags to open WCC play vs. San Francisco on Jan. 2
The West Coast Conference men's basketball season is scheduled to begin on New Year's Eve, but the Gonzaga Bulldogs won't begin until Jan. 2 at home vs. San Francisco, as the WCC released its conference hoops schedule recently.
Teams will play 16 conference games, playing all but two teams twice. Gonzaga will play San Francisco and Portland just once.
The Zags' biggest home games are 12 days apart — vs. BYU on Feb. 6 and vs. Saint Mary's on Feb. 18. Gonzaga plays at Saint Mary's on Jan. 16 and visits BYU on Feb. 27, the final day of conference play.
The WCC tournament is March 4-9 at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Gonzaga has shared or outright won the WCC regular season title the past eight seasons. The Bulldogs will look for the program's 24th conference title in 2020-21. GU has shared or won 19 conference championships in the last 20 years, and 21 out of the last 23 years.
Gonzaga 2020-21 WCC Schedule
Home games in CAPS
January
2 — vs. SAN FRANCISCO. 7 — vs. SANTA CLARA. 9 — at Portland. 14 — vs. PEPPERDINE. 16 — at Saint Mary's. 23 — vs. PACIFIC. 28 — at San Diego. 30 — at Pepperdine.
February
4 — vs. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT. 6 — vs. BYU. 11 — at Santa Clara. 13 — at Santa Clara. 18 — vs. SAINT MARY'S. 20 — vs. SAN DIEGO. 25 — at Pacific. Feb. 27 — at BYU.
Vandals' 2017 football win at South Alabama to be aired today
MOSCOW — Vandal Rewind is back today at noon, featuring Idaho football’s come-from-behind win at South Alabama in 2017.
Fans can catch the action the action, including new interviews with coaches and student-athletes, on ESPN 700, 105.3 FM or on the TuneIn app, at GoVandals.com/Listen.
Weather was an issue back in 2017 when the Vandals made the trip to Mobile, Ala., to face South Alabama in their Sun Belt opener. The hot and humid conditions made things interesting, even before the game got started.
“I remember going out to the practice field, walking out of the locker room and just instantly sweating,” said Cade Coffey, a senior punter/placekicker from Lakeland High who was kicking in his first collegiate conference game. “I’m pretty sure it was like 80-85 degrees, so it was pretty warm, but it was like 80 percent humidity so everyone was just drenched. I remember once we got onto the field to warm up, pregame, I remember my cleats literally melted. It was a cool experience. It was so hot during the game that if I wasn’t on the field kicking, me, Alex Boatman and Noah Croninger were on the bench next to the fans that were spraying water on us. It was the only way to stay cool.”
Weather remained an issue throughout. The first delay came midway through the fourth quarter in a 13-13 game, sending both teams to their locker rooms for more than two hours.
“I was kind of off in my own corner, had my headphones in and was just trying to focus. Coach (Paul) Petrino got us a bunch of sandwiches, which was pretty clutch because it was like a two-hour delay. I just had my headphones in, just listening to some music trying to calm down.”
While Isaiah Saunders’ game-winning touchdown, or Alfonso Onunwor’s game-tying touchdown late in regulation, might stand out as the plays of the game, Coffey singled out a different moment in the first overtime period.
“A.J. Woodin with his clutch hold in overtime to send it to second overtime,” Coffey said. “By far. He saved my life right there.
“The snap was way to the right and AJ was able to grab it. It was way outside his body and he caught it and was able to twist around and set it down for me to kick it.”
Another weather delay forced the Vandals to wait even longer for the win. Although not called upon in the second OT, Coffey was more than ready.
“In the second overtime, their kicker missed a field goal, so it was our ball when the second lightning delay occurred,” said Coffey. “We are already in field goal range, so if Isaiah didn’t score I was going to have to kick a game-winning field goal. So I was just trying to prepare myself for that.”
DeLong, Christensen tie for sixth at Pacific Northwest Pro-Am
WARRENTON, Ore. — PGA Professional Mike DeLong and his amateur partner Bob Christensen of The Coeur d'Alene Resort finished in a tie for sixth at the Pacific Northwest Pro-Amateur Championship on Friday at the Astoria Golf and Country Club.
DeLong and Christensen shot a 66-65—131, 13 under par for the two-day tournament.
Pro Brady Sharp and amateur Tyler Daniels of Wine Valley Golf Course in Walla Walla shots 65-62—127, 17 under par, to win by two strokes.
Teams played a four-ball format.
Two local teams finished in a three-way tie for 13th at 11-under 133 — Billy Bomar (Prairie Falls) and Andrew Von Lossow (Indian Canyon) shot 69-64, and Corey Prugh (Community Colleges of Spokane) and Reid Hatley (Hayden Lake) shot 65-68.
Boise State: No to fans, yes to fan cutouts at home football games
BOISE — Following conversations with local health authorities, Boise State has determined it is in the best interest for the health and safety of our community to forego having fans in Albertsons Stadium for football games at this time.
Boise State will continue to monitor the situation in the Treasure Valley throughout the course of the season.
Instead, Boise State is offering cutouts that will be placed in the stadium for the 2020 season.
For $50, fans can upload a photo and be represented this fall at Albertsons Stadium. Cutouts will be placed in the stadium, and fans will have the option to pick up their cutouts at the conclusion of the football season.
Cutouts will be available for purchase soon, and links will be publicized on the Broncos’ social media channels.
Boise State learns its
Mountain West hoops schedule
Boise State's men’s basketball team will begin its 18-game Mountain West Conference slate Dec. 29, hosting San José State. The league announced the full conference schedule Friday, subject to approval from state, county and local officials. Exact game dates are subject to significant change to accommodate television selections.
Boise State plays three of its first four conference games at home. The Broncos went 8-1 in league games at ExtraMile Arena last year. Boise State closes the regular season with back-to-back road games at Utah State and Colorado State, ahead of the 2021 Mountain West Championship set for March 10-13 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Each of the 11 Mountain West schools plays eight home-and-home series, and play two other teams just once. The Broncos will not host New Mexico and will not travel to Air Force.
The NCAA previously announced the first date of competition will be Nov. 25, and teams are permitted to play up to 27 games, if participating in a multi-team event. The Broncos are slated to participate in a multi-team event (Orlando Invitational), meaning they can play a maximum of nine nonconference games. Further details about the nonconference portion of Boise State’s schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Mountain West and Atlantic 10 Conference previously announced the leagues’ challenge series has been postponed, due to the season’s delayed start date. The challenge will now begin in December 2020. Boise State was originally scheduled to play at Rhode Island (Dec. 5) as part of the challenge.
Preliminary Boise State Men’s Basketball Mountain West Schedule
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
December
29 — vs. SAN JOSE STATE.
January
2 — vs. AIR FORCE. 5 — at San Diego State. 9 — vs. COLORADO STATE. 12 — at UNLV. 16 — at Fresno State. 23 — vs. UTAH STATE. 26 — vs. WYOMING. 30 — at San Jose State.
February
2 — vs. UNLV. 6 — at Nevada. 9 — at New Mexico. 13 — vs. FRESNO STATE. 16 — at Wyoming. 23 — vs. SAN DIEGO STATE. 27 — vs. NEVADA.
March
2 — at Utah State. 6 — at Colorado State.