A ‘BYOJ’ game for Vandals
Idaho at Northern Colorado, today, noon PDT, ESPN+
By MARK NELKE
Sports editor
The Idaho Vandals will not play before a sellout crowd today for the third straight game.
Coach Jason Eck said there might be around 3,000 fans at 8,533-seat Nottingham Field in Greeley, Colo., when the Vandals (6-2, 4-1 Big Sky), ranked No. 3 in FCS, face the winless Northern Colorado Bears (0-8, 0-5) at noon PDT.
“We’ve got to do a good job of ‘BYOJ’ — bring your own juice, and be ready to go, and be ready to get excited on your own,” Eck said earlier this week, in his weekly meeting with area media. “It’s tough not to be fired up when you walk out the tunnel and you see a sellout crowd. … we have to make sure we’re not flat.”
Idaho played before sellout crowds at the Kibbie Dome in each of its last two games — the first sellouts at the Dome since the 2010 season. On Oct. 14, the Vandals started slowly and fell 23-21 to Montana. Two weeks later, Idaho started strong and scored late to edge Montana State 24-21.
After those two emotional games, the Vandals look to remain sharp in their final three regular season games. After today, Idaho travels to Weber State (3-5, 1-4) next Saturday, then plays host to Idaho State (3-5, 3-2) on Nov. 18.
Northern Colorado has lost nine straight games, stretching back to the season finale in 2022. First-year Bears coach Ed Lamb guided Southern Utah to the Big Sky championship in 2015.
“He’ll get that place going,” Eck said. “I think they’re a better team than their record would indicate – I know that sounds cliche, but they caught our attention. They were up 21-7 on Weber, which was a preseason top-10 team, and ended up losing by seven.”
The Bears also played well in a 21-13 loss to Sacramento State on Oct. 14 in Greeley.
“So, we can’t sleep on anybody, just because of where we’re at. We have to keep focusing on ourselves, and getting better.”
It was a different coaching staff and different players, but in 2019, one week after beating Eastern Washington 35-27 at home, Idaho traveled to Greeley and lost 27-24 to Northern Colorado.
Last week, Northern Colorado was held to 94 yards of total offense in a 40-0 loss to Montana in Missoula.
Quarterback Jacob Sirmon, the former University of Washington recruit and former teammate of former Coeur d’Alene High star Colson Yankoff in Montlake, has thrown for 1,355 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions this year for Northern Colorado.
David Afari has rushed for 510 yards and two TDs, and Blake Haggert has one touchdown catch.
Eck recalled that Northern Colorado led 20-17 late in the second quarter last year in Moscow before the Vandals triumphed 55-35.
VANDAL NOTES
Of the six offensive linemen Idaho played against Montana State, five were freshmen and sophomores … On defense, Idaho started three true freshmen and a redshirt freshman … Eck said edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby, who missed the Montana State game with an injury, might be back for the Weber State game. … Tommy Hauser (Post Falls High) was the Vandals scout team player of the week for the Montana game. He earned a similar honor for the Cal game in Week 3.
WATCH PARTY
Kootenai County Vandal Boosters have scheduled a watch party at the Red House at the Hayden Lake Country Club, 9891 N. Lakeview Dr., Hayden Lake. Doors open at 11 a.m. Fans are asked to carpool as parking is somewhat limited.