You know things are bad when you’re chosen to finish dead last in the NCAA.
That’s where Sports Illustrated chose Idaho to finish, 117th out of 117 teams, in its college football preview earlier this year. That’s worse even than Duke, which finally pulled itself out of a three-year losing streak with a victory to start its 2002 campaign.
With a 38-21 loss to Boise State to start the season and a 49-14 drubbing at the hands of No. 11 Washington State last week, the Vandals are in a position to prove their early-season ranking correct. After Oregon, Idaho travels to San Diego State to take on the Aztecs, then travels up to Washington again for a game against the Huskies.
It’s going to be a tough year for head coach Tom Cable and the Vandals.
“I have not lost any faith, and I don’t have any negative thoughts about this particular football team,” Cable said. “I think these guys are going to be pretty good. We just have to find a way to get through this talent we’re playing as opponents right now.”
There is talent, as senior Josh Jelmberg has proven. The receiver is fourth in the nation in receptions with an average of 10 per game, two behind the nation’s leader, Kevin Walter of Eastern Michigan.
Getting the ball to Jelmberg and heading up the Vandal offense is junior Brian Lindgren, the NCAA’s all-time leader in total yardage in a single game after racking up 639 yards in the air and another 20 against Middle Tennessee last season. This year, he has been vulnerable with a sluggish offense but has managed to throw four touchdowns — two to Jelmberg. However, Lindgren’s three interceptions in two games have been his undoing.
“There is some improvement with our team, which I’m excited about, but we have to play with a level of consistency that I think we’re well aware of,” Cable said. “I don’t know that we have to play perfect, but we have to play pretty close. That’s the issue. There’s no other way to cut it.”
Where the Ducks trot out junior running back Onterrio Smith, a possible 2002 Heisman Trophy candidate, the Vandals will be sorely at a disadvantage against Oregon in the running game. The Ducks’ defensive line, a group that Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti has called one of the better lines in school history, should not be challenged by Idaho’s Zach Gerstner.
The junior from Canby leads the Vandal rushing attack with 133 yards on 40 carries. He has carried the ball into the end zone once, but his longest run so far is 11 yards.
That’s a fact not easily lost
on Cable.
“We got dominated on the line of scrimmage. Period. End of story,” Cable said after the loss to Washington State in which Idaho gained just 85 yards on 34 attempts, an average of 1.5 yards per carry. “In Division I college football, particularly who we’re playing, you’ve got to play big up front, and we just didn’t do it.”
The Ducks’ ground and air attacks are primed for a big day against the Vandal defense. Opponents have averaged 236.5 yards per game running and 273.5 per game in the air against Idaho.
A Vandal has managed to snag one interception — junior cornerback Rod Bryant’s against Washington State — but will find the going tougher against the Ducks’ star receivers.
“They have some really good receivers in Samie Parker and Keenan Howry, who are very, very good,” Cable said. “I don’t know that any team we play has two guys like them with that kind of speed and play-making ability.”
Overall, the Ducks and Vandals have met 57 previous times, although the two schools have played just twice since 1970. The Ducks lead the all-time series 50-3-4, and Idaho’s last victory against Oregon came in 1950.
With the ever-changing climate of the NCAA, Idaho could soon find itself relegated to Division I-AA. Beginning in 2004, all Division I schools must average at least 15,000 fans per game and play at least five home games against fellow Division I schools, among other guidelines regarding other sports. Last season, the Vandals averaged 16,230 in attendance and this season will play five home games, one against Division I-AA powerhouse Montana.
But for Cable, the time is in the here and now, the future be darned. Against Oregon, Idaho will have to bring its “A” game.
“The bottom line is we have to play at a very high level and then play at that level consistently to have a chance to be successful,” Cable said. “It’s another big, big test for us, but all we can do is worry about us and continue to get better and try to put some consistent play together that’s of high quality.”