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Key Vandals sit out; Vobora suspended

It looked to be a pretty productive, crisp practice session this afternoon at the Kibbie Dome for the Idaho Vandals. But there were a couple big names not in pads or in red, protective jerseys. Read on for details and other notes.

Also check below for more on the suspension of former Vandal linebacker David Vobora, now with the St. Louis Rams.

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First, the Vobora news. The linebacker who has made two starts for the Rams was suspended four games without pay for using a tainted supplement. Pretty shocking news. Vobora's agents say they will sue the supplement's manufacturer. Vobora was the last pick of the 2008 NFL draft after a very productive Idaho career.

Now, onto the current Vandals. They practiced without defensive tackle Jonah Sataraka (who's nursing a left leg injury) and tight end Daniel Hardy, out with an undisclosed injury. Also Shiloh Keo and JoJo Dickson wore red jerseys but should be fine to go on Saturday vs. Colorado State, Robb Akey said. Wearing the special jerseys "reminds them to hold back a little bit because those are a couple wild horse riders that will go throw it in there," Akey said. "I’d rather go throw them into the Rams than our own guys."

The coach said Sataraka's absence was routine for this time of year. The tackle had a white hose-like cloth covering his full left leg. "We’re protecting his wheel. We’ve been doing that for a couple years. We’re about five games into it, so we’re giving him today off."

The Vandals are prepping for a CSU team that Akey said is the most complete opponent that Vandals have faced thus far. The Rams are 3-1, with a win over Nevada that caught Akey's eye. "That’s another indicator to me that it’s a good football team. They took the ball away from Nevada five times. … I think Nevada’s a damn fine team, so that tells me something there. And their game with BYU; I think BYU’s a pretty good outfit and they turnover it three times but manage to keep themselves in it."

Akey also said this game means a little bit more since he's a Colorado native. He grew up in Colorado Springs. "I’d like to see us perform well because obviously, yeah, I’ve got ties back that way and a lot of people … I haven’t even seen in years are going to be paying attention to us. I’d like to see it be a big win. I know my brother would like to see it; he’s a Colorado Buffalo."

Tailback DeMaundray Woolridge, who been a fourth-quarter workhorse in the last two games, came up with a pretty good reason he's getting the ball more. "I think they’re starting to have confidence in me as a game-finisher. And it probably comes with me being a senior and knowing I have that senior urgency, that last-stand urgency. We’re playing well; I like it."

Woolridge and Co. have benefited from solid offensive line play. I'll be back later in the week with a story on the O-line.



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