Idaho’s season ends with ugly loss

The Vandals lost four games this year by a touchdown or less, prompting coach Robb Akey to continually insist his team was close. But there was nothing positive — or competitive — about Idaho's effort in its season finale, a 56-3 defeat at Nevada.

We've got details on the blowout below and quotes from UI athletic director Rob Spear, who called it an “unacceptable performance.”

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You can read the Idaho media relation's account of the game here. The Vandals closed the season with a 2-10 record and in last place in the Western Athletic Conference. In their last two road games, they lost by an average of 44 points and the offense never got on track all year. 

Between Brian Reader and Taylor Davis, who took over later in the game, the Vandals were 13-of-36 passing (36 percent) for 178 yards and three interceptions.

Nevada, meanwhile, gobbled up 587 yards of offense while QBs Tyler Lantrip and Mason Magleby combined for six touchdown passes.

“I’m very disappointed with the way we ended this season,” UI coach Robb Akey said. “I’m not happy about the record. I’m not certainly not happy about the performance today, but that certainly doesn’t break what I believe about these guys and what this team can do and what we can go make it happen.”

Akey said his staff will begin recruiting in earnest as soon as the teams flies back to Idaho tonight. “We can recruit our tails off and replace these seniors and get some guys who can make some things happen.”

First, though, he has a meeting with Spear on Monday.

The athletic director was clearly steamed in his postgame radio appearance. “I don’t even know what to say about this,” he said. “It was an unacceptable performance from our football team.”

Added Spear, “I’m going to sit down with Coach Akey on Monday and we are going to evaluate every point about this football team because we are going to get better.”

The AD said every position on the field and coaching staff will be evaluated during the meeting, as well as the players' academic performance and work in the community.

Akey, meanwhile, talked to the returning players after the game of making sure “we won’t ever live through something like this again. We’re going to get it done through hard work, and we better be ready to work.”