Four weeks into the college football season, and the Vandals have just one win (and none against FBS teams). That's certainly not what Robb Akey expected. The good news, though: They have several winnable WAC games left. But there's also more bad news: They've played three of four games at home and still have trips to Virginia (on Saturday) and BYU.

Read on more for more about Idaho's 48-24 loss to Fresno State on Saturday and the Vandals' late-to-be-released basketball schedule.

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My game story from Moscow can be found here. As I mentioned in the notes at the bottom, tailback Ryan Bass didn't play because of an "internal" injury, Akey said. He was sick earlier in the week. Tight end Michael LaGrone, who was a consistent presence in the passing game, was hurt before halftime but came back after X-rays didn't show anything was broken, Akey said. He left the game for good after apparently aggravating the same leg injury. Akey didn't think the contusion, as he called it, was too serious.

Some interesting comments came out of the postgame press conference in regard to the Vandals' defense letting down when the offense goes into funks (which has happend A LOT this year). Cornerback Matthew Harvey -- who was beaten several times, but also had a pick and big kickoff return -- had this to say:

“I just feel sometimes the D lets the offense get to them. … We can’t let the small things get in our head.”

Harvey, receiver Armauni Johnson and running back Princeton McCarty each talked about the whole team not playing well at the same time. There are spurts here and there, which only makes it more frustrating. "I know we’re a better team," Johnson said. "We just have to show it and show everybody else that we are. That’s part of putting everything together."

Akey, for the second time after a loss this season, said UI players and coaches have “to look in the mirror” and evaluate what’s happened.

“I think it’s a matter of this football team still needing to grow up a little bit,” he added.

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The Vandal basketball schedule is finally out, and it's official: UI will continue its series with Boise State in a neutral site game at the Idaho Center in Nampa on Dec. 31. “I hope it’s a yearly thing,” Verlin said of the rivalry. “That was kind of the idea when we negotiated playing at the Idaho Center. I really hope that game gains momentum and I hope we sell it out and show the people in the state of Idaho that this is a rivalry that should happen every year.

“It’s very important for the state of Idaho and basketball. I believe we should play all the in-state schools every year, for the kids and the people in the state, and for the state itself.”

The Vandals open Nov. 12 at Long Beach State. The first home game in two days later against Concordia (Ore.)

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