Vandals Throw In The Towel In Theft Case

Towelgate has become Towelguilt.

University of Idaho last week expressed disbelief when a Logan, Utah, motel manager claimed Vandals football players swiped towels and other assorted linens during an October stay. Now, UI is admitting an unspecified number of the items have been recovered.

Idaho has told Baugh Motel management it will make good on the $800 bill, business manager Matt Kleffner said. Idaho stayed at the motel before playing Utah State on Oct. 26.

“We’re going to settle up on the Monday (Nov. 25) following the Boise State game,” Kleffner said. “We want to do the right thing. The coaches are talking to the individual players” who stayed in rooms where items were missing.

Kleffner said some of the property has been returned to his office. It will be boxed up and sent back to Utah. Idaho will cut a check to cover what isn’t returned, he said.

“I’m still kind of surprised. I don’t know how they did it,” Kleffner said. “It’s embarrassing for the kids and it just doesn’t look very good.”

An attempt to contact coach Chris Tormey on Thursday night was unsuccessful.

North Texas, which was accused of stealing $1,400 from the same motel during its stay earlier this month, suspended one player over the incident. Additionally, the team is planning to do some community service.

Idaho plays at North Texas on Saturday. (Insert your own punchlines here.)

Pokey’s return

Boise is abuzz with the return of cancer-stricken coach Pokey Allen. He was on medical leave before reassuming his duties at Boise State on Monday. Still, many are wondering why Allen would want to return to a 1-9 team so late in the season. BSU has two games left and only a handful of practices.

“I want everyone to know that I’m not here for two games,” Allen said. “I’m here for the duration… . The next time I leave, I’m gone for good.”

Allen’s doctors encouraged him to return. Allen said he was “going berserk” in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he had been receiving alternative treatments. He’s the subject of a Sports Illustrated article next week.

Interim coach Tom Mason moved back to defensive coordinator. Because I-A rules limit numbers of coaches, assistant Dan Brown was reassigned within the athletic department.

Allen is confident he can help right BSU.

“Everybody says, ‘Oh, we’re 1-9, it’s going to be a bad recruiting year.’ I walk out there and touch the blue turf and look at the stadium (expansion) and see the campus and city,” Allen said Thursday night on a Boise radio program. “We’re going to recruit the heck out of these people. We can beat almost anybody.”

And, he fired a jab at Idaho, which visits Boise in eight days.

“I don’t know what they are, 4-5?” said Allen. Told 5-4, Allen said, “… And they’re really excited. Last year what’d they end up? Six and five… . They were really excited. Man, I have trouble getting excited about things like that. Now, I’m not too excited about being 1-9 either, but …”

Notes

The Idaho-Boise State game will be televised live in North Idaho by cable channel 12… . In case you missed it, Nevada won the Big West’s berth to the Las Vegas Bowl by drilling Utah State 54-27 last week. Actually, Nevada didn’t so much as win the berth as it outsmarted everyone else in scheduling. Nevada and Utah State tied at 4-1. Idaho still can earn a title share. Nevada scheduled three I-A creampuffs in Arkansas State, UNLV and Kent, giving the Wolf Pack an advantage in a tiebreaker based on wins over I-As. , DataTimes The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - Big West football notebook