Vandals Welcome Underdog
This is a game to which one standard football cliche just doesn’t apply.
Can’t use the old, “There’s a sense of urgency.”
Nope. We’re forced to go with “Turnabout is fair play,” and, “The shoe’s on the other foot.”
The past two weeks, Idaho has gone into games as underdogs, giving away size, speed and scholarships to Wyoming and San Diego State.
Today, the equation is reversed as the Vandals’ 1996 home-opening assignment is Saint Mary’s, a Division I-AA team, at 3:05 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome.
Saint Mary’s, visiting from Moraga, Calif., has 13 scholarships. Idaho offers 72. More than half of the Gaels’ starters were once walk-ons. The Gaels have four full-time assistant coaches to Idaho’s nine.
“We know our strengths,” Saint Mary’s coach Mike Rasmussen said. “We don’t try to over-schedule. We don’t want to play 10 Idahos.”
Does Saint Mary’s have a chance against one Idaho?
“We’re going to have to play error-free,” Rasmussen said.
Before trotting out the tissues, be forewarned that Saint Mary’s has made a habit of wresting accomplishments from sparse resources. The Gaels have had six consecutive winning seasons, with Rasmussen 40-20-1 during that time.
And recall, too, that Idaho didn’t exactly get bullied around by Wyoming and San Diego State.
It is fair to note, though, that Saint Mary’s hasn’t played a Division I-A football opponent since 1950. The Gaels didn’t play at all between 1951-1966 because its program, impressive among small schools before World War II, was defunct.
Still, UI coach Chris Tormey said, “They’re impressive on the field.”
Tormey compares Gaels quarterback Sean Laird to Boise State’s mobile, strong-armed Tony Hilde. Receivers Ricky Ellis and Blake Tuffli each had six catches in last week’s 27-23 victory over Boston University. However, the Gaels gained only 22 net rushing yards on 36 attempts.
In other words, the Gaels’ offense has mirrored Idaho’s thus far - not much running, a whole bunch of passing.
Expect Idaho to address its ground deficiency against a Saint Mary’s defensive front seven made up of 215- to 230-pounders.
“It’s a matter of execution,” Vandals running back Joel Thomas said. “Everyone has been taking turns screwing it up.”
Thomas added that he’s rusty. He broke his foot in the second game of the 1995 season and missed the rest of the year.
“I haven’t played in a while,” he said. “I was really nervous before our first game. It was like being a freshman again.”
UI’s other concerns have been turnovers (minus 7), penalties (22) and pass defense (405 yards allowed per game).
“The upside of playing two quality football teams right off the bat is you find out right away where your weaknesses are,” Tormey said. “We’ve got some time to correct those deficiencies.”
Beginning today.
Notes
This game filled an opening on each team’s schedule after University of the Pacific dropped football. … Idaho has won a school-record 13 consecutive home games. … Ryan Fien has passed for 923 yards, a record for an Idaho quarterback, in two consecutive games. … A crowd of about 10,000 people is expected. Fans are advised to leave early for the stadium because of construction that bogs down Moscow streets. … Idaho linebacker Ryan Phillips (hamstring) isn’t expected to play, but linebacker Jason Shelt (hamstring, back) and defensive tackle Tim Wilson probably will.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Vandals vs. St. Mary’s
MEMO: Cut in the Spokane edition