Cal Wants To Dump Idaho As A Football Opponent Once Again, Vandals Have A Problem Related To Ncaa I-Aa Classification

The issue that won’t go away Idaho’s I-AA football classification and its never-ending attempts to reach I-A - has reared its ugly head again.

University of California wants out of a Sept. 13 game with the Vandals because a victory wouldn’t count toward the bowl-game requirement of six I-A wins, Idaho athletic director Oval Jaynes said.

But the Pac-10 Conference Golden Bears already have signed a contract to play the game, reportedly worth about $125,000 to the Vandals, Jaynes said.

“They want to play us, but they don’t want to get caught with 10 I-A games,” said Jaynes, who has discussed the matter several times this week with Cal A.D. John Kasser.

Idaho apparently is asking for relief - again - from the NCAA, hoping its games can be counted toward the six-win requirement.

Idaho joined the I-A Big West Conference last year, but it remains I-AA because it doesn’t meet NCAA attendance and stadium size requirements.

The NCAA twice rejected UI in 1994 as it attempted to achieve I-A status.

Now, the Vandals are back.

“We need to get the thing resolved,” Jaynes said. “We’re trying to go through every proper channel. Since we’re a member of a I-A conference and playing by I-A rules, the rules shouldn’t penalize our opponents.”

Jaynes wouldn’t elaborate on the specifics of UI’s latest request. He said too much media attention could damage the school’s chances for a favorable ruling.

Cal is trying to line up Louisiana Tech to replace Idaho, Bears sports information director Kevin Reneau confirmed.

Idaho’s contract with Cal was signed before Jaynes’ arrival. He isn’t sure why Cal waited so long to air its gripe.

Kasser couldn’t be reached for comment. Reneau didn’t know if Cal had been “misled or misinformed.”

Idaho’s attempts to schedule future seasons have been hampered because other schools are wary of the six-win requirement, Jaynes said.

“I think Washington State would be willing to play us, but they’ve expressed concern” with the bowl requirement, Jaynes said. “I think they’ve announced that they’re playing Southwest Louisiana.”

Football coach Chris Tormey said UI’s I-AA status was a minor obstacle in recruiting.

“It really wasn’t an issue,” he said. “It came up once or twice, primarily when we went up against Big West schools.”

The three people who pushed for Idaho’s admission to the Big West - president Elisabeth Zinser, A.D. Pete Liske and football coach John L. Smith - have left for similar jobs at other institutions.

“I’ve been working since Nov. 1 on this issue,” Jaynes said. “I’ve talked to the principle people involved and researched data. We’ve requested as quick a response as possible because it’s causing us problems.”

, DataTimes