Senior Day has been a winner for Vandals

MOSCOW, Idaho – Wins have been scarce for the University of Idaho football program in recent years, but the Vandals have been successful on Senior Day the last two years.

They’ll try to make it three straight today and damage Louisiana Tech’s Western Athletic Conference championship hopes in the process.

Kickoff is set for 2:07 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome, the last call at home for 13 UI seniors, including eight fifth-year players.

The group has had to deal with a coaching change, the death of cornerback Eric McMillan in 2004 and a lean win-loss record.

“It’s been such a weird five years,” senior tight end Tim Bertalot said. “We’ve adjusted to a new coaching staff and not always winning. It’s been a strange ride.”

“My hat is off to those guys, especially the ones who have been here four to five years and hung with it through a lot of adversity,” Idaho head coach Nick Holt said. “Almost all of the guys will graduate in the spring. They are first class and they hung with it. Hopefully, we’ll play well.”

The Vandals (2-6, 2-3), picked to finish last in conference preseason polls, have an outside chance at a four-win campaign, which would probably leave them in the middle of the WAC standings. To get there, Idaho needs a win today over Louisiana Tech, which has quietly been one of the more dominant teams in the WAC. The Bulldogs’ four conference wins have been by margins of 20, 32, 17 and 10 points. Their lone loss was at Nevada.

The Vandals can equal their win totals of the 2003 and 2004 seasons with a victory. They face road dates with Boise State next Saturday and San Jose State on Nov. 26.

“We really want to play well in November,” Holt said. “We’re lucky we’ve got three more opportunities.”

With upcoming dates against conference powers Boise State and Fresno State, Louisiana Tech (5-3, 4-1 WAC) needs a win to stay in the title chase. The Bulldogs, who nabbed their first road win of the season against Utah State last week, become bowl-eligible with a victory and would cement their first winning season since 2001.

The Bulldogs can be found in the middle of most WAC offensive statistics. Mark Dillard, Freddie Franklin and Patrick Jackson have combined for more than 1,000 rushing yards, led by Dillard’s 467.

Franklin is questionable with an ankle injury.

Matt Kubik, who won a quarterback competition with Donald Allen earlier this season, has been steady with 11 touchdown passes, including at least one TD in seven consecutive games. After tossing four interceptions in his first 41 attempts, Kubik has been intercepted just twice in his last 185 attempts.

“The big thing about Matt is he can make all the throws and he can run and he manages the game very well,” Bulldogs coach Jack Bicknell said.

Louisiana Tech leads the WAC in turnover ratio (plus-9), thanks to just four lost fumbles. The stat is more impressive considering Tech was last in the nation in turnover margin after its first two games. Senior linebacker Byron Santiago has forced five fumbles.

The Bulldogs have allowed only one of their last six opponents to score more than 17 points.

They’ve stayed remarkably healthy with the same defensive starters at 10 of 11 positions in every game this season.

“They use their outside backs as down linemen (in the 3-4) and rush guys at times,” Holt said. “You have to account for the front seven because they will bring an inside backer. We have to do a good job protecting.”

Idaho is as healthy as it has been in two months up front. Only Marcis Fennell (shoulder) is limited. Guard Kris Anderson has returned from a knee injury.