Preview: Idaho at Louisiana-Monroe
UI at UL Monroe
Kickoff: 4 p.m. PDT, Malone Stadium, Monroe, Louisiana
Records: Idaho (0-0), Louisiana-Monroe (1-0)
Online/Radio: ESPN3/1080 and 1280-AM
Overview: Rain and lightning wiped out the Vandals’ season opener at Florida last week, so they’ll try again by jumping straight into Sun Belt Conference play after a 10-year absence from the league. Their welcoming party should be less than hospitable. The Warhawks have the league’s nastiest defense, having limited Wake Forest to 94 yards and five first downs in a 17-10 victory last weekend. The havoc starts with nose tackle Gerand Johnson who “makes plays all over,” said UI coach Paul Petrino, but the Warhawks live to blitz, too. That’ll be a challenge for the Vandals offensive line and Matt Linehan, who gets his first start at quarterback for Idaho after Petrino kept the mystery going through fall camp.
John Blanchette