Dennis’ return, chapter two
VANDALS
It was expected, looking at the UI schedule before the season started, that two non-conference games would stand out.
The Washington State and Oregon State games. Sure, the other non-conference matchups had their cachet – Michigan State is coached by former Idaho coach John L. Smith and Idaho State was going to be the only game the Vandals would be favored – but WSU and OSU had a hook the others didn't: the old stomping ground of Dennis Erickson.
And the hooks have been the same. The lead to this Corvallis story – about Erickson not walking to the wrong locker room or sideline or whatver – is similar to the leads of all the WSU stories.
That's kind of why I've been avoiding linking to them this week. The Oregonian did a story, the Register-Guard did a story, probably the Willamette Weekly did a story.
But the real story should revolve around one question: Can Idaho win? The Beavers are favored by 23 points in the game (scheduled 7:22 p.m. kickoff; TV: FSN), so the oddsmakers don't think so.
What do you think? Let me know, because I'm curious. The Vandals played so well against Michigan State, so poorly against WSU and just good enough against Idaho State. Is this the game they put it together?
As always, there is even more information to be found on Jim Meehan's Vandal blog.