Akey has no doubts about decision
Idaho football coach Robb Akey isn't budging. He said today it wasn't a difficult decision to go for two at the end of the first overtime in a 21-20 loss at Virginia on Saturday. The Vandals didn't convert, but Akey said "there's no question in my mind" that it was the right call.
We've got a summary of Akey's comments to reporters from earlier in the day. See below.
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The Vandals (1-4) have Louisiana Tech (1-4) at the Kibbie Dome on Saturday at 2 p.m. This is homecoming week for UI, and a win would snap a three-game losing streak.
On the injury front, Akey said receiver Preston Davis (foot) won't play this week and defensive tackle Michael Cosgrove, who missed the second half against Virginia, is questionable with a groin injury. Akey is expecting taiilback Ryan Bass (internal injury) to come back after two weeks out, though he wasn't certain. Defensive end Benson Mayowa (knee) was injured last week in practice and didn't play against UVa -- he's expected to miss at least another week.
On team's psyche after loss: "There were a lot of things I do think we can build on. I don’t think anybody is sad or disappointed. I think they’re upset. I think that’s the way it ought to be."
On two-point conversion call: "If I’m going to stand there in front of them and talk about laying it all on the line … I’m talking out of the both sides of my mouth if I don’t coach them that way. There was no question in my mind that was the right thing to do. We had fought our tails off to get ourselves the opportunity to win the game. ... A two-point play and we win the ballgame right now. If I’m going to ask them to play that way, I need to coach them that way.
More on decision: "It wasn’t a difficult decision, and it was no different than the two-point play that everybody was happy with that gave us the opportunity to go to overtime. ... If we made the play, everybody is happy and excited about that. There’s no question in my mind. There wasn’t then and there’s none now."
On performance against UVa: "Our defense gave up those scores and then played pretty stout the remainder of the game. … (On) offense, we had four trips inside the red zone and came out six points. So that wasn’t so good. … Getting down to the red zone, that needs to produce touchdowns."
On Justin Veltung, who had a big game last year against La Tech: "I think he is healthy and I think his body has responded well. We need to count on him to make some plays. ... He’s got good shake-it-up ability. He’s able to accelerate well. He’s also a tremendous competitor, and that’s a good aspect to have in a guy that has those tools. And he’s a guy that’s hungry for the ball."
On Veltung's health: "He’s able to go, so he’s as 100 percent as he’s going to be. … So, yeah, he’s in full-time mode for us."
On what the team took away from last week: "Our football team has found that if we just play our tails off, leave it all out on the line, we’ve got the ability to beat anybody that we’re going to line up and play against."
Akey also praised the play of defensive tackle Quayshawne Buckley, who had a sack in his first career start, and senior linebacker Korey Toomer. Buckley started over Karel Kearney, but also played at the other tackle position when Cosgrove went down. Meanwhile, Akey said redshirt freshman DT Jesse Davis, who played quite a bit in the second half as well, gets better every week.