Jim Meehan

"Oregon State is expected to get off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 1967." Alan Malamud, Los Angeles Times. "The Beavers should win their first three games (Idaho, Pacific, North Texas)." Geoffrey Arnold, The Oregonian. For only the fourth time in his five years at Oregon State, football coach Jerry Pettibone wakes up this morning with his Beavers favored entering a game. He probably didn't sleep well. "That's not us saying those things, that's the media," said Pettibone, whose Beavers tangle with Idaho in the season opener today at 1 p.m. at Parker Stadium.

Idaho football coach Chris Tormey has made a move at quarterback. Well, more so at wide receiver, but it involved a quarterback. Redshirt freshman Robert Scott has been switched from quarterback to wide receiver, leaving senior Eric Hisaw and sophomore Brian Brennan to battle for the starting quarterback job. If it's any consolation, Scott can rest assured he wasn't exactly beaten out at quarterback. It's just that wide receiver has surfaced as a problem position.

And how did you perform, Eric Hisaw, during Idaho's first full-squad, padded football practice Wednesday morning. "Terrible," Hisaw said.

For much of his time since he was hired in January, new Idaho coach Chris Tormey has done everything but coach football. He has impeccable attendance at UI booster events, golf tournaments and fund-raisers. He's circulated the campus to become familiar with co-workers. He's met with UI living groups - dorms, fraternities, etc. - to brainstorm methods of enticing more bodies into the Kibbie Dome. Now though, Tormey goes back to being a football coach.

Here's a sampling of successful North Idaho College athletes in the last three decades, including their hometown, and what they've done after leaving NIC: MEN'S BASKETBALL Lewis Lofton, of Centralia, Wash., went on to start at Weber State, NCAA Tournament qualifier in 1995;

In 1960, the year before Rolly Williams arrived as then-North Idaho Junior College basketball coach and athletic director, the basketball team competed in the Coeur d'Alene city league. His team didn't have a schedule and didn't belong to a conference. Williams swept floors, washed towels, called plays and constructed the basketball program while spurring the addition of other sports at the school.

Idaho and Eastern Washington apparently will continue their rivalry, even after the Vandals leave the Big Sky Conference following this season. "We remain on Idaho's and Boise State's schedule for a couple years," EWU coach Mike Kramer said during the Big Sky Football Kickoff meetings on Saturday. UI and BSU will join the Big West in 1996.

Mike Kramer made a promise Saturday. The Eastern Washington coach told the media gathered at the annual Big Sky Conference Football Kickoff that the Eagles have landed this year.

If you think Idaho will change its philosophy because the Vandals have a new coach, here's hoping you've stocked up on food and beverage. Because you're in for a long wait.

1. Hard-hitting Marlin Harris is modern-day member of team. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review 2. The Falls won state and regional titles in 1971 and had four players named to the all-time team and others given honorable mention. The 1971 team included (back row, from left): Wes Fuller, Duane Schultz, Rolly Williams, Darce Driskel, Bill Bush, Jim Wilund. Front row: Dick Schultz, John Pixler, Billy Morton, Doug Wood, Buck Wilhelm. Not pictured: Jack Bloxom. Photo courtesy CdA Parks and Recreation. 3. Don Owen, shortstop for Western Truck Brokers, was a close winner. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Entering Friday's doubleheader, Coeur d'Alene was sputtering following a disastrous 1-5 tournament and Prairie was humming along after playing well at a Spokane tourney. Can you say flip-flop?

About the time the World Series rolls around, a Hayden couple figures to hit a grand slam at the cash register. You may recall reading about Hayden resident Allen Cherry and his wife Alyne, in a February article in The Spokesman-Review. They're the owners of a baseball from the first All-Star game, in 1933. The American League ball, signed by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and others, was a gift from Alyne's father, Pepper Martin, the former St. Louis Cardinals great.

All Chad Anderson needs is a Hollywood agent. He's got the radiant smile and the Charlie Sheen haircut from the movie "Major League" - with the blazing fastball to boot.

The Idaho men's basketball team recently concluded its twoweek trip to Austria and Hungary, and that can only mean one thing: UI coach Joe Cravens has fresh story-telling material.

Former Eastern Washington University football coach Dick Zornes is one of six finalists for the head coaching job at Sacramento State. Zornes should know by early next week if he's Sac State's choice. He interviewed for the position on Wednesday.

Lake City players Dawn Nipp and Sandy North comfort each other after loss in championship game. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

Coeur d'Alene High's shoddy defense opened the door and Lewiston came barging through - bats first. The Bengals clubbed CdA 12-6 to capture the State A-1 baseball title on Saturday night at Hawks Memorial Stadium.

A-1 softball See Kelly pitch. See Kelly hit. See Kelly score the winning run. Lake City High softball was fairly elementary on Friday. Senior Kelly Nelson pitched a three-hitter and slapped a seventh-inning double to fuel the Timberwolves' 2-1 semifinal victory over Nampa in the State A-1 fastpitch softball tournament at Gabiola Field.

Coeur d'Alene's Mark Scates pitches to Hillcrest in a second-round game. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

Kelly Nelson befuddles Caldwell, and defensive help from shortstop Stacy Dawson and third baseman Amber Orr aided 6-2 win. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

During the World Cup soccer competition last summer, a sarcastic Chicago columnist wrote: "World Cup Fever... Find it." You will be able to find soccer fever in Coeur d'Alene this weekend. In fact, you probably won't be able to avoid it - and there's no need for immunization.

This will not be a sequel to Chevy Chase's European Vacation movie. There will be some fun (sightseeing) and games (seven) during the University of Idaho men's basketball team's 16-day trip to Europe. The Vandals depart from Spokane this afternoon and touch down in London on Tuesday, take a 3-hour bus tour and then begin a routine of a roughly a game every other day. For one thing, the only credits in Chase's movie were the kind that rolled up the screen at the end. Several Vandals can earn two credits if they complete the course load that goes with Comparisons of European and American Sports Cultures. The UI course requires, among other things, a daily log and a 5- to 15-page paper.

About a month ago, Coeur d'Alene High's baseball team was last place in the league, fielding poorly with decent pitching and so-so hitting. These days the Vikings vacuum up ground balls, launch home runs into the underbrush of Tubbs Hill and pitch complete games.

President Elizabeth Zinser approved Big West move, then her own. Associated Press