Jim Meehan

Watson

Paul Wilson's steady swing will be a must this weekend if North Idaho College is to secure a playoff spot. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

For Lake City High School track and field coach Donna Messenger, winning the Inland Empire League girls dual-meet championship was nice. Winning the city championship was nicer. The Timberwolves accomplished both by thumping rival Coeur d'Alene 89-57 at Viking Field on Tuesday to cap an undefeated IEL dual season.

Gonzaga Prep's Chris Barton, right, leaves his competition in the air on the way toward winning the 110-meter hurdles at the Super-1/Reiswig Invitational. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Spring football isn't much different than baseball's spring training. Optimism abounds and most teams genuinely believe that the upcoming season will be "their year."

Spring football's first fight broke out and Dan Zeamer took his customary posture of rooting on the defensive player. One problem: Zeamer, a defensive tackle the last three seasons at the University of Idaho, had been moved to offensive guard.

Watson

Scott

Dial Mark Adams' office phone number and you'll hear this recording: "Hi, this is Mark Adams, the head basketball coach at Central Connecticut State University, where we just completed our most successful NCAA Division I season." Not anymore. Adams, one of four finalists for finalists for the North Idaho College job, was informed Monday he won't be back as CCSU coach.

It could have been so perfect. Mark Nelson, a 1995 North Idaho College pitcher who is recovering from cancer treatments, came down from his home in Canada to sit in NIC's dugout on Friday.

North Idaho College's search for a new men's basketball coach has grown to four finalists with the addition of University of San Francisco assistant coach Bill Carr. Carr, 30, joins former Idaho assistant Hugh Watson, NIC assistant Brian Hancock and Central Connecticut State head coach Mark Adams as candidates. Three finalists were disclosed on Tuesday.

North Idaho College has narrowed its search for a men's basketball coach to at least three finalists from a pool of nearly 40 applicants, The Spokesman-Review learned on Tuesday night. The three are former Idaho assistant coach Hugh Watson, NIC assistant coach Brian Hancock and Mark Adams, head coach at NCAA Division I Central Connecticut State. Those three are expected to be interviewed next week in Coeur d'Alene, beginning with Watson on Monday.

Girls medalist Missy Asher, from Lake City, follows through on No. 13. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Mica Fish took a flying leap over the competition at nationals. Photo by Associated Press

The scuttle around Idaho is that UCLA transfer Ryan Fien, if need be, can throw a football through the Kibbie Dome walls. Fien's arm strength isn't in question, however. His durability might be tested. On Tuesday, when Idaho begins spring football drills, Fien will be quarterbacking behind an offensive line seeking to identify four new starters and facing a ferocious defensive front. Of course, UI coaches aren't going to let Fien get pounded in spring ball. He'll be wearing the pink jersey top, which makes him off-limits to defenders.

As an NFL quarterback, John Friesz is accustomed to making handoffs. In a welcomed change, however, Friesz was on the receiving end of a handoff when the Professional Athlete of the Year trophy was presented to the former University of Idaho star at the 34th annual Idaho Sports Banquet on Saturday night at the Coeur d'Alene Resort.

Idaho athletes, coaches and teams will find out who is the best of the best tonight. The annual Idaho Sports Banquet is set to honor the state's athletic elite at 7:30 at the Coeur d'Alene Resort. A social hour precedes at 6:15.

North Idaho College last qualified for the Region 18 baseball tournament in 1988. This year, the Cardinals have perhaps their best shot to qualify in years. Coach Jack Bloxom isn't happy about it. Some background: Region 18 is divided into the four-team North Division and six-team South. A rule change will permit three teams from each division, instead of the usual two, to advance to regionals.

University of Idaho athletic director Pete Liske interviewed for the A.D. position at Toledo on Monday, sources confirmed. Liske is one of nine candidates to replace Allen Bohl, who took the Fresno State job.

1. UI welcomes back Kermit Davis. Photo by Associated Press 2. Kermit Davis back at courtside for UI. File/The Spokesman-Review (This photo appeared in Regional edition only)

Jeremy Mort, left, and Chris McGregor will swing two of the big bats in North Idaho College's lineup this season. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

Kermit Davis has been offered the men's basketball coaching job at the University of Idaho, a source close to the situation said Tuesday night. Davis, a Utah State assistant who was Idaho's head coach from 1988-90, is expected to accept UI's offer, but is still firming up contract details, the source said. Contracts will be drawn up today and reviewed by lawyers for Davis and the university. Idaho is replacing Joe Cravens, who was fired Monday morning. Davis, 36, was whisked into Pullman on Tuesday afternoon via a private jet belonging to a Vandals booster. He drove to Moscow and huddled for more than 2 hours with UI interim President Tom Bell and athletic director Pete Liske at the president's house. Davis then jetted home to Logan, Utah, on Tuesday evening to discuss the job offer with family and close friends, according to the source.

Vandals part company with Joe Cravens. File/The Spokesman-Review

Kermit Davis says he's interested in the vacant Idaho men's basketball coaching job. Idaho says its interested in Davis. Bank on an interview in the near future - and following that, possibly a reunion. "It's a place that (wife) Betty and I always enjoyed and we stayed in touch with some good friends throughout the state," said Davis, who was 50-12 from 1989-90 as Idaho's men's basketball coach.