Jim Meehan

There have been two distinct Boise State chapters in Chris Tormey's life. As an Idaho football player in the mid-1970s, Tormey went 1-3 against BSU, suffering a knee injury against the Broncos in 1974 that sidelined him for the '75 season because of complications from surgery.

Idaho volleyball player Tzvetelina "Lina" Yanchulova could barely speak English when she arrived from Bulgaria in 1992.

UI basketball standout Mindy Rice can't stand the thought of failure. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Somewhere between encouraged and discouraged you'll find Idaho men's basketball coach Joe Cravens. Cravens' team tipped off the 1995-96 season with a hard-to-gauge 70-69 exhibition loss to the Townsville (Australia) Suns Monday night.

It is neither likely nor probable, but Idaho has a remote chance at qualifying for the NCAA Division I-AA football playoffs. To have any chance for an at-large berth, the 5-4 Vandals would have to defeat rival Boise State on Saturday in the Kibbie Dome and need Weber State to lose to Idaho State.

It may have been one of the best losses in Rolly Williams' 35 years as the men's basketball coach at North Idaho College. His club pushed the Townsville Suns to the final buzzer, losing 81-78 to the visiting pro team from Australia in a thoroughly entertaining game on Saturday night at Christianson Gym.

There is disappointment and then there is the bottom line. North Idaho College women's basketball coach Greg Crimp wasn't exactly pleased with his team's performance during a 74-55 season-opening win over Mount Royal, of Calgary Alberta, on Friday night at Christianson Gym.

In many ways, the Northern Iowa Panthers are the perfect football opponent for Idaho. The Panthers have a quality team, solid defense, dandy quarterback, high national ranking - just like Montana and Northern Arizona, teams that Idaho defeated earlier this season. If a season-long trend holds true for the Vandals, it'll sure beat playing .500-type clubs, such as Montana State, Weber State or Idaho State, all of whom knocked off Idaho.

For the next couple of nights, it's North Idaho College basketball versus the globe. The NIC women debut tonight against Mount Royal, of Calgary, Alberta, in Christianson Gym in Coeur d'Alene. On Saturday night, the Cardinals' men tangle with the talented Townsville Suns, a professional team from Australia, in an exhibition game.

Quarterback Eric Hisaw makes no promises that Idaho has finally turned the corner after last Saturday's gritty 17-14 win over Northern Arizona. But, he says, "I know we're not going to quit, ever; not with this senior class and this coaching staff." Idaho (4-4) won despite Hisaw's three interceptions in the fourth quarter, and despite temporarily losing receiver David Griffin and running back Lavoni Kidd to injuries.

One of the rules of basketball seems to be inherently unfair to North Idaho College - the one that only allows five on the court at a time. If nothing else, NIC showed it has a cupboard bulging with talent as the Cardinals' men's team opened their season on Saturday night with a 103-56 cakewalk over out-manned Southern Alberta at Christianson Gym.

North Idaho College men's basketball coach Rolly Williams has a positive outlook on his final season. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

Weber State football coach Dave Arslanian annually trots out a pep talk for Idaho. Last year, he explained to his players that the Wildcats had UI right where they wanted 'em. It was Weber's last game of the season and surely the Vandals would be looking forward to rival Boise State the following week. Idaho won 79-30. Two years ago, Arslanian told his team that Idaho was ripe for an upset because it was an early season contest. Idaho won 56-0.

It is one of the most overused rallying cries in sports - the nobody-respects-us line. But there is no doubt it fit at Lakeland High this year. Lacking the talent of past teams, Lakeland scraped by several Intermountain League football foes before getting throttled by champion St. Maries two weeks ago and losing to Lake City last week.

1. Hisaw 2. University of Idaho quarterback Eric Hisaw is finally finding reason to celebrate. Photo by Geoff Crimmins/Associated Press

The Idaho Vandals proved just out of reach for wide receiver Raul Pacheco and the Montana Grizzlies, who could not overcome a 33-point halftime deficit. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Behind quarterback Eric Hisaw, who had a hand in seven touchdowns, Idaho ran off with a 55-43 Big Sky Conference football win over Montana Saturday in the Kibbie Dome. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

With a senior-less roster, this was supposed to be a transition year for Washington State volleyball. And it has been. The Cougars are busy making the transition from seventh place in the Pac-10 in 1994 to the pursuit of the conference title in 1995.

It's a peculiar phrase, one you wouldn't expect to hear from a football coach, but it's accurate. "They play grass basketball," Idaho defensive coordinator Nick Holt said of Montana's potent, pass-happy offense. "I heard that (phrase) somewhere. It's picks and screens, wide-open stuff. They spread you out all over the court."

Barry Mitchell never missed a football game growing up. He was always at the stadium early, warming up, putting on his game face. You gotta be prepared to play saxophone in the pep band. His late introduction to football came in his senior year of high school in Colorado. He set down the sax and made the second team, becoming a starter when a teammate was injured in the first game.

An unusual occurrence at a sporting event: Both teams feeling pretty good about themselves afterward. Post Falls High School downed Lake City 33-14 in football Friday night, giving the Trojans a share of the Inland Empire League lead with Sandpoint and removing some bitter aftertaste from last week's loss to Colville.

Eric Hisaw, meet Brian Sherick. Now, go decide today's Idaho-Eastern Washington football game. That's what it's probably going to come down to, says EWU coach Mike Kramer, who welcomes Sherick back at quarterback after a one-game disciplinary suspension.

Idaho linebacker Dave Longoria takes on running back role for a play to score Vandals only TD from a yard out. Photo by Associated Press

Idaho keeps getting the same parting gift on its farewell tour of the Big Sky Conference: A loss. And the Vandals can't take 'em back to the return counter either.