Josh Wright

Jason Gesser expected his first week as Idaho’s interim football coach to be hectic. But he probably didn’t think there would be this much drama.

MOSCOW, Idaho – Mid-afternoon on Monday, the sign outside the most prominent coach’s office in the Kibbie Dome still read: “Robb Akey, Head Football Coach.” A few hours earlier, Jason Gesser had met with the media for the first time as Idaho’s interim coach. And 18 hours before his introductory news conference, he first heard that Akey – his former boss and assistant coach when he played at Washington State – had been fired.

MOSCOW, Idaho – In his first year as Idaho football coach, Robb Akey referred to Boise State as the “donkeys.” It was one of many bold things he said the last five-plus seasons to stir up the Vandals’ long-suffering fan base. But increasingly, Akey’s witty remarks and one-liners came after Idaho losses – seven of them already this year, 17 the past two seasons and 50 overall since 2007.

MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho has surrendered more than 60 points twice already this football season – at then-No. 3 LSU in September and two weeks later at North Carolina. Neither of those teams, however, has an offense as prolific as what the Vandals will see up close today in Ruston, La. Nor do they have a receiver as explosive as Quinton Patton.

MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho has surrendered more than 60 points twice already this season – at then-No. 3 LSU in September and two weeks later at North Carolina.

MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho football coach Robb Akey could sense it late last week in his players’ demeanor at practice. The smiles had returned, the energy was more noticeable.

For now, the hype is on hold.

MOSCOW, Idaho – In the 22 seconds it took New Mexico State coach DeWayne Walker to answer a question Monday about his team’s matchup with Idaho, he described the Aggies and Vandals as “starved,” “aching” and “desperate” for a victory.

MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho football coach Robb Akey said Monday the winless Vandals have “washed away” a lost weekend at North Carolina – the 66-0 trouncing from the Tar Heels and every other detail of the cross-country trip. “We exorcised it (Sunday),” Akey said.

MOSCOW, Idaho – Before Idaho flew 2,500 miles to face Virginia last fall, Vandals coach Robb Akey wanted to know: Do college football teams that give themselves more travel time before a long trip play better?

The Idaho Vandals remain winless after losing in overtime to the Wyoming Cowboys at the Kibbie Dome.

MOSCOW, Idaho – In two starts as Idaho quarterback, Dominique Blackman has played in front of a run-of-the-mill crowd of 16,591 at Bowling Green and 92,177 boisterous fans at LSU’s Tiger Stadium.

MOSCOW, Idaho – Robb Akey’s first game as Idaho’s football coach was at the Los Angeles Coliseum against USC, then the nation’s top-ranked team and a dynamo under Pete Carroll.

MOSCOW, Idaho – At a football scrimmage last month, Idaho athletic director Rob Spear sat on the Kibbie Dome bleachers and heard from one Vandals fan with an unwavering opinion: The football program needs to stay at the FBS level. No question about it. Spear then meandered about 10 rows over and struck up another informal chat with Vandals supporters. There a fan piped up with the opposite viewpoint: “Hey, you just need to go to the Big Sky in all sports,” Spear was told.

MOSCOW, Idaho – At a football scrimmage last month, Idaho athletic director Rob Spear sat on the Kibbie Dome bleachers and heard from one Vandals fan with an unwavering opinion: The football program needs to stay at the FBS level. No question about it.