Jump To Big West Proves Difficult
When Idaho and Boise State joined the Big West Conference this season, there were some who hoped they wouldn’t be at or near the bottom of the Division I-A food chain.
But both teams find themselves duking it out with I-A have-nots such as North Texas and New Mexico State.
Idaho has acclimated to I-A better than BSU. UI defeated Nevada and played Wyoming tough. Still, the Vandals are just 5-5 and three of those wins came against I-AA foes.
The Broncos (2-9) needed a last-second touchdown to beat 1-10 New Mexico State and they downed I-AA newcomer Portland State.
Idaho, No. 107 in the power ratings, and BSU, No. 163, collide in Boise on Saturday. Only two I-As rank below BSU. Seventeen are below Idaho.
BSU coach Pokey Allen isn’t surprised. “Going Division I(-A) is crazy with the way the rules are set up. You can only bring in 25 players. You can’t get your numbers up when you can only bring in 25. We lost 23 seniors.
“Idaho was in the best situation because they have solid classes all the way up. It takes three years (to get numbers up) and you can’t do it with JC kids. We’re trying to save our lives for two years from now.”
Said Idaho coach Chris Tormey: “We’ve competed fairly well. I think there’s a lot more parity in college football because of the 85 scholarships. There’s not a huge difference between a WAC team and a Big West team and there’s not a huge difference between a Big West team and a Big Sky team, which tells you something.
“I’m not going to tell you the Big West is the Pac-10 or ACC, obviously it’s not. Everybody’s got good players.”
Wing will play
BSU defensive end Chris Wing, who has 18 sacks and 30 tackles for losses, will play despite spraining a knee ligament last week.
BSU’s defense hasn’t been too defensive. The Broncos haven’t held an opponent under 20 points this year. There are two primary reasons - a youthful lineup and the dismissal of tackle Sione Fifita (rules violations) in late October.
“He was probably the best tackle in the conference and the best player on our team,” Wing said.
Interim coach Tom Mason dismissed Fifita. When Pokey Allen returned two weeks ago, BSU seniors asked Allen if he would reinstate Fifita. Allen approached Mason, who refused to budge. Fifita remained an ex-Bronco.
Looking ahead
Idaho’s 1997 schedule, in order: at Air Force, vs. Portland State, at California, at Central Florida, bye week, vs. North Texas, vs. UC-Davis, at Nevada, vs. Utah State, at Eastern Washington, at New Mexico State, bye week, vs. Boise State.
That’s five home and six away homes. Air Force, California and Central Florida are I-A opponents. Eastern Washington and Portland State are I-AAs. UC-Davis, which will be Idaho’s homecoming, is non-scholarship Division II.
Fien, Vandals honored
Idaho quarterback Ryan Fien has been selected by Football News as the Big West Conference player of the week. Other first-team selections were wide receiver Antonio Wilson, defensive lineman Ryan Phillips, linebacker Jason Shelt and safety Bryson Gardner.
, DataTimes