Vandals To Be ‘Road Warriors’ During 1998 Highlight Of Season Could Be Renewal Of Rivalry With WSU

The University of Idaho’s 1998 football schedule has a little bit of everything - the old, the new and the renewed - and likely is the most challenging the Vandals have played in more than two decades.

“It will be a challenge,” fourth-year head coach Chris Tormey said. “This is the most difficult schedule the University of Idaho has played in the last 25 years.”

Idaho opens with a home game against traditional and regional rival Eastern Washington, which advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA semifinals last season before losing to eventual national champion Youngstown State. The Vandals then begin an odyssey that sends them on the road for seven of their final 10 games and matches them against three 1997-98 Bowl teams - Washington State, Louisiana State and Utah State.

The road schedule is highlighted by the renewal of the “Battle of the Palouse” with Washington State (Sept. 19), the Sept. 26 game at Louisiana State University and the season-finale at Boise State (Nov. 21).

“There’s a lot of excitement about the renewal of that rivalry,” Tormey said of the Washington State game, which is the first meeting between the border rivals since 1989 and is the first game in an eight-year deal signed by the two universities. “I know our kids are really excited to play Washington State.”

Idaho became a Division I-A football program when it joined the Big West in 1995, but in order to keep that status the Vandals must move out of the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho, next year and play home games in Martin Stadium to meet I-A attendance requirements.

The Cougars haven’t played the Vandals since 1989 because wins against Division I-AA schools don’t count toward qualifying for bowl games.

With seven of the final 10 games on the road, UI’s season won’t be easy.

“We just have to take the attitude that we’re going to be road warriors,” Tormey said.

For Washington State, the schedule that helped them advance to the Rose Bowl last season will be similar to the lineup facing the Cougars for the upcoming campaign.

WSU will have six home games, including the Apple Cup against Washington on Nov. 21.

The schedule also includes a rare Friday home game, the season opener against Illinois on Sept. 4. That’s the eve of the Labor Day Weekend.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: UI’s 1998 SCHEDULE Sept. 5 Eastern Washington Sept. 12 at San Jose State Sept. 19 at Washington State Sept. 26 at Louisiana State Oct. 3 Idaho State (Homecoming) Oct. 10 at Arkansas State Oct. 17 at Utah State Oct. 24 Nevada Oct. 31 at North Texas Nov. 7 New Mexico State Nov. 14 bye Nov. 21 at Boise State

WSU’s 1998 SCHEDULE Sept. 4 Illinois Sept. 12 at Boise State Sept. 19 Idaho Sept. 26 at California Oct. 3 at UCLA Oct. 10 Oregon (Homecoming) Oct. 17 USC Oct. 24 bye Oct. 31 Arizona State Nov. 7 at Arizona Nov. 14 at Stanford Nov. 21 Washington