A formidable task
BOISE — Nick Holt has seen the Idaho-Boise State football rivalry from near and far the last 14 years.
When Holt left Idaho after the 1997 season, BSU was a Division I-A newcomer that had posted back-to-back losing seasons. Two years later, Holt was an assistant coach for a Louisville team that lost to BSU 34-31 in the Humanitarian Bowl – the first of BSU’s four bowl appearances over the last five years.
Holt has returned to Idaho as the head coach, hired to try to steer the Vandals back to respectability. His first obstacle is considerable, tonight’s season-opening clash with Boise State, a 31-point favorite and winners of 18 straight on the artificial blue turf at Bronco Stadium. Kickoff is at 5:05 (Pacific).
“They’ve got better players than they used to,” Holt said. “They always had pretty good players and they always had a good program. They’ve recruited well, they’re very fast and athletic. More than anything, they play with a lot of confidence. The difference is they expect to win now.”
Holt knows the feeling. Idaho had just one losing season and went 6-2 versus Boise State from 1990-97, when Holt was an assistant. In his six seasons since – three at Louisville and three at USC – Holt has been to six bowl games.
He’s used to winning, but his Vandals aren’t, and nowhere is that underscored more than the annual showdown with BSU. The Broncos have won five straight by an average of 27.2 points.
Boise State won 13 games last season. Idaho has won 11 games the last four years. BSU is 53-11 from 1999-2003, trailing only Miami and Oklahoma. The Broncos are picked to win their third straight WAC crown. Idaho was a near unanimous pick to finish last in the lightly regarded Sun Belt.
“I always looked in the paper to see who won this game and I’ve always tried to follow the Vandals everywhere I’ve been,” Holt said. “It hasn’t been what the Vandals have wanted and hopefully we’ll get that corrected as soon as possible.”
As soon as today? Anything’s possible, say the Vandals.
“Who cares,” quarterback Michael Harrington said when informed of the point spread. “We could be 100-point underdogs and it wouldn’t change one bit of my confidence in this team.”
On the field, Idaho must narrow the gap considerably in rushing differential. BSU has rushed for 263, 233 and 209 yards, respectively, in the last three meetings to Idaho’s 55, 93 and 57 yards. Today, each team might use as many as five running backs.
“Hopefully we’ll be better,” Holt said. “I’m counting on it.”
The Broncos have led the nation in scoring three of the last four years, but they’ll be breaking in a new quarterback – either steady senior Mike Sanford or elusive sophomore Jared Zabransky – and unproven running backs.
However, BSU expects to be solid at receiver with T.J. Acree and Lawrence Bady and at tight end with Derek Schouman. The Broncos are talented, but young up front, which hasn’t escaped the attention of Idaho’s staff.
“We’ve kind of had to rebuild the last four years,” said BSU coach Dan Hawkins, who has declined to publicly announce his starting quarterback. “That’s been a transition made easier by the fact that we’ve had a lot of guys in the program that have been contributors and what we’ve done schematically as coaches.”
BSU’s defense appears to have few weak spots, though the unit has been roughed up by the offense in recent scrimmages, one of which was closed to the media. End Julius Roberts, linebacker Andy Avalos, cornerback Gabe Franklin and safety Chris Carr all could emerge as WAC defensive player of the year candidates. Franklin has been invited to the East-West Shrine game.
“They do the little things right; they tackle well and run to the ball,” Harrington said. “Their secondary is one of the best we’ll see all year.”
Notes
UI freshman safety Jevon Butler received the NCAA Clearinghouse’s approval and he was practicing by midweek… . Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-70s at game time with 8 mph winds… . Idaho jumps into Sun Belt play against Utah State next Saturday in Logan.