Idaho closed gap on BSU

It seems absurd to pose the question after a team has lost by 35 points to its archrival.

Frame it anyway you’d like. Is Idaho improving? Are the Vandals gaining on Boise State, which used a second-half flurry to bury Idaho 70-35 on Saturday? Will Vandals defensive tackle Jeff Edwards answer his cell phone?

The answers when the score was tied at 21 at the 7-minute mark of the third quarter: a resounding yes, yes and quite possibly. The answers after Idaho gave up 49 points in the final 22 minutes: yes, possibly and not likely.

The first of those answers, by the way, comes from BSU coach Dan Hawkins.

“I definitely like what they’re doing,” Hawkins said. “I think Steve (Wichman) is a very good quarterback. They’ve got a good corps of receivers. I like what they’re doing on defense. They bring a lot of pressure.”

That was of little consolation to Edwards, a Lake City High graduate who went 0-5, counting his redshirt year, against BSU during his UI career. His best buddy is Jesse Brodin, son of Dennis Brodin, a BSU lineman in the late 1970s and currently a police officer in Coeur d’Alene.

“My best friend’s dad is a Bronco, so I’m going to hear all about it,” said Edwards, adding that he doesn’t plan on answering his cell phone anytime soon.

The Vandals, who were overmatched in a 65-7 loss to BSU in the 2004 season opener, were more competitive Saturday.

“We have closed the (physical) gap,” Edwards said. “They have the mindset that they’re always going to win. We need to get that.”

Bush-whacked

USC’s Reggie Bush may have wrapped up the Heisman Trophy with 513 all-purpose yards in a 50-42 win over stubborn Fresno State. Fresno State coach Pat Hill likely wrapped up an Academy Award for best imitation of New York Jets coach Herman Edwards’ infamous line: “You play to win the game.”

“Whenever you lose, you lose a lot,” Hill said. “That was a chance for us to establish ourselves as a team that, year in and year out, is playing at a very high level. We had the stage to do it on. I always think you have to win. Notre Dame’s claim to fame this year is (narrowly) losing to USC. … I’m not into that.”

Nor should he be. Fresno State led by eight at halftime and was up 42-41 in the fourth quarter.

“I give a lot of credit to USC,” he said. “I know they were taken to the limit in this one. This was a 15-rounder.”

Hill dismissed concerns that his team could have difficulty rebounding when it visits Nevada on Saturday.

“We have to win this one to make sure we have a share of the conference title,” said Hill, whose Bulldogs might be bound for the Liberty Bowl.

Idaho’s Belton cited

Idaho reserve safety Desmond Belton was issued two citations for battery for an incident at a Nov. 12 party, according to Moscow police.

Belton allegedly was involved in a verbal argument with Vandals soccer player Amanda Findlay that escalated when he spit in Findlay’s face and scratched her while trying to grab her hair, police said.

Belton and Findlay gave conflicting statements to police.

Belton faces a pre-trial hearing on Nov. 30. The sophomore from New Brunswick, N.J., wasn’t with the team Saturday in Boise.

In mid-October, three Vandals were involved in an altercation at a campus fraternity. Guard Jade Tadvick, charged with battery and disturbing the peace, was suspended for one game. Tackle Hank Therien, charged with disturbing the peace, wasn’t suspended. Tight end Luke Smith-Anderson, charged with two counts of battery, disturbing the peace and malicious injury to property, is out for the season after suffering a ruptured spleen in August.

All three have pleaded not guilty.

Flowers fights disease

Nevada receiver Nichiren Flowers was diagnosed last week with Crohn’s Disease, an inflammation of the digestive tract. Flowers had suffered rapid weight loss and digestive problems for a few weeks prior to diagnosis, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Flowers, who is on medication, played sparingly in Nevada’s 30-24 win over Utah State and failed to catch a pass for the first time in 36 games. Head coach Chris Ault said Flowers should practice this week and play against Fresno State on Saturday.

Notes

New Mexico State’s 12-game losing streak ties Temple for the longest current streak in I-A. … New Mexico State had three players ejected for a scuffle during Saturday’s loss at San Jose State. Linemen Alex Gottlieb, Nick Cole and Kyle Smith were ejected, although Aggies coach Hal Mumme said Smith was acting as a peacemaker.