Bye week healthy for Vandals

For the first time in a while, there is something new on the University of Idaho offensive line: Competition.

The Vandals were threadbare up front in their last four games due to an epidemic of injuries, but coming off a bye week they should have enough able bodies to fill out the two-deep.

Guard Jade Tadvick (appendectomy) and tackle Billy Bates (bruised shin) were back at practice Sunday. Tackle Nate VanderPol, who played against Nevada on Oct. 8 despite an ailing knee, is closer to 100 percent. The bye week also benefited tackle Hank Therien and guard Kris Anderson, both of whom have been playing with assorted injuries.

“Now we’ve got some guys back and it’s made it a positive because now we have some depth,” head coach Nick Holt said. “A few guys still have some bumps and bruises that won’t go away until after the season.”

Holt also expects running back Antwaun Sherman (high ankle sprain) to be available against Fresno State on Saturday.

Ornery Bulldogs

Fresno State (4-1), which has four easy wins and one narrow road loss at Oregon, moved into the Associated Press poll at No. 24. The Bulldogs are the first ranked I-A opponent to visit the Kibbie Dome, which opened in 1975. Idaho hasn’t entertained a ranked opponent since the 1960 Oregon State Beavers. OSU won 28-8.

“It’s very hard to get in those polls,” Bulldogs coach Pat Hill said. “Reaching the AP poll is very interesting in that I think the writers really look at it a lot closer. Getting into the (USA Today) coaches’ poll is going to be very hard to do year in year out as there is a separation of BCS and non-BCS.”

Fresno State was ranked No. 22 before losing 37-34 to Oregon. The Bulldogs’ last 12 regular-season wins have been by double digits, the latest a 53-21 dismantling of Utah State. Idaho’s only victory came against the Aggies.

“They physically ran the ball through us, around us and over us,” Utah State coach Brent Guy said.

Pack attack

The better Nevada plays, the smaller the home crowds become. The Wolf Pack, crushed by Washington State 55-21 in its season opener, continues to rebound nicely, but they haven’t caught the attention of their fan base.

Only 11,584 showed at Mackay Stadium to see Nevada’s 62-14 win over Idaho two weeks ago. There were 8,377 on hand for Saturday’s 37-27 win over La Tech, which kept Nevada (4-2 overall, 3-0 WAC) atop the conference standings. That was the smallest Mackay Stadium crowd since 1984.

Nevada has a bye this week to prepare for Boise State on Oct. 29.

“We’re still climbing that mountain,” coach Chris Ault said. “The players are practicing hard and playing hard; that’s really all we can ask. We’re a little more comfortable with the things we’re trying to do.”

Ault’s “Pistol” offense has produced 995 total yards the last two games.

Coaching comrades

There will be familiarity on the sidelines Saturday when Utah State entertains Boise State and San Jose State visits Hawaii.

Utah State coach Brent Guy was BSU’s defensive coordinator from 1998-2000 when Dan Hawkins was the tight ends/special teams coach. Hawkins was promoted to Broncos head coach in 2001.

“We’re going up against old coaching friends, which is never easy,” Hawkins said.

San Jose State coach Dick Tomey was head coach at Hawaii from 1977-86. Hawaii coach June Jones was on Tomey’s staff as quarterbacks coach in 1983.

Notes

Boise State will play at Washington in 2007, one year earlier than originally scheduled… . The WAC apparently is cracking down on cheerleading by P.A. announcers. BSU’s Bob Rosenthal was told to stop saying, “… and that’s another Bronco first down.” The crowd usually chimes in with Rosenthal by finishing out the phrase… . New Mexico State (0-7), one of five winless I-A teams, has a bye week before Idaho visits on Oct. 29.