Injuries mount for the Vandals

When the football season started, the University of Idaho had depth at running back but was thin on the offensive line.

Now, they’re hurting at both positions.

The Vandals, down two starters up front, listed only one backup, Marcis Fennell, at three positions in their two-deep against Hawaii. Junior guard Jade Tadvick missed the game after having an emergency appendectomy Wednesday night. His injury wasn’t disclosed by the Vandals until Saturday night. Tackle Nate VanderPol was sidelined by a sprained knee ligament, but he has a chance to return for Saturday’s home game against Utah State.

Tadvick will probably miss the next two or three games. Backup lineman Matt O’Donnell’s career is over due to spinal stenosis.

“We had two-deep guys, but a couple of those guys aren’t on scholarship,” head coach Nick Holt said. “We’ve got some good young linemen but I want to keep them in that redshirt mode.”

That used to apply to true freshman tackle Billy Bates, but injuries pressed him into service last week at Washington. Bates started against Hawaii and played “pretty decently,” Holt said.

Senior running back Antwaun Sherman is out with a high ankle sprain. Jayson Bird, who led Idaho in rushing and touchdowns in 2004, was lost for the season with a broken collarbone against UNLV.

Sophomore Rolly Lumbala had his best day of the season with 42 yards on nine attempts. True freshman Jason Brown was limited to three yards on three carries. Senior Ashanti Hicks is also an option at tailback.

Who goes there?

Statistical crews and media members have complained about the difficulty of reading the numerals on Hawaii’s road uniforms – white jerseys with silver numbers – even with binoculars.

“It’s my opinion that their uniforms don’t meet the NCAA regulations regarding contrasting colors on the white uniform,” WAC commissioner Karl Benson said. “It’ll be important to have it resolved before their next home game.”

Mute button

New Mexico State coach Hal Mumme didn’t allow his players to talk to the media after a 41-13 home loss to Cal on Friday night.

“We’re trying to turn this thing around – we’ve had three winning seasons in the last 23 years – and I don’t want to have this precedence set like it’s been in the past where guys get told they played a good game,” Mumme said. “We have way too much of that going on around here.”

That positive media strikes again.

Aggies get one, 100

By virtue of a 31-24 decision over UNLV, Utah State snagged its first win under new coach Brent Guy, its first win as a member of the WAC and the 100th victory in Romney Stadium history.

“We have to win in the fourth quarter and we were able to do that,” Guy said. “It’s a great momentum boost for our kids learning how to win and win a tight one.”

The Aggies will try to snap a six-game road losing streak when they visit Idaho on Saturday.

Notes

This won’t make the Vandals feel any better, but Hawaii starting quarterback Colt Brennan is a walk-on who isn’t expected to go on scholarship until January, and four Warriors defenders were making their first NCAA starts against Idaho. Brennan, who threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns, was the WAC offensive player of the week. Hawaii’s Kila Kamakawiwo’ole – No. 1, if you had 20-10 vision Saturday night – won defensive honors with six tackles and a sack.

•Boise State safety Cam Hall, who faces a felony charge stemming from a fatal auto accident, played for the first time this season. He tied for the team high with six tackles in a rout of Bowling Green. … San Jose State was 0 of 17 on third-down conversions in a 55-21 loss to San Diego State, but 4 of 4 on fourth downs. Said coach Dick Tomey: “I’ve never heard of that.”