Idaho, Fresno State trade late-year viewpoints

There is a bit of role reversal for Idaho and Fresno State’s football teams this November.

Idaho hasn’t had much to play for – other than pride – in late-season games the last five years, but even a three-game losing streak hasn’t extinguished its bowl hopes. Fresno State is usually in the thick of the Western Athletic Conference title race at this time of year, but the current Bulldogs are trying to avoid finishing in the lower half of the conference.

The teams collide Saturday in Fresno with similar goals – finishing well and generating momentum for 2007. The Vandals (4-6, 3-3 WAC), however, still have a remote chance at a bowl. To merit consideration they need to win their last two games and receive help around the WAC. Fresno State (2-7, 2-3) snapped a seven-game losing streak with a narrow 23-18 win over New Mexico State last Saturday, but won’t play in a bowl for the first time since 1998.

“We haven’t exactly played very well in our last three outings,” Idaho coach Dennis Erickson said. “In fact, we played very poorly and got beat very convincingly in our last two games. We’re not sure where we’re at. We’ve played well at times and at times we haven’t played very well.”

Idaho’s November got off to a rough start with a 45-7 home loss to Nevada. That was preceded by a 68-10 road loss to Hawaii.

“At Oregon State my first year we played very well at the end to have their first winning season (in nearly 30 years),” Erickson said. “It kind of catapulted us into the next season when we ended up going 12-1. That’s the one (November) that really jumps out at me. When I was at Miami, I better not have had too many bad Novembers or I was catapulted out of there.”

Happy returns

Boise State’s unblemished record and BCS ambitions were in jeopardy last Saturday until Marty Tadman returned a punt 44 yards to help set up Anthony Montgomery’s game-winning 37-yard field goal on the final play.

Tadman had averaged only 4.7 yards before springing his long return, leaving another BSU opponent to ponder a what-if scenario.

“It was a great game and we had every chance to win. They showed why they’re the champs,” San Jose State’s Dick Tomey said. “The last 10 minutes we didn’t stop them as well as we had before. We didn’t move the ball as well and when we exchanged punts, it was ugly.”

Johnson set for release

Boise State standout running back Ian Johnson was expected to be released Tuesday from a San Jose hospital after suffering a partially collapsed left lung during BSU’s 23-20 win over the Spartans.

“We’re going to go slow as heck with him to make sure everything is good,” BSU coach Chris Petersen said.

Johnson’s status for Saturday’s game against Utah State won’t be determined until later this week.

Notes

Hawaii, which leads the nation in scoring by 8.5 points per game, didn’t punt last Saturday against Louisiana Tech – the third time this season the Warriors haven’t called on their punter. … BSU’s Johnson and Hawaii’s Colt Brennan are among 10 players to watch for the Walter Camp player of the year award. … The Vandals practiced Nov. 7 and last Wednesday and held a roughly 50- to 60-play scrimmage Thursday for players who don’t see much game action. … Erickson said Idaho will probably be without receivers Max Komar (shoulder) and Lee Smith (knee) again. … Boise State has won 55 games since 2002, second only to USC’s 56. … New Mexico State blew an opportunity in the final minute from Fresno State’s 14-yard line when center Richie Bolin snapped the ball while quarterback Chase Holbrook was calling an audible. The play resulted in a 16-yard loss and stymied an Aggies drive.