Idaho football schedule announced

Idaho has released its 2012 football schedule, which includes games at LSU and North Carolina. The Vandals have seven road games and play five homes games — three versus WAC foes (New Mexico State, San Jose State and new league member Texas-San Antonio). They also have Eastern Washington and Wyoming at the Kibbie Dome.

Read on for the details.

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Initial reaction: This is a brutal road schedule for Robb Akey and the Vandals. They have three games in the Eastern time zone (at Bowling Green, LSU, UNC) in the first month of the season and have five trips overall where they travel at least two time zones away.

Also, I’m sure Akey and athletic director Rob Spear would like to have more than five home games. But that’s a byproduct of the reworked WAC (with seven football-playing members) and the need to generate revenue by traveling to BCS conference schools. Idaho’s payout for going to LSU on Sept. 15 is $950,000.

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Here’s Idaho’s release:

MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho opens the 2012 football season at home against Eastern Washington on Thursday, Aug. 30, at 6 p.m. at the Kibbie Dome.

The Vandals’ 2012 schedule includes non-conference action against Bowling Green state, Louisiana State, Wyoming, North Carolina and BYU as well as vs. conference newcomers Texas State and Texas San Antonio.

“We’re anxious to get after it,” coach Robb Akey said. “We excited about having the schedule, knowing where we’re going to play, who we’re going to play on what dates. Now we can start settling on a few more goals.”

The Vandals’ opener against Eastern Washington renews a rivalry first contested in 1942 and played most recently in 2003. Idaho leads the series 15-4.

Idaho’s Sept. 8 trip to Bowling Green is the third game between the two with each winning once – Idaho at the 2009 Humanitarian Bowl and the Falcons last year at the Kibbie Dome. The Vandals continue on the road to LSU for a Sept. 15 game with a home game against Wyoming Sept. 22. Idaho wraps up September at North Carolina.

The Vandals’ kick off Western Athletic Conference action at home against New Mexico State on Oct. 6. They travel to league contests at Texas State Oct. 13 and at Louisiana Tech Oct. 20 before a bye on Oct. 27.

San Jose State comes to Idaho Nov. 3. Next up is a Nov. 10 trip to BYU followed by a Nov. 17 home date vs. UTSA. Idaho wraps up the 2012 season at Utah State on Nov. 24.

Home games are at 2 p.m. but times may change because of TV.

“We looking forward to taking on the challenges this schedule brings,” Akey said.

The Vandals begin spring drills March 22 with the Silver and Gold game April 20 and the Robb Akey Golf Tournament April 21.

2012 schedule
Date            Opponent                                 Series record
Aug. 30       Eastern Washington             Idaho leads 15-4
Sept. 8        at Bowling Green                   Tied 1-1
Sept. 15      at LSU                                         LSU leads 1-0
Sept. 22      Wyoming                                   Wyoming leads 4-1
Sept. 29      at North  Carolina                   first meeting
Oct. 6          New Mexico State #             Idaho leads 13-5
Oct. 13        at Texas State #                      First meeting
Oct. 20        at Louisiana Tech #                Tech leads 5-2
Oct. 27        bye
Nov. 3         San Jose State #                     SJSU leads 12-10
Nov. 10       at BYU                                         Tied 2-2
Nov. 17       UTSA #                                       First meeting
Nov. 24       at Utah State #                        USU leads 19-17
# WAC game