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Idaho Vandals (2000: 5-6) The following team preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at this and all Division I-A teams, be sure to order the 2001 Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.
Coach and programAfter taking over the football program at his alma mater last season, Tom Cable watched his Vandals stumble early with three straight losses to Washington, Montana and Oregon.Undaunted, Cable kept the Vandals focused, and they responded with five victories in their last eight games. The five wins left Cable and Idaho fans confident about the possibility of a winning season in 2001. "We've done a lot of work this winter as coaches,'' Cable said. "We had to improve, too. We've done a lot of research and we visited a lot of people on both sides of the ball and had people come in here and help us." Idaho moves from the Big West to the Sun Belt this season, where it joins Arkansas State, New Mexico State, North Texas, Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe. "I think the whole thing is a positive for us in our program right now,'' Cable said. "We're in the middle of growing as a program in terms of our facilities and the continued surge up the ladder in Division I. I think all of that helps us tremendously." Getting off to a better start will be a goal for the Vandals, who open against Washington State, Arizona, Montana Washington and Boise State. "The first five, six weeks will be very, very important for us to stay healthy and get off to a good start,'' Cable said. "Then we start the league. We start right away with probably the two toughest teams in the league with Middle Tennessee State on the road. The next week we go to New Mexico State. If there are two preseason favorites, it's probably them.'' After the first day of spring practice, Cable said he felt confident there is plenty of talent to sort through as he prepares the Vandals for the 2001 season. "It was good to get back out there and get done with 5-6," said Cable.
OffenseSenior John Welch (6-2, 213) threw for 3,171 yards last season after breaking his right ankle and missing six games in 1999. In 1998, Welch led the Vandals to their first bowl victory (Humanitarian Bowl) and was voted the game's most valuable offensive player.Last year, Welch joined former Vandals greats John Fresz, Doug Nussmeier, Ken Hobart and Ryan Fein in the 3,000-yard club. He is fifth on the Vandals' career passing list with 5,186 yards Senior tailback Anthony Tenner (5-9, 202), who missed the 2000 season with a broken finger, rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown in the spring game. He has a career average of 4.5 yards per carry. The Vandals were loaded at wide receiver last year, but the only proven returnee is senior Chris Lacy (6-0, 183). In 2000, Lacy led the Vandals with 45 catches for 776 yards. The only returning starter up front is sophomore tackle Jake Scott (6-5, 279), who originally walked on but later earned a scholarship. He started 11 games last season.
Defense and special teamsSenior Will Beck (6-2, 310) started every game last year at tackle as did senior Ryan Knowles (6-3, 252) at end. Junior Mike Jones (6-3, 278) started nine games at tackle and junior Josh Jelinek (6-4, 311) started two games.None of the starters return at linebacker, but sophomores Patrick Libey (6-2, 225), Jordan Lampos (5-10, 234) and Jason Williams (6-2, 225) saw plenty of action in 2000. Libey had 17 solo tackles and 11 assists, Lampos finished the season with 26 tackles and eight assists and Williams added 25 tackles and a quarterback hurry. Junior Tim Sams (5-9, 178), who started one game last year at cornerback, has been moved to safety. Senior Ighe Evero (5-11, 204) returns at safety and along with Sams will form the building blocks at the position. Returning as the Vandals' punter will be sophomore Ryan Downes (6-5, 184), who had 58 punts for a 35.9-yard average last season. He had 15 kicks inside the 20 and a long punt of 63 yards.
Bottom lineIf the Vandals can escape key injuries in the early part of the season, they could be a factor in the race for the Sun Belt championship. The offense should be fine after a finish of eighth nationally last year in total offense.Nine players who started at least one game last season return on defense. It will be difficult for Idaho to overcome Middle Tennessee and New Mexico State, but Cable isn't ready to concede a trip to New Orleans. "I think what [commissioner] Wright Waters and the Sun Belt Conference have done by getting a bowl game in the Super Dome in New Orleans is really, really big time,'' Cable said. "Once this thing comes down, and hopefully we're fortunate to play in it, and people see it and spend a week in New Orleans will raise the level of excitement for this league and for the bowl game itself.'' |
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