Gear Up For Game Day: Idaho

LARAMIE -- As always, I love to utilize this space each week during the season to not only give you the important info -- game time, TV channel, betting lines, etc. -- but also drop a bit of randomness on your plate.

So, here goes.

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Saturday's home opener just went from automatic win to must-win.

Let's be real, Wyoming hasn't exactly buried FCS opponents of late anyway. Certainly not Idaho, a team the Cowboys have been fortunate to beat seven straight times.

You probably remember the last meeting between these two. That came on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon in 2019, just 14 days after Sean Chambers and Co. stunned Missouri inside War Memorial Stadium.

That feel-good 2-0 start was nearly all for naught.

The visiting Vandals trailed by just one early in the fourth quarter. With Wyoming's passing game all but nonexistent -- 4-of-12 for 50 yards -- it took an 80-yard touchdown run for Trey Smith to eventually knock off that pesky bunch from Moscow.

"We have to take a hard look at what we are doing," then Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl said about his passing offense after a lackluster 21-16 win over Idaho that September afternoon in front of 28,814 in attendance. "We're charting everything in practice. I think (Chambers) has a good delivery, but right now, we are way out of sync.

"... No doubt we have to improve the passing game. We've got to find out what things we can throw and what things we can catch, because right now, we aren't doing either of those things well at all."

Some things never change, right?

Back in 2012, inside Idaho's famed 15,000-seat Kibbie Dome, it took a 25-yard Brett Smith touchdown heave to Jalen Claiborne in overtime to hold off the winless Vandals, 40-37.

Smith threw for 365 yards and a then career-high five scores that afternoon. Led by backup quarterback Jason Thompson, Wyoming rushed for just 80 yards on 30 carries. Idaho, on the other hand, rolled up 203 yards on the ground. Running back Ryan Bass accounted for 121 of those. Dominique Blackman was also on target that day, completing 34-of-46 balls for 306 yards and three touchdowns.

“Where we’re at right now, we’re talking about inches, literally inches,” Idaho head coach Robb Akey told reporters. “And you can pick your opportunity, it’s not just that last play of the game … We had our opportunities and that aggravates you a little bit that we didn’t make it a couple score differential and not make it so we have to go into overtime.”

No lies detected.

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* Wyoming Football: News and Notes Ahead of Idaho

* Wyoming's staff, players still have ultimate confidence in QB1

* Jay Sawvel receives death threat after Wyoming's opening loss

* Rants and Raves: Arizona State Edition

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* Tuck's Take: How do the Pokes bounce back from this?

Certainly you recall the 1996 barnburner between these two.

Wyoming would go on to win 10 games that fall and appeared in the inaugural WAC Championship game. How would that season turned out if the Cowboys didn't hold on for a wild 40-38 victory in the season opener?

Do they win the following week at Iowa State? Makes you wonder.

Here's a big reason for the Vandals' setback that day, courtesy of The Spokesman-Review's Steve Bergum:

How’s this for creativity?

On a crucial fourth-down play from his own 46-yard line, a tailback lined up as an upback in punt formation, steps under center and takes the ball from a defensive end-turned long snapper with the idea of falling forward and gaining the two feet needed for a first down.

Give it an A.

Now, how’s this for execution?

On the exchange, the ball hits the tailback high on his top hand, bounces loose and is recovered by a teammate near the exact spot from where it was snapped. No gain. No first down. Loss of possession.

Give it an F.

And while you’re at it, give Idaho a tough 40-38 season-opening loss to Wyoming in a non-conference football game it could have - maybe even should have - won.

Despite a school-record passing performance by transfer quarterback Ryan Fien, who threw for 542 yards and four touchdowns, Idaho failed to protect a 12-point third-quarter lead in front of a War Memorial Stadium crowd of 17,279.

Ouch.

Quarterback Josh Wallwork capped his day completing 29-of-53 passes for 485 yards and three touchdowns. Marcus Harris, who would go on to win the Biletnikoff Trophy at season's end, snagged 10 of those for 186 yards and two scores. Fellow wideout David Saraf also hauled in six catches for 127 yards in the win.

Wyoming has beaten seven straight FCS opponents since falling to North Dakota 24-13 back in 2015. The average margin of victory in those outings is less than 13 points.

The Cowboys and Vandals are set to kickoff at 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time Saturday in Laramie. The game will be televised on TruTV and streamed on MAX.

Who went to Idaho?

Sarah Palin went to college in Moscow. You remember her, dontcha? Palin was the ninth governor in Alaska's state history. She was also John McCain's nominee for vice president back in 2008.

The voice of Patrick Star from SpongeBob SquarePants, Bill Fagerbakke, is a Vandal. So is Lou Dobbs (conservative political commentator) and Sean Reiley aka "SeanBaby," who is best known for comedic video game critiques.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Kramer played at Idaho. He played 11 seasons in Green Bay, serving as an offensive guard and a placekicker. He was part of five NFL title teams and helped lead the Packers to wins in the first two Super Bowls.

Former Broncos legend Mark Schlereth also suited up for the Vandals from 1984-88. "Stink" won three Super Bowls, including two in Denver in 1997 and '98. Scott Linehan played quarterback in Moscow under former Wyoming head coach Dennis Erickson. He went on to become a head coach in St. Louis and is currently an offensive analyst at the University of Montana.

Tom Cable (former NFL head coach), John Friesz (former NFL QB) and Kristin Armstrong (cyclist: 2008 and '12 Olympic gold medalist) also went to Idaho.

Tidbits:

* Wear gold on Saturday. That's the school's request.

* Speaking of gold, Wyoming will bust out its new third uniform combo against the Vandals. That's the gold top with the mountains on the sleeves and script lettering across the chest. They will also wear brown pants.

* Safety Isaac White (undisclosed) might not play Saturday. Same goes for tight end John Michael Gyllenborg. Edge rusher DeVonne Harris (elbow) and left tackle Nate Geiger (knee) will miss extended time and running back Dawaiian McNeely (knee) could make his first appearance since the 2022 season. Harrison Waylee (knee) won't be back in uniform at least for a couple of weeks, per head coach Jay Sawvel.

* Idaho made things interesting in Eugene last Saturday, but it took a pair of trick plays to find the end zone against the No. 3 Ducks. Idaho will be starting redshirt freshman Jack Wagner under center. Jack Layne (collar bone) was injured late in the loss to Oregon.

Meet the Vandals:

* Head coach: Jason Eck (3rd year) 16-10 overall record, 12-4 in Big Sky play

* Offensive coordinator: Luke Schleusner (2nd season); Defensive coordinator: Dan Jackson (1st season)

* Record in 2023: 9-4 overall, 6-2 in Big Sky Conference

* Offense in 2024: Average 14 ppg, 217 ypg (49 rush, 168 pass)

* Defense in 2024: Allow 24 ppg, 487 ypg (107 rush, 380 pass)

* Key Returners/ Newcomers - Offense: Jack Wagner (QB - 0-2, INT; 2 rush, 5 yds), Elisha Cummings (RB - 8 rush, 43 yds; 2 catch, 35 yds), Nate Thomas (RB - 2 rush, 10 yds; catch, 16 yds), Mark Hamper (WR - 3 catch, 57 yds), Jordan Dwyer (WR - 2 catch, 19 yds), Jake Cox (TE - catch, 36 yds, TD)

* Key Returners - Defense: Jaxton Eck (LB - 14 tackles), Tommy McCormick (DB - 11 tackles), Isiah King (LB - 9 tackles), Andrew Marshall (DB - 9 tackles, PBU), Mathias Bertram (LB - 8 tackles), Keyshawn James-Newby (DL - 6 tackles, 2 sack, FF), Dallas Afalava (DB - 3 tackles, sack, FR)

* Injuries: Jack Layne (QB - 11-25, 168 yds, TD, INT; 8 rush, -9 yards, TD)

Here is all you need to know -- and the links -- for Saturday's tilt in Laramie:

WHO: Idaho (0-1, 0-0) at Wyoming (0-1, 0-0)
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 7 at 1:30 p.m. MST
WEATHER: High of 80, low 49, mostly sunny, wind 9 mph
WHERE: War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyo. (29,181 capacity)
TRAVEL: WyoRoad
STREAMING: MAX
TV: TruTV
RADIO: Cowboy Sports Network
TICKETS: Wyoming Ticket office
BOX SCORE: ESPN
ROSTERS: Wyoming / Idaho
HISTORY: Wyoming leads the all-time series, 7-1
BETTING ODDS: Wyoming -7.5, O/U 42.5
HEAD COACHES: Jay Sawvel / Jason Eck

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