The Idaho Vandals got their nickname almost a century ago, when their basketball coach described his teams’ smothering defense as “vandalizing” its opponent. A writer for the student newspaper used that adjective to nickname the basketball team, and the name has stuck ever since.
Saturday, the Idaho football team will try to use its defense to win its second game in a row as the team travels to Provo to take on BYU for just the fourth meeting between the two teams. The Vandals lead the series, 2-1. Last time they faced each other in Provo was in 1955, and Idaho came out on top, 49-6.
“I watched a bunch of film on them and I think they’re good,” BYU center Terrence Brown said. “If we don’t come in and play our best game, they can come in and steal one from us.”
The Vandals are currently last in the WAC standings, but the team is trying to live up to its heritage by playing consistent defense. Individually, junior safety Gary Walker is tied for third in the nation, averaging 9.3 tackles per game. Idaho is ranked No. 1 in the WAC in third-down conversions, holding its opponent to converting of just 42-of-135 attempts.
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Although the Vandals have won only two games this season, three of their losses have been decided by just a touchdown or less. Their most recent win came last week in a late comeback victory against San Jose State, 32-29.
“Idaho’s had a lot of close losses,” BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “It was fun to see them pull one out against San Jose [State]. There are three to four of those type of games that they’ve had, that if maybe they just made one more play their season might be different.”
The Vandals have two players on special teams who are as good as anyone in the country. Junior punter Bobby Cowan is tied for fourth in the NCAA in average yards per punt. The other kicker, junior Trey Farquhar, kicked a 55-yard field goal during last week’s victory against San Jose State, which is the second-longest field goal in the nation this season.
“They have a pretty good team,” BYU senior cornerback Corby Eason said. “They have athletes that can beat you.”
The Vandals campus is in Moscow, Idaho, a small town in the western part of the state. Idaho is looking for its first back-to-back wins since 2009. But Mendenhall said his team has prepared for Idaho just like every other team.
“From what I’ve seen they’re playing hard,” Mendenhall said. “They’re playing physical and that’s impressive. In comparison to a similar opponent in playing San Jose, it could be that type of game.”
