Believe it or not, hidden behind 3 Top 10 matchups last week, was a rivalry game. In the Palouse, Moscow, Idaho and Pullman Washington are 8 miles apart. An old-time tradition was that the students of the visiting school would walk into their rival’s lair to watch the game. The Odyssey found it heartwarming that the 93rd installment between the geographic neighbors would be played.
Sadly, the two schools do not play annually. Idaho made a wise move to move out of the FBS ranks into the geographically friendly (and highly competitive ) Big Sky. The Vandals’ former FBS home in the Sun Belt was very unfriendly from a geographic standpoint. In recent years, Idaho’s fortunes have skied as they have become one of the many Big Sky powers. Last year, Idaho traveled to Oregon and gave the Ducks all they could handle.
New coaching staffs (Wazzu became South Dakota State West) made the opener more intriguing for both squads.
The Odyssey always roots for the FCS in FCS-FBS matchups. We love underdogs! Idaho had a golden chance to pull off the upset but whiffed on its oppotunity. With under 5 minutes left in the game, Washington State was nursing a 10-7 lead when disaster struck for the Cougars: a strip-sack fumble deep in their own territory. The Idaho defensive lineman who caused said disaster could not stay on his feet once the errant pigskin was covered. Otherwise, a walk-in touchdown for the Vandals.
As it was, Idaho still had a golden opportunity on the Wazzu 11. After two futile runs into the middle of the line and a pass sailing out of the endzone, Idaho settled for a game tying field goal. After this totally uninspiring play call sequence, the Odyssey wondered to itself, why do said underdogs play it so close to the vest?
Predictably, WSU proceeded to march down the field and kick a game-winning field goal. 13-10 for the FBS. I viewed this as karma for Idaho’s weak play calling at crunch time. Sigh. Oh well, at least Tarleton State provided some FCS magic last weekend.