IT'S THE INAUGURAL SEASON FOR THE PLAYERS ALL-STAR CLASSIC GAME which will be played at Arkansas' War Memorial Stadium on February 4th, and two Vandals have been invited to participate in the game. Right tackle TYRONE NOVIKOFF (6-7, 314) and linebacker Korey Toomer (6-3, 235) will suit up for the North team coached by Martin Bayless, with athletes who are prospects for the 2012 NFL Draft.

A SEASON THAT STARTED WITH LOFTY EXPECTATIONS has mercifully come to an end. Saturday afternoon, on the road in Reno, the Vandals exemplified everything endured this season with in a 56-3 thrashing at the hands of the Wolf Pack. The focus now turns to recruiting to fill holes for 2012, building a line around redshirt freshman center MIKE MARBOE, and a shakeup in the coaching staff is likely.

Junior tailback RYAN BASS and the Idaho Vandals will put a cap on what has been a disappointing 2011 season Saturday at Nevada. The Vandals (2-9 overall, 1-5 WAC) will try to beat the Wolf Pack (6-5, 4-2 WAC) for the first time since joining the WAC in 2005. It is the last chance for Idaho to do that since Nevada is heading to the Mountain West Conference next season.

THE VANDALS HOLD A 2-1 EDGE IN THE ALL-TIME SERIES with Brigham Young, but haven't battled the Cougars since 1955. Idaho and BYU played a three-game series from 1953-1955 with the Cougars winning the first game 20-14 followed by two Idaho wins (7-0 in '54, and 49-6 in '55). With redshirt sophomore QB TAYLOR DAVIS leading the charge, Idaho resumes its series with BYU...

University of Idaho junior punter BOBBY COWAN, a First Team All-WAC selection last year, currently is Idaho's all-time leader in yards-per-punt average, and this week advanced in balloting for the Ray Guy Award, which recognizes the best punter in college football. A native of Vancouvar (Wash.), Cowan is currently No.2 in NCAA rankings in yards per punt average (47.10).

SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT SAN JOSE STATE the Vandals broke a 6-game losing streak by topping the Spartans by a final 32-29 score. Last week against Hawaii it was senior Princeton McCarty with the big game stats. This week, it was senior tailback KAMA BAILEY leading the way as he erupts for 163 yards on the ground and 174 all-purpose yards as the Vandals scored 22 fourth quarter points for the win.

IDAHO CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE OFFENSIVELY, but last week the staff made a change when they elevated sophomore QB Taylor Davis to starter to battle the Warriors. Despite another impressive defensive effort that held Hawaii to just 16 points and scored a TD on a 70-yard pick, the Vandals fell short again in the 16-14 loss. Idaho head coach ROBB AKEY talked to the media about Saturday's game.

SATURDAY SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK TAYLOR DAVIS made his first career start at Idaho, as the Vandals took on Hawaii in the Dome. An epic effort by the Vandal D made this a game, holding the Warriors to their fewest points in a win since 2003, and scored a TD on a 70-yard Tracy Carter pick. But it wasn't enough, as Idaho fell 16-14 to Hawaii. QB Brian Reader and LB KOREY TOOMER...

IDAHO lost a frustrating game for the 10,461 fans and the coaches. The players were probably the most frustrated by a 16-14 loss on a last second field goal. The VANDAL defense played very well - they caused 5 fumbles and sacked the quarterback 6 times. One especially good play was a 3rd quarter, 70 yard fumble return by sophomore cornerback TRACY CARTER (Mesquite, TX) to take a 14-13 lead.

DESPITE A CAREER NIGHT BY IDAHO SENIOR PRINCETON MCCARTY, who accumulated 236 all-purpose yards including 116 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the game, the Vandals fell short at New Mexico State and dropped a 31-24 contest to the Aggies. It was Idaho's first loss to NMSU since 2007, and came as the Vandals were unable to score from the Aggie one yard line on the final play of the game.

With Louisiana Tech’s offense struggling in the Kibbie Dome Saturday afternoon, Dudley snatched a pass from Idaho quarterback Brian Reader and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 10-2 in the second quarter, and Tech never looked back.

IDAHO'S 2011 HOMECOMING GAME DID NOT GO AS PLANNED SATURDAY, as the Vandals suffered their fourth consecutive loss, this one a 24-11 set-back to Louisiana Tech. The Vandal D played the Bulldogs tough and scored Idaho's first points of the game in the second quarter with a safety by senior rush end ANDRE FERGUSON with help from junior linebacker CONRAD SCHEIDT. Inside is...

THE VANDAL OFFENSE CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE, and hasn't scored a touch in regulation since the fourth quarter against Fresno State. Against Louisiana Tech in Idaho's Homecoming game Saturday, the Vandals lost 24-11, with Idaho's points coming on a safety, a kickoff returned for a touchdown, and a first half field goal. QB Brian Reader, WR Justin Veltung, and LB KOREY TOOMER...

JUNIOR WIDE RECEIVER AND SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUT JUSTIN HERNANDEZ, a product of Lapwai (Ida.) High School, was named this week's Western Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his effort Saturday at Virginia. For the second year in a row Hernandez blocked a punt, and for the second year in a row the block resulted in an Idaho touchdown. This is Hernandez'...

THE VANDAL DEFENSE BATTLED THROUGH ADVERSITY SATURDAY AT VIRGINIA, holding the Cavaliers to 14-points in regulation and forcing three turnovers. Idaho's special teams also came up big, including the second career blocked punt by Lapwai product Justin Hernandez, which was scooped up by Daniel Micheletti (of Meridian) for a Vandal TD. A missed UI 2-pt conversion was the difference in OT.

A two-point conversion pass by Idaho's Brian Reader fell incomplete and Virginia escaped with a 21-20 victory in overtime Saturday. Idaho's Daniel Micheletti ran in a blocked punt and Reader completed a two-point conversion pass to Marsel Posey to tie the game 14-14 in the fourth quarter and force overtime. Virginia (3-2) got the ball first in the extra period and scored...

The University of Idaho Vandals lost their last home match up against the Fresno State Bulldogs in the remodeled Kibbie Dome by a score of 48-24. Dad's weekend brought a crowd of 15,110 to the stadium for a frustrating loss. GoVandals.Net was at the game to capture these images including a spectacular blocked pass by junior defensive end BENSON MAYOWA.

THE VANDALS GOT OFF TO A SOLID START AGAINST FRESNO STATE in the Kibbie Dome Saturday afternoon, trailing the Bulldogs 24-17 at the half. But the third quarter proved disastrous for Idaho (1-3, 0-1 WAC) as the Vandals fell 44-24 to FSU (2-2, 1-0 WAC). Offensive Team Captain QB Brian Reader, cornerback Matt Harvey, tailback Princeton McCarty, and wide receiver ARMAUNI JOHNSON talked to the media.

THROUGH THE FIRST THREE GAMES THE UNIT VANDAL FANS WERE THE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT going into the season remains the one still in transition: The offensive line. Led by senior LT TYRONE NOVIKOFF, Idaho continues to break in both guards, with as many as five seeing playing time this season. Saturday afternoon in the Dome at 2pm PST, the line gets another big test as Idaho hosts Fresno State.

FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON THE VANDALS (1-1) LEAVE THE FRIENDLY CONFINES OF THE KIBBIE DOME, and head to fabled College Station to take on 9th ranked Texas A&M (1-0). This is the first meeting between the two programs, as senior tailback RYAN BASS and the Vandals (searching for their identity and consistency in 2010) face a loaded Aggie team with their sights set on a National...

FOLLOWING IDAHO'S EMOTIONAL 44-14 HOME VICTORY OVER NORTH DAKOTA IN THE KIBBIE DOME Saturday afternoon on Military Appreciation Day, erasing at least a little bit the memory of last Saturday's home loss to Bowling Green. Offensive Team Captain and QB Brian Reader, Defensive Team Captain and starting MIKE Tre'Shawn Robinson, tailback Princeton McCarty, and newcomer MIKE...

Idaho quarterback Brian Reader threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns Saturday as Idaho rebounded from its season-opening loss, defeating North Dakota 44-14. Mike Scott was the top receiver for the Vandals (1-1) with eight catches for 99 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown pass. Reader also found Armauni Johnson, Marsel Posey and Michael LaGrone for scores as Idaho rolled up 424...

THURSDAY NIGHT IN THE SEASON OPENER FOR THE VANDALS, Idaho struggled offensively throughout the game to the visiting Falcons. After electrifying the crowd with a spectacular 51-yard pass play to set-up a touchdown on Idaho's opening drive, the offense became mostly punchless for the rest of the game, falling 32-15 to Bowling Green. Team Captain Brian Reader and tailback RYAN BASS met the media.

THURSDAY NIGHT IN THE SEASON OPENER FOR THE VANDALS, Idaho struggled defensively in the first half giving up 30 points to the visiting Falcons. The Vandal D made adjustments at the half and didn't yield a second half point to BGSU, but by then the damage was done and a stagnant Vandal offense couldn't keep pace, falling 32-15. Team Captain TRE'SHAWN ROBINSON and safety...

Now, let's switch over and look at the defensive side of the ball.As effective as the offense was, the defense was just as good. It was very encouraging. I think the d-line got a bunch of push, I thought we tackled much more effectively than in the past, mixed blitzes up to get pressure (succeeding, I might add) and kept Idaho off balance most of the game. Idaho also turned...