It’s safe to say that, in the five years since Idaho returned to the Big Sky Conference, the Vandals’ resumed rivalry game with Montana has been little more than a formality.
Starting with a 46-27 win in 2018, the Griz have beaten Idaho in three straight tussles for the Little Brown Stein, none closer than that first meeting. UM has seven straight victories over Idaho in a series that dates back to 1903. The streak dates back to 2000 as UM and UI did not play between 2004 and Idaho’s return to the Big Sky Conference in 2018.
The Vandals are also yet to finish above sixth in the conference in a full season, which takes a little shine away from a rivalry in which they hold an overall 55-30-2 lead but have won just two of the past 13 clashes. But under first-year head coach Jason Eck, Idaho rolls into this year’s edition on Saturday in Missoula with a little momentum — a three-game winning streak, a 2-0 Big Sky Conference start and 48 points in the national media poll, just outside the top 25.
That resume makes the Vandals almost certainly the best team Montana will have played so far this year, adding even more juice to this game as questions about the Griz will start to be answered. After an easy 5-0 start — none of Montana’s previous five opponents are so much as receiving votes in this week’s poll — this game kicks off a tough six-game run to the end of the regular season for the Griz.
NICKNAME: Vandals
LOCATION: Moscow, Idaho
FOUNDED: 1889
ENROLLMENT: 10,791
STADIUM: The Kibbie Dome sits 16,000, opened in 1971 and received its iconic domed roof in 1975. With the opening of ICCU Arena last year, the Kibbie no longer pulls double duty as a football and basketball stadium, although it does still host the Vandals’ soccer team.
FAMOUS ALUMNI: Sarah Palin, politician; Kristin Armstrong and Dan O’Brien, gold medal winners; Jack Lemley, construction manager for the Channel Tunnel
THE COACH
Jason Eck, first year at Idaho (3-2, 3-2 overall)
Idaho is Eck’s first head coaching job after a long and varied career that dates back to the turn of the century. Indeed, it’s his second stint at Idaho — he was the offensive line coach for the Vandals from 2004 to 2006 — and his second turn through the Big Sky Conference. He started his coaching career as a GA at Wisconsin, his alma mater, in 2000, and spent time there and at Colorado before his first time at Idaho. He remained an offensive line coach for several jobs after that, including (in order) at D-II Winona State, FBS Ball State, FCS Hampton and Western Illinois and back to Division II at Minnesota State, Mankato.
Rob Ash brought him back to D-I as Montana State’s O-line coach in 2015, but he wasn’t retained when Jeff Choate replaced Ash after that season. He ended up at South Dakota State under John Stiegelmeier in 2016 as the offensive line coach and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019.
THE OFFENSE – PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Gevani McCoy, 6-0, 175, RS Fr.
McCoy saw action as a freshman (including going 8 for 18 with two interceptions against Montana), somewhat surprisingly won the starting job this year and has been very good and very efficient.
RB Anthony Woods, 5-10, 175, Fr.
Woods stepped right on campus as one of the best backs in the league — he’s currently fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game.
WR Jermaine Jackson, 5-7, 165, RS Jr.
Completing Idaho’s trio of diminutive offensive stars, Jackson has emerged as McCoy’s top target following a transfer from JUCO and two injury-plagued years with Idaho.
THE DEFENSE – PLAYERS TO WATCH
LB Fa’avae Fa’avae, 5-11, 215, Sr.
A tackling machine, the linebacker originally from Washington State also has two pass breakups and a forced fumble this year.
DL Leo Tamba, 6-0, 240, RS Sr.
Tamba’s three TFLs are tied for the team lead, and his team-high four quarterback hits say that number could be even higher.
