Posted by ESPN.com’s Graham Watson
Idaho coach Robb Akey needed one word to describe his team’s 70-45 loss to Nevada last week:
“Ouch.”
Oddly, it was the second consecutive year the Vandals had allowed a team to put 70 on them. In last year’s season opener, Arizona topped Idaho 70-0.
But the feeling in the locker room after this season’s blowout was much different than a year ago.
Akey said he saw determination and desire to get back on the winning streak that had given Idaho a 6-1 record heading into that game. There was no pity, no "here we go again" attitude, just a desire to make losing a rarity during this special season.
“The way that they responded after the game, the way that they came in here [Sunday], the look in their eyes, the determination, the way that they ran, the way that they worked, their desire to get moving forward, that makes me believe that we’re going to come storming back and establish ourselves a new streak,” Akey said.
Idaho knows how losing can snowball. After all, this is a team that had won three combined games in the past two seasons and seven in the past three. However, this year’s Vandals have been a more determined bunch. Up until last weekend, they hadn’t really allowed a game to get out of hand. Even at the end of the first half, Idaho crawled back to make it a four-point game. They’ve trailed several times this season and fought back to win.
Idaho knows that six wins doesn’t guarantee it a bowl game. The Vandals need at least one more win to likely secure a spot in one of the WAC’s bowls. They play three of their last four games at home, including this weekend’s tilt against Louisiana Tech.
The Bulldogs have lost two of their last three, including last week’s upset by Utah State. Idaho’s defense was exposed by Nevada last weekend, but the Vandals' offense has proved that it can hang with any team in the conference.
Akey said the one thing he knows his team won’t do after last week’s loss is give up.
“I learned that our guys are still going to compete and they’re going to play,” Akey said. “We didn’t play well enough to win in that particular ballgame and that was disappointing, but we’re going to have that kicked behind us.“
Idaho coach Robb Akey needed one word to describe his team’s 70-45 loss to Nevada last week:
 | |
| Jesse Beals/Icon SMI | |
| Coach Robb Akey says he's seen no evidence his team will give up after losing 70-45 to Nevada. |
Oddly, it was the second consecutive year the Vandals had allowed a team to put 70 on them. In last year’s season opener, Arizona topped Idaho 70-0.
But the feeling in the locker room after this season’s blowout was much different than a year ago.
Akey said he saw determination and desire to get back on the winning streak that had given Idaho a 6-1 record heading into that game. There was no pity, no "here we go again" attitude, just a desire to make losing a rarity during this special season.
“The way that they responded after the game, the way that they came in here [Sunday], the look in their eyes, the determination, the way that they ran, the way that they worked, their desire to get moving forward, that makes me believe that we’re going to come storming back and establish ourselves a new streak,” Akey said.
Idaho knows how losing can snowball. After all, this is a team that had won three combined games in the past two seasons and seven in the past three. However, this year’s Vandals have been a more determined bunch. Up until last weekend, they hadn’t really allowed a game to get out of hand. Even at the end of the first half, Idaho crawled back to make it a four-point game. They’ve trailed several times this season and fought back to win.
Idaho knows that six wins doesn’t guarantee it a bowl game. The Vandals need at least one more win to likely secure a spot in one of the WAC’s bowls. They play three of their last four games at home, including this weekend’s tilt against Louisiana Tech.
The Bulldogs have lost two of their last three, including last week’s upset by Utah State. Idaho’s defense was exposed by Nevada last weekend, but the Vandals' offense has proved that it can hang with any team in the conference.
Akey said the one thing he knows his team won’t do after last week’s loss is give up.
“I learned that our guys are still going to compete and they’re going to play,” Akey said. “We didn’t play well enough to win in that particular ballgame and that was disappointing, but we’re going to have that kicked behind us.“
ABOUT THIS BLOG
College Football Nation
Have a question about college football? Ask our bloggers:
You must be signed in to post a comment