Cal Football: Idaho Beat Writer Answers 5 Questions About the Vandals
Cal fans may not know much about Idaho, an FCS team that faces the Golden Bears Saturday afternoon in Berkeley. So we asked Trevan Pixley, who covers the Vandals for the Lewiston (Idaho) Tribune, five questions about Idaho, which is ranked 10th in this week's FCS coaches poll and No. 6 in the CBS Sports FCS power rankings..
Here's what he said:
--1. Idaho does not seem at all intimidated by playing FBS opponents. How would you describe the Vandals’ mindset going into games against FBS teams? Eager? Confident? Chip on their shoulder? A chance to make a name? All of the above?
“They’re not scared,” said Pixley in the video atop this story.
He notes that Idaho was an FBS program just six years ago, and the addition of second-year head coach Jason Eck had made a significant difference.
“They aren’t scared,” Pixley said. “They’re looking at these games as opportunities. If you look at the Nevada game [a 33-6 Idaho win] where it was really never in question, they are going to look at this Cal game as a big opportunity against a Pac-12 team that has a lot of history. They could say, ‘Hey, we’re not only a team that could make the [FCS] playoffs, but we’re a team that could make a deep run in November.'”
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--2. Were you surprised at how decisively Idaho beat Nevada? How did Idaho do it?
“I’d say I am a little surprised at how well they’re doing right now,” Pixley said, “but with how Jason Eck is as a leader and a head coach, you can never be too surprised.”
He said Idaho has the potential to be better than last year’s 7-5 Idaho team that gave Washington State and Indiana challenges in 2022.
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--3. What influence has second-year head coach Jason Eck had on the program?
If this Idaho team does as well as Pixley thinks it might and people ask how it happened, “It’s going to be because of the work of Jason Eck.”
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--4. Quarterback Gevani McCoy, running back Anthony Woods and receivers Hayden Hatten and Jermaine Jackson were all preseason all-Big Sky selections. How good are they, and what does each do best?
“They’re really, really good,” Pixley said.
“Hayden Hatten is going to be in the NFL,” said Pixley, who compares him to Cooper Kupp, an Eastern Washington alum.
Hayden Hatten. Photo by Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports
“Jackson is the Tyreek Hill of the Big Sky.”
“McCoy is a great story.” McCoy entered fall camp last year as the fourth-string quarterback, and beat everyone out to win the job. He’s considered the best quarterback in the Big Sky now and currently ranks third in the nation among FCS players in passer rating
On Woods: “The kid’s electric. Another man who probably has some NFL potential.”
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--5. What are Idaho’s strengths, and is this the best Idaho team since it became an FCS school?
“I would say their strengths are skill players and their ability to take the ball away,” Pixley said. “They have weapons everywhere.”
“As far as, is this the best Idaho team since they dropped down to FCS? I would say, ‘Yeah.’”
Cover photo of Idaho defensive back Tommy McCormick by Jason Bean, RGJ, USA TODAY NETWORK
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