2008 Woodie Awards
Looking forward to ISU football
Jason Enes
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: Sports
After a disappointing 3-8 season in Coach John Zamerberlin's first year at ISU, the hopes for year two are high and the schedule is rough.
For the first three weeks of the 2008 season, the Bengals do not have to leave the state. The season opens on August 30 at Boise State against the perennial Western Athletic Conference power Broncos. The following week the team heads north to Moscow to play the University of Idaho. The Bengals last played the Vandals in 2006 and played a very competitive game but lost 27-24. The rest of the road schedule features trips to Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Cal Poly and finishes Nov. 15 against Montana.
The Bengals home opener is on Thursday, Sept. 18, against the University of North Dakota in the Fighting Sioux's first season of division one football. Other highlights from this year's home schedule are homecoming, Oct. 18 versus Northern Arizona, and Weber State comes to town on Nov. 8. The only other two home games are against Montana State and the Bengals close the season at home on Nov. 22 against Sacramento State. This is the second time the Bengals have played a twelve game schedule.
Even though ISU's all-time leading rusher and first team all Big Sky performer Josh Barnett was lost to graduation, this does not mean that quarterback Russel Hill lacks in weapons on offense. Ken Cornist and Pocatello's own Clint Knickrehm return and will battle it out for the starting running back job. First team all Big Sky receiver Eddie Thompson is back to be Hill's primary target after leading the team in receptions (83) and yards (906). Along with Thompson, Jaron Taylor, Kenyon Blue and Edsel Logan return.
The defensive side took a hit with the graduation bug, causing the loss of a handful of starters including Terrance Calloway, Sterling Mennear and Geo Simmons. Plenty of experienced players returning to lead the defense. D.J. Clark and Jason Wright are back in the secondary and Brad Rife and Ryan Phipps return to anchor the linebacking corp. The Bengals will also be breaking in a new punter and kicker because both Brandon Jones and Dan Ziedman were lost to graduation.
For the first three weeks of the 2008 season, the Bengals do not have to leave the state. The season opens on August 30 at Boise State against the perennial Western Athletic Conference power Broncos. The following week the team heads north to Moscow to play the University of Idaho. The Bengals last played the Vandals in 2006 and played a very competitive game but lost 27-24. The rest of the road schedule features trips to Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Cal Poly and finishes Nov. 15 against Montana.
The Bengals home opener is on Thursday, Sept. 18, against the University of North Dakota in the Fighting Sioux's first season of division one football. Other highlights from this year's home schedule are homecoming, Oct. 18 versus Northern Arizona, and Weber State comes to town on Nov. 8. The only other two home games are against Montana State and the Bengals close the season at home on Nov. 22 against Sacramento State. This is the second time the Bengals have played a twelve game schedule.
Even though ISU's all-time leading rusher and first team all Big Sky performer Josh Barnett was lost to graduation, this does not mean that quarterback Russel Hill lacks in weapons on offense. Ken Cornist and Pocatello's own Clint Knickrehm return and will battle it out for the starting running back job. First team all Big Sky receiver Eddie Thompson is back to be Hill's primary target after leading the team in receptions (83) and yards (906). Along with Thompson, Jaron Taylor, Kenyon Blue and Edsel Logan return.
The defensive side took a hit with the graduation bug, causing the loss of a handful of starters including Terrance Calloway, Sterling Mennear and Geo Simmons. Plenty of experienced players returning to lead the defense. D.J. Clark and Jason Wright are back in the secondary and Brad Rife and Ryan Phipps return to anchor the linebacking corp. The Bengals will also be breaking in a new punter and kicker because both Brandon Jones and Dan Ziedman were lost to graduation.
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