What’s Scary About Idaho?
You didn't want to mess with Genseric. The King of the Vandals had taken what was a relatively small Germanic tribe, shuffled them off to Africa, built a Mediterranean power, and served notice to the Romans by taking Carthage in 439.
In 455, after the Roman king he liked had been killed and his daughter's arranged marriage ignored, Genseric decided to take Rome too. Some 1400 years later, a writer for the school paper named the University of Idaho's athletic teams after the tribe.
The parallels here are easy. The Vandals are, of course, the Vandals. Last year's Humanitarian Bowl win over Bowling Green, the second in school history, was their Carthage. Memorial Stadium is eyed as Rome.
And the local persona who has escalated what was supposed to be a hospitable and harmless non-conference game? That, of course, is Nathan Enderle.
What's scary about Idaho? It's the North Platte native's return home to The Good Life.
Last year, Enderle finished fifth in the country in QB rating, lead the ninth ranked offense, and caught a lot of eyes with his four touchdown performance before a national audience in the bowl game.
Like FAU's Rusty Smith in '09 and WMU's Tim Hiller in '08, Enderle doesn't have the eye popping numbers of a Chase Holbrook, but he brings a load of experience to the table. A three year starter, Enderle has steadily become a solid, NFL-sized signal caller. His interceptions have decreased over each of the past seasons--from 18 as a freshman to five last year--while his touchdowns have increased.
For a school like Idaho to spring a road upset of these proportions the first thing they have to do is minimize mistakes. Enderle should give you that. He's played in road games at USC and Washington so the stage isn't foreign, but he's still only one piece of the puzzle.
In 2008, WMU's Hiller came in, played well (2 TDs, 342 yards) and still lost by 23 points. Rusty Smith came in last year for FAU and didn't play well (2 INTs, 164 yds) in a 49-3 trouncing. There's still depth and talent to be considered and Nebraska's seen their share of highly touted mid-major QBs come in over the past few years. With the exception of Ball State in '07, all of those games still ended up feeling like the non-conference cash grab games they were billed to be coming in.
The Vandals, like all schools these days, have some legitimate talent elsewhere--RB Deonte Jackson and S Shiloh Keo come to mind--but it's hard to envision any sort of upset scenario without Enderle being heavily involved. How involved might depend on Nebraska's own offensive capabilities.
If the Huskers can move the ball, and they did last year during the cupcake buffet of September, than Enderle can't afford to be simply a stoic game manager. He'll have to take chances.
If, for some reason, Nebraska isn't piling up points, that's when Enderle becomes dangerous. Just having a guy smart enough to check down and throw short, realizing that, if you're still in the game, even a punt keeps you there is a high hole card to hold.
Experience isn't the be all, end all but it is at least one thing Idaho will hope they can count on. A rare case of the prefabricated pregame story line actually matching up with what might happen on the field.
8/17/2010
The only concern is if this game turns into a shootout. It likely shouldn’t happen—the last time we saw a pass-happy team come to town and win, they had to bring their own local head referee with them to do so.
Idaho doesn’t have Dan Beebe’s backing, so no chance in hell, unless the defense is napping.
8/17/2010
Well, I am looking forward to the Idaho/Nebraska game. My family comes from Lincoln, I was born there. The Amos family (and ancestors) have lived in the Lincoln area since 1850. My direct family moved to Idaho in the early 1950’s and has since produced 3 generations of U of I grads. However, almost all of my cousins and uncles (and Dad) went to U of Nebraska and left as alumni. Hopefully it will be a great game-but it Idaho will get my cheers.
8/17/2010
Wow. Being a Vandal fan living in Boise, I’m used to nothing but negative stories about my team. Imagine my shock to see that an actual big time program (and the fans and writers thereof) are actually treating us like human beings. Thanks Huskers! And I hope you guys crush the Big XII!
8/17/2010
Ya I don’t see a shootout happening no matter how good the Vandal’s offense is. I believe Bo when he said this years defense will be better than last years. 27-10 Huskers win!!!
GBR
Ankeny, IA
8/17/2010
I’ll say this: Husker fans appreciate and respect a coach who will lay it all on the line to go for the win instead of the tie. We have a little history in that regard.
We better not overlook the Vandals. They have potential and a returning Sr. QB who happens to be from North Platte. I’ll guarantee this game is circled on Enderle’s calendar.
8/17/2010
Being and IDAHO grad and living in Oklahoma for 15 yrs, I have always been impressed by the sportsmanship of the Huskers and their fans. Once again their class shines through! Good luck to the Huskers in the Big 12, but…
I-D-A-H-O, IDAHO IDAHO GO GO GO!
8/17/2010
I’ve never been to Lincoln and we are coming with a load of Vandals. We’ve all heard about how great the fans are and from the postings and the article the class shines through. Here is to a great game with NO injuries. Cheers.
8/17/2010
Though I don’t hold out much hope of Idaho actually winning this game, hopefully we’ll at least make it interesting.
California
8/17/2010
Total bummer about Sean Fisher’s broken leg.
http://www.ketv.com/r/24666250/detail.html
8/17/2010
This wont be much of a game.. Idaho defense was rather weak last year, thats why they won their bowl by going for 2 .. Add that to lossing 1st round pick and Outland simifinalist Mike Iuapoti and you have a serious hole to fill .. Bad protection = sacks = turnovers . expect alot more this year. GBR
s.p.johnson@sbcglobal.net
8/17/2010
in this day and age, any team can beat another team on any given day. Think Michigan and App. State, think Iowa State last year and 8 turn overs. Whew.
8/17/2010
Looking forward to watching how the Vandals will matchup against the Big Red. Idaho’s defense will be much improved over last years defense. The key to Idaho staying close will be how well the new offensive line comes together. Last year the Vandals outplayed the Huskies and made it interesting. Jake Locker was the game changer.
8/17/2010
Why in God’s name didn’t we offer Enderle a scholarship?
8/18/2010
Because Callahan was an idiot.
8/18/2010
ummmm im gonna keep this simple.we would need a callahan like meltdown and several suspensions and basic mutiny for nebraska to lose to idaho. enderle is a good qb but nebraska has looked dominant in our weak non conference opponents. our offense could be trash again but it wont matter in these cupcake games, i respect the vandals are better but Bo is the coach not callahan so we should see 42-17 type score with the vandals putting garbarge pts up late.vandals will have to work hard to keep it close but this is a focus neb team with a defense that will house any INT or fumbles.
vandals will look ok in first two or 3 series before they swallowed up by the big red. lets be honest other teams may have slept on the vandals….. but nebraska gonna beat them like they stole something from us.
8/18/2010
Huskers “D” will wear the Vandals out in 1 quarter, But I thank them all the same for comming to Lincoln far butt whippin!
Huskers 52
Vandals 3
8/18/2010
Iowa State 9, Nebraska 7.
Yes, Idaho can win.
That being said, I’m glad they are on the schedule. They are a decent team which (unlike our first two opponents) will give us a good warm up for Washington.
8/18/2010
Idaho is the second of our first two opponents…
I think this is an interesting match up. Idaho has a high powered offense and will be a good test for the NU defense. However, I don’t think the Vandals have enough fire power to keep this close. Anything can happen in college football these days (ISU) but I think the Huskers come out on top rather formidably…Idaho 13 NU 37
Enjoy your time in Lincoln Vandal fans! It should be a great time win or lose.