Steppin' out. After a two-hour bus r ide to Spokane, wide receiver Brian Allengets a chance to stretch his legs. (photo by P. Jerome)
On the road From what I'd heard, road trips could be exciting. I also knew they could be tiring or depressing. It's time for the season football opener and the two busses leave from Wallace Complex right after the team breakfast - 9:30 a.m. The itinerary said dress like winners and e veryone did. The busses were filled completely and spirits were high. It didn't take very long for things to quiet down, however. Eight miles later we drove past Washington State University and into Pullman. One player was reading his Human A natomy and Phys!ology textbook, but that lasted about as long as my read ing for History 455. All the sports pages were passed around, a long with the Idaho Football media guide. Most everyone dozed off for a little while on the trip through the Palouse to Spokane. Another player took some final glances at the Cougar scouting report. "Kevin, we're going to have one guy take Turner to the turf on every option play. This is the play I don't like, I have to go through these two guys." The comedian I a~. I
couldn't resist saying, as we pulled into Spokane, "Who is this game against again, Gonzaga or Whitworth?" The Davenport Hotel is where the team stopped. They checked in for the afternoon and had about two hours before any team meetings started. I went with the backs and about four other people to crowd around the TV set to watch the USC-Florida game. We switched back and forth between that and the Dodger game. After the pre-game meal at 3 p.m., it was time for position meetings and shortly thereafter, taping. Both tha Vandals and the Cougars arrived at Joe Albi Stadium about the same time as the rain clouds. A few hours later, the game kicked off. WSU eventually won 34-14. But, even though the Vandals lost, they had reason to be proud of their effort. The team played a good game, but a second half downpour washed out tha team's chances. Because the team played well and stayed with tha favored Cougars, there wasn't any reason to be down. The trip back was also in good spirits. But it was tiring. 0 .
The first chapter. The Vandals. led by head coach Dennis Erickson. prepare to begin what would turn out to be a storybook season. They lost the opening game to WSU but brighter things were to come. (photo by P. Jerome)
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