Idaho Football's Last Season In The WAC Is Not Going Great

Idaho petitioned the Idaho State Board of Education for the right to leave the WAC-which will likely cease football-related operations next year-and continue playing FBS football as an independent in 2013, joining teams like BYU, Army and Navy. The right was granted, and Idaho saved its football team. Uh…good?

Idaho is 1-7 overall, 1-2 in conference play, and currently losing to San Jose State. In late October, the University of Idaho made Robb Akey the first FBS football coach fired this season after he posted a 20-50 in five-and-a-half seasons and the Vandals started no better this year. The interim they promoted, Jason Gesser, was coaching high school football two years ago, and running backs at Idaho last year. According to the Spokesman-Review of Spokane, "Gesser admitted Monday that he had been so preoccupied with everything swirling around him that he wasn't sure what type of offense [Saturday opponent] San Jose State runs." It gets worse!

During their bye week, Idaho not only fired Akey, but dismissed their starting quarterback, Dominique Blackman, and senior linebacker Conrad Scheidt, both for having racked up three failed drug tests. Scheidt had been a starter until, as the Spokesman-Review describes it, a "face fracture" in practice during week three; Blackman had been the "clear-cut top QB in fall camp." The university also suspended-possibly for the full year-tight end Taylor Elmo, for tweeting after Akey was dismissed, "U of idaho is stupid as hell for what they did. Fire a man to keep your own job???" His Twitter bio reads, "Moscow Idaho (for the moment)."

A university in Moscow, Idaho is having a miserable football season, and the only bit of good news recently was that they can do it again next year? At least Gesser is getting familiar with that San Jose State offense.

h/t Koji