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No place like home

Cougars receiver Jason Hill, on his way to three first-half touchdowns, eludes the defense of Simeon Stewart (22) and Eric McMillan (7). Thanks to Hill, the Cougars clicked on offense all night and led 28-0 by halftime. (Christopher Anderson/ / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com(509) 459-5585
Cougars receiver Jason Hill, on his way to three first-half touchdowns, eludes the defense of Simeon Stewart (22) and Eric McMillan (7). Thanks to Hill, the Cougars clicked on offense all night and led 28-0 by halftime. (Christopher Anderson/ / The Spokesman-Review)

PULLMAN – The University of Idaho lost big everywhere Saturday night – except at the turnstiles. The game was considered a Vandals home game, and the 34,858 fans at Martin Stadium who watched Washington State’s 49-8 win should go a long way toward helping Idaho reach the NCAA requirement of averaging 15,000 attendance for its four home games.

The NCAA requires a team to play at least 50 percent of its home games at one site to count toward attendance requirements. Idaho will entertain Arkansas State at Martin Stadium on Nov. 6. The Vandals need to draw roughly 25,000 in their remaining three home games to satisfy the new rules.

Idaho has approached WSU about moving next year’s game from early September in Martin Stadium to late September at Qwest Field in Seattle. The reason? The game could be counted as a UI home game – the NCAA allows one contest at a neutral site – which would help Idaho meet the attendance requirement next season. WSU has played a game in Seattle the last two seasons.

For attendance purposes, the Vandals’ long-range goal is to be able to ‘host’ WSU and Boise State in opposite years. Idaho is scheduled to play at Boise State next year – the primary reason it wants to reschedule the WSU contest next September. If the change is made, Idaho would play the remainder of its 2005 home games at the Kibbie Dome.

WSU athletic director Jim Sterk “is willing to consider it,” Idaho A.D. Rob Spear said. “We need to check on some things to make sure of the Mariners’ and Huskies’ schedules. WSU has been very good to us by letting us use Martin Stadium in the past.”

New view

WSU offensive coordinator Mike Levenseller and quarterbacks coach Timm Rosenbach swapped their usual vantage points. Levenseller was stationed in the press box while Rosenbach was on the sidelines.

“Timm and I talked and we made a two-game commitment to help with the young quarterbacks,” Levenseller said. “We wanted to get Timm around the quarterbacks. It’s probably not a permanent thing, but it’s something we did (Saturday) and we’ll see where it goes.”

Added Rosenbach: “I just wanted to get face time with the quarterbacks on the field and get a little better read on them.”

Handy effort

After struggling with dropped passes the first two weeks, Cougars receivers were much more sure-handed against the Vandals. Earlier this week, Levenseller prohibited the receivers from wearing gloves, other than Jason Hill and those who play on special teams.

“If it’s not real cold or real wet, then to me there’s no reason to have them on,” Levenseller said. “Shoot, you might as well have a pacifier. I’m dead serious. If I have to take their pacifier away to feed them, then I guess that’s what I have to do.”

Pain game

WSU defensive tackle Aaron Johnson was shaken up twice. Johnson limped off the field in the first half and he had the wind knocked out of him in the third quarter.

Middle linebacker Will Derting suffered a mild stinger midway through the third quarter and didn’t return. WSU coaches were planning on removing Derting after the series anyway. He’s expected to be ready for Saturday’s game at Arizona. Reserve defensive back Ryan Kensok apparently suffered a broken arm late in the fourth quarter.

Idaho lost two players to injury. Offensive tackle Hank Therien was on crutches after injuring his right knee late in the first quarter. True freshman Desmond Clark replaced him.

True freshman defensive tackle Siua Musika hurt his right knee in the first half and didn’t return.

Notes

Running back Allen Thompson picked up five yards and a first down early in the second quarter, giving the Cougars their third rushing first down. That equaled WSU’s rushing first downs in the first two games combined. WSU finished with 12 rushing first downs. … Cougars linebacker Jed Collins saw a few snaps at fullback, giving WSU a rare two-back set. Collins caught a pass for 27 yards. “It was a blast,” Collins said. “Being able to back up somebody like Will Derting is a tremendous honor and getting the ball, that’s everybody’s dream to catch a ball and get out on a run.”

“The 34,858 (tickets sold) was the largest crowd for a WSU ‘home’ opener since 33,914 watched WSU-UI in 1989. … UI true freshmen running backs Jayson Bird and Rolly Lumbala were effective at times, but each had costly fumbles. Lumbala fumbled inside the Cougar 5 in the second quarter. Bird finished with 78 yards and Lumbala added 62.