Idaho will have a new coach and a new quarterback when the Vandals return to the football field Saturday against San Jose State.
Head coach Robb Akey was fired and replaced with offensive coordinator Jason Gesser on Oct. 21, the beginning of Idaho’s bye week.
Sunday the school announced that starting QB Dominique Blackman and senior linebacker Conrad Scheidt have been dismissed for violating team rules.
Blackman and Scheidt failed multiple drug tests, The (Spokane) Spokesman Review reported late Saturday.
Junior tight end Taylor Elmo has been suspended indefinitely, the school announced. Elmo was critical of Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear in a tweet posted after Akey was fired.
“U of idaho is stupid as hell for what they did. Fire a man to keep your own job???” Elmo wrote.
The school did not specify a number of games for Elmo’s suspension.
“It depends on how Taylor responds,” Spear told the Spokesman-Review.
Blackman, a transfer from Old Dominion, won the starting job in fall camp. He was suspended for the Vandals’ season-opening loss to Eastern Washington. He has started every game since for the 1-7 Vandals, completing 167-of-265 passes for 1,610 yards. Blackman, a junior, threw nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Senior Logan Bushnell started the opener. Junior Taylor Davis is also a candidate for the starting job.
Scheidt played in the first three games of the season, recording 23 tackles. He has not played in the Vandals’ last eight games. In 37 career games, Scheidt had 143 tackles, including 17 for loss.
After starting all 12 games last year, Elmo has played in just two games this year. He has two receptions for 11 yards.
Brian Murphy: 377-6444,Twitter: @MurphsTurph
