Idaho football closes out season against Texas State
Like most football coaches, Paul Petrino tends to focus, publicly at least, on the positives.
But despite more wins this season than his first two combined at Idaho, it has been a test of his will. From off-field problems, a 14-hour flight delay before a road game, his team’s conference future in question and an anonymous e-mail that prompted an investigation into claims the staff overworked players, there’s no shortage of fires.
“I think a lot of it’s been tough,” Petrino said. “It makes you get better. It’s made us become closer as players and coaches. ... It’s made us improve. It’s made me, myself, improve.”
Petrino will honor his seniors before the game. Here are his thoughts on some of those seniors:
LB Marc Millan: “Marc’s made all kinds of tackles here the last three years. You have to take your hat off; he’s played hard.”
DT Ryan Edwards: “Kind of does all the dirty work, doesn’t really get the praise sometimes, but he’s holding down, keeping guys off the linebackers.”
OL Dallas Sandberg: “He’s kind of like the grandfather or the grandfather of the group. ... we’ll really miss him. Dallas will be leading a company someday, leading something.”
RB Elijhaa Penny: “He’s probably as great a kid as I’ve ever coached. ... I think he’s got a definite chance to play at the next level because not only is he a really good runner, but he can protect and catch it out of the backfield.”
DE Quinton Bradley: “We kind of went from (holds arms apart) to here (claps hands together). I’m as close to him as I am to anybody right now.”
Texas State at Idaho
- When: 3 p.m. Saturday
- Where: Kibbie Dome (16,000; RealGrass Pro)
- TV: ESPN3
- Radio: KFXD (630 AM)
- Records: Idaho is 3-8, 2-5 in Sun Belt; Texas State State is 3-7, 2-4
- Series: Texas State leads 4-3 (def. Idaho 35-30 on Oct. 4, 2014, in San Marcos in last meeting)
- Vegas line: Idaho by 3
This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 11:52 PM with the headline "Idaho football closes out season against Texas State."