Bobby Cowan, Debbie Buchanan awarded
Idaho punter Bobby Cowan and women’s volleyball coach Debbie Buchanan earned individual awards at Saturday’s North Idaho Hall of Fame banquet. Cowan, junior, was named College Athlete of the Year while Buchanan, in her 11th season as the Vandals’ coach, was named College Coach of the Year. Cowan’s achievements during the 2011 fall season helped him become the second Vandal in Idaho history to receive Football Writers’ Association of America all-American honors. Also during fall 2011, Buchanan became the coach with the most wins in school history.
Marshall collects WAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week honor
The WAC awards continue to pile up for Idaho track and field. For his efforts at last weekend’s Mondo Mid-Major Challenge, senior javelin thrower Mike Marshall was named the Verizon WAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week for the week of April 9 to 15. At the challenge, Marshall’s career best throw of 217-9 (66.38-meters) helped him claim an individual title in the event.
The mark is the best in the WAC this season and tops Marshall’s previous personal best by 10 feet. It also ranks No. 20 in the West Region and No. 39 in the NCAA. Teammate Ugis Svazs finished immediately behind Marshall in the javelin throw and ranks second in the WAC this season. Idaho track and field has picked up four total Verizon WAC athlete of the week awards this outdoor season.
Game Day T-shirt to be revealed at spring game
The 2012-2013 Vandal Game Day T-shirt contest has concluded and the official Game Day T-shirt for the upcoming academic year will be revealed at 3:30 p.m. at the VandalStore Plaza before Friday’s Silver and Gold Scrimmage. The winning shirt was designed by Idaho alum and current Greek advisor Matt Kurz. Kurz earned his master’s degree from UI in 2011 and said it wasn’t his first time participating in the contest.
“I’ve submitted a design each year since I’ve worked and went to school here,” Kurz said. “The difference this year is I really wanted to do something with a wider appeal that used the brand, and incorporate something new that would stand out. I wanted to put something in there that would make me feel connected to the university.”
The theme of the 2012-2013 design is “Be brave. Be bold. Be silver and gold.” Final designs were voted on by President M. Duane Nellis, Athletic Director Rob Spear, ASUI President Samantha Perez and others.
4-0 weekend earns Akbar WAC honor
Idaho junior Abid Akbar went 4-0 in doubles and singles play last weekend, earning the Vandal tennis program yet another Verizon WAC Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week. With Akbar’s help, the men’s team went 2-0 and clinched the No. 2 seed at next week’s WAC Tournament in Las Cruces, N. M.
Against Hawaii, Akbar paired up with Andrew Dobbs to defeat Jared Spiker and Carter Lam 8-3. At the No. 2 singles spot, he ousted the Warriors’ Chas Okamoto 6-2, 6-3 in a crucial match that helped decide Idaho’s 4-3 match victory. The Vandals cruised to a 5-1 victory against host Utah State and in the process Akbar and Dobbs were victorious, beating Andrew and Lenny Whiting 8-3. The Islamabad, Pakistan, native went on to handle the Aggies’ Markus Frits 6-2, 6-1. It’s the second time a men’s player has won the award this spring.