Chalich receives honor
Idaho freshman quarterback Chad Chalich was named the Independent Offensive Player of the Week by CollegeSportsMadness.com.
The honor came after Chalich threw for 310 yards on 26-for-43 passing and rushed for another 114 yards on 14 carries to lead the Vandals to a 26-24 victory over Temple last Saturday on Homecoming night. It was the first victory for the Vandals, this season.
“He has really improved,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. “He did a great job of taking what the defense gave him and led his team to a win. Anytime a quarterback can throw for over 300 yards and rush for over 100, that’s a great game.”
The highlights of the game for Chalich include a career-long 52-yard run, as well as a 64-yard touchdown pass to freshman running back Richard Montgomery. Chalich also had career highs for passes, completions, passing yards and rushing yards in the game.
Chalich’s performance marks the first time an Idaho quarterback has rushed for 100 or more yards since Doug Nussmeier, who ran for 107 yards in a 49-16 victory over Boise State on Nov. 20, 1993.
Men’s basketball begins practice
Practice is underway for the Idaho men’s basketball team. The Vandals held their first practice of the 2013-14 season last Saturday. This marks the first of 30 practices before the season opener against Western Illinois Nov. 9 in Memorial Gym.
“Thirty practices gives us a lot of extra time. So hopefully, what I can accomplish during this time is — with nine new guys — figure out who’s going to play this year,” Idaho coach Don Verlin said. “That’s really the main focus, trying to get better every day, but also trying to figure out this basketball team so we can win the opener against Western Illinois.”