Loss in the Vandal family
Jace Malek, a University of Idaho football student assistant coach, died Sunday afternoon, just over a year after he was diagnosed with cancer.
Malek, a standout fullback from West Valley High School in Spokane, signed a national letter of intent to play football with UI in February 2015, one day after he learned he had osteosarcoma. Malek joined the Vandal coaching staff last July.
Idaho Fan Zone runs $389,000 over budget
The Idaho Fan Zone was originally built to enhance the Vandal game day experience.
However, something in the plan went wrong, as Vice President for Infrastructure Dan Ewart said the project that was once projected to cost about $100,000 ended up costing roughly $489,000. Ewart said the difference in predicted cost and actual cost was due to a miscalculation in how expensive multiple areas of the project would be and it did not create a budget deficit for the university. Ewart said the extra funds were provided by private donors.
“The site preparation was more expensive than we intended,” Ewart said. “The erection and take-down were both more expensive than we thought it was going to be.”
Much of the money spent on the Fan Zone was for work done to prepare the area where it would go, Ewart said. That cost carries over into future years, even though the original structure of the Fan Zone will not be rebuilt.
A severe windstorm in November damaged the Fan Zone and led to it being taken down just before the last football game of the season. Ewart said the same structure will not reappear next year, but instead there will be a series of smaller tents instead of one mini Kibbie Dome.
“More of a county fair type of atmosphere,” Ewart said.
Ewart said he hopes many Vandals still come and support the Fan Zone next year.