Vandal football wrapped up their 2019 season last Saturday, giving fans an amazing send off despite their troubles throughout the year.
The Vandals pulled off a memorable 60-53 overtime win over Northern Arizona to claim their first road victory in two years.
While things may have not always gone the Vandal’s way this season, there were many positive takeaways from the up and down season.
For Vandal fans, having a chance to watch this Vandal team this year in the Kibbie Dome, very rarely was there disappointment.
Two of the most memorable games of the season happened inside the Dome, with the magic sprinkling over in the Vandal’s favor.
Fans expect for the Vandals to win and win now, which is understandable.
You would think the talent gap would vary significantly from FBS and FCS, but it hasn’t.
It is going to be a continuous process for the Vandals to reach toward the top as the higher echelon of Big Sky play, but that doesn’t mean we have to push away the memorable performances that happened this season.
Pulling the unthinkable over Eastern Washington and the Vandal defense coming up with three defensive touchdowns against Idaho State in a packed Kibbie Dome are possibly two of the best games I have ever witnessed during my last four years here at Idaho.
Then, finally, in the last game of the season the Vandals saved their best for last.
After two tough losses against two of the best teams in all of the FCS currently, there were many doubters of it being a “hopeless” season.
Idaho could have easily turned over in a pointless game, but they didn’t. Throughout all the struggles the Vandals had this season, they always showed up when everybody least expected it.
The Vandals possibly had the best wide receiver in all of the Big Sky this season in Jeff Cotton, and he showed in the final game of the season why he was the heart and soul of the offense.
Cotton finished with 17 receptions, 223 yards and two touchdowns, shattering Idaho records along the way.
And after experiencing one of the most scrutinized tenures as a Vandal quarterback, Mason Petrino finished his career with his best performance as a Vandal.
Petrino threw 35-42 snagging 491 yards and six touchdowns. If there is any lasting memory to leave at Idaho, that may top the list.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Vandals showed glimpses throughout the season as to how dominant they can be as well. With linebackers Tre Walker and Christian Elliss both returning this upcoming season, their potential will only continue to grow.
Vandal football did this season what they always do best — tease your emotions, both good and bad.
Consistency has been something that this Idaho team has struggled with the past two seasons. Winning on the road seemed to be this team’s kryptonite, but in the end, they were finally able to overcome that hurdle.
It seems as if Vandal football has been climbing a continuous mountain and I don’t think any of us know when they will finally reach the summit.
What we do know is that it will be a surprise for many and unexpected, but that’s what Idaho does best.
This season wasn’t perfect, but soon enough the Vandals will reach the top of the mountain.
Chris Deremer can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @chris_DEREMER