NEW ORLEANS, La. – The festivities are underway in New Orleans, with the first ever Sun Belt Fais-DoDo taking place on Sunday evening.  The real action gets going on Monday, as the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Football Media Day takes place all day at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
 
Idaho head coach Paul Petrino will be live on ESPN3 at 12 p.m. Pacific, with players following soon after.  Fans can stay in touch with all the news from Media Day by following the Vandals on Twitter, @VandalFootball.  Petrino will also be spending most of the morning representing Idaho on a number of regional radio programs.  Check in with Facebook.com/VandalsFootball for any live updates from Petrino's morning.
 
Joining Petrino will be senior quarterback Matt Linehan and senior defensive lineman Aikeem Coleman.
 
"I've seen a lot of my teammates in the past go down there and have a good time, I'm just excited to be representing our team," Linehan said.  "I'm very fortunate to be selected to do this and I'm happy I get to be a part of it."
 
Idaho is looking to build on an outstanding 2016 season that saw the Vandals take down Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.  Despite being one of four Sun Belt teams to win a bowl game in 2016, the Vandals were picked to finish sixth in the preseason polls.
 
"We know everyone is counting us out, and we're going to work hard to prove them wrong," said Coleman.
 
"We've always had that sort of chip-on-the-shoulder mentality," said Linehan.  "People have not really given us a chance for a long time.  Only we can dictate how our performance is going to be on the field."
 
Nine wins in 2016 was great, but this year's team expects to raise the bar in 2017.
 
"Raise the bar to me means, winning more than last year," Coleman ended.  "Last year we won nine games, this year we have to raise the bar, so 10 or 11 wins is the expectation."
 
Fans will also get their first chance at Media Day Bingo through Twitter on Monday, with the winner taking home a pair of tickets to Idaho's opening day game against Sacramento State on August 31.  Check back with @VandalFootball in the morning to play along.
 
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho football by following the team on Twitter, @VandalFootball, on Instagram, @VandalsFB, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals Football.

For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com.  Fans can also find Idaho on Twitter and Instagram, @Idaho_Vandals, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals.