Idaho Vandals vs. Montana State Bobcats
Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 ~ Kibbie Dome, Moscow, Idaho ~ ESPN3 • SWX • Vandal Radio Network
THE RECORDS
Idaho was 4-8 overall and 3-5 to tie for fifth in the Sun Belt Conference in 2015. The Bobcats were 5-6 overall and tied for eighth in the Big Sky Conference at 3-5.
THE COACHES
PAUL PETRINO is in his fourth season at Idaho. While it is his first head coaching job, it is not Petrino's first stint at Idaho. His coaching career began at Carroll College (his alma mater, 1989). From Carroll, he went to Idaho where he coached running back, receivers and special teams from 1992-94. From Idaho it was on to Utah State (1995-97), Louisville (1998-99), Southern Mississippi (2000-02), Louisville (2003-06), Atlanta Falcons (2007), Arkansas (2008-09), Illinois (2010-11) and Arkansas (2012).
JEFF CHOATE kicks off his collegiate head coaching career Thursday against the Vandals. Previously, he has been an assistant at Washington, Florida, Washington State, Boise State, Eastern Illinois, Utah State and Montana Western. He also coached at Challis, Twin Falls and Post Falls high schools. He is a 1993 graduate of Montana Western.
THURSDAY'S GAME    
Thursday's game is Idaho's annual Tackle Cancer game. In addition to honoring everyone who has been impacted by cancer and promoting awareness and research, the Vandals are honoring two people very special to them. One is Jace Malek, who signed his letter of intent to play at Idaho the day after he was diagnosed with cancer. He spent last fall as a student assistant coach and was very much a part of the team. He passed away in February of this year. The  other is Mark Vaught. Vaught was Idaho's Director of Football Operations from 2007 until passing away in November of 2014 while battling cancer.
THE SERIES
Idaho leads the series 24-17-1, which first was played in 1905, but it's been a while since the two last played with their most recent meeting a 56-7 Vandal victory at Moscow in 2000. MSU last won, 16-13, in Bozeman in 1995.
TELEVISION
The game is on SWX and ESPN3 with Sam Adams (play-by-play) and Bill Ames (analyst). It also is on DirecTV (681) and Dish  (413) as well as KTVB-7.1 in Boise and KTFT-7.1 in Twin Falls.
2016 CAPTAINS
Captains will be announced weekly.
VANDAL RADIO NETWORK
KXLY sports personality Dennis Patchin continues to call the play-by-play and former Vandal defensive end and Vandal Athletics Hall of Famer Ryan Phillips is providing the analysis for the second season in a row.