Blackman named starting quarterback at Idaho

MOSCOW - The University of Idaho on Monday confirmed junior Dominique Blackman has been named starting quarterback for the Vandals this season.

The left-handed Blackman had posted the news earlier in the day on his Twitter account.

"It's a blessing. It's something I've been working for my whole life," Blackman said in comments released by the Idaho athletic department. "To me, it's just a blessing to have this opportunity. I have to take advantage of it."

Blackman had been competing for the job during spring drills and fall camp with fellow junior Taylor Davis, who started two games last year.

"I knew it was going to be a competition," Blackman said. "I knew from the day I set foot on campus."

"I've been telling everybody we needed separation to come about at the quarterback position," Idaho football coach Robb Akey said in a statement through the school. "We feel that separation has created itself throughout this camp. Taking into account the practices as well as the scrimmages, the preparation, we have made Dominique our starting quarterback. He's very excited about that.

"We'll progress through camp with him working with the (number) one offense. We'll keep working Taylor Davis and Logan Bushnell with that No. 2 offense to determine our No. 2 and 3 quarterbacks."

The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Blackman originally signed with Washington but never attended school there. He played a year at Los Angeles Harbor College, then tranfered to Old Dominion in 2010, where he redshirted. He sat out last year after transferring to Idaho.

"I've been told I was too big. I've been told I was too slow. I was too whatever. I just keep my mind positive and focus on the things that matter," Blackman said. "I try to focus on doing my job and playing with passion. That's my thing - play with passion."

The other quarterbacks on the Vandal roster include Bushnell, a senior, and freshmen Chad Chalich (of Coeur d'Alene High) and Austin DeCoud.

LCHS freshman football practice to begin

COEUR d'ALENE - Lake City High freshman football practices begin Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. at the high school.

Players need to have their physicals and proof of insurance to practice.

Bayley's team finishes fifth at Eddie Hogan Cup

PORTLAND, Ore. - Derek Bayley of Rathdrum finished tied for 23rd, and his Washington team finished fifth out of 12 teams at the 44th Eddie Hogan Cup at the Riverside Golf and Country Club.

Bayley shot a 9-over 81 on Saturday and a 2-over 74 on Sunday. On Monday, he was back practicing as the starting quarterback with the Lakeland High football team.

Washington's four-man team shot a 448 for the two days. Northern California won with a 436. Idaho tied for seventh at 464.

Bayley qualified for both the Washington and Idaho teams. But, according to his father, Mike Bayley, two days before he knew he made the Idaho team, Derek had to decide whether he wanted to commit to the Washington team, or wait and see if he made the Idaho team. Had he been given the choice, Mike said Derek likely would have opted to play for Idaho.

Locals taking part at IGA Junior state golf tourney

JEROME - John Duffin of Hayden shot a 76 and is tied for 14th in the boys 17-19 age division after the first round of the 36-hole Idaho Golf Association Junior State Championship Monday at the Jerome Country Club.

Chase Lincoln of Coeur d'Alene shot 74 and is tied for third in the boys 16 age division. Corey Beaver of Post Falls shot 75 and is tied for sixth.

Kaceelyn Pouttu of Kellogg shot 78 and is tied for seventh in the girls 16-19 age group. Amy Lynn Hasenoehrl of Lewiston shot a 2-under 70 and is the leader.

Allison Duffin of Hayden shot 84 and is tied for third in the girls 14 age group.

Vandal booster events coming up in Cd'A

COEUR d'ALENE - The regular Kootenai County Vandal Booster meetings resume beginning Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

Also, a "North Idaho Vandal Celebration" is scheduled for Aug. 23 at the Hagadone Event Center.

Among the special guests are Idaho football coach Robb Akey, men's basketball coach Don Verlin and athletic director Rob Spear.

A no-host reception is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 and the program at 8.

Proceeds benefit the Vandal Scholarship Fund and the Kootenai County Alumni Chapter Scholarship.

Information: (208) 292-2548

Vandals announce six football games slated for TV

MOSCOW - A minimum of six University of Idaho football games will be televised this fall with the first broadcast scheduled to be the Vandals' road opener at Bowling Green on Sept. 8.

The first broadcast is Idaho's game at Bowling Green (Sept. 8), which will be produced and distributed by KTRV (Channel 12, Nampa-Boise-Caldwell) in partnership with Idaho Vandals Sports Properties. Games also will be carried on SWX (6.1, Spokane), KTRV 12.1 and NTRV 12.2 as well as Altitude Sports and Entertainment, which provides coverage throughout the Rocky Mountain Region on Dish and DirecTV.

In addition to the Bowling Green game, KTRV will produce Idaho's homecoming game against New Mexico State on Oct. 6, the Vandals' game at Texas State on Oct. 13 and their home game against San Jose State on Nov. 3.

The Vandals' Sept. 15 game at Louisiana State will air on LSU pay-per-view as well as ESPN GamePlan, and the Hall of Fame game vs. Wyoming at the Kibbie Dome on Sept. 21 will air on ESPN3.

Idaho opens the 2012 season at home against Eastern Washington on Aug. 30. The Vandals then are on the road at Bowling Green (Sept. 8) and LSU (Sept. 15) before returning home to take on Wyoming on Sept. 22. They travel to North Carolina Sept. 29 before the homecoming game on Oct. 6 vs. New Mexico State. They're on the road to Texas State (Oct. 13) and Louisiana Tech (Oct. 20) before their Oct. 27 bye. In November, they wrap up the regular season with home games against (San Jose State, Nov. 3, Dads' Weekend) and Texas-San Antonio (Nov. 17), and road trips to Brigham Young (Nov. 10) and Utah State (Nov. 24).