For a team with a grand total of three victories over the past two seasons, there is a certain amount of optimism surrounding this year's Idaho Vandal football team.

Part of it evolves around Paul Petrino, Idaho's first-year coach, who has been successful as an offensive coordinator at Arkansas, Illinois and Louisville.

Part of it is the prospects of the local kid, former Coeur d'Alene High star Chad Chalich, starting at quarterback for the university less than 90 miles down U.S. 95. Throw in his receiver sidekick growing up, fellow ex-Viking Deon Watson, poised to receive substantial playing time already, and like Chalich a redshirt freshman.

Throw in a couple of playmakers - something the Vandals have lacked in recent years - in freshman running back Richard Montgomery and junior college transfer wide receiver/kick returner Dezmon Epps.

Whatever the case, we'll start to see some questions answered today, when the Vandals open vs. North Texas (4 p.m., KVNI 1080) at Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas.

"It's a whole new program," said Idaho junior center Mike Marboe, who is on the watch list for the Rimington Award, given to the top center in college football. "I'm not going to compare the past, but it's exciting what we've done so far, and hopefully we're going to have a great year."

Leading into the season, Petrino said he didn't want to let North Texas know who his starting quarterback would be, but said it was pretty obvious to anyone who had been around practice who it would be.

And since Chalich has taken most of the snaps with the No. 1 offense in the fall, it's all but certain he will start today ahead of Joshua McCain, a JC transfer, and senior Taylor Davis.

A peek at the Vandal depth chart in this week's game notes was no help - that page is blank.

North Texas, a former conference mate of Idaho's in the Sun Belt, went 4-8 last year. The Mean Green is in its first season in Conference USA. Quarterback Derek Thompson, one of eight returning starters on offense, has thrown for 4,551 yards and 26 TD's in his career.