Northwest Notes

Sun Belt gives Vandals

midweek football game on TV

The 2017 University of Idaho football schedule includes six games at the Kibbie Dome with a Thursday night date (Aug. 31) against Sacramento State launching the season.

The 2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl champion Vandals have games against five other 2016 bowl teams as well as a first-time opponent (Coastal Carolina) and one (Missouri) they haven’t played since 1963. In addition to their opener on a Thursday night, they have one other Thursday game – at Troy on Nov. 2. That contest will be on ESPNU. Idaho and Troy tied for third in the Sun Belt last year.

“I’m very excited to have six home games next year,” said coach Paul Petrino, who led the Vandals to one of the most remarkable two-year turnarounds in the NCAA the past two seasons. “We have our first two games at home, which is very exciting.”

Petrino also relishes the opportunity the Vandals will have against some of the Sun Belt Conference’s top programs.

“We get to have one of the best teams in the conference (Appalachian State) come to our place,” he said. “We get to play another one of the best teams in the conference – Troy, on a Thursday night on ESPNU. That’s very exciting.”

Coastal Carolina is the newest member of the Sun Belt, and playing a full conference schedule for the first time. Coastal Carolina, in its second year of a two-year transition from FCS to FBS, is eligible to win the conference title, but ineligible for the postseason. The football team will be eligible for the postseason in 2018.

For the second straight season, Idaho will not play Arkansas State, which tied Appalachian State for the league title last year, and Georgia Southern. The Vandals also miss last-place Texas State this season.

The Vandals begin preparation for the 2017 season when spring ball opens March 24 with a 3:30 p.m. practice. The annual Silver and Gold game is April 28 at 6 p.m.

“We just look forward to getting on the field and playing,” he said.

2017 IDAHO FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Times to be announced later

August

31 — vs. SACRAMENTO STATE.

September

9 — vs. UNLV. 16 — at Western Michigan. 23 — at South Alabama. 30 — Bye.

October

7 — vs. LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE. 14 — vs. APPALACHIAN STATE. 21 — at Missouri. 28 — vs. LOUISIANA-MONROE.

November

2 — at Troy. 11 — Bye. 18 — vs. COASTAL CAROLINA. 25 — at New Mexico State.

December

2 — at Georgia State.

Boise State announces ticket

info for 2018 NCAA hoops

BOISE — The NCAA men’s basketball tournament first and second rounds will return to Boise in 2018, and tickets will soon be on sale to Boise State season ticket holders.

Games are set to take place at Taco Bell Arena on March 15 and 17, 2018.

Season ticket holders will receive an email including instructions and a link to purchase. The purchase limit will be equal to the number of season tickets purchased for Boise State games.

Boise State has secured enough seating to accommodate all season ticket holders, but the deadline to purchase for priority seating is April 7. Should tickets remain following the initial presale, a second opportunity to purchase additional seats will take place from April 10-23.

All remaining tickets would go on sale to the general public.

Seat locations will be based on priority point ranking, and season ticket holders will be allocated the best seats available to the university. Most midcourt seats are secured by the NCAA for participating teams and sponsors, and each venue must abide by these requirements in order to host the event.

Season ticket holders with a priority point ranking from 1-2,500 will be able to purchase from March 6-19. All other season ticket holders will be able to purchase tickets from March 20-April 7.

Regardless of age, all attendants must have a ticket to the event.