THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: A slap on the wrist, and a slap in the face

Just one day after admitting its officials messed up a crucial call late in the Idaho-Sacramento State game, and suspending multiple members of the officiating crew, the Big Sky Conference fined and reprimanded Idaho coach Thomas Ford Jr. for his comments after the game.

“The Big Sky Conference has reprimanded University of Idaho football head coach Thomas Ford for violating the Big Sky’s Sportsmanship Policy by commenting publicly about officiating,” The Big Sky said in a news release. “Additionally, Ford will be issued a $2,500 fine and has been informed that a repeat of such behavior could result in a more severe penalty.” 

In case your internet hasn’t been working the past few days, the officials allowed an 18-yard reception by Sacramento State to the Idaho 2 in the game’s final minute to stand, even though video evidence clearly showed the leaping Sac State’s receiver’s foot came down out of bounds before a body part landed inbounds. 

Sac State scored with 9 seconds left on the next play, and won 23-20. 

ANYWAY, IN his post-game presser, Ford was actually pretty tame and matter-of-fact in his comments, compared to how he could have just gone off on the refs after having just lost a game in that fashion roughly 30 minutes earlier. 

He said he was “frustrated” in the result, that the refs “definitely missed the call,” and felt “we had something taken from us that was out of our control.” 

That was it. Nothing scathing. But his comments were apparently enough to violate the conference policy. 

Perhaps that’s why he was fined “only” $2,500. 

The Big Sky might have wanted to let the officials know they still had their backs, even after punishing several of them the day before. 

We say “only” $2,500, because we’re not the ones to have to pay the fine. 

And a GoFundMe has been set up to help pay Ford’s fine. As of midday Wednesday, $2,600 had already been raised.

If that doesn’t work, it would be a nice touch for Vandal fans to show their support for their first-year year head coach by passing the hat in the tailgating lot prior to Saturday’s season finale vs. Idaho State at the Kibbie Dome — even if it becomes a symbolic gesture as well.

SPEAKING OF Big Sky football, ESPN had a chance to do the right thing this week, and shanked the punt. 

The World Wide Leader should have sent its College GameDay crew to Missoula for Saturday’s Montana State-Montana football game. 

Instead, ESPN is sending Nick, Pat, Rece, Kirk, Kirk’s dog and the rest of the band to Eugene for the USC-Oregon game. 

“A Big Ten rivalry clash,” College GameDay tweeted. 

That’s funny. 

Two years ago, Oregon and USC weren’t even in the Big Ten. They were still in the process of helping break up the Pac-12. 

Even now, you have to think a moment when someone asks you which conference Oregon, USC, UCLA and Washington are in. And where to find them on TV.

(You have to think two moments when asked the same question about Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State. And maybe three moments when asked where Stanford and California is these days.) 

ANYWAY ...  

ESPN can go to Eugene anytime; in fact, ESPN was already in Eugene last month, for the Ducks’ game vs. Indiana.  

Missoula will be the site of a matchup between the No. 2 (Montana) and No. 3 (Montana State) ranked teams in FCS. 

The Cat-Griz game happens every year, yes, but as a top-three matchup? Not necessarily. 

Yes, College GameDay went to Bozeman three years ago for the Cat-Griz game, but has never been to Missoula. 

I’m guessing more than a handful of folks here in North Idaho are headed to Missoula for Saturday’s game. 

I’m sure they wouldn’t have minded leaving here a little earlier that morning, or waking up a little earlier over there, for a chance to be part of the spectacle on national TV. 

Maybe in a couple of years. 

Maybe. 

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1205, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @CdAPressSports.