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Vandals are looking for more in 2017

Posted at 9:30 PM, Mar 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-25 23:30:36-04

Raising the bar will be the Idaho Vandals theme heading into this year's football season.  The Vandals finished last season with a blowout win against Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and finished the year with a 9-4 mark.

For the team, they are using that as a building block this spring.  The Vandals held their first spring practice on Friday and the hype and excitement are at an all-time high as Idaho looks to capitalize on last season's success.

“It was a good first day for spring ball.  Walking off the field I thought it was a really good day.  I thought our effort was great.  Guys were catching the ball well.  Matt Linehan threw the ball very well and the defense looked like they were flying around and look fast,” said Head Coach Paul Petrino.

Senior Quarterback Matt Linehan gained some weight in the off season but made up for it with his quickness, Linehan will have plenty of weapons to throw to this fall.  His offensive line is young having just two starters return but with the bowl victory still on the mind of most of the players, it’s been a great environment all-around.

“I think the biggest thing was gaining that weight and making sure I’m staying more durable.  I think last year was my first full season that I actually made it thru and you saw the results.  I feel like I was just as fast as I was before my legs are still a weapon that I can use,” said, Senior Quarterback Matt Linehan.

On the ground attack, the Vandals will go back to running back Isaiah Saunders who finished with four touchdowns in the Potato Bowl.  He averaged over 100 yards on the ground in the final five games of the season.

“We got a new thing now raise the bar.  That’s just not being complacent of what we just did.  That’s really what it is now.  We expect to go into next season and we see every game as a winnable game,” said, Junior running back Isaiah Saunders.