For the second time in three seasons, the University of Idaho is the pre-season favorite in polls of both coaches and the news media to capture the 1991 Big Sky Conference football championship.
That happened in 1989, and the Vandals went on to capture the Big Sky crown, the fourth championship for Idaho in the last six seasons.The Big Sky Conference polled coaches and the news media at the league's football kickoff at Sun Valley on Monday.
The Big Sky polls of coaches and news media covering the league were remarkably similar. Both polls picked Idaho by an overwhelming margin to capture the league, with Nevada receiving the only other first-place votes.
In the coaches' poll, the Vandals, coming off a 9-4 record last season, captured all but two first-place votes and a total of 71 points. Nevada, which made it to the national championship game in the Division IAA playoffs last December, received the other two votes and 66 points.
In the news media poll, in which 24 ballots were cast, Idaho received 19 first-place votes and 211 points to five first-place votes and 195 points for the Wolf Pack.
All the other positions were the same in both polls, with the coaches and news media agreeing that Boise State would finish third; Montana fourth and followed by Eastern Washington, Montana State, Weber State, Northern Arizona and Idaho State.
In the media poll Boise was third with two second-place and 11 third-place votes and 153 points. Montana received 126 followed by Eastern Washington 117, Montana State 102, Weber State 93, Northern Arizona 52 and Idaho State 31.
Last season Nevada won the Big Sky championship with a 7-1 record, 13-2 overall. Idaho was 6-2 and 9-4. Other 1990 record: Boise State 6-2 and 10-4, Montana 4-4 and 7-4, Montana State 3-5 and 4-7, Northern Arizona Weber State both 3-5 and 5-6 overall and Idaho State 1-7, 3-8 overall.