New year, new look: a preview of the 2008 Bengals

After a disappointing 3-8 season in Coach John Zamberlin’s first year at Idaho State University, the hopes for year two are high and the schedule is rough.

With the new season beginning, the team will have a new look, as new uniforms were unveiled during the Big Sky Media Days in late July. The Bengals will now wear all black uniforms at home and white tops and black bottoms on the road.

For the first three weeks of the 2008 season, the Bengals do not have to leave the state. After opening against the Broncos on Aug. 30 the team heads north to Moscow to take on the University of Idaho. The rest of the road schedule features trips to Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Cal Poly and finishes Nov. 15 against Big Sky power Montana.

The Bengals home opener is on Thursday, Sept. 18, against the University of North Dakota in the Fighting Sioux’s first season of division one football. Other highlights from this year’s home schedule are homecoming, Oct. 18, versus Northern Arizona. Weber State comes to town Nov. 8. The only other two home games are against Montana State and the Bengals close the season at home on Nov. 22 against Sacramento State. This is the second time that the Bengals have played a 12-game schedule.

Even though ISU’s all time leading rusher and first team all Big Sky performer Josh Barnett was lost to graduation, that does not mean that quarterback Russel Hill is lacking in weapons on offense.

Ken Cornist and Pocatello’s own Clint Knickerham return and will battle it out for the starting running back spot. To make the running back battle a little more interesting, former University of Idaho running back Jayson Bird joined the program for his final year of eligibility and was cleared to play with the team just before the beginning of fall camp.

At the receiver, position first team all Big Sky receiver Eddie Thompson is back to be Hill’s primary target after leading the team in receptions (83) and yards (906). Along with Thompson, Jaron Taylor, Kenyon Blue and Edsel Logan return.

The defensive side took a hit by the graduation bug, losing a handful of starters including Terrance Calloway, Sterling Mennear and Geo Simmons. There are also plenty of experienced players returning to lead the defense. D.J. Clark and Jason Wright are back in the secondary and Brad Rife and Ryan Phipps return to anchor the linebacking corp. The Bengals will also break in a new punter and kicker as Brandon Jones and Dan Ziedman were lost to graduation.

Twenty-six new players will join the Bengals this fall including seven from Idaho and 11 Junior College transfers. Included in these new players are Pocatello High School’s Jared Barthlome and the 5A All-Idaho State Player of the Year A.J. Storms, a defensive back from Meridian High School.

Expectations are high for the Bengal football team by all those involved. The team has experienced players in every position, and if any of the new players can make an impact great things could happen. The key to the entire season could be whether or not the Bengals can make it through the first month of the season with three of the first four on the road.

If this happens, year two in the Zamberlin era could be very interesting.

JASON ENES
Idaho State Bengal Newspaper

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