MOSCOW, Idaho — The Idaho Vandals are preparing to begin the Jack Layne era Saturday evening at a sold out Autzen Stadium against third ranked Oregon.
Idaho is heading into this matchup with nothing to lose and head coach Jason Eck is hoping to see strong fundamentals from his team against the highly favored Ducks.
"We are going to coach loose, we are going to be aggressive. I think when you are an underdog, you need to take chances to have a chance to win, so we will certainly do that," Eck said.
No one is expecting Idaho to win, much less put up a fight against an Oregon team expected to compete for a national title this season, but Coach Eck wants to see his team play a clean game regardless.
"This one game will not define our season either way. I can live with it if we miss some one on one plays if we are in the right positions, but you just do not want to gift a team that is this talented, freebies by not being in the right position on defense, not being in the gap, turning a blitzer loose. It is a different thing if a blitzer makes a move and shakes you and beats you one on one, but I want to make sure we are going to the right people and executing that part assignment wise and playing with really great effort," Eck said.
It will be a homecoming of sorts for Layne as the Lake Oswego native makes his first start as the full time Vandal signal caller on Saturday at the stadium he grew up attending as a child.
"I am just super excited. My dad went to Oregon, so we grew up going to games there almost every weekend, so it will be a really surreal moment to step on that field and I am just so excited, man," Layne said.
Layne's twin brother, Vandal linebacker Dylan, picked up a hamstring injury in practice and is doubtful to play in Saturday's opener.
