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Vandals, Cowan get kicks with Akey

Evergreen grad punts for Idaho in bowl game

The Columbian
Published: December 30, 2009, 12:00am
2 Photos
Photo courtesy of University of Idaho
Bobby Cowan would be leading the Western Athletic Conference in punting if Idaho's offense weren't so good that it kept Cowan from having enough punts to qualify for the conference lead.
Photo courtesy of University of Idaho Bobby Cowan would be leading the Western Athletic Conference in punting if Idaho's offense weren't so good that it kept Cowan from having enough punts to qualify for the conference lead. Photo Gallery

MOSCOW, Idaho — Idaho’s Bobby Cowan might be considered the best punter in the Western Athletic Conference, if the Vandals would give him more chances to display his talent.

Cowan, a redshirt freshman out of Evergreen High School graduate, would be leading the WAC with 43.6 yards per punt if not for the fact that Idaho’s explosive offense has been so good that Cowan doesn’t have enough punts to qualify as the official league leader.

“I tell him every week, ‘You’re the one guy on the team I don’t want to see play,’ ” coach Robb Akey said of Cowan.

The Vandals, and perhaps Cowan, will put their talents on display today as Idaho faces Bowling Green in the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise.

After going 1-11 and 2-10 in Akey’s first two seasons at Idaho, who could have imagined the Vandals making just their second bowl appearance in school history this season?

Well, uh, Akey, for one.

“When I was talking about a bowl game, people looked at me like I was crazy,” Akey admits.

As luck would have it, most of the select few believers in Akey’s bowl plan just happened to play for the Vandals.

“He started hammering it in our heads back in the spring,” said offensive guard Matt Cleveland, a sophomore from Kentwood High. “I remember a couple meals, we were eating steaks out of bowls.”

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Cowan, who backed up All-America punter T.J. Conley last year, said he loves playing for Akey.

“He’s a great, great guy,” said Cowan, who followed a long line of family members who attended Idaho. “He’s outgoing. He’s always positive; Always positive. He’s just a winner.”

The feeling is mutual, Akey said.

“He’s a great kid,” the coach said. “I’m so glad he’s here.

“He’s done a fantastic job. He was a quarterback (at Evergreen, as well as a wide receiver and three-time all-state punter). He’s an athlete; he’s not just a kicker guy.”

Akey said he’s hoping to put Cowan on scholarship next year.

Akey said he was confident his players had developed physically and mentally enough to finally profit from all the hard work they had put in since Akey crossed the border after eight years as a Washington State assistant.

But initially, the Vandals had their share of doubts concerning Akey. After all, Akey was Idaho’s third head coach in three years following the departures of Nick Holt (now the defensive coordinator at Washington) and Dennis Erickson (who left for Arizona State after one season).

“When he first came in here,” senior receiver Max Komar said, “he told us, ‘Hey, I know you guys aren’t going to trust me right away, because the other coaches keep turning their backs on you. But it’s my goal to gain your trust eventually.’ I respected him for saying that.”

Idaho averages 32 points and 451 yards per game on offense, but a defense with just one senior starter yields 36 points and 425 yards per game.

Today, the Vandals must tame Bowling Green All-American wide receiver Freddie Barnes, who finished the regular season with 138 catches (four shy of the “major college” record) and 16 touchdown receptions. The Vandals and Falcons are both 7-5.

Obviously, Barnes and the Falcons persent quite a challenge. Fortunately for Akey and the Vandals, they know all about facing challenges — and overcoming them.

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