Christian Hoppens
Staff Writer, OhioBobcats.com

For many players, the trip into the region known as “the Palouse” is their first and a game at the distinctive Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Id., one of three indoor home facilities used at the FBS level, will be a change of scenery.

But for linebackers coach Ron Collins, it's more of a homecoming.

Collins, a Cashmere, Wa. native, grew up three hours and 45 minutes from Moscow and played two high school games at one of college football's unique attractions.

He also attended Washington State, located just six miles away from Moscow in Pullman, Wa., where he lettered for four years at strong safety and was the defensive captain of the Cougars' defense in 1986.

“The quarterback there, his dad and I were friends in college and there are other kids on that team whose dads are friends of mine. The trainer there was one of our trainers I had at Washington State, so there are a lot of connections there,” Collins said. “I'm looking forward to it. It's a good chance for me to get back. I have a lot of family coming to the game, so it's going to be pretty exciting.”

The chance to step on the field and play a game for the first time since November is also pretty exciting for a Bobcat squad used to playing games in late December. They've been itching to return to their upper-echelon Mid-American Conference status after a disappointing 6-6 campaign the season before.

“It's been made very clear that it's not at all acceptable by Coach (Frank) Solich,” redshirt sophomore linebacker Quentin Poling said. “He doesn't expect that kind of play. As players, neither do we. Most of us didn't come from high schools that had losing records. A lot of us were kids that won state championships, had deep playoff runs and stuff like that. It's not something we're used to and not something we're okay with.”

The Bobcats open with an Idaho team that finished the 2014 campaign with a 1-10 record, which included a 36-24 defeat to Ohio at Peden Stadium.

The Vandals return sophomore starting quarterback Matt Linehan and starting senior running back Elijhaa Penny and added a new wrinkle to last season's 112th ranked scoring defense, switching to a 3-4 scheme which presents a new challenge for the Bobcats.

“Last year, they had a four man front now they are a three man front—an odd man look in a 3-4 versus a 4-3,” Solich said. “Looking at their personnel it probably fits them pretty well. I think they have all of their linebackers back and their defensive line returns three of their starters. It fits them well and it's tough to prepare for because most of the spring we've been going up against a four man front.”

Solich expects Idaho to be improved in coach Paul Petrino's third year at the helm, but he expects his team to be better as well, and it'll be a motivated group of players and coaches looking to put Ohio football back on track.

“We're so fired up to get going,” Collins said. “Our guys have been working hard ever since the Miami game. We've got a lot of smart kids, a lot of good players and they've been preparing very hard and very well for this game, so we're excited to get this thing rolling.”

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