Idaho players grieve student deaths

November 16, 2022 7:07 PM

Julian Mininsohn,

Posted: November 16, 2022 7:07 PM

Updated: November 16, 2022 9:15 PM

by Julian Mininsohn

Idaho Vandals Grieve Student Deaths — The team will juggle preparing for a game while grieving the tragic events that occurred in Idaho this week.

MOSCOW, Idaho — Idaho football is preparing to take on Idaho State in the Battle of the Domes rivalry game on Saturday.

But football isn’t the first thing on the players’ minds.

The team is mourning the loss of the four Idaho students who were killed earlier this week.

“I don’t want them thinking I got to block this out because of football,” Idaho head coach Jason Eck said. “We got to take time to have a grieving process and play a role with that. I think football is secondary to that.”

The players were allowed to take time away from football this week, if necessary. Eck said they will work game prep around the needs of the student-athletes.

“We’re going to be very lax as guys are going through this process to make sure they’re having the time they need to grieve and handle that because this is not a typical thing to happen in Moscow, Idaho, where four people get murdered,” Eck said. “It’s very disconcerting to a lot students and a lot of people in the whole community.”

Idaho and Idaho State kick off at noon Saturday at Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho.