JONESBORO -- Say this about Paul Petrino's third season at Idaho: It's been anything but boring.
Petrino will bring his Idaho football team to Jonesboro for a 6 p.m. game Saturday against Arkansas State with both teams seemingly at a crossroads.
Up next
Arkansas State vs. Idaho
WHEN 6 p.m. Saturday
WHERE Centennial Bank Stadium, Jonesboro
RECORDS Arkansas State 1-3, 0-0 Sun Belt Conference; Idaho 1-3, 0-1
RADIO KASR-FM, 92.7, in Little Rock/Conway; KFIN-FM, 107.9, in Jonesboro
INTERNET ESPN3.com
Both are looking for their first victory over an FBS member, and the winner also will earn its first Sun Belt conference victory. Unlike ASU (1-3, 0-0), Petrino and the Vandals (1-3, 0-1) arrive with a bit of extra baggagein a season that has been marked by several off-the-field events that have drawn unwanted attention.
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The latest came earlier this week in an anonymous email sent to the University of Idaho and local media.
The email, which has sparked a university investigation, accused Petrino of player mistreatment and violating minor NCAA rules.
The anonymous email, written by a person claiming to be a member of the program, accused Petrino of "excessive vulgar reprimanding, unequal treatment and NCAA practice violations," the Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported Wednesday. It even suggested a season-opening loss to Ohio was the result of a difficult fall camp.
Team captains responded by writing a letter in support of Petrino -- who is 3-24 in his third season at the school -- and sending it to local media, saying the accusations were "completely false."
"What I stand by is what our captains came out and wrote and what the whole team predominately signed," Petrino told reporters Tuesday. "I know that I come to work every day and work as hard as I can. I know we've never broken any NCAA rules. We had two days of two-a-days this last fall camp."
The letter was just the lastest turn for the former University of Arkansas offensive coordinator.
Petrino was accused last month of verbally berating a reporter following a practice. That led to Petrino and Athletic Director Rob Spear calling a news conference in which they denied some of the accusations made by the reporter.
A few weeks later, two players were reportedly involved in a theft at the campus bookstore. The bookstore declined to file charges after Petrino returned the stolen items, the Daily-News reported, and the theft led to one player being dismissed from the team and another, receiver Dezmon Epps, being suspended for one game.
All this comes without much noticeable improvement on the field. The Vandals' losses have come to Ohio, Southern California and defending Sun Belt champion Georgia Southern. Their lone victory came two weeks ago against FCS-member Wofford.
The bright spot has been Epps, who is putting together a good season on the field. Epps was dismissed from the team following the 2013 season but was reinstated this past spring and missed the USC loss because of his role in the bookstore theft.
In 3 games, Epps has caught 33 passes for 464 yards and 2 touchdowns. He leads the FBS with an average of 154.7 receiving yards per game and is second with an average of 11 receptions per game.
"I'm hoping that it's going to end up being a successful story," Petrino said. "What you get with forgiveness is you give somebody a chance to grow. You try to help them, you try to make them improve and hopefully everything ends up successful."
Epps, who caught 8 passes for 91 yards and 1 touchdown during ASU's 48-24 victory over Idaho in 2013, has caught the eye of ASU coaches.
"They love getting the ball to him," ASU defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen said. "We're going to have to do a really good job of containing him and be aware of the matchups. I can tell you he is definitely a focal point."
The player who has gotten Epps the ball this season might not be involved Saturday.
Petrino listed quarterback Matt Linehan as questionable for Saturday because of an ankle injury. Linehan is first among Sun Belt quarterbacks in completions (101), attempts (149) and passing yards (1,109) as well as interceptions (6). He threw three interceptions in ASU's victory last season in Moscow, Idaho.
If Linehan doesn't play, Idaho will likely turn to freshman Jake Luton, who has completed 8 of 13 passes for 46 yards.
"We've got to see," Petrino said. "Jake is really well prepared,and we'll do a good job either way. But, right now, I'd say Matt is kind of 70-30 whether he will go or not."
Sports on 10/01/2015