GAINESVILLE — The officials wanted to know, "heads or tails," but Idaho quarterback Doug Nussmeier had to take care of something first.
The lights were dim and the crowd was electric during the pregame festivities at Northern Arizona University's Walkup Skydome. But when the Lumberjack mascot took a chainsaw to a rendition of Joe Vandal, the Idaho mascot, the team's short-fused signal caller had seen enough.
"Nussmeier runs across the field and drops their mascot," recalled coach John L. Smith.
Smith was unhappy with the 15-yard penalty, especially after the Lumberjacks recovered an onside kick to open the game.