“They are who we thought they were.”
That’s what Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Dennis Green screamed at the media following a loss to the Chicago Bears in 2006. Green’s Cardinals held a 20-0 lead at halftime, but thanks to a dominant defense and electric special teams, Chicago stormed back from the deficit, overcoming offensive struggles to win 24-23.
In 2018, the Vandals fit a very similar mold, becoming exactly “who we thought they were.” In the Vandals’ 20-7 victory against Portland State Saturday, defense ruled the field, with drive after Viking drive puttering to a halt near midfield, while improbable special teams efforts notched one of the team’s two touchdowns on the day.