The expansive weight room was a point of pride with University of Idaho head football coach Nick Holt as he gave a reporter from Hawai'i a quick tour of the Vandals' facilities before UH's last visit to Moscow, Idaho.

So, too, the artificial turf outdoor practice field. The future was looking up for the Western Athletic Conference's newest member, Holt declared. "Watch out in a couple years," Holt warned.

Right before he bolted for another job.

Now two years — and two head coaches — later for Idaho, the University of Hawai'i football team is back in Moscow and the Vandals (1-3), well, they are still trying to find traction in the WAC.

First, though, they need an acquaintance with stability. A nodding familiarity with continuity. Robb Akey, who will coach on the sideline opposite UH's June Jones for tomorrow's game, is the third head coach in as many years and fourth in five seasons for the Vandals. Some players are working on their fourth position coaches in as many years. Jones has practice clothes that have been with him longer.

And some people think nothing happens in Moscow.

Dennis Erickson, fresh from a second tour of the NFL, was supposed to be the savior. And the team and community rallied around him. But after a promising 4-8 season in 2006, he, too, bolted, taking over Arizona State after one season.

"The one thing that has been consistent for these players that have been at (Idaho) the last few years has been change," said Akey, the latest one tasked with rebuilding a once-proud football tradition.

Once upon a not-so-distant time, it was the Vandals, not Boise State, that ruled the head-to-head matches. Between 1982 and 1998 Idaho was 15-2 against the Broncos. Of course back in the day — the 1950s — Idaho was playing in the same conference (Pacific Coast) with Southern California, Stanford, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Washington State.

More recently, the Vandals were Big Sky and Big West powers with 17 winning seasons in 18 years in one stretch. But times have been hard for the Vandals who, in their shuffle from the Big West (which dropped football), to the Sun Belt and, now, WAC, are seven seasons without a winning year and forecast to finish last in the 9-school WAC this season.

Akey, who made the 8-mile drive from Washington State, where he had been defensive coordinator, looks to be the man who can finally get it done at Idaho. In time. But, then, who's rushin' in Moscow?

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.