John Zamberlin is under a fair amount of pressure entering Idaho State's 3:35 p.m. clash with Central Washington today at Holt Arena.

But Idaho State's coach insists that has nothing to do with the fact that he's facing his former team.

"I don't feel extra pressure because of that," Zamberlin said. "I just feel pressure because we had three tough games to open up with, and we need to get a win here at home."

It can't help, of course, that the Wildcats are the No. 5-ranked team in Division II and earlier this season toppled defending D-II champion Minnesota Duluth on the road. Central Washington also gave Montana a major scare last season before losing 38-35 on a last-second field goal in Missoula, Mont.

Zamberlin was rooting for the Wildcats through it all. It's human nature. After all, he spent 10 years in Ellensburg, Wash., building that program.

"Obviously when they play, I'll root for them," Zamberlin said. "I'll pull for them - except for this week."

A win today would mean as much to Idaho State as it would to Central Washington. This week, the Wildcats are just another opponent.

The following are some talking points surrounding the two teams.

FIRST DOWN

So, was he or wasn't he?

On March 4, 2001, Idaho State announced that then-Idaho State coach Larry Lewis had hired current Central Washington head man Blaine Bennett as the Bengals' offensive coordinator. The very next day, Bennett accepted a job as Purdue's quarterbacks coach. Idaho State next turned to then-defensive coordinator Bruce Barnum to fill the opening on offense.

Idaho State officially considers Bennett as having served as its offensive coordinator for a day, but Bennett doesn't see it that way. He did reach a verbal agreement with his good friend Lewis to coach at Idaho State, but Bennett never signed a contract or employment papers, nor did he receive any pay from the university.

"I don't think it's that big of a deal," Bennett said. "On my resume, I don't have that I was Idaho State's offensive coordinator for a day."

SECOND DOWN

This weekend will be a nostalgic time not just for Zamberlin and fellow Bengals coaches Brian Jensen, Brian Strandley, Drew Miller and Brandon Valeria, who all used to coach at Central Washington.

Saturday's game also marks a return to Pocatello for Wildcats defensive coordinator Joe Lorig and special teams coordinator Stacy Collins. The two served on Lewis' staff at Idaho State, Lorig as the defensive coordinator and Collins as linebackers coach. The Bengals dismissed them at the same time they gave Lewis the boot in 2006.

That tumultuous offseason three years ago doesn't seem to have soured Lorig and Collins on Idaho State.

"That would be like being mad at your ex-, ex-, ex-girlfriend," Lorig told the (Ellensburg, Wash.) Daily Record. Lorig went on to say, "I only have good things to say about the place."

THIRD DOWN

Zamberlin knows first-hand that Division II squads aren't always doormats that Division I opponents can automatically trample on.

During Zamberlin's time as Wildcats coach, Central Washington defeated three Championship Subdivision teams, St. Mary's, Montana State and Eastern Washington, all of them on the road.

An NCAA rule change implemented in 2006 has enriched the D-II talent pool even more. Previously, a player could drop down from the Bowl Subdivision to the Championship Subdivision at any point in his career without having to sit out a year. But the rule change outlawed seniors-to-be from doing that. Players must now have at least two years of eligibility to drop down and play right away.

The rule doesn't apply to D-II schools, however. That explains how Central Washington managed to land transfers Prince Hall (Alabama), Matt Ah You (BYU) and Andy Roof (Washington State).

Hall starred as a freshman linebacker with the Crimson Tide, earning Freshman All-American honors with The Sporting News, before falling out of favor with coach Nick Saban for repeated violations of team rules. Ah You was a part-time starter at BYU himself.

"They're very talented," Zamberlin said. "They've got quality kids that can play."

FOURTH DOWN

Central Washington will receive a payout of $28,000, as well as a pre-game meal and hotel rooms, Idaho State athletic director Jeff Tingey said.

That's about the same package Idaho State offered NAIA Montana Western for a game that was slated to be the Bengals' season opener on Aug. 29. That fell before the NCAA's cutoff for when a team could schedule a game, though, and the Bengals' appeal to play that early failed. As a result, Idaho State turned to Central Washington as a last resort.

It's safe to say the Bengals would have preferred their original arrangement. Opening their season with Montana Western would have given them some time to acclimate to game speed - and presumably pick up a win - before they took on their early season gauntlet of Arizona State, Oklahoma and Weber State. As things stand right now, Idaho State is burning what was supposed to be a bye before a crucial game against Eastern Washington next week.