Thundering start for Dennis Erickson’s second stint at UI

MOSCOW - The first scrimmage of the Dennis Erickson Era, Part II, started with a rumble.

And some bright lights.

The only problems were the rumble was thunder and the lights were supplied by lightning.
So the whole show – minus the weather – had to be moved indoors.

Not like Erickson isn’t used to weather-related pyrotechnics. He did coach in Miami, after all.

“If we were playing golf, I’d have kept playing,” Erickson said after the scrimmage, held in the Kibbie Dome. “But our trainer thought it was getting too close, and we have to protect our players.”

Thunder and lightning is what most Vandal fans are hoping Dennis’ return – and he’ll always be known as Dennis to them – will provide, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

But, like the weather, Thursday’s scrimmage began inauspiciously for the offense, especially for the big guys up front.

“We started off in a blitz series, so we knew they were going to blitz and things like that, so that’s what we really schemed for,” starting quarterback Steve Wichman said. “Some got through and some didn’t. We were able to make some good things happen and we weren’t able to make other things happen.”