Tormey Goes Back To Being Football Coach

For much of his time since he was hired in January, new Idaho coach Chris Tormey has done everything but coach football.

He has impeccable attendance at UI booster events, golf tournaments and fund-raisers. He’s circulated the campus to become familiar with co-workers. He’s met with UI living groups - dorms, fraternities, etc. - to brainstorm methods of enticing more bodies into the Kibbie Dome.

Now though, Tormey goes back to being a football coach.

Idaho’s veterans report today, and the first team practice is Sunday. Padded drills arrive on Wednesday as the countdown begins to the season opener Sept. 2 against Oregon State in Corvallis.

“I mentioned that to the staff last week,” Tormey said, “that it’s great to finally quit talking about it and doing it.”

Tormey understands that coaching is part coaching, part public relations. He acknowledges this, but also that his first love is an oval pigskin and not making sure the Rotary Club knows the second string tight end’s name.

That said, Tormey’s first fall camp opens with some notable absentees. Videl Montgomery, a transfer from Contra Costa (San Pablo, Calif.) Junior College, failed an English course and is academically ineligible. He was being penciled in as a starter or prime backup at wide receiver, a position now fostering concern.

Also, freshman defensive back Khalid Hurst and reserve offensive linemen David Loverne (6-6, 271), a redshirt freshman guard from San Ramon, Calif., and Ed Rhone (6-2, 261), a sophomore from Pasco, won’t return. Tormey said Loverne wanted to stay closer to home and Rhone quit because of lingering injuries.

Tormey said he may shuffle players to restore depth to the offensive line.

“I’d rather focus on the guys here than the ones who aren’t,” Tormey said.

Freshmen and new JC transfers have been practicing since Tuesday. Tormey seems particularly pleased with JC transfers Robert Mulder, Antoine Chambers and Tom Gamelin. Mulder, a defensive end, was a teammate of Montgomery’s at Contra Costa. Chambers is a cornerback, and Gamelin has been working out at receiver and defensive back.

Impressive freshmen have been receivers Pierre Erick, Ryan Prestimonico and Yaphet Warren, and punter Justin Spiva.

Notes

Players will attend breakfast each morning at 7 a.m. “The next 14 days are going to be a Spartan existence,” Tormey said. “It’s going to be wall-to-wall (foot)ball.”… Tormey didn’t rule out Montgomery coming to Moscow next spring… While spring football concentrated on individual improvement, fall drills will aim on achieving team chemistry, Tormey said. “We have three weeks to come together as a team.”

, DataTimes