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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Vandals Discuss Problems, Rationally

Jim Meehan Staff Writer

Maybe Idaho just talked it out.

Coach Chris Tormey and his Vandals, who snapped a two-game losing streak by drubbing Eastern Washington 37-10 on Saturday, held a meeting earlier in the week.

Only seniors, captains and Tormey attended.

“We got together and talked about what we thought the problems are,” said receiver Dwight McKinzie, who caught five passes for 152 yards. “We told our side and he told his side and we just came together.

“The first thing we said was, ‘There isn’t going to be any finger-pointing.’ It was kind of an open discussion.”

“It was more of a thing to make sure the coaches and players were on the same page and that everyone was staying together,” quarterback Eric Hisaw said.

“I think the coaches were worried that people were straying and not having confidence in them. The players expressed some things. But we know Coach Tormey and his staff and their philosophies have been successful.”

Of any Vandal, Hisaw probably has ample reason to be a complainer. But he never chose that route.

A senior who lost his job to injury last year, Hisaw battled back to win the job in September, lose it, then regain it earlier this week.

His perseverance was rewarded on Saturday with a sterling effort.

“Eric played really well, he gave us a lot of spark,” Tormey said.

Happy returns

UI’s Montrell Williams returned one kick 93 yards for a touchdown and another 59 yards to set up a score. You may recall Williams returning a kick 100 yards last year against EWU, thoroughly hot-dogging the last 30 or so yards.

That gave Williams a bit part in an NCAA videotape on how NOT to behave under the stricter celebration rules.

“It was real tempting (to hot dog again),” he admitted. “I looked back, I had to do a little something, to see who was close to me and let ‘em know they weren’t going to catch me.”

Williams also downed a punt at EWU’s 1-yard line.

Strey earns shower

EWU linebacker Derek Strey strayed into the right flat, intercepted a pass and returned it 92 yards for a game-tying touchdown in the second quarter. When he returned to the bench a bit tapped for oxygen, it wasn’t difficult to tell he had done well.

Head coach Mike Kramer was there to tip a Gatorade jug for Strey to consume. Then the coach poured the rest of the liquid down Strey’s back.

No ‘O’

Eastern admittedly plays it close to the vest offensively. The banged-up Eagles have limited weapons and, coach Mike Kramer said earlier in the week, they attempt to get to the fourth quarter of games with a chance to win.

Against UI, EWU sometimes ran up the gut or tossed sweeps on third-down-and-long. QB Brian Sherick was just 11 of 27 for 86 yards.

Notes

One seemingly mundane play turned bizarre late in the fourth quarter. UI linebacker Avery Slaughter broke up a pass play, but apparently no officials saw what happened. The officials appeared ready to rule a catch, then conferred and correctly called the play an incompletion. … EWU offensive lineman Tom Ackerman: “I don’t think we came in mentally prepared. Personally I don’t think I did. I’ll probably think about that all night and next week.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo