Idaho Is Perfect Fit For Pacific Transfer

It didn’t take long for Deon Price to realize the difference between the football programs at the University of Idaho and Pacific, where he spent last season.

For one, Idaho HAS a team. Pacific, citing money shortages, dropped its program after last season.

For another, Idaho has a TEAM. Let Price explain.

“Everybody sticks together here, it’s actually a team,” said the wiry 6-foot-4 junior receiver, who transferred to UI last spring. “That’s a lot different than Pacific.”

Like many of his teammates, Price was shocked when he heard Pacific was sacking football.

“It was Christmas break and a lot of the players were at home so they got calls,” Price said. “I was still (at Pacific) working out and I found out from a guy who was supposed to sign with us. I called up there and the coaches said it was true. My main thought was, ‘What’s going to happen next?’ We were just hoping we could get picked up (by another school).”

Price, who looked at California, Cal State-Northridge and Southeast Missouri, and cornerback Ryan McGinnis hooked up with Idaho. Many of their Pacific teammates transferred to schools throughout the country.

One of Price’s most difficult chores was actually getting to Idaho from his home near Los Angeles. He was a few days late reporting for second semester in January because of financial reasons.

“I couldn’t afford it. It was hard because I have a little girl and I can’t just come up with $300 for a plane ticket,” said Price, whose brother is a freshman running back on scholarship at UCLA. “I felt, personally, Pacific should have paid for our tickets because of what happened.”

Eventually, one of his daughter’s godparents loaned Price money for airfare.

“I don’t know what would have happened otherwise,” Price said.

Whenever the topic of paying college players a stipend comes up, Price, for obvious reasons, takes a pro-stipend stance.

“Things aren’t as easy as people on the outside think they are,” Price said. “They’re not easy at all.”

Price lives in a Moscow apartment with his girlfriend and 2-year-old daughter.

“I really wish it wasn’t this hard, but that’s how it is,” he said. “We just gotta manage. Everybody’s healthy, so that’s the important thing.”

Price, who played well during spring ball and figures to see time as a backup, is still adjusting to catching passes instead of throwing them. He was a quarterback in high school before moving to wide out at Bakersfield Junior College.

“I just want to get better as a receiver, really learn it. It’s new to me,” he said. “My goal is to be a big player here, play lot and help out a lot.”

Position battles sparse

Idaho began two-a-day padded practices Wednesday with its lineup fairly entrenched. Some of the rare position battles are at punter and place kicker. Troy Scott has a leg up on place-kicking duties. The punter will be Tom Gamelin, James O’Neill or Greg DeBolt.

Despite the loss of academic casualties Antoine Chambers and Jevez Robinson, UI coach Chris Tormey believes the secondary has potential.

“I feel better than I did a year ago. It’s nice to have some depth there,” Tormey said. “We’ve got three guys (Ryan McGinnis, Tommy James and Arnold Gunn) playing there who’ve played quite a bit.”

McGinnis was a part-time starter at Pacific last year. James was a part-time starter at safety before losing the position to Chambers. Gunn has been an effective, but often injured, corner.

Movin’ man

Yaphet Warren has only been on Idaho’s campus for a year, but he’s already played three positions. The sophomore from Renton, Wash., caught six passes for 82 yards as a receiver last year. Last spring, he sprung up at cornerback. Midway through spring drills he was shuffled to linebacker.

“I like this position, it fits my structure,” said the 6-1, 195-pounder.

He’s certainly Idaho’s least publicized backer, lining up next to 1995 All-American Ryan Phillips and Jason Shelt, a former All-Big Sky player.

“We push each other,” Warren said. “You don’t want to be the one who lets people down.”

Warren will man the outside spot vacated by the graduated Avery Slaughter.

“Athletically, he’s what we want there,” Tormey said. “He’s going to cover the inside (receiver) a lot, so he’s got to have coverage skills.”

Notes

New full-time assistant coaches include Rick Courtright (tight ends) and former Vandal great Eric Yarber (secondary). Courtright coached outside linebackers at Idaho State last year and previously worked with Coach Tormey at Washington in 1991-92. Yarber, who earned a Super Bowl ring with Washington, has been on staff for three years, but has been promoted to a full-time position. He was one of the finest receivers in UI history and earned his degree in 1995. With Yarber, Paul Skansi (Pittsburgh, Seattle) and George Yarno (Tampa, Green Bay, Atlanta), UI has three assistants who are former NFL players. … When Nevada-Las Vegas jumped from the Big West to the Western Athletic Conference, many believed it might signal the end of the Las Vegas Bowl, which pits the champions of the Big West and Mid American. But the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced it has agreed to extend its sponsorship of the Vegas Bowl through 1998. Idaho is entering its first year as a Big West member. … Running back Joel Thomas, who missed most of last season due to injury, has returned. The 5-foot-6, 201-pound Thomas, one of the strongest members of the team, suffered a broken foot against Idaho State and continued playing, rushing for over 100 yards, but he missed the remainder of the year. “He looks fine,” Tormey said. “He’s still a little sore, but it’s nothing that’ll hold him back.” , DataTimes The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - Vandal football notebook