Mason Takes Poke At Rivals Over Recruiting
Boise State’s Tom Mason didn’t recruit any new friends in the coaching profession last week when he accused Idaho and Utah State of negative recruiting tactics.
Mason told the Boise-based Idaho Statesman newspaper: “I know for a fact that Idaho is using (Pokey Allen’s health situation) against us. Utah State is using it, UNLV has used it.
“It’s the nature of the business. Most coaches, if they are any good, have every article on Pokey laminated and in their briefcase.”
Allen is on medical leave as BSU’s coach because of a recurrence of cancer. Mason was named interim head coach before the season.
Idaho’s Chris Tormey and Utah State’s John L. Smith strongly denied Mason’s claims.
“I think it’s a desperate man saying desperate things,” Tormey said. “I consider Pokey to be a friend. Sure football and recruiting are important, but this goes beyond that. I think that (using Pokey’s illness) would be a low-class thing. We’re going to sell what we have to offer.
“I have a world of respect for the guy (Allen) and I’d never ever say anything (negative) like that. It does upset me.”
Smith, who coached Mason when he was a linebacker at Nevada-Reno, was similarly upset.
“All I know is we wouldn’t do it and I know Pokey knows I wouldn’t do it,” Smith said. “We (Pokey and Smith) have always been close. I would think maybe they’re having some trouble (recruiting) because he’s got an interim title.”
Mason admits his uncertain future has made recruiting difficult. BSU’s 1-5 start hasn’t helped, either.
“We’re recruiting against bigger schools than we ever have,” he said. “And then there’s Pokey’s thing. We’ll be fine and we’ll do well. But there’s just no stability to sell right now.”
Uranga on-line
UI defensive back Tony Uranga has been on the information superhighway.
He participated in a chat session last week on ESPN’s SportsZone with five other players.
The question they addressed: What’s the toughest conference?
We presume Uranga, who worked for Hewlett-Packard last summer, couldn’t muster much of an argument for the Big West Conference.
Notes
Hot rumor in Boise: Al Borges, former BSU offensive coordinator, returning to be head coach after this season and interim coach Tom Mason returning to defensive coordinator. Borges left BSU two years ago to be Oregon’s offensive coordinator then relocated to UCLA this year. Another fledgling rumor: Former Vandals coach Keith Gilbertson to BSU next year. Those rumors replace a luke-warm rumor: Don Read, former Montana coach, taking BSU job. … Idaho linebacker Ryan Phillips will be featured on an upcoming ESPN College GameDay show. The clip will have videotape of Phillips in action - skydiving, that is, one of his hobbies. Air time is either this Saturday or next Saturday between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. … Idaho will play a JV game against Walla Walla today at 2 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome. Post Falls’ Darick Pope will quarterback for the Vandals. UI’s team will consist of second- and third-teamers. Redshirts aren’t allowed to play. … Utah State quarterback Matt Sauk was banged up in the Aggies’ loss to BYU last week. He suffered a hip injury and what was feared to be a broken collarbone. But Coach Smith said Sauk’s injuries aren’t as serious as first believed.
, DataTimes