Hamill hangs tough

PULLMAN – As Alex Hamill explains it, college football is somewhat like the TV show “Survivor.” And he’s survived three years without having his fire put out.

“I would say (college football is) a survival game, whether it’s grades, injuries, family problems, whatever,” Hamill said after practice Thursday, the Washington State University Cougars’ first in full pads. “College football, there is just a whole bunch of different factors. It is not just playing football.”

When Hamill graduated from Coeur d’Alene’s Lake City High in 2004, he had experienced nothing but success, on and off the football field. A 3.7 grade-point average attested to the latter. As for the former?

“He was just a very good high school football player,” said Lake City coach Van Troxel, whom Hamill still counts among his closest friends. “He was a dominant linebacker and receiver for us because of his speed, because he could really run.

“It was a great opportunity for him to go to WSU, but he went in knowing it would be a long process. He’s not your typical Pac-10 linebacker. He knew that.”

But even though his brother Pete, who lettered at the University of Montana in 2002, let him know what was ahead, Alex still had to experience it first hand.

“I didn’t expect to play right away,” said Hamill, who added he weighed less than 200 pounds when he started at WSU. “My brother had been through the process and he let me know that everyone who comes into the program is going to be good. And it’s a different way of playing football, actually … so I had to learn to play a different way.”

Having survived the challenges of learning the game, he’s also had to overcome injuries. First was a torn labrum in his left shoulder that required surgery, then his right was hurt, though it was allowed to heal through rest and exercise. Behind the injuries, Hamill said, were technical flaws like playing too upright and not using his hands and arms correctly, flaws he still works on today.

But tested by those twin fires, he’s survived to become the Cougars’ top weakside linebacker, a spot only a few thought the 6-foot, 225-pound redshirt junior would ever hold, and a spot he didn’t have at the end of spring ball.

At that point Jason Stripling was listed as the starter, with Hamill, and his four career tackles, listed as his backup. But Stripling was ruled academically ineligible over the summer – he may still appeal to the NCAA – and Hamill moved up the depth chart.

That didn’t make Hamill all that happy.

“Jason’s a friend and he’s a good football player. We need him to play,” Hamill said. “If he gets eligible, who knows what’s going to happen with the lineup? Whatever happens, I just want to help the team.”

But Hamill isn’t about to turn down the top spot, not after what he’s survived.

In the process, he’s shown head coach Bill Doba, who is now Hamill’s position coach as well, what he could do in the spring and in the first few days this fall.

“He’s really doing well,” Doba said. “I hate to use the term, but he’s an overachiever, I think. He’s worked at it hard. He’s improved by leaps and bounds from last year to this year.”

“I was injury free in the spring, besides the little football stuff everyone has,” Hamill said of his improvement. “I just stayed healthy and learned.”

Not that Hamill feels completely secure. Junior college transfer Kendrick Dunn has shown the ability to challenge for the spot, although Doba said wouldn’t be worried if Hamill were the top guy all year.

“What Alex lacks in, say speed, he makes up with intelligence,” Doba said. “It will be interesting because Kenny Dunn is pretty good too, and that’s his biggest competition.

“But (Hamill’s) trying so damn hard, he really gives you great effort.”

Maybe that’s why he’s a survivor.

Notes

Washington State announced some schedule changes for the 2008 season, adding Big Sky Conference member Portland State, coached by former NFL head coach Jerry Glanville, in Pullman on Sept. 20. According to athletic director Jim Sterk, the Cougars are still looking for an opponent in Seattle on Aug. 30, after an agreement with the University of Utah was canceled by mutual agreement. Sterk said ESPN is helping to arrange a new opponent and the game would be televised nationally. The other two non-conference games are road trips to Baylor and Hawaii. … One school that won’t be on the schedule is Idaho. The Vandals will probably appear once every two or three years, according to Sterk. … The defense dominated in just about every matchup Thursday. “They usually do this early,” Doba said. “They have a lot more in.” … During a 2-minute drill matching the top units at the end of practice, the No. 1 offense failed on a fourth-and-20 when Ropati Pitoitua broke through and wrapped up quarterback Alex Brink. The second offensive unit gained enough yards against the No. 2 defense for Romeen Abdollmohammadi to nail a 25-yard field goal, despite the best efforts of defensive tackle Aaron Johnson. Johnson, who was not in the action, wandered out to within 5 yards of Abdollmohammadi, yelling the whole time. The attempt to distract the senior kicker was unsuccessful. … Who says football practice can’t be fun? During the end-of-practice scrimmage, a high snap went through Brink’s hands and ended up with line coach George Yarno. Yarno, who no one will confuse with Jim Brown, tucked the ball away, ran around left end for a couple of yards, struck a Heisman pose and spiked the ball.