Tormey Won’t Be Changing What Makes UI Offense Great

If you think Idaho will change its philosophy because the Vandals have a new coach, here’s hoping you’ve stocked up on food and beverage.

Because you’re in for a long wait.

“I’m not going to be the guy to come in and scrap the offense that’s been in the top 10 nationally the last 13 years,” new UI coach Chris Tormey said early in his address to the media at the annual Big Sky Conference Football Kickoff on Saturday.

Wholesale changes, you won’t see. Minor tinkering and alterations, however, figure to be noticeable when the Tormey era opens Sept. 2 at Oregon State. This will be UI’s last season in the Big Sky before joining the Big West.

Expect more early-season reliance on a ground attack that produced 220 yards per game last season. Junior Joel Thomas steps in for Sherriden May, UI’s all-time leading rusher, and four of five starters on the line are back.

Expect the same attacking, Arizona-style defense, but perhaps slightly more simplification, said Tormey, who was hired when John L. Smith went to Utah State.

Don’t misconstrue Tormey’s hesitancy to change to mean he’s inflexible.

At quarterback, for example, Tormey hopes a starter emerges from senior Eric Hisaw, sophomore Brian Brennan and freshman Robert Scott. If one doesn’t, however, Tormey has no fear of using two QBs, which worked well at Washington a few years ago when Tormey was a Husky assistant and Billy Joe Hobert and Mark Brunell shared time.

The versatile Hisaw was the starter until injuring his knee at midseason. The 6-foot-5 Brennan relieved and played well. Hisaw is expected to be at full strength for fall drills.

Scott is supremely talented and will be given a fair opportunity.

“In order to be fair to all three, we’re going into fall camp with the position wide open,” Tormey said. “We’d like to identify the top two after the first week. And after the second week of two-a-days, we’d like to come up with a starter for Oregon State.

“If we have two guys we believe are good enough to start and help us win … it can cause the defense problems.”

On the topic of defensive problems, Tormey is concerned about his secondary. He believes there’s talent at the position, but potential means little without proven production.

That puts the heat on cornerbacks Jason O’Neil and Arnold Gunn. Tommy James has been moved from corner to strong safety. Big Sky sprint champion Montrell Williams has made a similar switch to free safety.

“We’ve got a long way to go, but I think we can point to some people and say we’ve got some prospects to give us a chance to be successful,” Tormey said.

More comforting to Tormey is run defense. The Vandals led the nation in that statistic last year and a talented front returns. End Ryan Phillips is good enough to have played on any of UW’s best teams, Tormey said.

The other bookend is sack specialist Barry Mitchell. Ryan Smith, Dan Zeamer and Tim Wilson will see extensive time at tackles. Of those five linemen, all are juniors except Wilson, a sophomore.

Like Hisaw, Jason Shelt returns from knee reconstruction surgery that cut short his ‘94 season. The junior middle linebacker “will be the glue” of the defense, Tormey said.

Flanking Shelt are steady, unspectacular veterans Avery Slaughter and Dave Longoria.

It might be worth dropping by practice to watch UI’s two strengths - offensive and defensive line - do battle.

Seniors Jim Mills and Spencer Folau might be the best tackle tandem in I-AA football. Add in center Eric Johnson and guard Mike Hughes and the Vandals are big, strong and experienced. Guard Richard Zenk is the lone newcomer.

The offensive question mark is at wide receiver. Dwight McKinzie is proven, but who will step up at the other spots? Kimiko Bandy is coming off a major knee injury and David Griffin has limited speed but manages to get open. It could be that speedster Videl Montgomery, a JC transfer, or freshmen Ryan Prestimonico and late signee Pierre Erick join the rotation.

“Dwight could be one of the top receivers in the conference,” Tormey said. “He’s not (graduated) Kyle Gary yet, but we need him to be if we’re to be as successful as we’ve been.”

Tormey fielded numerous questions about Idaho’s suspect schedule. The Vandals have just 10 games, four at home, and two byes in the season’s first month. Tormey put a positive spin on the schedule, saying the week off after Oregon State will be good for physical mending, and the week off before visiting Idaho State should help UI be healthy for its Big Sky opener.

On the positive side, UI entertains Boise State and Montana, the two teams usually listed with the Vandals as Sky favorites.

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