Tormey Vs. Kramer: Round 1
Chris Tormey and Mike Kramer were college football teammates at Idaho in the 1970s.
Kramer (1972-75) was Tormey’s (‘73-77) host when the latter visited UI on a recruiting trip.
They became fraternity brothers. Both became head football coaches - Tormey at Idaho, Kramer at Eastern Washington. They respect each other and are close friends, even if they’ll be on opposite sidelines when the Vandals and Eagles meet Saturday in the Kibbie Dome.
But enough of the formalities; it’s time for the tough questions.
Was Kramer an effective offensive lineman, Chris?
“He wasn’t good enough to block Big Daddy Hunt from Iowa State,” Tormey quipped, recalling Kramer’s humbling 1973 matchup against noseguard Larry Hunt.
That one had to hurt, but couldn’t match what came out at a booster luncheon three days after Iowa State’s 48-0 rout of the Vandals.
“He’s right, I wasn’t (good enough),” Kramer said. “The great thing about it was that Don Matthews was our O-line coach - he’s now the head coach of Baltimore in the CFL and he came out in the Lewiston Tribune and mentioned me. He said my name in the paper, and that we lost 48-0 because our center couldn’t block their noseguard.
“I was a sophomore at the time. I thought, ‘If a guy’s stupid enough to say that, then I can get into this profession.”’
So, Mike, why didn’t Idaho win the 1976 Big Sky Conference title?
“The only time we had a winning season was the year after I left and Tormey was a (junior),” Kramer recalled. “And the only reason they didn’t win the Big Sky title in ‘76 is because Tormey couldn’t keep contain on sprintout against (Montana State’s) Paul Dennehy, and he knows it.”
That season, MSU beat Idaho 29-14 to go 6-0 in the conference and edge the 5-1 Vandals.
Nearly 20 years later, Kramer and Tormey get together when time permits. One recent meeting came over the summer, when they were paired in a conference golf event.
“He’s awful,” Tormey said, analyzing Kramer’s fledgling golf game. “He’s one of those guys who swings as hard as he can every time.”
“He’s right on both accounts,” Kramer allowed. “I couldn’t block Big Daddy and I’m worse than horrible at golf. But I didn’t grow up at a country club, man. I grew up working.
“Check out his home address - Manito Boulevard. Manito Boulevard? What the hell is that? I grew up on the rimrock.”
To be continued.
BSU coach candid
Boise State (2-3) coach Pokey Allen offered a harsh self analysis after his team lost to Northern Arizona 32-13 on Saturday. BSU was rated No. 1 in the preseason by several national magazines.
“The problem is, this team doesn’t have a head coach with the energy to get things done,” said Allen, who is attempting to recover from cancer treatments. “In retrospect, I think this team would have been better off if I hadn’t come back so early.”
Continued Allen: “I don’t have the range of emotion you need to be a good head coach. I feel better if I’m grouchy and an (expletive).”
Allen promised, however, he wouldn’t quit in midseason.
Good riddance
Folks around the Division I-AA Big Sky are no doubt chuckling about Idaho (0-2) and Boise State (0-2) taking up residence in the conference cellar in their final year before heading into the Division I-A Big West Conference.
“Good thing you’re going into an easier league,” chided a Montana State fan to Vandals’ players after the Bobcats beat UI 16-13 last Saturday.
, DataTimes