Quarterbacks The Key When Ewu Visits UI Ewu’s Sherick, Idaho’s Hisaw Lead Struggling Big Sky Rivals

Eric Hisaw, meet Brian Sherick. Now, go decide today’s Idaho-Eastern Washington football game.

That’s what it’s probably going to come down to, says EWU coach Mike Kramer, who welcomes Sherick back at quarterback after a one-game disciplinary suspension.

Idaho reacquaints itself with Hisaw, who has reclaimed the starting QB job for the 3:05 p.m. Kibbie Dome encounter, which serves as the Vandals’ homecoming.

“Whoever is the most accurate throwing is going to win the game,” Kramer predicted. “We both feel good about our lines and the other side of the ball.”

UI coach Chris Tormey, a Vandals teammate of Kramer’s in the mid-1970s, is more focused on the guys standing behind Sherick - EWU running backs Joe Sewell and David Lewis.

“We’ve got to stop their running game, get them into predictable passing situations and stay away from second-and-2 or third-and-1,” Tormey said. “Their play action is big. Jesse Hardt (tight end) is a great receiver and the best way to get the ball to the tight end is play action.”

With UI’s offense floundering in a 1-3 start, Tormey has tried to downplay the significance of the quarterback’s role, choosing to spread blame on the entire offense. Kramer isn’t buying it.

“In the spread offense, your offense is only going to be as good as the quarterback’s accuracy,” Kramer said. “For whatever reason, their (quarterbacks) haven’t been as accurate as they were last year. I mean, I’m coaching quarterbacks now. We threw five picks last week and every one was a throw that was inaccurate.”

Kramer said he can relate to some of Idaho’s struggles under first-year coach Tormey. Kramer is in his second year at EWU, coming off an underachieving 4-7 rookie campaign that had opened with great promise.

“The changeover from Dennis (Erickson) to (Keith) Gilbertson to John L. (Smith), there was a continuum in there, but if you go back and look at their first years, they were fraught with problems,” Kramer said.

“The difference in coaching styles. … differences breed unfamiliarity. It’s just a lack of familiarity of players to the head coach, and no matter how much you talk and walk your way through it, they (players) don’t know how to respond.”

Tormey hopes his players respond to familiar surroundings today. Being back in the Kibbie Dome and playing before an anticipated crowd of 14,000 bodes well for a Vandals team searching for confidence.

“I think it’s going to be a real positive,” Tormey said of returning to the Dome after two straight road games and a bye week. “We’re familiar with the environment and we haven’t lost many games here.”

UI’s three losses this year have been by seven, five and three points.

“We’re all frustrated,” Tormey said. “Personally, this isn’t the way I thought it would be. We’re right there. I’ve got to stay positive. We as coaches have to stay upbeat to keep them (the players) upbeat.

“At the same time, we’ve got to recognize our problems and work on them.”

Notes

Tormey said UI tight end Andy Gilroy could be back for next week’s game against Montana. Gilroy won’t play today due to a partially collapsed lung. … EWU has been hit hard by injuries. The key losses are freshman T.J. Ackerman (knee) on the offensive line and receiver Jerrold Jackson (concussions in the last two games). Jackson is EWU’s main deep threat. He’ll be replaced by converted running back Rex Prescott. … Kramer: “In years past, this (Idaho game) has been an emotional war. But our vision is more internal. We’ve got basic problems that have to be alleviated.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: EWU at U. of Idaho