Bigger, Better Whitworth’s Coach Has Much Greater Expectations

For starters, the Whitworth College football team looks like a football team this year.

Just watch coach John Tully watch from his office window as one of his players cuts through the Graves Hall parking lot.

“See that guy right there,” said Tully, pointing with his eyes. “He’s a freshman.”

And the name of this rookie athlete who easily could fill out a Division I-A uniform (and we’re not talking placekicker)?

“I’d rather not say,” said Tully. “I wouldn’t want him to get a big head.”

Big heads surely haven’t been a problem around Whitworth football. Big losses have.

The Pirates enter Saturday’s opener at Western Oregon University coming off back-to-back 1-8 seasons. Last year, they were outscored 379-158.

But this is the time of year for new beginnings and new attitudes.

Asked if the Pirates are going to be better this season, Tully quickly responded “Without a doubt. Guys are stronger and bigger. We’re doing all the things to move in the right direction. When we did our testing here, I went away feeling great.

“Two and a half years ago when I first got here, I couldn’t believe a team on the college level needed to go so far.”

Travis Torco, an all-Northwest Conference of Colleges first-team defensive back, knows first-hand about Whitworth’s recent failures. Torco, one of 16 Hawaiians on the roster, is the only true senior on the team. In three seasons, he’s experienced victory five times.

“I definitely think it’s going to be a better year. But how we’re going to look two months from now or three months from now, I can’t tell you,” said Torco, who accounted for 40 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries last year.

“But I can tell you from last year, we’re stronger, we’re quicker.”

And the proof is in the weight room.

Power and clean 300 pounds? About a half-dozen Pirates are capable. Bench press 225 pounds 20 times or more? At last check, eight players mastered the maneuver.

But muscles don’t necessarily translate into uplifting Saturday afternoons. Experience - or lack of - can never be overlooked.

Last year, the Pirates had eight seniors on the team, but the rest of the personnel had minimal experience. Although Torco is the only true senior on this year’s roster, along with four redshirt seniors, Whitworth returns seven starters on offense, eight on defense and sophomore kicker Matt Stueckle.

Josh Parbon, who started five games in 1995 (42 for 76, 534 yards, 3 TDs), is back. The Aberdeen High graduate redshirted last year because of a left shoulder injury. He beat out sophomore Tim Mitrovich of Kennewick and sophomore Casey Doyle of Aberdeen’s Tumwater High for the job.

Doyle (41 of 91, 501 yards, four TDs) shared time with Rob Leslie (65 of 136, 767 yards, eight TDs) last season. Leslie is back at Whitworth but is dedicating himself to the Young Life religious organization.

The Pirates return key position players in sophomore running back Damian Putney of Sprague-Harrington and senior wide receiver Dave Glenn. Putney led the team in rushing last year (547 yards, three TDs, 4.0 average per carry). Glenn, a Mead High graduate, averaged 12.6 yards per catch (278 yards) and scored two touchdowns.

Defensively, Mitch Ellerd is expected to anchor the defense. Ellerd, a 6-2, 210-pound junior, led the Pirates with 91 tackles last year. In addition, Terry Borders, a senior defensive lineman who missed all but two games before re-injuring his leg last season, is back at full strength.

“It’s exciting because we’re still a young team but they’ve all played,” Tully said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WHITWORTH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time Sept. 13 at Western Oregon 1 p.m. Sept. 20 at Montana Tech 1 p.m. (MT) Sept. 27 vs. Pomona-Pitzer 1:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Puget Sound 1:30 p.m. Oct. 11 vs. Linfield College 1:30 p.m. Oct. 18 vs. Eastern Oregon 1:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at Pacific Lutheran 1:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at Lewis & Clark 1:30 p.m. Nov. 8 Bye Nov. 15 vs. Willamette 1 p.m.