Tormey Predicts Solid Future For UI Schedule May Put Idaho Football Team In A Hole Early

In his State of the Vandals address, head coach Chris Tormey seemed to suggest that future State of the Vandals addresses will have a better ring to them.

Idaho football is on an upswing, he believes, but it might take more time to reap the benefits. In other words, the Vandals are young and getting better.

Tormey’s message on Thursday at the Big West Conference media day centered on the cyclical program, which cycled downward to the tune of 5-6 last year.

Idaho was one touchdown away from winning the conference two years ago. UI lost to Nevada and Utah State by a combined 65 points last season.

“Last year, we were very young and at times started five freshmen on offense,” Tormey said. “So maybe we hit bottom.

“I think you’ll see Idaho improve over the next several years… . I feel like we have a really good solid foundation. A lot of times when you try to do things right and build with freshmen, you’re going to have a year or two where you don’t see immediate results. But I really believed when I got this job the way to do it was with high school players.”

So what does this season hold? It could be another bumpy road. Idaho opens against Eastern Washington and if the Vandals don’t win that one, they might be 0-4 because road games follow with San Jose State, Washington State and Louisiana State.

There are a lot of unanswered questions for the Vandals. Can sophomore quarterback Ed Dean, the likely starter, return Idaho to its traditionally productive ways?

Can running back Joel Thomas come back from the dislocated knee that ended his ‘97 season after one game? Will a pack of talented young receivers become reliable? Will the offensive line, which might consist of five sophomores, improve from a promising showing last year?

The defense has just as many questions. The defensive line, with the exception of all-Big West end James Durrough, might start three players who haven’t started a game at Idaho. The linebacking unit and safeties are solid, but the corners are also relatively unproven.