Cable Giddy Over Idaho’S First Outing New Coach Pleased, Especially From Standpoint Of Team Effort

Idaho spring football

Tom Cable has spent many an hour in the University of Idaho Kibbie Dome, but few days hold more special meaning than Wednesday’s opening of spring football.

“It was awesome,” said Cable after his first practice as a head coach. “I was like a little kid on Christmas. It was unbelievable. The kids worked like Vandals. That’s the one thing that’s still in place here. They work hard.”

Cable should know about hard-working Vandals. He played for UI from 1982-85 before pursuing a round-about path across the West that eventually brought him back to Moscow for his first head coaching job.

As for his Christmas in April, his package of black and gold was just what he expected - a few first-practice bobbles but a good day all-in-all.

“Like I told them, I love the effort; I love the intensity,” he said. “But know it’s Day 1.”

That meant a few balls thrown a little late or a little early, an alignment out of whack every once in a while. Very fixable miscues in Cable’s mind.

What is important is how quickly the Vandals learn the new schemes Cable and his staff are putting in place.

“The first thing is getting the systems down,” Cable said. “The second thing is personnel, making sure the right guys are in the right place. Then there’s creating a defensive line.”

Cable’s top personnel issue is finding a way to fill the gaps created by the departures of seniors Mao Tosi and James Durrough, mainstays for the Vandals the past two seasons. Nose tackle Wil Beck and end Ryan Knowles provide solid building stones, but who plays around them remains to be seen.

Offensively, Cable had empathy for the quarterbacks - John Welsh, Ed Dean, Brian Lindgren and Tyler Smith - as they tried to match timing with new schemes.

“They probably suffer the most on Day 1,” Cable said. “But I like them. They’re going to be good in the new system.”

The Vandals practice again today at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. Their first scrimmage will be April 15 at 10 a.m. at the Kibbie Dome.