UI Faces Weighty Problem

Tom Cable peers over an injury list 29 names long. Eleven are sidelined, 11 are banned from contact drills, seven will practice despite injuries.

“We’ve got to get them stronger,” Idaho’s new coach says, prior to one of the last practices of spring football.

Cable knows what he wants to do. He just has to find a way to get it done.

He believes the answer rests in several areas: establishing a training table and a supplement program (protein shakes, etc.), and possibly some weight-training adjustments.

But the answer costs money. Because of his contacts, Cable said he can get his team on a supplement program for roughly $8,000 from June 1-Dec. 31.

“We did a breakdown on every team we’re going to play and they are either doing year-round supplements or creatine,” he said. “What I’m trying to do for $8,000, I know Colorado does for $72,000 or $76,000.”

Cable said he’s hopeful UI will have a training table in place by this fall.

The injury list is crowded with players dogged by shoulder problems. Also, seven of the 11 absent from practice are still bothered by injuries suffered last season.

Offensive lineman Kyle Stewart’s torn knee ligament is the only injury that should keep a player out this fall.

“When I was at Colorado, we had nine guys who had shoulder surgeries, and I think that’s what Idaho had last year,” Cable said. “We changed some of the lifting (at Colorado). The last year, we had two shoulder surgeries and another guy had to go back and get his cleaned up.”

Bigger and stronger doesn’t always mean injury-free, but it might reduce the number of wounded.

Cable’s concern grows, obviously, when he looks at a heavyweight schedule featuring Washington, Oregon, Washington State and West Virginia in the first six weeks.

“If we can get (254-pound end) Ryan Knowles to 270, J.J. Johnston to 260, Dennis (Taeatafa) and Mike (Jones) to 280, then I don’t have to worry about going to Washington and getting thrown all over the field,” Cable said. “Everyone ribs me about getting beat up that first month, and that could happen.

“If we were just 10-20 pounds bigger per man, mainly on the line of scrimmage, that wouldn’t happen to us.”

Idaho seemed to wear down toward the end of last season. The Vandals were blown out twice in the last four games.

Welsh squared

There were two quarterbacks named Welsh at Wednesday’s practice - one for the Vandals and one for the Broncos. Not those Broncos.

John Welsh, of course, is Idaho’s starter. Younger brother Jeff is the leading candidate to start at Western Michigan, which concluded spring drills three weeks ago.

“They just showed up,” said John, pointing to his dad, John Sr., and Jeff sitting in the Kibbie Dome seats. “They’re just hanging out.”

Exit door open

Cable said nine or 10 players have left the program, including five during winter conditioning. Two more departed this week.

“Every one (who left in winter) had the same reason: `I’m not going to do this; this isn’t what I came to college to do,”’ Cable said. “Then they shouldn’t be playing college football because I knew this little gray-haired guy (Dennis Erickson, Cable’s coach at Idaho) who was a lot worse than I am. But I don’t think you’d find anyone who didn’t love him dearly.”

Cable said he’s not forcing players out, but he’s not misleading them either.

“Here’s what I told the players: If you know you’re not going to be here, be honest about it because I’m going to,” he said. “If you don’t want to work this hard, then you should quit because what’s going to happen is I’m going to run you off.”

Cable is demanding, but fair, offensive lineman Rick DeMulling said. “It’s not easy at all, but it’s going to make us a better team.”

Cornerback challenge

Three-year starting cornerback Dennis Gibbs is facing a stern challenge from sophomore Tim Sams.

Gibbs made 47 tackles a year ago and 45 in ‘98. He also has scored on interception returns of 100 and 99 yards. Sams played sparingly in three games last season.

`That’s one of the best battles on the team,” Cable said. “We feel we have three corners who can start and play and we’re comfortable with all three.”

Notes

DeMulling will have minor surgery to repair torn knee cartilage. He’ll miss about two weeks. The Cheney senior said he has enjoyed playing guard after being stationed at tackle the last two seasons. “I was a guard my freshman year,” he said… . . The injury bug isn’t confined to the players. Tight ends coach Brian Thure broke an ankle during a pick-up basketball game and will require surgery… . Quarterbacks are wearing green jerseys instead of the traditional pink. The colored jerseys mean they’re off limits to contact. Why green? “What color is money?” joked an assistant coach.