UI initiates new practice facility

MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho Vandals initiated their new practice facility with a spirited pair of practices Thursday.

“It’s marvelous, isn’t it?” UI coach Nick Holt said. “What a beautiful facility.”

While there is some finish work remaining on the two 75-yard SprinTurf fields, the Vandals were able to use it for their morning walk-through and their afternoon practice, which featured scrimmage situations as UI begins the final 14-day countdown to its opener at Washington State.

“For the most part,” Holt said, “I thought the effort was good.”

Yet, a couple questions remain: Who will start at quarterback? Who will be the key forces at tight end with the loss of Luke Smith-Anderson?

Neither senior Michael Harrington nor junior Steven Wichman has provided Holt with the answer to the quarterback question. During Thursday’s drills, neither showed the consistency Holt wants to see in two weeks.

As for Smith-Anderson’s tight end position, the field is open as a young group with just a couple of veterans battles for playing time.

“They’re young,” Holt said of the bulk of the tight end corps that features just two upperclassmen in junior Keith Greer and senior defensive-lineman-turned-tight end Tim Bertalot. “But we can’t let that be an excuse. They need to step up. They’ve been here a year now. They have to focus.”

Elsewhere, battles are for position on the depth chart – something Holt is happy to see.

“There’s battles but they’re all for depth,” said Holt, noting in particular a deep receiving corps and a solid contingent on the defensive front and at linebacker.

The Vandals are wrapping up two-a-day drills as they prepare for the start of school on Monday.