Holt chooses Harrington

For the third consecutive season, Michael Harrington will be the University of Idaho’s opening-game starting quarterback.

Head coach Nick Holt announced Tuesday that Harrington will start against Washington State University at Martin Stadium on Thursday night. J.C. transfer Steven Wichman will play at some point in the first half, Holt said.

“Michael has more experience and he’s had a good fall camp,” Holt said. “It’s been really close. We could have started either of them, but Michael has done a really nice job with some things and he’s played a lot of football.”

Holt cautioned that the competition between the two quarterbacks is far from over.

“For (Harrington) not to start, it would have had to be a little more clear-cut,” Holt said. “The other guy (Wichman), the more he plays the better he’s going to get. That’s kind of the issue. You have to get him in there to get him better.”

Harrington, a senior from Portland and younger brother of Detroit Lions quarterback Joey Harrington, has passed for 3,490 career yards with 19 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. He started every game last year while compiling a 125.5 passer rating. Wichman, a transfer from San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif., passed for 2,802 yards and 20 TDs as a sophomore.

Holt informed Harrington of his decision Monday, adding that “Steven has basically known what we’re going to do.” Neither quarterback was available for comment as Idaho previously set a Monday deadline for player interviews.

Holt said he’ll let the quarterbacks’ performances dictate what happens.

“Both deserve to play,” Holt said. “Until one really shines then we might have to (play both), but I foresee something happening in the near future. I’ve never really been around a (two-platoon system) where it worked, but some programs have used it and used it well. We’ll just have to see.”

The playbook probably won’t look much different with Harrington or Wichman at the controls. “We try not to make the game plan too big or immense for any of the kids,” Holt said. “We have some new kids at a couple of positions on offense. We have to make it simple for all the guys.”

Harrington is expected to be UI’s only senior starter on offense. Receiver Lee Smith, center Adam Korby and guard Kris Anderson – all redshirt freshmen – are listed as starters.