Huskies, Vandals are connected

Published 9:00 pm Monday, September 12, 2005

SEATTLE – There are plenty of ties between the Washington and Idaho football team. Most significant is Huskies linebackers coach Chris Tormey, who played for the Vandals (Class of 1978), served as an assistant there in the early ’80s and was Idaho’s head coach from 1995-99.

Vandals head coach Nick Holt was an assistant for Tormey for three seasons, and Holt’s top assistant, Jeff Mills, coached for Tormey both at Idaho and Nevada. Mills was also a graduate assistant at Washington in 1990 and ‘91.

Washington wide receivers coach Eric Yarber played for the Vandals, earning Big Sky Conference MVP in 1985 and began his coaching career there under Tormey. Offensive coordinator Tim Lappano (1982-85) and defensive coordinator Kent Baer (1986) also coached at Idaho.

Tormey said he’s been impressed by what he’s seen from Idaho under Holt.

“It’s a special place for me,” Tormey said. “They’ve got a heck of a football team. (Holt’s) got them playing hard. They’ve got good schemes on both sides. And they believe they have a chance to win this one.”

Losing doesn’t scare Tormey: Tormey, who is also Washington’s recruiting coordinator, said he isn’t concerned that the program’s recent struggles will affect his ability to recruit top athletes.

“Coach Willingham is a great ambassador for this university,” Tormey said. “No matter what happens, we have Coach Willingham and the university to sell. The important thing is for us to make progress as we go through the season.”

Washington has received verbal commitments from four prospects, including all-state quarterback Jake Locker of Ferndale.

Tough going for Vandals: It was a long, long trip back to Moscow after the Vandals’ loss at UNLV Saturday. Idaho’s plane was struck by a bird, which cracked the windshield and forced the plane to return to Las Vegas. The team had to find a hotel, no easy task for a football team, and there was only one shuttle available to take players from the airport to the hotel, necessitating many trips. Idaho finally left Nevada Sunday and got back to Idaho at about 6:30 p.m.

Top rusher out: Idaho will be without starting running back Jayson Bird for Saturday’s game and Bird could miss the rest of the season with a broken collarbone suffered against UNLV. Bird, a 220-pound sophomore who rushed for 859 yards and eight touchdowns last year, has 70 yards this season. He’ll be replaced by senior Antwaun Sherman, who had 88 yards on 11 carries against UNLV.

Husky injuries: Willingham said running back Kenny James (shoulder), defensive tackle Erick Lobos (foot) and cornerback Roy Lewis (bruised knee) are day-to-day. He does not expect left tackle Joe Toledo (sprained ankle) to play against the Vandals. Quarterback Carl Bonnell has also been slow to recover from a bruised thigh.

Third-down trouble: One of Washington’s most glaring problems is its ability to defend on third down. The Huskies have allowed teams to convert 15 times in 27 tries (55.6 percent), worst in the Pacific-10 Conference.

“It’s not good, we’ve got to improve that,” Willingham said. “It’s all part of understanding this is a key moment and how you respond to that key moment. Good football teams love those key moments.”

Kicking game solid: Willingham pointed to the kicking game as being a strength of the team. Sean Douglas ranks sixth in the nation and second in the league with a 45.6 average. Evan Knudson has made both of his field goal tries, both of over 40 yards, and is perfect on extra points. He’s also had three touch backs on eight kickoffs.

Seeing more time: Willingham indicated that Clay Walker could see more time, and even start, at left guard this week over Stanley Daniels. He also said Craig Chambers could see more time at wide receiver after last week’s solid showing.

And the leaders are: Some have speculated that the Huskies are short on leadership, but Willingham had no problem pointing out players he’s seen step forward as leaders. Those he mentioned: James Sims Jr., Kenny James, Ty Eriks, Joe Toledo, Isaiah Stanback, Casey Paus, Sonny Shackelford, Anthony Russo, Dashon Goldson, Joe Lobendahn, Evan Benjamin and Scott White.

Other stats: Stanback ranks tied for 19th in the nation in total offense with 289 yards a game. In the Pac-10, Washington ranks last in scoring offense, scoring defense, kickoff returns, rushing defense, total defense, total offense and pass defense. The only categories the Huskies are in the top three in are punting, penalties, field goals and turnover margin.

Louis Rankin is tied for eighth in the league in rushing (75 yards a game). Stanback is fifth in passing yards per game (271.5) and total offense and seventh in pass efficiency (143.2). Shackelford is eighth in receptions per-game (5.5) and seventh in receiving yards per-game (80.5). Roy Lewis is fourth in kick return average (21.8). Benjamin is sixth in tackles per-game (10.5), Goldson is eighth (9.5) and Joe Lobendahn is tied for 10th (8.0).