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MOSCOW, Idaho – Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss – which in Idaho’s case might very well be a good thing.
Two years ago, Thomas Ford was the Vandals’ running back coach. Tuesday marked his first day on a practice field as Idaho’s head coach after being summoned from Oregon State, where he was an assistant last year, after Jason Eck departed to New Mexico following last season.
Idaho held the first of its 15 spring workouts. The players toiled on their outdoor practice field next to the Kibbie Dome with the western foothills of Moscow Mountain in the background on a hazy, 45-degree early morning before most of the campus had awakened.
Ford apparently likes to get things done early.
He is also the beneficiary of what looks to be a seamless transition. A holdover from Eck’s staff, former Vandals quarterback and quarterbacks coach Matt Linehan, is Idaho’s new offensive coordinator and the team has a core of seniors that Ford said is invaluable in supporting a culture in which Idaho reached the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs three straight years under Eck’s reign.
“Having guys like that that know me so well is huge,” Ford said. “They are echoing our message every day in the locker room.”
As first days generally are, the Vandals were full of optimism and energy, even if they weren’t yet in full pads.
“Day one was a blast,” said senior running back Elisha Cummings, who help set a tone for returning and new teammates by winning the day’s practice award.
“This is what you do the winter workouts for,” said senior defensive lineman Sam Brown, a Central Valley High School product. “I enjoy the weights, but it (doesn’t compare) to the game of football.”
Senior left guard Nate Azzopardi, a three-year captain finishing up a six-year career, has played…
Source link : http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/mar/25/day-one-was-a-blast-idaho-begins-spring-practices-/
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Publish date : 2025-03-26 02:04:00
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