BY DARRELL MOODY
Appeal Sports Writer
Who is the only player on the watch list for the 2008 Rimington Award for three straight years?
If you guessed Idaho center Adam Korby, you get a gold star and it means you know your Western Athletic Conference football.
Korby, who is a three-time winner of the Wayne Walker Ironman Award, will begin the 2008 season with an impressive 35 consecutive starts under his belt, a pretty impressive stat when you consider his body his getting banged on every play.
Korby is one of four WAC players on the Rimington list. Nevada's Dominic Green also is on the list.
"He runs the show (on the line)," Idaho coach Robb Akey said of Korby, a four-year starter. "He's been a starter forever. He's a great leader for us to have.
"Shiloh (Keo) is flamboyant. Adam? You don't hear him say much unless he's telling another offensive lineman what to do."
Leadership is in Korby's blood, however. Out of high school, he was accepted into a service academy, but chose not to attend. Simply put, you don't get chosen to the Army, Navy or Air Force without people noticing that you have potential leadership skills. Those places train officers not grunts.
"I saw a role that needed to be filled," Korby said at the recent WAC football media day event in Salt Lake City. "I like the leadership role.
"Every spring, I try to show the younger players more; show them the ropes. It (being captain) puts more pressure on you to do things the right way."
And, being the guy that the team depends on to call out the blocking schemes on every snap, makes Korby a logical candidate to lead.
Korby, along with Kris Anderson, are the leaders of the Vandals' solid running game. Sophomore Deonte Jackson ran for 1,175 yards and seven scores a year ago, and he figures to be even better.
Korby credits plenty of film study and improved technique for his success on the field.
"I love to go to the (Kibbie) Dome to watch (extra) film," Korby said. "I'm not that big into taking it home with me. They put the film on discs. I watch a lot of film."
Korby said he doesn't look as much for individual tendencies as he does team tendencies; what the defense likes to do on third down. He's looking at scheme stuff because he has to know what the entire defense is doing because it helps him call the correct blocking schemes.
The one thing Korby said he's worked on the most since coming to Idaho is his technique.
"I wasn't very technique oriented in high school," Korby said. "You don't get coached up (as well) in some things. You could get by just on strength. Technique turns good college players to even better college players."
The attention to detail and work ethic is what has made Korby one of the top offensive linemen in the WAC.