Thursday, January 31, 2008

Childs suspension...with perspective!


Let’s put this thing into context.

We here at OBNUG do not condone Jeremy Childs’ indiscretions. Cheating is wrong, and the only thing it ever leads to is cold, empty nights searching for the innocence you lost…and the occasional perfect season.

But just where does cheating rank in the arena of immorality? I mean, Childs didn’t commit murder (notwithstanding his reputation and the Hawaii Bowl), but his sins were obviously larger than a little white lie in a media guide. How is one to compare his shenanigans to those of DUI Dinwiddie? And does anyone even use the word shenanigans anymore?

Trouble and temptation are everywhere for big-time college athletes, and even those who play in the WAC are subject to the devil’s advances. Unfortunately, Childs bit the forbidden apple from the Spark notes tree, and he has had to live with the consequences. Let’s just be thankful that it wasn’t something more serious.

Below, we have compiled a list of various ne’er-do-welling and ranked the misadventures from cute to criminal. Enjoy.

  1. Streaking a women’s basketball game. Everyone loves a good streaker, especially when said streaker is breaking up the monotony of bounce passes and missed, flat-footed lay-ups. Streaking women’s b-ball shouldn’t be a crime; it should be an achievement.
  2. Prank calling Idaho Sports Talk with Caves and Prater. The only time this one is reproachable is if it is done poorly. No “is your refrigerator running” or impersonations of Dirk Koetter. A tasteful, clever prank is always appreciated, especially if Caves and Prater are the targets.
  3. Cheating. Childs’ offense would fit in this spot in the countdown. His was a victimless crime, unless you consider a young man’s future a victim. Obviously, as you will see below, he could have done a lot worse.
  4. Telling your girlfriend she looks good in that tube top when, really, she do not. Girls know when you’re lying to them. And hell hath no fury like a women scorned. Someone told me that once; I think it was my wife.
  5. Giving 105 percent out of a possible 110 percent. What are you saving that extra five percent for? You selfish jerk.
  6. Losing the Hawaii Bowl. Some people can’t help but lose lower-tier bowl games. We call them the Sun Belt. But when upper echelon programs riding the wave of national popularity bite the big one and look bad doing it, then this crime turns downright felonious.
  7. Soliciting sex in an airport bathroom. Take it from Larry Craig: this one hurts. Reputations, heterosexual relationships, and careers are ruined if someone is caught doing this. (Note: careers may or may not be ruined if one is a politician.)
  8. Playing well-below expectations following a Heisman-worthy season. The fans are the ones hurt most by this crime. They buy all your merchandise, tell all your friends about you, and then watch as you run for 10 yards on four carries and take yourself out of the game because your ankle hurts. The person guilty of this crime has some serious work to do to make up for it. Ahem.

Signing Day in Boise


Wednesday, February 6th, is signing day, and the Big Easy Concert House in Boise will be hosting the BSU selections. Doors open at noon, which means OBNUG will be camping out at 8:00am. I'm going to go ahead and set the over/under on drunk people starting the "Boise!"..."State!" cheer at 7.5.

Signing Day [Big Easy]

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Bronco radio home for sale


The radio broadcasting rights for Boise State football and men's basketball will be up for grabs following the current men's basketball season. The Boise Weekly has a fascinating story on the topic:

Citadel Broadcasting has held the contract for Boise State football and men's basketball since 1970, but the group's latest contract expires at the end of this year's basketball season.

With the increasing popularity of the teams, due in large part to the football program's winning record and strong reputation, Boise State has become a desirable brand to be associated with.

"We've obviously gotten more interest than in past [opportunities to bid]," said Curt Apsey, senior associate athletic director at Boise State. "It comes with the success.

"Hopefully, BSU can take advantage of a better bid than in the past," he said.

The call for bids went out last fall, dangling a tantalizing four-year contract in front of broadcasters. Since then, IdahoRadioNews.com, a Web site dedicated to the Boise radio broadcasting business, has been buzzing with theories about tactical bidding plans of the area's heavyweight companies.


The main players are Citadel (the current owner), Peak, and Tester Broadcasting, and there is no timeline for BSU's decision.

Personally, I could not be happier. I love it when media changes hands because it injects a new, lively feel into things. Bringing in new people means new ideas and new ways of of thinking. What could be better than that?

I can think of one thing: no more Paul J. Schneider. Part of me respects the man for being the voice of the Broncos for 35 years, but another part of me wonders if he really knows anything about football or broadcasting. I downloaded the radio call from the Fiesta Bowl because I wanted to hear Paul J.'s take on things, and I got four hours of him misidentifying plays and players, talking over Jeff Caves, and getting excited at the completely wrong times. I'm sure that pretty much every other game is like this, and I'm sure that we are in need of a change.

If OBNUG had a vote (and we most certainly do not), we would take Tester Broadcasting...provided Claudia Weathermon .

Bronco Broadcast [Boise Weekly]

BSU players are smart AND good


Sixteen Bronco players were named to the WAC all-academic team this week. Now we know what was distracting everyone at the Hawaii Bowl! Here is the list from the Idaho Statesman:

Football - Josh Bean, Jeff Biedermann, Tim Brady, Richie Brockel, Jeff Cavender, Pete Cavender, Dallas Dobbs, Kyle Gingg, Michael Lose, Jeff Lowe, Chris O'Neill, Orlando Scandrick, Nick Schlekeway, Austin Smith, Taylor Tharp and Kyle Wilson.

It appears Jeremy Childs did not qualify.

34 Broncos named to WAC all-academic team [Idaho Statesman]

New football league drafts two BSU players


I have no idea who these people are.

The All-American Football League (motto: "Football is football, right?") held its first annual draft Saturday, and two former Boise State players were chosen.

Antuan Carter, a backup running back to Lee Marks on the 2005 team, went in the eighth round to Alabama. The eighth round doesn't sound so hot, but due to the fact that the new league has only six teams, he was actually the 43rd overall pick and third running back chosen. Not bad.

Lawrence Bady, a wide receiver who graduated in 2005, was picked by Arkansas in Round 42.
Your number one overall pick? Zarah Yisrael, an offensive lineman from Troy. Yeah, this league is headed places.

Round by round draft [All-American Football League]

Photo courtesy AAFL website

The price of plagiarism? Not all that high


Good morning, Bronco fans. I hope you all slept well knowing that Jeremy Childs will indeed be back for his junior season. I know I did. I even had a dream in which Childs was catching touchdowns from a two-headed, Bush Hamdan-Nick Lomax quarterback robot. It was kind of weird.

The Statesman reports that Childs has been suspended from school for one semester for plagiarism--a sentence that could have been worse.

Childs originally was suspended from school for a year because of plagiarism, said Jared Duren, Childs' brother and a former Boise State football player.

Through two appeals, the penalty was reduced to one semester, according to Duren, who said he talks to Childs every day.

Childs set a Bronco record for catches last year, and he was a first-team All-WAC selection. Having him back is a great sign for Bronco fans, especially with the Hawaii Bowl debacle still fresh in our mouths.

The receiving corps for BSU should be great again with Childs back. This way, whoever nails down the starting QB gig will have a way easier time of things.


Brother says Boise State's Jeremy Childs is suspended for semester [Idaho Statesman]

Photo courtesy of Idaho Statesman

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Childs Suspended

The Idaho Statesman is reporting that Jeremy Childs has been suspended from school for this semester but could return to the football team this summer. More on this tomorrow.

BSU's Childs suspended [Idaho Statesman]

Quinton Jones to CFL

The Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL have signed former BSU defensive back Quinton Jones. Defending CFL champions and teammates with Yo Murphy? How much better does it get?

Riders add two in the secondary [Our Sports Central]

Tharp headlines obscure all-star game


Taylor Tharp will be in action on Saturday in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star game. Get your TiVo set to CSTV!

Nick Hill of Southern Illinois, Blake Mitchell of South Carolina, and Omar Haugabook from Troy are the other quarterbacks on the roster, so hopefully Tharp will see some signifcant playing time. The Nation squad is being coached by Buddy Ryan, which should be a fun experience for Tharp--especially if he likes getting yelled at and under-coached.

No word yet on whether or not Chadd Cripe will be live blogging the game from El Paso.

Texas vs. the Nation [Official Site]

Broncos get first juco recruit

Daron Mackey, a linebacker from Bakersfield Junior College, has given a verbal commitment to Boise State, becoming what is believed to be the first juco transfer in the Broncos' 2008 recruiting class.

Mackey (6-foot, 235 pounds) was first-team all-state and an honorable-mention
All-American at Bakersfield, where he recorded three interceptions and five
sacks in nine games this season. He is rated a four-star prospect by Scout.com
and is from West High in Bakersfield.

More on Mackey as signing day approaches.

Junior college linebacker commits to Boise State [Idaho Statesman]

Monday, January 28, 2008

Steelers fans react to Zabransky

Pittsburgh fans have gotten word that Z is the newest member of the Steelers and their response is rather encouraging.

that's awesome, i wanted us to sign him as an undrafted free agent last year. none of u might be overly excited but i am

I wonder if that jaredz2006 knows his stuff.

Seriously though, the Steelers fans just seem happy to have Brian St. Pierre gone. I hope no one ever shows them the final minute of the 2005 Humanitarian Bowl.

Ex-Boise State QB Zabransky coming to Steelers [Steelers Fever]

Photo courtesy of Daily Dwayne


Zabransky to the Steelers



According to the Idaho Statesman, Jared Zabransky will be throwing interceptions for the Pittsburgh Steelers next year.

Zabransky will sign a free-agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, he and agent Eric Metz said Saturday.

"I feel like this is an organization that knows how to win with all the championships they've had through there," Zabransky said of the five-time Super Bowl champions. "I think they're going to give me a legitimate chance to be able to prove myself. I heard through the grapevine that coach (Mike) Tomlin is a no-politics kind of guy, which is exactly what you want in my situation."

Apparently, Pittsburgh didn't have enough mobile quarterbacks who make questionable decisions. At the very least, it sounds like Zabransky will have a good shot to make the team. After Roethlisberger, the Steelers roster will have Charlie Batch, Zabransky, and probably a rookie QB.

Make us proud, Zabransky.


Zabransky says he will sign with Steelers [Idaho Statesman]

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Greetings, Bronco Nation



Welcome, Boise State football fans.

The last few years have been quite the ride for BSU football. We had the upset of David Carr's Fresno State, the five straight WAC championships, the Brock Forsey era, and the Fiesta Bowl win. There is no time like the present to be a Bronco fan. Correction: last year was probably a better time to be a Bronco fan.

As such, the population of Bronco Nation has expanded rapidly as of late. Everyone who has ever lived in Boise, driven through Boise, or caught a Jared Zabransky interception is on the BSU bandwagon. We consider ourselves a vital part of Bronco Nation, although we're a little upset we missed the vote on naming it Bronco Nation and we would have liked someone to seek our opinion. We would have gone with Unincorporated Dinwiddie County of Hendricksland.

We are originals. We may not have started the bandwagon, but we have been riding shotgun ever since the Carl's Jr. on the way to Division I-A. Without a doubt, we are biased homers, unable to make big decisions in life without wearing our Boise State shorts and stroking our Chris Peterson bobbleheads.

This site will be a reflection of our fanhood. There will be plenty of pictures and videos, but just as much rambling and ranting. Of course, everything will be unabashedly pro-Broncos and decidedly anti-Dan Hawkins. We'll take any tips or stories you want to send us because, like a Taylor Tharp sideline throw, we're lazy and don't have much motivation. Here's the address: OneBroncoNationUnderGod@gmail.com.

We'll get this thing kicked off around signing day with some stats, analysis, video, and lots of overhyped blabbering. We feel that last part is what we do best. In the meantime, we'll be crossing our fingers about Jeremy Childs, sending Orlando Scandrick unsolicited career advice, and counting down the days to the start of the season.

See you around,

OBNUG staff