Message received: Broncos find radio voice

Bob Behler has been named the new voice of Boise State football.

KTVB.com has the details, and we thank Fight Fight BSU for bringing the story to our attention. The announcement ended a week's worth of speculation over how Peak screwed the pooch, culminating in our ill-timed open letter to the radio magnate this afternoon. Did our admonishment of Peak get the decision made any faster? No. Did it feel good to get it off our chests? Yes.

We'll have more on Bob Behler tomorrow. Congratulations, Bob.

Bob Behler profile [Umass athletics]

An open letter to Peak Broadcasting

Dear Peak Broadcasting,

Where do we even begin? I guess first off, let us wish you a happy Monday, or as Bronco fans have come to know it, the 10-day anniversary of the day you were supposed to decide on a radio team. Hope you're having a great day doing whatever it is that you do at Peak headquarters, which we imagine includes sitting around with your thumbs up your noses, making Darth Vader voices into the audio equipment, and trying to figure out how you can convince Gene Bleymaier to dissolve Paul J's pension. Best leave by 3:30 so you can beat the traffic!

Oh, by the way, tomorrow is July 1, which usually only means turning a page on your giant Garfield wall calendar but actually has a fair amount of significance this year. Starting tomorrow, you are the official home of Boise State football and basketball.

Kind of sneaked up on you, didn't it? Well, it is not always easy to program reminders into your company-issued smartphone (yes, the one that plays Bejeweled 2). Tomorrow is the first day of your governance of BSU radio, and from the looks of things, you couldn't be more unprepared.

Quite frankly, we are disappointed. When you won the Boise State contract a few months back, we had tangible excitement over what you could bring to the broadcast. Boise State football is a growing entity, and we felt that your winning the contract could help usher in a new era of BSU media.

Certainly, that was what needed to happen. The way that local legend Paul J. Schneider was unceremoniously dumped opened wide the doors of criticism and anger, and it placed extra responsibility on you to make Bronco fans forget the past and move into the Peak Broadcasting future. Mission not accomplished.

That future, by the way, looks pretty awful. Based on the events of the past 14 days, you have shown yourselves rather incapable of doing anything right, and Boise State fans have no choice but to worry about having this radio contract in your hands. We know you've lost a candidate to another school. We know you are bad with deadlines. If all this holds true, your football broadcasts will begin in the second quarter of the game and will feature the riveting radio duo of Peak general manager Kevin Godwin and a BSU communication major doing work study. Godwin: "The kicker put the ball through the uprights. He gets some points for that!" Student: "You told me I wouldn't have to talk."

How you'll recover from this is anyone's guess. A good place to start would be naming a radio team. As Idaho Radio News pointed out, if you chose someone today, that person would have about one month to gain an expertise on Boise State athletics, develop chemistry with a play-by-play partner, and discover the wonders of the Fanci Freez. Expediency is an issue, but quality and name recognition are just as important. Boise State fans are expecting something big, which your track record suggests may be a Nigerian child expecting an African-American Santa to come down the chimney. A let-down is almost certainly inevitable.

Our advice: turn off Days of Our Lives, find whoever it was that put your contract pitch together (she obviously knows what she's doing), have her teach you Organizational Management 101, and then start acting like you deserve to be the home of Boise State football. It's not too late to find a qualified candidate who will do an excellent job. It is, however, too late to have Bronco fans ever trust you again.

Sincerely,
OBNUG

Monday: Links with distractions

Story of the day: 

Brilliant Boise State football feature [Missoulian]

Can the Missoulian be Boise's newspaper? Please? The paper from Missoula, Montana, just finished up a series of fine journalism on the chances of U of M moving into Division 1-A. Saturday, they wrote a fascinating piece on how Boise State has fared since the Broncos' move to big-time college football.

The Boise State Broncos represent a best-case scenario for all Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams pondering a move up. An example of what is possible for those that risk stability for a spot in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Not only was the article a wonderful read, but there was some good BSU knowledge in there, too. Reporter Bill Speltz did his homework and then some. Witness this encouraging quote:

“We purchased East Junior High School, just a quarter of a mile from here, that will give us 15fi acres we can access next summer,” BSU AD Gene Bleymaier said. “We'll move the (running) track out of Bronco Stadium and our next expansion will be to horseshoe the south end of the stadium and add another 6,000 seats."

Thanks for the Bronco Stadium update, Missoula paper. Best of all, one of the endearing themes of the story was its focus on the importance of a great fan base. The Missoulian gave Bronco Nation a great big slap on the back.

The people of Boise are also a big part of the Broncos' success. When Boise State made its leap of faith into FBS football in 1996, Bleymaier knew he could depend on the community for support. That confidence made the transition about as smooth as can be expected.

And to think, we were joking when we took credit for BSU's success. 

We highly recommend you reading this story for yourself.  

Other links:

So long, Gary Craner [Scott Slant]
Turned ankles will never be the same.

List of Broncos in the CFL [Statesman]
Bronco Nation north of the border, eh?

Boise State offers Kellen's little bro [Tri-City Herald]
Bronco fans immediately pencil him in as starting wide receiver.

Are Boise State's home games for sale? [BNN]
Our Ian Johnson/Marty Tadman two-sided jersey sure hopes not.

Fresno's baseball success gives credibility to WAC [Shreveport Times]
Calling Fresno the "California Bulldogs" loses credibility for this story.

Brian Murphy to the Aaron Burks rescue [Murph's Turf]
We don't even want to touch this one.

A Bronco's reaction to a Bulldog's joy

Fresno State won the College World Series. How are Bronco fans supposed to deal with that?

For the most part, there are two sides to the fence. On one side resides those who cheer the success of every WAC team because it brings respectability and notoriety to the conference, and by extention, to Boise State. Those on the other side of the fence are staunchly selfish, decrying success of conference rivals because of the mere fact that they are conference rivals and therefore deserve a full measure of hatred and contempt. Chances are good that most Bronco fans reside on one side or the other.

Fresno State's national championship would be simple to debate if it were as black-and-white as, say, the Bulldogs' football game against Wisconsin. However, the baseball title is an entirely different beast for a couple of reasons.

1. Boise State has no baseball team. This would seem to make the decision significantly easier. If Boise State has no baseball team, the reasoning might go, then Boise State fans have free reign to root for whomever they choose.
2. Fresno State's national championship is being considered a historical blow for the little guy so much so that it may overshadow the historical blow that the Broncos laid in the Fiesta Bowl. How can a Bronco fan justifiably be happy about that?

The grayness of the issue leaves a lot of room for fan interpretation, but choosing sides has also been an interesting matter in the local media. On the Press-Tribune website, they put up a "breaking news" link to the story of the Bulldogs' championship. The Idaho Statesman website had absolutely no mention of it. Oddly enough, the voice of reason in this whole ordeal has been none other than Tom Scott.

It's being called one of the more remarkable stories in the history of college sports. ESPN's Erin Andrews calls it "a movie". Fresno State became the lowest-seeded team ever to win the College World Series, beating Georgia, 6-1. It's being treated like Boise State's Fiesta Bowl upset, and the Bulldogs' national championship is indeed a monstrous accomplishment. 

But to be sure, 10 years from now a slew of Americans will be able to tell you who won in Glendale on New Year's Day 2007 (and how it happened), while precious few will be able to tell you who won the 2008 College World Series.

And therein lies the beautiful rub. Showing appreciation for the Fresno State baseball team is harmless when you consider the historical staying power of their championship. It's not that sports fans are unable or unwilling to remember a small school's victory. It is that they are unable or unwilling to remember a baseball victory. The Fiesta Bowl (and college football in general) is far more memorable than any measure of college baseball no matter how unprecedented, unique, or captivating.

Congratulations are certainly in order for Fresno State on their incredible achievement, and Bulldog fans should certainly enjoy the limelight while it lasts. But for those Bronco fans concerned with the long-lasting effects of a "win for the ages," keep in mind that all of the hubbub will be forgotten in a matter of time.

All it will take is a kickoff.

Broncos ranked by Rivals.com

Thanks to an alert reader, we found out that Boise State has been ranked #35 in the country by Rivals.com. Their countdown, which began appropriately enough at the bottom with Utah State and Idaho, has been going on for weeks now, and we had been anxious to see where Rivals would place the Broncos. And really, we can't complain. If BSU started the season at #35, there would have a good opportunity to move up into the top 25 in just a few weeks' time.

The Rivals preview was pretty standard, but it surprised us with its thoroughness. A George Iloka mention? Hailing the virtues of Vinny Perretta? Knowing who Brandyn Thompson is? We half expected an ESPN.com-style fluff piece featuring a follow-up of Ian Johnson's marriage and a take on the strong cornerback duo of Orlando Scandrick and Kyle Wilson.

But Rivals really stole our heart with this line:

If we've learned one thing the past 10 seasons, it's never to doubt Boise State – no matter what issues the program faces.

You can say that again. Although, if one were to learn two things from the past 10 seasons, the other might be that Fresno State never finishes ahead of the Broncos. Perhaps it will take Rivals 11 years to learn that one.

Boise State preview [Rivals.com]

Friday: Links with possiblities

Story of the day:

Phil Dailey on the Fresno bandwagon? [Dailey's Bottom Line]

The local media is starting to turn in their preseason WAC ballots, and the transparency of the Idaho Press-Tribune affords us the luxury of peering into Phil Dailey's thought process. Playing a prominent role in Dailey's thoughts: the Hawaii Bowl.

I think you have to give Fresno State the nod, after all, the Bulldogs won their bowl game over Georgia Tech, while Boise State blew it against a not-very-good East Carolina team in the Hawaii Bowl.

Dailey has Fresno State at the top of the WAC, with Boise State at number two. Right behind them? Louisiana Tech. A gutsy call, but we like our local media members to think outside the box.

I’m a big Derek Dooley fan and I think he’ll have his team ready for the WAC after non-conference tilts against Mississippi State, Kansas and SE Louisiana.

We'll give you two guess who the teams at the bottom are.

Other links:

Reggie Larry does not hear his name called [Yahoo!]
He may still have a chance to catch on with a team this summer

BYU snags two recruits that had BSU's interest [Daily Herald]
When you factor in Mormon missions, the Cougars can have 'em.

IPT recaps preview mags [Press-Tribune]
And in the process, saves us $14.95.

Tom Scott weighs in on stadium expansion [Scott Slant]
Scott: The south end zone will be a horseshoe by 2013.

J Bates snidely rips Brian Murphy's blog [J's Blog]Nice to know we're not the only ones who notice these things.

Weekend series on Montana's D-1 hopes [Missoulian]

Idaho gets the spotlight today. Enjoy it while it lasts, Vandals.

South American vacay for Dan Hawkins [Longmont Times]
"It's Rio De Janeiro! It's the Amazon River! It ain't intramurals!"

San Jose State preview [Saturday Soundoffs]
If anyone cares.

LaTech logo change changes nothing

The new LaTech logo is here and it is...exactly the same as the old one. See for yourself:

NEW OLD

In a sense, we are kind of relieved. The traditional LaTech logo is a classic, and we were a little worried that the modern, edgy version was going to be some sort of interpretation of a Bulldog cooking Creole cuisine or Derek Dooley wrestling with the state of Louisiana. Thankfully, taste won out.

Yet while the "T" logo may have remained the same, not all Tech paraphernalia avoided the Queer Eye treatment. Here's the new Bulldog logo, which at least looks better than this and this.

According to a Yahoo! story, the dog design is supposed to represent "the class, discipline and competitive strength that embodies all of (LaTech's) teams and student-athletes." Don't know about that, but we do think the logo looks an awful lot like Otto, the dog from the Beetle Bailey cartoon.

Last but not least, the Bulldogs created an entire "LaTech font" based on the "T" in their traditional logo. We're still trying to decide if this is nerdy, exciting, or a waste of resources. We're leaning toward the latter.

LaTech reveals new athletics logos [Yahoo!]

Thursday: Links with losing

Story of the day:

Fresno State: national champion [Sports Network]

The Fresno State baseball team completed a surprising run to the finals of the College World Series by defeating Georgia and winning the whole thing. How refreshing that a collegiate sport have a tournament to decide the national championship regardless of school size or conference affiliation.

The school became the lowest seeded team to win an NCAA championship in any sport. It was a fourth seed at the Long Beach Regional, and began its unlikely run there, knocking off 11th-seeded Long Beach State and sixth-ranked San Diego. In the Super Regional, Fresno State won two of three against third- ranked Arizona State to reach the College World Series.

Fresno State went on to beat fifth-ranked Rice, eliminate second-ranked North Carolina and staved off elimination three times in the same tournament, ending with a 47-31 record.

We've joked that Boise State could replicate Fresno's success if they had a baseball team of their own, but after reading the unlikely and amazing road they took to the championship, we're not so sure that the Broncos could do that. (Just kidding; the Broncos could do anything!)

Congratulations, Fresno State.

Other links:

The Statesman joins the Peak radio curiosity [Murph's Turf]
Better late than never, we guess.

The Big Lead's take on superconferences [The Big Lead]

OBNUG's take on superconferences: yes.

With the 49th pick in the NBA Draft, the Warriors take... [Press-Tribune]
Reggie Larry? One can certainly hope so.

Revised ESPN Top 25 [ESPN.com]
Still no Boise State. Send it back for more revisions!

"You have the lightest blue eyes": a Dinwiddie interview turns awkward

The Winnipeg Sun might very well be known for a lot of good things, but we doubt that interviews are one of them. A staff reporter sat down with former BSU standout and current Winnipeg Blue Bomber QB Ryan Dinwiddie to discuss, well, whatever popped into her head apparently. The interview included the following questions:

Q: Do you have any pets?
Q: What hobbies do you have?
Q: If people were to find you doing anything on an off day in Winnipeg, what would it be?

Ryan Dinwiddie, you are now off the Pabst Blue Ribbon Hot Seat.

Still, softball questions were far from the strangest part of the interview. That distinction falls to the awkward, uncomfortable topic of Dinwiddie's beautiful eyes.

Q: Have your eyes always been the focus of attention? Because you have the lightest blue eyes most people have ever seen. They're like Husky eyes.

Uh...next question please?

Our conclusion is that the Winnipeg Sun was not actually interviewing Dinwiddie, but rather helping him fill out his Match.com profile. Hard-hitting Canadian journalism at its finest, eh?

Ryan Dinwiddie Q & A [Winnipeg Sun]

Wednesday: Links with virtue

Story of the day:

Still waiting for BSU radio announcement [Idaho Radio News]

Last week, the Statesman got everyone's hopes up with a giant hint toward a Bronco radio announcement on Friday. Five days later, we are all still waiting.

Kevin Godwin, Peak's head honcho, made it seem clear that we would know something by now. Dragging this decision on is only further souring the whole radio ordeal in the minds of Boise State fans.

It’s interesting to set a public deadline… then miss it by several business days. KBCI says there are four finalists - and the last candidate was interviewed last week. The four candidates have experience from college to NFL levels.

What we don’t know is who it will be… or when we’ll find out.

We're not the only ones getting antsy, either. Channel 2's website had a story up about the long wait. Fight Fight BSU discovered a possible reason why the decision is taking so long. And Rush Limbaugh's face on the KIDO website has a pained, anticipatory expression.

At any rate, we are still anxiously looking forward to some sort of announcement...and anxiously waiting by our phones should Peak try to call.

Other links:

ESPN's Schlabach does bowl predictions [ESPN.com]
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl, here we come!

Schlabach does conference predictions, too [ESPN.com]

BSU apparently is not BCS bowl material

More bowl predictions [Bleacher Report]
Not sure whether or not to be excited about the GMAC Bowl

Blue Turf Towel guy surrenders [Statesman]
This has the makings of a gripping Law and Order episode

Boise State's early verbals: When to expect them on the field

The Broncos have seen a rash of early commitments this summer, which is great for the program and fun for fans. A total of six recruits so far have committed, which is roughly 1/3 of the entire 2009 recruiting class. Let's hear it for proactivity!

While we're at it, let's hear it for perspective, too. These half-dozen 17-year-olds are at least a year away from having any on-field impact whatsoever, and it is hard to picture them on the blue when they are still in high school for 10 more months.

Well, when should Bronco Nation expect these players on the field? Glad you asked.

Joe Southwick QB

We're starting to lose track of which quarterbacks we should be excited about. With Kellen Moore performing football miracles for the next few years, Southwick better Nazarene himself some patience. Worst case scenario: Moore plays every game for the next few years, Southwick gets anxious and switches to tight end. Best case scenario: Moore leads the Broncos to the national championship in '08 and '09, turns pro, and Southwick takes over. The actual scenario is probably somewhere in between. Southwick will most likely redshirt in 2009, back-up Moore the next two years, and grab the reigns his junior year.
Look for Southwick in 2012.

John Michael Davis LB

Don't know about the rest of you, but we always keep an extra box of Pop Tarts in the pantry just in case something happens to the first box. We feel that BSU is doing the same with linebackers. An obvious focus of last year's recruiting class was to build up the position to avoid the type of letdown from the 2007 unit. Where does Davis fit into the mix? We're pretty sure that Davis will redshirt, but he seems like the type of player who won't be on the sideline long.
Expect Davis in 2010.

Malcolm Johnson RB

Depth is the strength of the Bronco running backs, which is good news for touchdowns but bad news for Johnson. Still, BSU coaches will not keep a good player off the field (unless he plagiarizes during bowl week), so Johnson will have every chance to contribute immediately. We believe that Doug Martin is the future; Coach Pete told us so in a dream. Still, we think Johnson could get his share of carries as early as his freshman year. Give him a redshirt season on the scout team, and he'll be ready.
Watch for Johnson in 2010.

Ebo Makinde CB

Though he isn't rated as high as some of his fellow '09 recruiting class members, Makinde has had some outside interest from Pac-10 schools since his verbal. Can you say potential? Like fellow recruit Quaylon Ewing, Makinde will have lots of opportunity to play right away, but we feel that he may be more of a late bloomer type. Give him a grayshirt for the time being, and he'll deserve a nice, long look in a couple years.
We foresee 2010.

Quaylon Ewing CB

Cornerbacks are a precious BSU commodity, which may be why the Broncos have had a long history of starting young DBs. Ewing should be next. If he has a good senior H.S. season, he could pull a George Iloka, get in camp early, and be in the mix to contribute immediately.
Could be a factor in 2009.

Arron Burks WR

The most recent BSU recruit is still quite an enigma to Bronco fans. Sure, he's got size, but does he even exist? We'll leave that one to the Statesman to figure out. In the meantime, Burks will most likely have a long wait until he sees the field. With the youth at the wide receiver position (Young, Pettis, Potter), a grayshirt then redshirt seems like a possibility. Don't go buying your Burks personalized jersey just yet.
Wait until 2014.

Monday: Links with temper

Story of the day:

Aaron Burks, man of mystery [Statesman]

Congratulations on the Idaho Statesman for breaking some Boise State football news yesterday with the announcement of Texas high school WR Aaron Burks giving a verbal commitment to the Broncos. We have just one question: who?!

Burks is a mystery to a lot of Boise State fans. Fight Fight BSU couldn't find much about him. The guys at Bronco Country unearthed his stat line from last year (seven catches) and not much else. We're happy that the Boise State coaches are able to discover such gems, but Bronco Nation needs some more information.

Perhaps this is the problem: the Statesman might have spelled his name wrong. We found an Arron Burks on the Baylor Scout page, and Boise State's Scout profile has it spelled the same way. Perhaps this way we can find out more information about the kid. At any rate, the plot remains thickened.

Other links:

Goodbye, old blue turf [KTVB.com]

Better keep the Blue Turf Towel guy away from this.

How to bet on the Nevada Wolfpack [Bet Us]

Subtitle: More than one way to lose money in Reno

Coach Pete the racehorse [Statesman]
It appears someone likes Boise State more than we do.

An Oregon comic book: The Amazing O-men [SI.com]
It is only a matter of time before we have Idaho: The Disappointing V-men.

The Mothership in photos [Statue Left]
Still awesome and large.

Countdown to media day begins [PWtW]
We were wondering when Chris Ault would be speaking.

Another early recruit for Broncos

The Idaho Statesman has breaking news that Aaron Burks, a 6'3" 180-pound wide receiver from Timberview High (Texas), has given an oral commitment to play for the Broncos. Did lowered expectations reel him in?

"He said the campus was bigger than he thought it would be. He was impressed with the town, the campus and the coaches," high school coach Terry Cron said. "He thinks it's a good fit for him."

Perhaps BSU is serious about wrapping up this class by August.

BSU lands oral commitment [Statesman]

OBNUG Hall of Fame: automatic inductees

Congratulations to the honorary inductees of the first OBNUG Hall of Fame class.

• The 1980 Division I-AA national championship: historical, unprecedented, neat.
• The day Boise State joined Division I-A: important, momentous, huge.
• Fiesta Bowl hook-and-ladder: unexpected, exhilarating, life-altering.
• Fiesta Bowl Perretta TD pass: gutsy, unconventional, brilliant.
• Fiesta Bowl Statue of Liberty: outstanding, sneaky, perfect.

Voting was close for the automatic entries: 52 percent "yes" to 47 percent "absolutely yes." Thank you to the hundreds who voted even though there was little to vote for. We'll have another nominee next week.

Monday: Links with success

Story of the day:

Stueckle Sky Club is pretty pricey [Statesman]

The price tag of Boise State's stadium expansion is quite staggering. The Mothership, in all its skybox and loge glory, could end up costing the university $35 million. We would have built it for $34 mil.

Boise State plans to pay the debt with lease revenues on the new premium seating. The facility is expected to be sold out for the Aug. 30 football season opener against Idaho State. In fact, Boise State has lease agreements ranging from three to 15 years for every seat so far in the new facility, according to the athletic department.

The Statesman calls the add-on the most expensive building project in BSU athletics history. Part of the bill will be footed by the payout from the Fiesta Bowl (about two million dollars) and donations of nearly seven million dollars from generous boosters (you're welcome).

The stadium addition should be paid off by 2038. Maybe then the university can think about closing in an end zone.

Other links:

The face of Idaho State [Kellis Robinett]
Glad to see Merril Hoge is in the running. Merril is glad, too.

College football coach twins [Saturday Soundoffs]

Our favorite was Brent Guy and Jesse Ventura.

The impact of Boise State's true freshmen [Fight Fight BSU]
George Iloka seems too old and wise to be a true freshman, doesn't he?

Golden State taking a long look at Reggie Larry [Statesman]
Graham ball to Nellie ball will be an interesting transition.

Media interview: Justin Corr

KTVB sports anchor Justin Corr loves sports...but maybe not as much as he loves KTVB. The Eagle High product has made it big at the sports desk of Channel 7, rubbing elbows with Mark Johnson and making sweet, local sports music with David Augusto. Life is good, which may explain the effusive praise for his current employer. Seriously, though, we think every station could use a Justin Corr clone; his optimism, enthusiasm, and hope for the local sports scene is one-of-a-kind. Read on to find out more, and check out some of Corr's work at KTVB.com.


OBNUG: Tell us a little bit about your background. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school?

Justin Corr: I was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. Lincoln was where I learned my love of college football. The community support there for the Huskers is nearly unmatched. After 11 years, my family moved up to Meridian. I went to Meridian Middle School, Centennial High, and Eagle High, and then graduated from Boise State in 2002.

We read on your profile that you have worked at KTVB a couple of different times. How did you get started at KTVB? What brought you back?

I started at KTVB as an associate producer and assignment desk assistant during my final semester at BSU. Through the years, I also worked as a producer and photographer. Late in 2004, I had an opportunity to chase my dream, and be a sports reporter/anchor at KMVT in Twin Falls. Of course, I jumped at the chance… but just six months later, I had an opportunity to come back home, and do sports at KTVB. I’ve been here ever since.

How much did KTVB change during the time that you were gone? Did you notice its market share grow? Was there a noticeable shift in philosophy or strategy?

Not much really changed in such a short time. The market share has been dominant for decades, and continues to be that way. Our general manager, Doug Armstrong, has always had a consistent and clear philosophy of serving the people of this community, and that certainly continues. It’s actually quite a source of pride to work at KTVB.

Online media has been growing bigger and bigger as a reliable, popular form of news and information. How does KTVB address the growing need for online information? Is blogging a realistic goal for the station? What would you personally like to see KTVB do?

I have to hand it to our webmaster, Don Day. He has always managed our websites in a very forward-thinking way (as far as being the first local site to have video, web-streaming, etc.) and made sure that the newsroom is always thinking about web content. I was initially hesitant to put stories or interviews on the web, thinking that people wouldn’t want to tune in to my sportscast if they got the whole thing online. But, obviously that was old-school thinking.

In this information age, people are getting their news from more and more sources. At KTVB, we need to make our news available to people online, on channel 7, on 24/7, on KTVBmobile, and everywhere that people look for information. I think we’re doing a pretty good job of that right now.

What is your opinion on blogging and its place among traditional media both locally and nationally?

The greatest aspect of the internet, is that it’s a free and open forum. Anyone can say whatever he or she wants, whenever they want. The problem is, there’s a lot of information out there that is unreliable, or just useless… and just because you’re saying something, doesn’t mean anyone will listen.

I think blogging is great, but just like all writing, not all blogs are created equal. Some are filled with unreliable, useless information, which nobody reads. Some are well thought-out, and interesting pieces of writing (ed's note: thank you). The more the traditional media embraces blogging, and allows its already talented communicators to ply their trade on the blogosphere, the better-off they’ll be. I try to blog weekly on HSGametime.com during the football season, and we’ll have blogs for the upcoming Olympics in Beijing.

The popularity of BSU football is obvious, yet there are still many other interesting stories and sports in the valley. How do you balance your coverage between the Broncos and everything else? Does a certain part of the local sports scene suffer?

The fact is we can never give an athlete all the coverage they deserve. No amount of features can pay someone off for all the early mornings, endless practices, pain, and sacrifice that go into being a successful athlete. So, I think in that respect, the sports scene suffers all the time. However, the fact that KTVB has a three-man sports department (and numerous websites) allows us to get more and better coverage of all sports throughout the year. But right now, the Broncos are the number-one story, and we have to give the people what they want.

We've heard about local TV sports crews suffering lately due to cuts in staffing and resources. Is this true at KTVB? Do you feel that coverage of local sports should be given equal attention to that of local news and weather?

I guess I accidentally already answered the first part of that one. Our staffing and resources are great.

As far as equal attention goes… Obviously, I give sports MOST of my attention. I know weather affects everyone, news is news, and sports is sometimes viewed as just a distraction. But that’s one of the reasons I love sports. It’s fun! It’s exciting! And regardless of what some fans think, it’s not life and death! However, it is real human drama, and some sports stories are also news stories (BSU winning Fiesta Bowl).

How do you think the local sports media does as a whole? Do you see things moving in any certain direction in the future and what kind of improvements can be made?

I think the local sports media does a great job, but I am biased.

As far as trends... more local coverage! As you know, there are tons of places to get Seahawks highlights and features but only a small handful where you can get Borah, Vallivue, Idaho City, and West-Central Little League coverage. The big national stories still need covering, because not everyone has cable or the internet...really. Besides that, KTVB tries to go local as much as we can.

What has been a highlight of yours covering the sports scene in the Treasure Valley?

Well, I wasn’t at the Fiesta Bowl. So surprisingly, it was a BSU men’s tennis match. The final singles match to decide the WAC Championship, third-set tiebreak, over a thousand fans crowded around one court, tense and quiet, until Thomas Schoeck wins the final point, and the place goes bananas! That was pretty cool. But really, any event where the fans are REALLY into it is fun to cover.

Who has been your favorite player or sports personality to interview or work with during your time in Boise? Do you have any good stories that you want to share?

I think people might be surprised (or maybe they wouldn’t) of how many truly good people there are in local sports from Marty Tadman to Bart Hendricks to Davey Hamilton to Bryan Gates to pretty much everybody. It’s just great working with and talking to people who love what they are doing. Most of the people I see on a daily basis fit that category. I realize that’s a bit of a cop-out, but there’s more coming.

Boise State football seems to be the hottest ticket in town nowadays. Do you see this continuing? Do you see this changing if the team loses more games than usual? Where do you see the whole Bronco Nation phenomenon going from here?

This is a football town, valley, and state. People here love high school, college, AF2, and the NFL. No matter how Boise State does, they’ll continue to be ONE OF the hottest tickets in town… but the hottest? They’re still riding the momentum of the Fiesta Bowl, and that will continue for a few years. But, while the people here love football, they also love a winner! And, if Boise State becomes mired in mediocrity (don’t see it happening), an emerging powerhouse like the Idaho Stampede could take over. But, for at least the next few years, the Broncos are the tops.

• If you could run a TV station, which one would you choose and why?
  KTVB, this is my home, I’m not going anywhere.
• Favorite TV show?
  KTVB News at Ten
• Favorite website?
  KTVB.com
• Favorite book?
  I don’t think KTVB has written a book, so I’ll say Friday Night Lights (I read it, before the release of the movie, and the show… seen on KTVB)
• Favorite sport?
  College football
• Favorite team?
  KTVB’s Media Football Team (1-1 all-time record, riding a 1-game win streak)
• Favorite BSU player of all-time?
  Greg Sasser (had a few classes with him, smart, tough, small, but a gamer. Remember, he got the sack to upset Fresno State in 2001)
• Favorite current player?
  Dallas Dobbs (Another guy who clearly just loves what he’s doing)
• Favorite fellow newscaster?
  Here are those cop-outs I was talking about… I love working with everyone.
• David Augusto or Mark Johnson?
  David is the better singer; Mark has the better golf game.
• Who is your choice for starting QB this year?
  Vinny Perretta, they’ll switch to the Wishbone offense (hey, it worked for Oklahoma… in the 60’s)

Friday: Links with thrift

Story of the day:

You win some, you lose some [Fight Fight BSU]

On the same day that the Broncos lost out on local prospect Darren Markle, BSU received a verbal commitment from Tesoro High (California) LB John Michael Davis. The bright lights of Boise apparently won him over.

From the Statesman:

He arrived in the city Wednesday and visited the school and met with coaches. That was enough for him.

"I just liked everything about it. The town was great. The campus was awesome. The coaches were great. It was a good fit," Davis said Thursday evening before heading to a Boise theater to watch "The Incredible Hulk" with his father.

We always try to celebrate our big life achievements with the cinema of Edward Norton, too.

Davis, in addition to having three names, is a 6'2", 225-pound stud, and he is expected to play middle linebacker at BSU. Welcome to Bronco Nation, John Michael.

Other links:

Did someone say superconference? [Orlando Sentinel]

Here's some food for thought.

Coach Pete's second-year coaching review [College Gridiron]
Another person who thinks he'll be in Boise for awhile.

Utah State website sees the light [USU Aggies]
Spending money on a football team? What a crazy idea!

Nevada stocks up on JC transfers [Reno Gazette Journal]
Highly sought-after freshmen are so overrated.

A positive story on the Mothership [KBCI]
Rhode quits Boise Burn [Statesman]
Taylor Bennett (LaTech QB) feature [Rivals.com]

A $29.4 million ticket out of the WAC

The Boise State athletic department budget has ballooned to over 29 million dollars. No wonder they had to charge admission to the spring game.

The school will present a budget with $29.4 million in projected revenue to the State Board of Education at its meeting in Idaho Falls on Thursday and Friday.

According to the Statesman story, the athletic department budget has grown by more than 20 million dollars the past 10 years. Where is the money going? Perhaps we should ask Gene Bleymaier's tailored suit.

The most disturbing part of the whole story is not the excess of the Boise State athletic budget (in fact, we could not be happier that the school is willing to spend whatever it takes to remain competitve to the point of dominant). The most disturbing part is where the bottom of the WAC stands.

The University of Idaho is presenting its budget to the state board at the same time as the Broncos do. Let's hope the Vandals get to go first. Their 16 million dollar proposal is peanuts compared to BSU's.

And therein lies the problem with the WAC--there is a distinct, tangible line between the haves and the have nots. The schism is not simply on the field of play; it goes back to a fundamental difference in the approach of athletic departments. The big players (BSU, Fresno State) are willing to put themselves out there and risk a deficit because they understand that the reward of success in college sports can be incredibly lucrative. The Fiesta Bowl is Exhibit A for this strategy. Meanwhile, the also-rans in the conference are simply doing enough to get by and maybe, possibly, not be in the red come season's end.

At any rate, seeing Boise State's largesse is simply another encouraging sign that maybe one day the Broncos can rid themselves of the WAC and move on to a conference like the Pac-10 where their commitment to winning will not be so drastically anomalous. One can hope.

Boise State's budget climb [Idaho Statesman]

Thursday: Links with feminism

Story of the day:

Markle commits to Washington State [Idaho Sports Zone]

Local prep standout Darren Markle from Mountain View High School has given his verbal commitment to the Washington State Cougars.

An opportunity to play in the Pac Ten and an opportunity to play early were cited as contributing factors in Markle's decision, as well as a high level of comfort with the new coaching staff in Pullman, headed by former Cougar offensive lineman Paul Wulff.

No word yet on whether or not he's actually visited Pullman.

Many BSU fans had hoped Markle would join the Broncos next fall, considering his local ties and apparent beastliness. Oh well; you can't get all the local recruits (right, Idaho?).

Other links:

More news on BSU radio search [Statesman]
An announcer with NFL experience? Bring on Jesse Palmer and Ron Pitts!

Comprehensive list of preseason polls [LSUfootball.net]
Boise State is at least in the discussion.

Non-BCS odds at a national championship [Fanblogs]
Odds? Not very good.

Statesman and Press-Tribune to merge printing [Statesman]
Can a single Sunday paper be far off?

The face of the program has no face

ESPNU's Face of the Program contest came to an end today as the last of the D1-A teams were alphabetically revealed. Hope it was worth the wait, Wyoming.

As evidenced by the photo above, Boise State's selection for "Face of the Program" was the blue turf. We'll let Ted Miller explain why.

It takes just a fraction of a second to know whether a Boise State home game is on television. That's because Bronco Stadium is distinguished by the only non-green playing surface in the nation. Of course, the unusual field color would just be a curiosity and more than likely would invite mostly ridicule if not for this: Though the stadium seats only 30,000 fans, that field is one of the toughest places to play in the country.

Perhaps the Face of the Program should have been the belligerently loud "Whose House?" guy in the North End Zone.

Among WAC members, Boise State fared pretty well considering that its selection was both nationally relevant and unique. Here is the list of the other WAC choices.

• Fresno State: Pat Hill. The Fu Manchu on the face of the program.
  
• Hawaii: June Jones. No Timmy Change? No Colt Brennan? Is island hero worship that fleeting?
  
• Idaho: Jerry Kramer. Offensive lineman, kicker, natural gas spokesman.
  
• Louisiana Tech: Terry Bradshaw. Life is so unfair to Tim Rattay.
  
• Nevada: Chris Ault. By default and longevity.
  
• NMSU: Charley Johnson. Who?
  
• San Jose State: Bill Walsh. Good choice. We will not make any jokes about this one.
  
• Utah State: Merlin and Phil Olsen. Do they each get half of the face? How will this work?
  

Face of the Program [ESPN.com]

Wednesday: Links with loyalty

Story of the day:

Childs a steal on fantasy football depth charts [RotoWorld]

We consider ourselves pretty big dorks for taking fantasy football so seriously. Yet we are nowhere close to the uber-dork territory of college football fantasy players (although, now that you mention it, we are rather intrigued).

Jeremy Childs found himself on the fantasy football list of RotoWorld as the nation's 37th rated fantasy receiver. Congrats, we guess.

Should all go as planned then Childs is certainly worth a top receiver pick. Yes there's concern over breaking in a new starting quarterback, but if Boise has proven anything over the years it's the ability to make seamless transitions in personnel and keep the offensive train rolling.

We're not sure how the scoring works, but we assume that it is one point for every 10 receiving yards, six points for a touchdown, and 10 points for an "A" on an original essay.

Other links:

Oregon season preview [FOX Sports]
Who doesn't have a QB controversy this summer?

Free magazines at the IPT [Dave's Blog]
What? They're Phil Steele magazines? Then never mind.

Update on stadium construction [Arbiter Online]
Still no mention of a Dairy Queen kiosk.

What went wrong with Hawaii [USA Today]
It's not rebuilding if you're not building anything.

OBNUG Hall of Fame: honorary inductees

Throughout the history of the Boise State football program, there have been several defining moments that will forever be a part of BSU lore. And by several, we are thinking of three.

The following moments have earned themselves honorary induction into the OBNUG Hall of Fame thanks to their monumental importance in shaping the Boise State football program. We’ll be skipping out on a podcast this week, but please feel free to vote in the poll at the sidebar.

Here are the honorary candidates for the OBNUG Hall of Fame:

1. The 1980 Division I-AA national championship
   Over the past five years, revisionists have called a number of different games the “biggest game in Boise State history.” There was the Fort Worth Bowl, the Liberty Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, and there were even regular season matchups against Nevada and Fresno State that earned the distinction. Hello! Boise State played in a national championship game! It doesn’t get any bigger than that!
   The future of Boise State football is indeed bright, but the past had its moments, too. The 1980 national championship is more than deserving of a spot in the OBNUG Hall of Fame, and it is deserving of more credit than it receives, too. Tons of teams spend their entire existence trying to win a championship, and Boise State has already accomplished the feat. If you include the junior college title in 1958, they’ve accomplished the feat twice.
   Fan appreciation can be fleeting, but the 1980 national championship game can rest assured that the OBNUG Hall of Fame is forever (until our server gives out).
   
2. The day Boise State joined Division I-A
   If you looked back to a single moment that changed the fortunes of the BSU football program more than anything, it would probably be the jump to Division I-A. Ever since 1996, when Boise State left the Big Sky and joined the big boys in the Big West (“big boys” being a relative term), things have been different around here.
   The move was the start of the groundswell of Bronco Nation. The move led the way for Boise State to improve facilities, budgets, and competition. National success and the scorn of Trev Alberts would have never been achieved had the Broncos remained stagnant in Division I-AA, and any future success can be attributed to the way the team and the school has transitioned to a spot alongside the best teams in the country.
   
3. The Fiesta Bowl
   What more can we say about the Fiesta Bowl? To be sure, it is a game that no Bronco fan will ever forget, but even more so, it is a game that no casual football fan will ever forget. We can’t remember any of Toledo’s greatest games, but Toledo fans certainly remember the Fiesta Bowl.
   The staying power of the Fiesta lies in the three plays that Boise State needed to win the game. The hook and ladder, Perretta to Schouman, and the Statue of Liberty will forever be part of college football history, so we are inducting each into the OBNUG Hall of Fame. The Broncos would have never got to overtime without Jerard Rabb’s hook and ladder touchdown. They would have never recovered from Oklahoma’s overtime touchdown without Perretta’s fourth-down TD toss. Ian Johnson would have never proposed had it not been for Statue Left. And who knows what Chris Myers would have done after the game.

BSU radio job to be announced by week's end

The search to find a replacement for Paul J has hit the homestretch.

The Idaho Press-Tribune is reporting that Peak Broadcasting has narrowed its search down to four candidates and that final interviews will be conducted this week.

“We hope to make an announcement by the end of the week,” Peak Broadcasting senior vice president Kevin Godwin said.

Should we be concerned that we've had an awfully hard time getting a hold of Larry Gebert this week?

Peak interviewing final four [Press-Tribune]

Tuesday: Links with gaudiness

Story of the day:

Down goes OBNUG [Fight Fight BSU]

Yesterday afternoon, through no fault or knowledge of our own, our site was apparently inoperable--lost to the hinder reaches of the webosphere. What happened? Beats us. In fact, we're not even sure it's working now.

We could not replicate the stark emptiness of www.obnug.com in our web browsers, but Drew at Fight Fight BSU has visual evidence of the outage in all its awful carnage. Our site looked like a colorful link dump with rhyming words and related searches. It was quite a departure from the standard Google template we have come to know and love.

We assume the problem is fixed. When we tried it yesterday, everything seemed to work fine (through no technical knowledge of our own, might we add). Let us know if you have problems today by sending an email. In the meantime, here is what you may or may not have missed yesterday afternoon:

• Dan Hawkins' youngest son wisely chooses Boise State, poorly chooses to play QB
• The importance of Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen's retirement (aka: BSU Pac-10 party!)

Other links:

Sensible Nevada preview [Double T Nation]

Kaepernick has skinny legs, the Pack doesn't play defense, yadda yadda.

Benson to the Pac-10 indeed [USU Aggies]

If Boise State follows, the WAC might end

UNLV is not in the WAC [Money Over Everything]

But the story was right about them being weak.

Hawaii versus SMU in 2009? [Honolulu Advertiser]
And yet we still can't get Boise State vs. Colorado.

Boise State basketball breakdown [Parsing the WAC]
Statesman finally sniffs out Oregon ticket story [Statesman]

Pac-10 commish out; Boise State in?

Last week, Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen announced his retirement, effective in July 2009. So what? So everything.

Allow us a moment or two of presumptive reasoning chock full of fallacies and baseless hope centered upon the following premise: Tom Hansen’s retirement means Boise State will join the Pac-10. All of a sudden, the retirement of some old guy seems a lot more important.

Here is the simpleton path by which our thought process arrived at this point. At the top of the replacement list for Hansen is WAC commissioner Karl Benson. Presumably, at the top of the Pac-10’s to-do-list is expanding to 12 teams. Ergo, Boise State will be playing in the Pac-10 sooner rather than later.

Naturally, there are several inferences that this reasoning assumes as truths in order to work.

1. Karl Benson would get the job. Keep in mind that Benson is the man who introduced New Mexico State, Idaho, and Utah State into an already-weak football conference. Benson gained tie-ins to the lucrative Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl, Hawaii Bowl, and another bowl that currently escapes our memory and interest. Benson has not exactly made the WAC better than it was when he took over.
2. The Pac-10 would actually want to expand. In our heart of hearts, we believe that this is true. However, our heart of hearts is far from a reliable source (see: Gamecube, Mario Tennis). Reasons against expansion: The Pac-10 is doing pretty well for itself with its 10 current teams. The Pac-10 is implicitly named to include 10 teams. The Pac-10 may not love conference championship games as much as TV executives do. The ACC.
3. Boise State would be chosen over a wide number of deserving schools. Boise, Idaho, home of the $1.99 Carl’s Jr. Famous Star, might not be able to hobnob with the Seattles and Los Angeleses of the Pac-10. The Eugenes and Pullmans? Sure. But the Pac-10 looks at academics, enrollment, grades, and facilities in addition to the obvious sports benefits. Plus, nothing says cheap like a basketball arena named after the home of the double decker taco.
4. The world would turn out to be a fair, honorable place. Then how might one explain the Hawaii Bowl?

Obviously, a lot of dominoes would have to fall in order for this scenario to play out in tangible places other than our dreams. Then again, all it takes is one domino to topple the rest. Tom Hansen = domino.

We’re not alone in our furtive hopefulness. Real, actual media outlets think the same thing:

Possible replacements for Hansen include Stanford Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby, Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson, Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson and the former Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg. (New York Times)

Two of the top candidates for the job -- WAC commissioner Karl Benson and former Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg -- have the personality to sway the league's presidents and would be proactive in pursuing expansion. (Sporting News)

Would Benson be a good fit for the Pac-10? Hansen's old-school. Benson's a creative consensus-builder--he's had to be with the geographical and financial disparity among the WAC's membership in all its various forms. But Benson insists he remains a fit for the WAC, where he's about to become the longest-serving commissioner in the conference's 46-year history. (Tom Scott)

The process for choosing a new commissioner is sure to be long, tedious, and highfalutin. But the out-and-out optimism of living in a new landscape of West Coast football in a year from now is downright thrilling.

And it gets better.

Hansen has been notorious for his distaste of a college football playoff. He and his Rose Bowl are key roadblocks to the furthering of football justice, so with the old man out of the way, might a playoff be on the agenda?

Karl Benson had sure better be on board. No one has more firsthand experience about the kind of impact a small-conference school can have when given an opportunity to play against the big boys. Benson should appreciate that college football deserves to be a land of equality, and we’re confident that he would feel much better about affirming so once he has a cushy job at the head of a power conference. His voice would no longer be the bitter, desperate plea of a WAC commissioner begging for a fair chance. He could declare confidently his feelings on a playoff. Or he could have his intern do it for him.

At the very least, there is serious hope of a bright future for Boise State and small schools across the country. Old people should retire more often.

Youngest Hawkins to walk-on at BSU

Drew Hawkins, the youngest son of former BSU coach and current goat Dan Hawkins, will be playing quarterback at Boise State this fall. Join the club.

Dan and Misti Hawkins' youngest child, Drew, signed a letter of intent to play
for Boise State in February and already has enrolled.

We're pretty sure he didn't sign a letter of intent, and Dave Southorn can back us up on that.

Drew Hawkins, the youngest son of the former Bronco coach and brother of
Colorado starter Cody, will walk-on at Boise State. However, in an ESPN article,
Ivan Maisel said Drew signed a letter of intent. As far as I know, Drew will be
a walk-on.

Either way, the golden touch of the Hawkins family will be gracing clipboards on the BSU sideline in the near future.

Drew Hawkins already on campus [Dave's Blog]
Father and son... [ESPN.com]

Monday: Links with relativity

Story of the day:

Hot Lotto! Boise State tickets up for grabs [BNN]

JT Ray at Bronco Nation NOW was kind enough to spill the details of his season ticket mailer that described the process for getting tickets to away games. For those interested in BSU-Oregon, be prepared to get your lotto on.

The Oregon game is being handled a bit different. In a separate form, any season ticket holder can submit an application for a Lottery to be held sometime after June 27, 2008. Those entering just pay for 2 tickets if selected and no more. Also those that are selected can pick up their tickets in Eugene, OR the day of the game with a photo ID. The total price is $112.00 and some mailing &
processing of $5.00.

Let's just hope that Boise State does the lottery thing justice and we get a live telecast of ping-pong balls in a hopper or Paul J picking names from a giant hat.

The rest of the away games are significantly less of a chore. BSU assigned ticket values, ranging in price from Southern Miss and SJSU at $37.00 to New Mexico State at $14.00. Plan your entire autumn appropriately.

Other links:

Update on Jeremy Childs...kind of [Scott Slant]
He may or may not be in town.

Leave Ebo Makinde alone [Scout.com]
Boise State verbal commit gets offer from Pac-10 school. Jerks.

WR transfers from Arkansas to LaTech [SI.com]
You read that right.


Chase Holbrook on QB watch list [NMSU.com]
Watch out for what? Failed expectations?

Don't tow me, bro [Olympian]
City of Boise reconsidering socialist towing laws.

Stadium update with video [Fight Fight BSU]
FYI: we swing a pretty mean hammer if need be.

Media interview: J Bates

KTIK sports director J Bates has done many things. He has spent significant time in Glenns Ferry, ID. He has worked for KTVB and the Utah Jazz. He was a host on the Spud Brothers (a personal favorite of ours). But he has never had a conversation with OBNUG. Until now.

We found the whole thing enthralling. We hope you enjoy. You can visit J's daily blog by clicking here.

OBNUG: Tell us a little bit about your background. Where'd you grow up? Where'd you go to school?
J Bates: There is some confusion out there on this. Most of my family is from Idaho and nearly all my aunts and uncles live in the Glenns Ferry area so I've always considered that "home". But I grew up in Utah and went to college at Weber State University, back when we were good and giving the Broncos fits, I might add.

We always find it interesting how people get into a career in radio. Was it something you wanted to do growing up? How did you end up at KTIK?
I had a friend who got me a part-time job as a "board op" in high school. Essentially I ran the commercials and changed the RECORDS for "Dick Clark's Rock, Roll and Remember" and "Cruisin' America with Cousin Brucie" Nothing says ladies man like working at an OLDIES radio station in high school. From there I ended up as a DJ, and the college station at Weber heard me, had a great radio program, and offered me a scholarship to work there. I got a little sidetracked with TV, but I always liked radio better. The dress code is so much more my style.

We check out your blog on KTIK every day. It's some good stuff, and it is unlike most other blogs in the Treasure Valley. What was the idea behind starting it? Have you received a good response from it?
Creative outlet was the main reason behind it. I started blogging the first time I was at KTIK because I wasn't getting a lot of airtime after the Spud Brothers was canceled. When I worked for the Jazz I saw the power of blogs thanks to David James and when I got back I just wanted to keep that up. My blog is pretty lazy right now, basically a daily list of the crap I read on the internet everyday. But this football season look out. Live blogging from games, weekly online columns and of course the Daily Links.

How much do you personally get to work with the Boise State football team? Do you get to attend practices and set up interviews?
Boise State has really clamped down on access to the team. It's not like it once was where we could interview anyone who walked by before or after practice. It makes it harder to get to know these guys, because the chit chat before and after an interview is really where you interact. I try to go to any practice I'm allowed to. I'm a practice geek, and one of my favorite things to do is sit and watch Greg Graham and his assistants run through drills.

Online media has been growing bigger and bigger as a reliable, popular form of news and information. Print media seems to have struggled adapting to this shift in ideology. Is it as much of an issue for radio? How has KTIK changed its approach in this new climate? What changes, if any, have been discussed?
We discuss it a lot, but sometimes implementing those ideas is a struggle. Radio is evolving and our company sees that. People will still listen to local radio (especially sports and news), but where the focus used to be all about "drive time" and listening in the car, the next push for radio is listening on your computer at work or on your ipod.
To be honest, we struggle with that sometimes because the short term economic gains aren't tangible, and sales drives radio. If they can't sell it, then it 's not a priority. But we're better at it than the print media because radio has a rebellious streak in it by nature, kind of like the internet.
Print media has troubles with it on several levels. But one that doesn't get talked about is that writers are against blogging for their paper's website because they don't get paid any extra for doing it. They are paid to write, and they have an increased workoad when they blog, but not increased pay. That would make anyone hate the idea. It's the economics of covering sports again....everything comes down to money.

What is your opinion on blogging and its place among traditional media both locally and nationally?
Locally it's got a way to go. It may be an extension of population, but the handful of blogs just don't have the reach separately that they could. It was why I devised Idaho Sports Zone; I hoped it would be a hub for linking up the state's best blogs for "one stop shopping" as an Idaho sports fan. My partners wanted to be a more traditional medium with a magazine and publications. Oh well, creative differences broke up the Beatles too.
Nationally, I think it's funny how more and more we're finding it's traditionally trained media writing on these blogs like Deadspin and The Big Lead. It gives me some hope that it's not all about money. Sports fans want information, and blogs are filling the void both for the fans and the writers. And they're allowed to write what they want how they want without an editor or sales monkey telling them what they should write.

What does KTIK think (if anything) of the local Bronco blogs?
I don't read the local blogs daily, but I do have most of them set up on my Google Reader. So from that perspective I hope I'm giving them some respect. If you're asking me about Caves or Prater? They couldn't name half the blogs out there. It's just not their thing, and I'm not sure if they get the difference between blogs and message boards. It's all about Broncocountry.com to them. Which is a step in the right direction....or not...depending on your point of view.

Idaho Sports Talk has somewhat of a monopoly on the radio aspect of Boise State news and talk. How does this affect what you cover or talk about? Do you feel that this gives the show a certain responsibility to the Boise area?
I'm not sure what you mean by responsibility, but I think sometimes the mob mentality of Boise State Football fans can derail IST off some good topics. I know who the big dog in town is, but I've always maintained that if you do a show only about gardening then only gardeners will listen. That said, no one does it better. Period. The contract can change hands 25 more times and Caves and Prater will still be the show to listen to for Boise State football news.

Everyone recognizes Idaho Sports Talk as a staple of KTIK's programming. What are some other shows or programs that KTIK utilizes to cater to the local audience?
My Saturday morning show I think did some good things last year. I like talking media and sports and that's a niche I know people responded to. Even Bryan Harsin and Bush Hamdan have admitted to listening to it. As for the rest of the lineup we are really happy with Colin Cowherd. His Northwest ties and college football mentality fit very well in our lineup.

What is the hardest issue to deal with as a sports radio station in Boise, Idaho?
Being treated like everyone else. No one considers us a mainstream media outlet like the paper, TV or even KBOI. Because Caves and Prater are so opinionated (and surprisingly influential) I find my job covering the teams more difficult because I have to answer for things they've said on Idaho Sports Talk. It's caused issues with every sports franchise in town so don't think that I'm railing against BSU or anything. (Although I will say the University of Idaho is the top of the list when it comes to this.) It's kind of like a kid getting beat up by a bully and then trying to take it out on his kid brother because they don't want to get beat up more by standing up for themselves.

How do you think the local sports media does as a whole? Do you see things moving in any certain direction in the future and what kind of improvements can be made?
Oh boy is this the question I've always wanted to answer. I see print media only getting better. The Press Tribune has done a good job of creating an alternative to the Statesman sports section and as a result Prater is stepping up more every year. Chadd Cripe is the best source of Bronco football information in the market hands down and the Statesman needs to do a better job of exploiting that.
TV sports in this town has degraded badly in the past five years. It started when I was still at KTVB, but it's gotten downright embarrassing. The days of Tester, Dzuback, and Johnson I think were the golden era of sports in Boise, and what passes now for for sports is hard to stomach. It's not all the sports departments' fault by the way. Too often newsrooms see the sports department as nothing more than a chance for the news producer to take three minutes off and get a soda. There isn't the commitment to local sports like there once was. Unless it's Boise State football, and then it's all about Ian and Chrissy or a pinewood derby car to appease the female viewers. Local sports is dying on TV because no one covers local sports.

What has been a highlight of yours covering the sports scene in the Treasure Valley?
The 2004 Kelly Cup run by the Steelheads and filling in for Paul J on the basketball team's trip to Albany this past season. That Steelheads team caused me to cross the line between fan and journalist a few times just because of the personalities on the team. And Greg Graham, his staff, and the players made me feel so comfortable on a trip when I was nervous out of my mind. I saw them become the team that everyone witnessed in the WAC tournament that night. I could see this season was different even when fans still didn't believe.

Who has been your favorite player or sports personality to interview or work with over the past few years? Do you have any good stories that you want to share?
Well my favorite story is the night Korey Hall had three interceptions against Oregon State. I had been a substitute teacher and assistant basketball coach at Glenns Ferry high school only two years before that and coached Korey. It was his first press conference and he was so nervous giving "aww shucks" two-word answers. There was an uncomfortable pause in the press room and everyone looked at me. I cracked a joke at his expense, asked the next question, and Korey settled down and gave a great answer. From there on out he and I had a decent rapport. I would be remiss if I didn't mention my friendship that Will Hoenike and I developed. Will's leaving Channel 6 was really the point where Boise TV sports jumped the shark.

Boise State football seems to be the hottest ticket in town nowadays. Do you see this continuing? Do you see this changing if the team loses more games than usual? Where do you see the whole Bronco Nation phenomenon going from here?
That is the big question. I don't see anything surpassing BSU football. Maybe ever. But do I think a sub .500 season, or even a couple of 7-4 seasons would show up as empty seats in Bronco Stadium? Yes. There are hardcore fans and there are casual fans, and it wasn't long ago that selling out a home game depended a lot on who the Broncos were playing. It's always more fun to cover a winner, so I hope it won't happen, but no one can sustain it forever. Not Notre Dame, not Florida State, not USC. It's more a matter of if, than when.

• Favorite TV show?
  LOST. Not since the early days of ER or the Sopranos have I planned my week around watching a TV show.
• Favorite website?
  The Big Lead, although What Would Tyler Durden Do? is making me laugh hard lately (sometimes NSFW).
• Favorite book?
  There are four books I have read more than once and therefore fit this answer. The Withcing Hour by Anne Rice (7), Missing Links by Rick Riley (3), The Stand by Stephen King (4) and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (2)
• Favorite sport?
  Baseball, although basketball is making a comeback for me.
• Favorite team?
  I have the most worn-out disgusting Red Sox hat that I wear all the time, but I'm spread out really. A lot of Detroit teams are mixed in there because of the time I spent covering them in Michigan.
• Favorite BSU player of all-time?
  I see Korey more as a Glenns Ferry Pilot than a Bronco so I'm disqualifying him. Bart Hendricks and Ryan Dinwiddie have both been very good to me even after their playing days. Marty Tadman was always great, ditto for Daryn Colledge.
• Favorite current player?
  Big fan of Austin Pettis; that guy is sick good in practice. George Iloka won me over with one interview. That kid is class.
• Favorite radio station to listen to other than KTIK?
  I'm a little bit country (KIZN 92) and whole lot of ipod (John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Mat Kearney).
• Favorite ESPN Radio show?
  Colin Cowherd. Its the one show I could see myself producing at ESPN radio and not wanting to turn on my own mic and chew out the host.
• Caves or Prater?
  Prater. Caves=Sky Boxes and Country Clubs; Prater=Sports Bars and Muni golf courses. I'm a truck stop, sit in the South End zone kind of person, so that's why I'd say Prater.
• Who is your choice for starting QB this year?
  My choice for the first game is Bush Hamdan, but my choice by the last game is Kellen Moore. I think they won't be able to keep him off the field this year.

Friday: Links with child endangerment

Story of the day:

Will Kellen Moore's brother follow to BSU? [Scout.com]

The answer to the above question is, obviously, "We sure hope so!"

Kirby Moore, a wide receiver at Prosser High, sounds like the second coming of a Tim Gilligan-Jerry Rice hybrid. All he does is catch touchdowns.

As a junior in 2007, named first-team Class 2A All-State at receiver, as well as all-league at receiver and DB. Caught 75 passes for 1,313 yards. His 29 TDs set a Washington season record for all classifications.

He'll be camping at Boise State and Washington State among others this summer. He's received offers from the Cougars, Stanford, Idaho, and Eastern Washington. But will any of those schools have big brother Kellen throwing him the ball? We didn't think so.

Other links:

The first 12-0 prediction for Boise State [Coaches hot seat]
If it happens, might Coach Pete leave? Perish the thought!

More on the discussion of PAC-10 expansion [fanblogs]
Not that we care anymore now that BSU is out of the picture.

Ryan Clady feature [Idaho Press-Tribune]
Still playing awesome, as to be expected.

Dan Hawkins roadtrip across Colorado [EDSBS]
Complete with terrifying flash video.

Colin Kaepernick = darkhorse Heisman candidate? [PWtW]
We can think of one very excited WAC blogger today.

More sordid details of local radio [Idaho Statesman]
Paul J. scholarship established [Idaho Statesman]

Ian Johnson highlight video

Boise State fan Heath has been known to create some pretty sweet Bronco video tributes. His latest may just be his greatest. Enjoy.

Life Coach: Winco sightings and family visits

The Life Coach believes that there are no stupid questions, just stupid Vandal fans who ask questions. His purpose is to shepherd Bronco Nation to the calm waters of illumination, guiding them through their perfunctory problems with grace, flair, and competent advice. Got a question for the Life Coach? Email him at OneBroncoNationUnderGod@gmail.com.

Dear Life Coach,
Which is more awesome: seeing Titus Young at WinCo or seeing my family at Thanksgiving?
Starstruck in Star

I would say that it would be seeing Titus Young at WinCo. My man Titus is from Los Angeles. I am not sure if he is from the Hollywood part of L.A. or from the other parts, but I am going to doubt that he has ever seen a WinCo before. So I think that it is probably as exciting for him as it is for you.

But it all depends on the time. I mean, if it is 3:30 in the afternoon and you see him shopping in WinCo for some dorm food – that's one thing. I might actually rather see my family at Thanksgiving than see that. But if it is like 3:30 in the morning the night after a game and you see him limping into WinCo because he is having a post-game craving of Doritos – that is something altogether different. I would gladly spend Thanksgiving cold and alone if I could see that.

Especially if Zabransky or K.C. Adams was in the car waiting for him.

Quick question, Life Coach,
Where does the BCS rank on the spectrum of tyrannical crimes against humanity? Before apartheid or after?
Insensitive in Idaho City

For the record, I do not ever want to put the BCS ranking being ANYWHERE NEAR apartheid or any other crimes against humanity. As Americans, we need to figure out how to separate sports from reality. During Apartheid people were brutally marginalized, unfairly imprisoned, and sometimes killed – and this took place over decades. During BCS, ummm, we sometimes don't get a clear cut college football champion.

So...

Next question please.

Hey, Life Coach,
I recently read on OBNUG that Boise State is getting 100-to-1 odds to win the national title. Should I jump on that?
Sincerely, Charles Barkley

Charles, if you jumped on the Boise State bandwagon, you would smoosh it. Because you are so big! (hahhahahahahaha, hehehheee…)

All joking aside, Charles, you should definitely wager as much money as you can on the Broncos. Even though I can guarantee that you do not know where to locate Boise on a map, you should just trust us. Trust us. Trust the WAC. Trust your gambling instincts. Look where they have gotten you so far.

Also, Charles, you should call your friend D-Wade and have him bet BSU, too… and then you should make a commercial out of it.