Hip surgery for Brennan; opportunity for Tharp

Former Hawaii QB Colt Brennan will need surgery on his injured hip, but he does not expect the injury to affect his draft status...at least not as much as being a "system quarterback."

Brennan's injury didn't prevent him from working out at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, and he also will compete in passing drills at Hawaii's pro day at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

"You won't notice anything wrong with my passing," said Brennan, who owns the NCAA record for career passing touchdowns.

Where Colt Brennan sees frustration, Taylor Tharp sees opportunity. The former Boise State signal caller is now the frontrunner for the WAC quarterback most likely to get drafted and never see any NFL playing time.

Ellis Powers joins secondary

Boise State's deep linebacker group has claimed its first victim.

Ellis Powers, who was a blitzing linebacker and special-teams phenom last year, has moved back to safety this spring. Powers played safety his first three years at Boise State.

“He wanted to do it,” defensive backs coach Marcel Yates said. “We’re pretty deep at linebacker. We felt like he could help us out.”

Powers will give the secondary its only senior contributor, and he should provide good depth to a very green position. Sophomores Jeron Johnson and Jason Robinson are expected to start at safety, and Powers could work his way into the starting lineup before all is said and done. No one will ever be able to replace Marty Tadman, but it's a start.

Powers returns to safety [Idaho Statesman]

Completely inappropriate April Fool's jokes

In honor of April Fool's Day, we've compiled a list of some of the worst possible April Fool's jokes you could make to a Boise State fan. Please don't get any ideas.

• Oregon pulled out of the schedule, and Bleymaier got Weber State to take their spot.
• Brian Murphy would like to write your autobiography.
• Marty Tadman was just a figment of your imagination.
• Fresno State is leaving the WAC to be replaced by Cole Valley Christian High School.
• Nick Lomax is the 2008 starting quarterback.
• Head coach Chris Peterson has been traded to Utah State for Brent Guy, a copy of Tony Dungy's book Quiet Strength, and the Mormon salvation of the 2008 Boise State roster.
• The WAC is folding due to apathy.
• David Augusto's one-on-one interview with David Augusto will air in a continuous loop on KTVB tonight from 7:00 to 10:00.
  
• You've just won Idaho Vandal season tickets.

Vandals make news for being oily

Great find by Drew at Fight, Fight, BSU. The Idaho Vandals thought it might be a good idea to take their shirts off, rub each other with grease, and take a picture. Eww.


With Leather picked up the story, as well as Every Day Should Be Saturday. Good luck living that down, Vandals. Click here for the link to Drew's original post.

WAC officiating goes regional

The WAC is taking part in a move toward grouping officiating teams by region rather than conference. Effects could be felt as early as this year.

Beginning this season the game officials could be regional groups, an amalgam of either WAC and Mountain West Conference officials or WAC, MWC and Big 12 officials working across conference lines.

We don't really see much difference. Instead of blaming losses on those blind, ignorant WAC officials, people will be blaming losses on those liberal, tree-hugging Northwest officials. We fans will find someone to blame either way.

End cries of getting 'homered' [Honolulu Advertiser]

OBNUG Roster Update: Linebackers

Spring football gets OBNUG in the mood to speculate, so over the next few weeks, we will be making blind guesses as to who will be starting for the Broncos in the fall. We’ll do it position-by-position. Today: Linebackers.

Linebackers

Ideal candidate: Bobby Boucher


Worst candidate: Gallant from Highlights


Actual candidates: Kyle Gingg, Derrell Acrey, Dallas Dobbs, David Shields, Tim Brady, Ellis Powers, Aaron Tevis, Tommy Smith, Byron Hout, Daron Mackey, Hunter White, Dan Paul

OBNUG's pick: Gingg, Mackey, Dobbs. A position of weakness last year should be a strength for the Broncos in 2008. I mean look at that list! The Broncos could start 11 linebackers if they wanted! We think that might be imprudent, so we'll go with Gingg, Mackey, and Dobbs in the meantime, although we expect many others to contribute.

Harsin feels QBs still neck-and-neck

Boise State offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin gave his thoughts on the BSU quarterback race yesterday, saying that all four candidates still remain very much in contention.

“Nobody is overall making a huge jump at this point,” Harsin said. “They’re doing what we ask them to do.”

Freshman Kellen Moore and senior Bush Hamdan did impress Harsin with their play in the first scrimmage. He also liked the presence of sophomore Mike Coughlin, who is a threat in the option run game and was on the field for some long run plays.

Also, Nick Lomax's fumble made Harsin laugh.

Chadd Cripe reports that the Broncos were happy to return to practice after a week off for spring break, and they hosted Upland (Calif.) QB Josh Nunes, a top prospect whom OBNUG profiled last week.

Harsin: no quarterback 'making huge jump' [Idaho Statesman]