NCAA officiating test will rock you hard

God bless those NCAA officials.

Thanks to CBS Sportsline's Dennis Dodd, we found out about a test for football referees that was equal parts humiliating and impossible. The 100-question beast of an exam is designed to test officials on the minutiae of the NCAA rulebook, but all it really does is emasculate and discourage. Try it for yourself at USAFootball.com or better yet, don't and save yourself two hours and a migraine. Here is a taste of the carnage:

40. 4th & 10 on A's 20. The score is tied. Team A's punt is illegally touched by a Team A player on B's 42, then picked up on B's 39 by a Team B player who runs five yards and fumbles. Team A recovers and picks up the fumble dragging a defender to Team B's goal line between the hash marks. The covering official signals a touchdown. During Team A's run, a Team B player has an incidental facemask in making the tackle. 4-seconds remain in the 4th quarter. Replay shows the Team A runner was downed on B's 1/2. Team B is coming out of the huddle to snap the ball on B's 42. Clock? Reviewable?


A. A 1/goal B-1/4. The clock starts on the snap. The play is reviewable.
B. A 1/goal B-1/2. The clock starts on the snap. The play is reviewable.
C. B 1/10 @ B42. The incidental facemask is not a foul.

We had to break out the graphing calculator for that one!

Of course, we should probably just be proud that we finished. Odds were good that we would have given up halfway between clock rules on illegal forward passes and penalty yardage on inadvertent whistle facemasks. But we made it through. And we didn't completely embarrass ourselves.

OBNUG's score: 57.

While it's true that getting 57 out of 100 is failing no matter which way you slice it, we were pretty proud of ourselves considering we did better than some of the big hitters in the college football media.

• Dennis Dodd: 48
• Sunday Morning QB: 55
• AOL's Adam Jacobi: 55

Nothing like some relativity to spruce up a score.

We're curious to see how you, our readers, would do on the test (and we want someone to commiserate with). You can take the test online by clicking here, or you can download the pdf here. Good luck. And don't say we didn't warn you.

NCAA Football test [USA Football]

Jadon Dailey your new Bronco color commentator

Former Boise State center Jadon Dailey will be joining Bob Behler in the KIDO booth this fall.

Idaho Radio News has the scoop:

“The addition of Jadon to our broadcast team will add an insight unique to the Broncos,” Peak Broadcasting’s SVP Kevin Godwin said in a prepared statement. “His recent experience with this team will provide listeners with a vivid description of all the action from start to finish.”

Dailey was excellent on the Out of the Blue documentary, and he should bring a lot of fun to the radio broadcasts. Congratulations, Jadon.

We wonder if the Statesman will ask him if he saw the Fiesta Bowl?

Dailey named new color guy for BSU games [Idaho Radio News]

Wednesday: Links with girth

Story of the day: 

A veritable Who's Who at WAC media days [Press-Tribune]

The WAC Football Preview (motto: Salt Lake City sure is nice, isn't it?) is two weeks away, and while we bloggers patiently wait for our tickets to arrive, Dave Southorn of the Idaho Press-Tribune has the scoop on which players will be in attendance.

Boise State-Ian Johnson, RB and Mike T. Williams, DE 
Fresno State-Tom Brandstater, QB and Bear Pascoe, TE
Hawai‘i-Adam Leonard, LB and Solomon Elimimian, LB
Idaho-Shiloh Keo, S, and Adam Korby, C
Louisiana Tech-Patrick Jackson, RB and Weldon Brown, DB
Nevada-Luke Lippincott, RB and Mundrae Clifton, DL
New Mexico State-Chase Holbrook, QB and Davon House, DB
San Jose State-Jarron Gilbert, DE
Utah State-Jake Hutton, LB and Derek Hoke, OT

Good choices by the Broncos. Everyone will love to see Ian Johnson doing Ian Johnson things, and Mike T. Williams should get a chance to explain to people who he is. We're curious if Bush Hamdan got an invite but had to turn it down based on the inherent evil of a "media convention."

As for the rest of the WAC, Fresno State couldn't have chosen two more typical players; way to think outside of the box, hosers. And San Jose State is only bringing one player? We thought if any school was short on interesting players it would have been Idaho. 

Other links:

Murphy: is BSU recruiting too young? [Statesman]
We're not even going to touch this one.

Early commitments are not Tom Scott's cup of tea [Scott Slant]
Derek Schoumann is, though.

Players aren't the only ones reneging on commitments [SI.com]
Tom Scott would probably hate this article.

SJSU linebacker punches friend, sent to jail [ESPN.com]
Details weren't available, but Guitar Hero probably figured prominently.

Someone give Utah State a hug! [Bleacher Report]
And a 20-point handicap in non-conference games!

Fresno State #23 in Rivals countdown [Rivals]
Let the disappointing begin.

Dan Hawkins stands up for student athletes [Rivals]
So long as they aren't playing intramurals.

"Who is this year's Hawaii" and other disastrous distinctions

Non-BCS contenders hoping to make a name for themselves on the national stage need look no further than the example set by...Hawaii?

At media outlets across the country, the question of "Who is the next Boise State" has devolved into "Who is the next Hawaii," despite the fact that the questions carry nowhere near the same connotation. Boise State won the Fiesta Bowl. Hawaii choked away the Sugar Bowl. Boise State struck a blow for the little guy. Hawaii reminded everyone why WAC schools aren't usually invite to BCS functions.

If we're asking the question of "Who is this year's Hawaii," shouldn't we be asking the follow-up question of "Does anyone even want to be this year's Hawaii?" The way we remember it, the Warriors barely went undefeated against their cupcake regular season schedule, were chosen by the BCS out of default and obligation, laid a giant egg in the Sugar Bowl, then saw every important person on the team leave the program. Not exactly the way you want to build sustained success.

Scout.com was the latest to ask the question, and they had some interesting, if not unwilling candidates.

BYU, Utah, Tulsa, Southern Mississippi, Boise State.

Here's what they had to say about the Broncos:

Autzen is a nightmare no matter when you play there, but the Ducks are replacing Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart in the backfield. The Broncos are going there at the right time if there really is one, and this is a very experienced team. The game in Hattiesburg pits two of the best NBCS teams in the country, and Fresno State coming north to close out the season will likely decide the WAC champion.

We're sure that the media means well when it asks about the "next Hawaii," but assuming that the Warriors and the Broncos had similar experiences over the past two years is completely wrong. If people don't understand that, then it could be only a matter of time before we see some equally uncomfortable questions.

• Who is the next Maurice Clarett?
• Who is the next Bobby Petrino?
• When is the next USC recruiting scandal?
• Who is the next Chase Holbrook?
• What is the next 2k Sports Las Vegas Bowl?
• What are the next Oregon uniforms?
• Who will be the next Big Ten champion?
• What is the next Robb Akey mustache?

Some questions are best left unanswered.

Blog...Who is the next Hawai'i? [Scout.com]

Tuesday: Links with unemployment

Story of the day:

Seattle LB commits to Broncos [Scout.com]

Chalk up another one for proactive Bronco recruiting.

According to Scout.com, O'Dea (Seattle, WA) linebacker Allen Mooney has given a verbal commitment to Boise State, choosing the Broncos over an offer from Army and interest from Pac-10 schools like Washington and Oregon. How did the Broncos land him? Judging by the lede of the Scout story, it may have been that his height was an issue for some teams.

He may not be the tallest linebacker in America, but Allen Mooney carries some big game with him. And the 5-foot-11, 215-pound Mooney - from O'Dea High School in Seattle - will be taking that big game to the Gem State...

A 5'-11" linebacker is not the end of the world, so if other schools were scared off by Mooney's size, we are happy to have him. Of course, it's not an official verbal commitment until the Statesman says it is, so give them a week or so to catch wind of the story and do whatever fact-checking they do.

Also, check out Fight Fight BSU for some Mooney video.

Other links:

Tom Scott's personal thoughts on summer practice [Scott Slant]
Tanyon Bissell and Vinny Perretta get him very excited.

Completely pointless Bob Behler interview [Statesman]
This just in: Behler watched the Fiesta Bowl, likes sports.

A gambler's preview of Boise State [Bet US]
Hint: give the points.

Is this how we're getting so many recruits? [SI.com]
I would have chosen a college, too, based on their making a personal comic book of myself.

Boise State's blueprint for a BCS championship berth

This afternoon, we are pleased to have a loyal OBNUG reader give his take on the upcoming Bronco football season.. Stephen Grettenberg, a Boise State football fan for many years, currently works for UC Berkeley for a scholarship program and is also founding a 501c3 organization promoting sustainability. He's contributed breaking news in the past, but this is his first OBNUG article. We're pretty sure you'll love it.


Every year starts with hope for every team in every sport - to reach some new goal, and for some, maybe even a national championship.

In Division I football (yes, I purposely skipped the new nomenclature) it really takes a lot for a non-BCS team to get a chance to play at that level, unlike say Fresno State's bizarre trip to baseball success. Strangely, that victory could help pave the way for Boise State football success by giving the WAC a better profile.

So, here's what I think would need to happen this year to give Boise State a slot in the football national championship game:

1. A strong quarterback with leadership and zip on the ball to emerge. Maybe Kellen Moore?
2. For Ian to have a strong rebound Heisman candidate year, to add publicity, and votes, to voter ballots. Continued success from the other backs as well.
3. Good offensive line play. I respected Sean Kugler, the former offensive line coach for the Broncos, now holding the same position for the Buffalo Bills. With Ryan Clady and a host of seniors gone as well, quality line play is a must and a question mark. Is the coaching and talent there? It has to be to compete at the top level.
4. The linebackers have to step up this year.

As for the games:

• USC must embarrass Ohio State. Why? Ohio State is quite likely to take the Big Ten. But if they are embarrassed in this game, nobody will want to see them in another championship.
• Boise State needs to bring its A+ best Fiesta Bowl style of moxie into Autzen Stadium and beat Oregon.
• Oregon needs to beat USC and go undefeated except for the loss to Boise State. This might give Boise an edge over any Pac-10 or Big Ten comers in combination with a USC victory over Ohio State as noted above.
• No more than one team in the BCS leagues can have fewer than two losses except Oregon.
• BYU and Utah can't go undefeated.
• Fresno State needs to go undefeated until getting beat by Boise State in Boise to close out the regular season.
• Boise State goes undefeated in the regular season.

Farfetched? Perhaps, but not wholly inconceivable.

I expect Fresno State and Oregon to both have strong years, especially Oregon. At one point the Ducks were second in the nation last year, and I actually think they could be better this year. I think they could be better than Oklahoma was in the Fiesta Bowl. What would it take to beat Oregon? I think Ian Johnson needs to take control like he did against Oregon State two years ago, for one thing. I think that would open up a chance for the passing game to work on the corners deep, if the safeties were supporting the run up the middle.

Last year, with many "elite teams" losing late in the season, a two-loss team made it to the national championship. Was this a fluke? If that kind of parity came again, it would open the door a little bit, providing a small chance for a team from the WAC or MWC to sneak in. It takes two things for that to happen as well. First that team needs to win out its schedule. The second is that it needs a really strong year from its competition.

This year I think there is a genuine chance for one of these non-BCS teams to run their slate: Boise State, Fresno State, BYU, or Utah. With the right breaks, and a real schedule unlike Hawaii's relatively light one last year, one of these teams could not only go BCS, but beyond.

It is up to Boise State to step up to be worthy of that chance, and leave the rest to fate. If Boise State beat Oregon convincingly in Autzen stadium, one of the toughest stadiums in the country, Boise State might be able to influence fate in its favor.

Monday: Links with passion

Story of the day:

Scandrick tries humility on for size [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]

Former Boise State CB Orlando Scandrick has his work cut out for him if he wants to be in the Cowboys' secondary come opening week. As such, O.S. is taking a slightly different approach to things than usual.

(Scandrick) admitted that he could have been "a little more humble" in college. His approach was much different during his first Cowboys minicamp, when veterans such as Anthony Henry said they were impressed as much by his attitude as they were by his speed.

From what we hear, Scandrick has been very impressive in his time with Dallas. The Cowboys have one of the deeper secondaries in the league, but we would be surprised if Scandrick doesn't find somewhere to contribute, whether it be in dime packages or on special teams.

The story also gives some insight into why Scandrick may have fallen into the fifth round despite Mel Kiper's second round projection.

Scandrick can think of only one reason for the dropoff: a vague reference to "major character concerns" on his NFL.com draft profile.

Interesting. We had no idea Robb Akey had access to NFL.com draft profiles.

Other links:

Re-working WAC BCS payouts [Fresno Beehive]

"Should Idaho go to a BCS game..." Let us stop you there.

BSU-Fresno a bigger game than Ohio State-Michigan? [Red Zone Report]
 We don't know. Both rivalries seem kind of lopsided if you ask us.

BSU football players to play softball for charity [Statesman]
The Bronco coaching staff has yet to announce a starting pitcher.

ESPN's Boise State preview [ESPN.com]
At last, our ESPN Insider subscription starts paying for itself.

The WAC is not getting any less WAC-ish [Fresno Beehive]
Benson against expansion, realignment, and having nine competitive teams.

Jerard Rabb interview [Press-Democrat]
The MAC has a new logo [MAC Report Online]