One month from today...

...the season begins!

Idaho State at Boise State, August 30th.

Life Coach: did somebody say Lagoon?

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.

Life Coach,
I heard the WAC media convention was in Salt Lake City this year. How much time do you think the journalists spent at Lagoon?
Snoopy in Silverwood

Half to two-thirds. Unless you have a specific reason for being in Salt Lake – and the WAC media convention is not a real reason – then you will spend most of your time at Lagoon. I mean, for real – what’s not to like? There are rides, carnival games, candy apples, and Mormon hotties. Lagoon is the Disneyland of the Great Salt Basin – minus the cleanliness and joy.

But I hear that that weekend is going to be “Lagoon: Get WACd!” Journalists are going to go crazy.

Life Coach,
In regards to new Bronco radio color guy Jadon Dailey, should it matter that he has as much announcing experience as I do?
Sincerely, guy who has never announced anything ever


It only matters when he messes up. Anytime he makes a mistake or isn’t funny or spot-on with a comment – we will all say to each other, “Man, how old is this guy? I could do this way better than this little kid, respectively.” But if he is awesome, then we will all be like, “It is great having a fresh perspective in the booth. This guy is so much better than David Augusto!"

So should it matter that Jadon Dailey has as much announcing experience as you do? Only time will tell…

Life Coach,
I am a Boise state alum and citizen of Bronco Nation who unfortunately had to leave our beloved state capitol to pursue a graduate degree at Idaho State University. I can see the Idaho State football team practice through the windows of my classes and can't help but weep at the thought that I have to wait another month until I can watch Boise State smear them across the new Blue field turf. I was wondering... since it was brought to my attention that Boise state is supposed to beat Idaho State by like 44 points (according to some odds wizards out there), is that a good thing or a bad thing? I mean, if we win by 43, did we let everyone down? Should we hang our heads in shame if we only beat Idaho State by 6 touchdowns? Please put this in perspective for me.
Perplexed in Pocatello

First of all, this is a great problem to have. I remember the worries of BSU fans used to be a lot scarier when we were getting our you-know-what's handed to us by South Carolina and Arkansas and almost every Big Sky team. So if we keep this in perspective – really, it is not a problem at all.

But, on a personal note, if we only win by 43, we should count that as a moral loss because Idaho State will be counting that as a moral victory.

And now that we are good, we hate moral victories.

Thursday: Links with consistency

Story of the day:

Statue Left not in Steelers playbook [Press-Tribune]

The Pittsburgh Steelers cut former BSU quarterback Jared Zabransky on Wednesday, just five months after picking him up as a free agent. The Steelers' drafting of former Oregon QB Dennis Dixon spelled Zabransky's doom. Dixon is a one-of-a-kind clipboard holder.

Now the question is where will "Z" land next? The way we see it, he has plenty of options.

• Another NFL team. Zabransky could take the place of an injured third-stringer during the preseason. Or he could start for the Vikings pretty much tomorrow.
• The CFL. Canadian football is like graduate school for Boise State players.
• The Boise Burn. The Burn have never turned down a former Boise State quarterback (Nick Lomax, take heart).
• Ryan Clady's entourage. Perhaps Clady needs an NCAA Football 2008 playing partner.
• An area Pioneer Title. Brock Forsey should know some people.

The story is a little bittersweet for us, not because we are Zabranksy fans (it's complicated), but rather because Zabranksy getting signed by the Steelers was one of our first posts on this site. OBNUG has officially lasted longer than Zabransky's Steeler career. We never thought we would say those words until at least after the first preseason game.


Other links:

Warriors - Brennan = suckiness [the Big Lead]
Replacing a Heisman candidate is hard. Will Tyler Graunke be dying the Hawaiin islands into his hair?

Bronco coaches courting a 15-year-old [Sammamish Review]
There is no age limit on success...obviously.

Who says BSU has too much money? [Warrior Quotes]
Hawaii's athletic budget trumps Broncos by several hundred C-notes

A Marty Tadman video? [YouTube courtesy of Bronco fan Heath]
We know how we're spending our three-day weekend

Boise State is a six-touchdown favorite over Idaho State [Scott Slant]
Yet somehow, we still like those odds.

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.