New Mexico State media stumps for Tadman

Yesterday, we joked about including Marty Tadman in the discussion for preseason WAC defensive player of the year. The New Mexico State media? Not joking.

The preseason picks for offensive and defensive players of the year should be announced later today. We voted for Chase Holbrook for offensive player of the year and Boise State's Marty Tadman for defensive player of the year.

Here's a close-up image of their selection.

Tadman lost to Hawaii's Solomon Elimimian, who is still an active player.

Preseason Football Poll Update [Bleed Crimson]

Update: This was not a typo. These guys actually voted for Marty Tadman.

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.

OBNUG Hall of Fame: Tadman inducted!

Congratulations to Marty Tadman on the induction of his Fiesta Bowl performance into the OBNUG Hall of Fame. On a similar note, thanks for nothing, whoever messed with our poll the first time.

The first inductee in the 2008 Hall of Fame class certainly had to earn his way in. After a narrow loss on his first nomination, some tears from the OBNUG staff, rumors of conspiracy, and a re-vote, Tadman's Fiesta Bowl made the cut, garnering 87% of the vote.

Tomorrow we'll have the next candidate for induction. Thanks to everyone who voted, and double thanks for voting "yes."

Re-vote! The fix was in for Marty Tadman

Conspiracy theorists are buzzing...at least those conspiracy theorists who care about Boise State blogs.

Was Marty Tadman's Hall of Fame vote tampered with? Did a rogue Tadman-hater stuff the ballot box? Did we horribly underestimate Vandal alumni?

When we checked the results on Monday, we were surprised to see that Tadman's Fiesta Bowl performance had been denied induction. We figured that our love for Tadman had blinded us to the fact that his Fiesta Bowl was not as awesome as we thought. Apparently, we figured wrong.

Alert reader J Harry notified us of some shady dealings during voting. We'll let J Harry explain:

When I looked at the percentages, his approval for induction was well over 70%. As I was on, frequently refreshing the page, I literally saw his score drop, one percent at a time. I feel strongly that one person was probably voting repeatedly to get the total under 70%... otherwise it would have been well above the cut-off.

Great work, J Harry! You may have just earned yourself a Hall of Fame nomination in a few years. Apparently, someone wanted Tadman out, and they were willing to refresh our homepage often enough to see it done.

We feel that it is only fair to do a re-vote for Tadman. The poll will be back up later today, and we'll hold the voting through Monday morning. To make sure that our readers really do want Tadman in the OBNUG Hall of Fame, we are requiring 80 percent of the vote for his induction.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for voting (once).

HOF: Tadman's Fiesta Bowl falls short

The people have spoken, and they do not feel the same way we do about Marty Tadman.

Tadman's Fiesta Bowl performance was the first nominee for the OBNUG Hall of Fame, a shoo-in as far as we were concerned, but he failed to earn the required 70 percent of the vote for induction, falling two percent short at 68 percent.

Were it up to us, Tadman would have been a sure-fire inductee, and he probably would have the Hall of Fame named after him. However, we value the opinion of our readers, and we appreciate you guys letting us know what you think. The OBNUG Hall of Fame will, apparently, be the toughest ticket in town.

Thanks to the hundreds who voted. We'll have the second OBNUG Hall of Fame nominee for you next week.

Thursday: Links with self-confidence

Story of the day:

Get rid of the redshirt [ESPN.com]

Big XII commissioner Dan Beebe has proposed a plan to give all college football players five years of eligibility by getting rid of the redshirt. Too little, too late for Marty Tadman, we're afraid.

Beebe said that college football differs than other sports because of the widespread practice of redshirting freshmen.

"The thought would be why we would give them an extra year in that sport," Beebe said. "But you're talking about a sport with more redshirts than any other sport. And it's a sport where youngsters play a physical, very tough game with a lot of hard practices."

We couldn't agree more with this proposal. The only question is what would the fifth year of eligibility be called? Freshman, sophomore, junior, senior...gentleperson? Re-senior? Esquire? Hopefully, Beebe has an answer.

Other links:

Respect for the hook-and-ladder [ESPN.com]
The top coaching decision in BCS history is Circus. No. 3 is Statue Left.

Chris Petersen cracked the Top 10 defining BCS coaches [ESPN.com]
We are also ecstatic that June Jones did not make the list.

Ian Johnson: captain of longevity [Dave's blog]
Yes, it does feel like Johnson's been around forever.

Do not get in a car with Gerald Alexander [Fight Fight BSU]
New conferences for college football [Minister of Information]

OBNUG Hall of Fame podcast

We are taking this Hall of Fame business pretty seriously. How seriously? Podcast serious!

Behold the first ever OBNUG podcast! Nick and I sat down to dish on Marty Tadman, Fiesta Bowl rankings, and listening to Idaho Sports Talk in hell. We presented the case for the induction of Tadman's Fiesta Bowl performance (click here for more), and then we got bored and talked about other stuff.

Technically, it is not the greatest sounding podcast. I sound like I'm in a wind tunnel, Nick sounds like he's yelling, and the letter "p" might burst your eardrum. Give us time; we'll get it right.

Enjoy and don't forget to vote for Tadman's Fiesta Bowl performance!

HOF Discussion: Marty Tadman's Fiesta Bowl Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

HOF nominee: Marty Tadman's Fiesta Bowl

To vote for Marty Tadman's Fiesta Bowl, use the poll on the sidebar. Voting will take place through the weekend, and nominees need 70 percent of the vote to gain induction.

Was the OBNUG Hall of Fame built with Marty Tadman in mind? Quite definitely, yes.

Anyone who spends five minutes with us knows that we are enthralled with Tadman up to and over the point of obsession. We feel that he was one of the greatest Boise State players of all-time, and he is a close, personal friend (in the alternate reality in which we live). Tadman's heroics over the course of his career speak monuments to his ability, leadership, and smarts, and picking just one Tadman moment for our first OBNUG Hall of Fame class was difficult.

But not impossible.

The Fiesta Bowl was one of the greatest moments in Boise State history, and it was fitting that one of Boise State's greatest players had one of his biggest games. Tadman showed up when it counted most, and without him, our collection of Fiesta Bowl t-shirts would be much less cool.

His solid, all-around play served merely as context for his two spectacular, timely, heads-up interceptions. The first stopped a drive; the second gave the Broncos breathing room (Jared Zabransky, obviously, hates breathing room).

After the Broncos jumped out to a 14-0 lead, Oklahoma started its comeback. The Sooners cut the lead in half, and on their next drive, they looked poised to strike again. Tadman, however, had other ideas. He picked off Oklahoma QB Paul Thompson in the end zone to kill the drive.

Later, with the Broncos holding on to a 21-10 lead midway through the third quarter, Tadman struck again. A Thompson pass headed for the flat was tipped by Korey Hall and picked by Tadman, who ran untouched into the end zone. The pick-six gave Boise State its biggest lead of the game, and it put the Broncos in great position to win.

Tadman's Fiesta Bowl picks were things of beauty, and his overall play spearheaded an aggressive, unheralded defense. The beauty of Boise State's victory was not in the trick plays or gimmicky offense. The real value was that the Broncos belonged on the same field as a Big XII team in every facet of the game.

We have Marty Tadman to thank for that.

Tuesday: Links with Engagement

Story of the day:

Non-BCS players to watch in 2008 [In the Bleachers]

We found this story interesting not only because it provides a handy guide to some potentially exciting players, but it also has a level-headed, sensible approach to the preseason WAC race.

After a quiet year in 2007 expect Johnson and Boise State to make another run in the WAC, where the departure of Colt Brennan and June Jones at Hawaii has suddenly left the conference wide open.

It sure is nice not having someone hand the title to Fresno State right away.

Ian Johnson is the lone BSU representative on the list, and he joins three other WAC players to watch. Not surprisingly, no Vandals were mentioned.

Other links:

Tadman in Jets camp [Idaho Statesman]
Oh, really, Statesman? It's about time you mentioned this. And thanks for not citing us as a source. Again.

Relating popular bands to their college team similes [Fight Fight BSU]
Conspicuously absent is Utah State. They always came across as a Scrantonicity to us.

Another case for Kellen Moore [Bleacher Report]
Written by Michael Hroma, which is probably an alias for Jeff Caves.

Scandrick impresses in Cowboys camp [Idaho Statesman]
The blogs have already hit on this, but we guess its not news until a newspaper covers it.

UH volleyball and football nearly double-booked [Honolulu Advertiser]
Crisis averted! Thank goodness they figured this one out.

Senior OL Woodruff picked in CFL Draft [Idaho Sports Zone]
Bronco golfer qualifies for regionals [Idaho Statesman]
Fresno recruiting cattle ranchers [ESPN.com]

Blogging's place in local media

Warning: There is some serious stuff in here. If you are looking for a typical OBNUG fluff piece, try this link. Proceed with appropriate seriousness.

Blogging has been in the news recently thanks to the ambush-discussion on HBO with Deadspin editor Will Leitch and a bunch of crotchety old men who aren't open-minded. Websites have lit up with talk of blogging's virtues (mostly on blogs) and blogging's faults (mostly on newspaper sites). The Statesman's Brian Murphy used his Sunday column to tackle the issue.

Now it is our turn.

Obviously, we have an opinion on the blog debate. But instead of rehashing breakdowns of blogging's validity, we want to turn the tables to blogging's place among the local media in Boise. OBNUG, Fight Fight BSU, and Statue Left are the three most predominant Bronco blogs, and there has yet to be a proper discourse on how our influence affects the big boys of the Idaho Statesman, Idaho Press-Tribune, KTVB, and others.

To start with, let's get a few basic facts out of the way:
1. Blogs are here to stay.
2. Traditional media doesn't need to understand or appreciate blogs in order for them to succeed.
3. Blogs serve a meaningful purpose in the new era of media.

We truly believe all those points, and we feel that in a few years, these tenets will be common knowledge. As such, we feel the discussion of whether or not blogs are relevant is pointless. Our numbers after three months in existence testify to this, and the popularity of OBNUG, Fight Fight BSU, and Statue Left is further proof.

Blogging, in general, provides a significant supplement to traditional news coverage. Blogging, in Boise, has the potential for far greater traction.

To say that the local media does not cater to a demanding Boise State audience would be an understatement. There is simply not enough constant, streaming news and information to satisfy a diehard fan, which is why forums and message boards have gained so much popularity. We started our website because we saw a need for Boise State content that was written by Boise State fans, for Boise State fans. We target our content to be accessible to casual fans, but we have found that the diehard fan gets just as much use out of it.

Why? Because they have no other choice. The traditional Boise media does not do a good enough job of providing content on a consistent, regular basis.

Case in point: the NFL Draft. Brian Murphy decided to dedicate his Murph's Turf blog to the NFL draft for the week leading up to draft day. He started on Monday; his last post was on a Tuesday. For the next few days, he posted various short items related to the Broncos.

Similarly, we decided to dedicate OBNUG to draft coverage for the entire week. We had multiple stories each day on the prospects of Boise State players and the latest news leading up to the draft. We live-blogged the draft on Saturday and we followed up with breaking news and video on Sunday.

If BSU fans wanted instant updates, they had to go to the blogs. And they did. During draft weekend, we received some of our highest ratings yet because we were live-blogging, updating, and breaking news. The Statesman wasn't, and knowledge-hungry fans recognized this.

Another prime example is the latest Marty Tadman news. Last night, while we were prepping for the week ahead, we came across a story about Marty Tadman being in Jets camp. At first, we couldn't believe our eyes. We had been searching feverishly for Tadman news ever since the draft ended. As one of our favorite Broncos, we were shocked when his name never turned up on initial free agent signings, but all of a sudden, here he was in Jets camp.

We searched the Statesman and the Press-Tribune for any similar stories, and they had nothing. Then, we had to double-check the source just to make sure it wasn't a mistake (that's right, we're a blog that actually checks sources). It wasn't. Tadman was indeed in Jets camp.

We posted the story late last night, as soon as we found out. We thought Bronco fans would want to know, and again, we were right. Fight Fight BSU linked to the story, and we've had a great number of hits today from fans who want more.

Our point is that Boise State blogs are committed to the Boise State football team. Other local media are decidedly less so. Having a team page devoted to Boise State isn't going to cut it in today's day and age. Fans want websites of news and information. They want devoted writers. They want quality and quantity.

The amazing thing is that local blogs provide their services with absolutely no pay. We do not have resources or funding or financial backers. What we do have is jobs--real, tangible, 9-to-5 jobs. We do the blogging on the side because we love the team and because we want to help support the Bronco football program. Imagine what we could do if we were getting paid a salary to report on the Broncos. OBNUG would be ten times this size!

The world is changing, and the next generation of consumers have a different approach to news and information. Instant gratification and instant knowledge is the new standard. The Statesman doesn't have it. The Idaho Press-Tribune doesn't have it. KTVB.com doesn't have it. Broncosports.com certainly doesn't have it.

Blogs do.

If we were granted the access and resources and support of a traditional media outlet, the competition would be over. As it stands, we still depend on outlets like the Statesman and KTIK for stories and news. But their autonomy won't last forever. Boise State bloggers have started cultivating our own sources and breaking our own news. We certainly have an edge when it comes to research and knowledge. And, most importantly, we understand the needs of our audience.

The future is bright for Bronco bloggers. Until the local media catches up, the same cannot be said of them.

Tadman in Jets minicamp

Marty Tadman has found his shot in the NFL.

New York's Lower Hudson Journal reports that Tadman was invited to the New York Jets' minicamp this past weekend, where he participated in drills with a large list of undrafted free agents and rookie picks. Former Boise State offensive lineman Tad Miller was also in camp with the Jets.

We'll bring you more information as we get it.

Mini camp full roster [LoHud Journal]
Notes from rookie camp [Jets Blog]

WIR: Clady gets drafted, Tadman gets ignored

After the exciting NFL draft, Week in Review (WIR) is realizing the long summer that lays before us. Surely we can all get through this together.

Meanwhile, a wrapup of a busy week:

• OBNUG live-blog's the draft, Brian Murphy does his best to keep up
• Clady drafted 12th, becomes highest drafted Boise State player ever
• Gore signs, celebrates with family
• Vandal becomes irrelevant
• Tadman still waiting, OBNUG pleads
• BCS committee surprises no one
• Spring wraps up for Hawkins, Brandstater
• We bid farewell to David Shields as a player
• The cruel summer awaits us

Have a great, albeit boring weekend Bronco fans!

An open letter to the NFL

Dear NFL,

You are a sporting mecca, a world power, a bastion of all that is great about commercialism, success, and propriety. But you are nothing without Marty Tadman.

The former Boise State safety deserves to be a member of your league as much as Ed Hochuli deserves to be drug-tested. Tadman would make a great NFL player. He is tough, smart, dependable, omniscient, tattooed, self-healing, bondable, and awesome. He won't make it rain at strip clubs, and he won't fight dogs for sport. He will, however, always be in the right place at the right time, and he might convert teammates to Christianity.

Still, Tadman sits at home with no offer.

We know this issue is not simply a matter of economics and roster spots. To be sure, we went through the current list of your safeties, and we found the results to be lacking in quality, production, and name recognition. Here are a few:

Hamza Abdullah, Denver Broncos
Twenty-three times Abdullah has appeared in an NFL game; zero times has he intercepted a pass. Also, his last name makes him sound like a genie.

Jordan Babineaux, Seattle Seahawks
In four years, Babineaux has failed to stick in the Seahawks' starting lineup, which is like a 12-year-old having a hard time sticking in fourth grade.

Oliver Celestin, Arizona Cardinals
Celestin's longevity in the league has allowed him to play in 48 career games. At least we think he played in them. He only has 56 career tackles.

Glenn Earl, Houston Texans
Earl did not play in 2007, but the Texans must have been sold on his three interceptions in 31 games. Either that, or they liked the fact that he has two first names.

Vernon Fox, Washington Redskins
For his career, Fox averages 0.85 tackles per game. Great for annual yield on a US Bank checking account; bad for NFL safety.

Eric Smith, New York Jets
Looking at Smith's career stat sheet is like looking in the wallet of hobo. Two career interceptions, one career return yard, zero career sacks, lint.

Cameron Worrell, Miami Dolphins
Worrell has exactly one pass defensed in his five-year career, which is one more than what we have.

We know Marty Tadman can do better because he has done better. In addition to being a demon on special teams and an asset in the return game, here are Tadman's defensive stats from his senior year.

Marty Tadman: 93 total tackles, 57 solo, 36 assists, 2.5 TFLs, 2 INTs, 10 passes defensed, 1 FR, 1 TD, grew a third arm once just for fun

Without a doubt, Tadman belongs in your league, NFL. You have enough issues to worry about between the personal conduct policy, Chad Johnson, rookie contracts, globalization, and long hair.

A lack of Marty Tadman doesn't belong on that list.

Sincerely,
OBNUG

Wither Marty Tadman?

It has been two full days since the NFL Draft, and Marty Tadman still seems to be without a team. In related news, the world is a terrible, hateful place.

In addition to the signing of Taylor Tharp and Dan Gore to free agent contracts, former Broncos Jeff Cavender and Tad Miller were invited to try-outs with NFL clubs. Tadman? Nothing. There is still time for the former Boise State safety/immortal to find work at the next level, but we would have expected him to be a hot commodity soon after the draft ended. Who would have thought that NFL GMs think differently than we do?

We've commissioned Chadd Cripe (via passive aggressive email) to get on the case and find out what is happening with Tadman. This is a matter with which Brian Murphy cannot be trusted. In the meantime, we'll do our best to plug Tadman's abilities here in the hopes that curious NFL scouts are scouring blogs for biased perspective on potential prospects.

Boise State's NFL Draft scouting report

To help NFL teams with their drafting needs, we have provided the following scouting reports for Boise State players who might hear their names called in this weekend's NFL Draft. Granted, we are not professional scouts, so our opinions might not carry much credence or value. Also hurting our cause? Intense non-objectivity. Oh well. Here goes nothing!

Ryan Clady
Clady has the potential to be a star at the next level. He can dominate an opponent in a number of different ways: with power, with technique, with Jedi mind tricks. WAC competition did him a disservice because flipping Utah State pancakes is a lot harder than mauling BCS competition.

Clady could stand to add some girth and muscle, but he will always have his quickness and athleticism. The NFL is the perfect place for a prospect like Clady, and he should only get better year after year.

Orlando Scandrick

O.S. is fast, aggressive, and confident—attributes that make him an ideal NFL cornerback. He is a younger, saner version of DeAngelo Hall, and he will be an asset in coverage and in run support.

As a safety, Scandrick showed range and toughness, but his greatest Boise State season came last year at cornerback. Scandrick’s steady improvement hints at untapped potential, and provided he can overcome cockiness, riskiness, and shirtlessness, he should make a solid pro.

Marty Tadman

All personal biases aside, Tadman is the greatest football player we have ever seen. We’re not sure if this is because we have attended mostly Seattle Seahawks and 2A high school football games or if Tadman is, in fact, God’s gift to secondaries. We’re going with the latter.

Tadman has the intangible qualities that scouting combines and drills can’t measure. He is football smart, like Stephen Hawking is math smart. His ability to always be in the right place at the right time is invaluable, and he is rarely caught out of position.

Weaknesses? Is being too perfect a weakness?

Dan Gore

Gore may become the second BSU lineman to go in the draft thanks to his room to grow both physically and technically. At well over six feet tall, Gore definitely has the height, and a solid NFL weight training program could bulk him up to pro playing weight. Plus, having played defensive line for years, Gore’s O-line prospects are much more limitless than most people realize.

Also, his last name is a type of torture. That can’t hurt his chances.

Tad Miller

NFL teams would be wise to give Miller a long, hard look. He is a powerful, sound blocker who has proven to be a winner over his years on the Bronco O-line. Also, he regularly checks his GMail account and responds to pretty much any interview request (notably, ours).

Nick Schlekeway

An excellent pass rusher is a valued commodity in today’s NFL, and Schlekeway would certainly revitalize a team’s pass rush. During his BSU days, he showed great speed and power off the edge, and he had the ability to make an impact in a game. Bigger and stronger defensive ends may be available on draft day, but there will be no player who matches the amount of consecutive consonants in Schlekeway’s last name.

Jeff Cavender

A key member of the Broncos line over the past few years, Cavender has made his mark as a jack of all trades. He can seamlessly switch between different offensive line positions, playing everything from guard and tackle to center and giant tight end. His maneuverability masks a remarkable talent for always being in the right position with his excellent technique and footwork.

Of course, we could be talking about Pete Cavender right now and not know it.

Taylor Tharp

If third-string quarterbacks were valued as highly as franchise left tackles, Tharp would be a Top Ten pick. He proved at Boise State that the spotlight is a little much for him, but mop-up duty against third-teamers couldn’t be more up his alley.

He put up great numbers with the Broncos with his quick decision-making, knowledge of the offense, and accurate arm. His sideline tosses lacked urgency, but his deep balls always had enough behind them.

As a bonus, Tharp would make best friends with the kickers.

The Life Coach: Ian Johnson=chick magnet

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,
I am a girl who loves Boise State football but does not love Ian Johnson. Do I exist?
Confused in Caldwell

No, you don’t. Ian Johnson is the equivalent of Justin Timberlake for N’SYNC. No fourteen-year-old girl watched N’SYNC for Joey or Billy or whoever the other guys were. They watched N’SYNC for Justin. Just like every girl who is a BSU fan watches Boise State football because of Ian Johnson. There is nothing else there to attract them.

You think there are tweeners who just love the beat and feel of N’SYNC’s music? No way. You think there are girls out there who love BSU football for its offensive ingenuity and ability to get big third down stops? No way.

Nearly every girl who watches BSU simply watches because they are hoping that Ian Johnson somehow dumps his wife and asks them to marry him on national TV. Or because they like the blue turf.

Life Coach,
What is an appropriate response to seeing Marty Tadman in the Boise Towne Square Mall Pro Image? I hope you will say "shriek like a little girl, have him sign your undershirt, ask him to be the godparent of your as-yet-to-be-born child and steal a sample of his hair while he's not looking...you know, for cloning purposes." I ask out of curiosity, not out of past incidence.
Creepy in Coeur d'Alene

Just as Marty Tadman is a very unique individual, there is not one response that is uniquely appropriate when seeing Marty in a Pro Image at the mall. Varied responses are acceptable, BUT there is a basic framework that you should try to stay within.

Only scream or gasp once – preferably upon initial realization or contact. Prolonged shrieks and gasps are unsightly and unacceptable.

You may notice his tattoos, but under no circumstances are you to touch them or ask him to show you every tattoo that he has. I mean, he knows they're awesome. That’s why he got them.

Don’t do anything you would regret if your grandmother was watching.

Don’t do anything that would normally require a lawyer (i.e. giving him your kidney, becoming a legalized guardian, stealing his hat, etc.)

Finally, upon departure, do not give him lingering looks through the display window. Marty hates this. It creeps him out. Just be a man and walk away. Walk away.

Mr. Life Coach,
Where does the line for the Kellen Moore bandwagon start?
Jeff Caves in Boise

Start? Where does it end? That’s the question.

There are so many people already a part of this lefty’s fan base that he might be able to form a legitimate mutiny if he doesn’t start. His boyish features and unique style soften the heart of the elderly and inspire those of the younger generation. The Kellen Moore bandwagon is currently a tricked out Honda Element, and there is a long line to get into that compact SUV.

So, my friend, the question is not where does it start. The question is: Where does it end? Because you need to get in line.

Coach Pete's spring break plans

The Broncos took time off for spring break this week, and they will resume practice on Monday, leading up to the second scrimmage of the spring on April 4. With seven days off, we are curious to see what Coach Pete has been working on.

Here are our theories on what exactly he might have been up to over the break (listed in order of probability):

• Installing a new offense
• Cloning Marty Tadman
• Reading our interview with Tad Miller
• Finding a way to get Chris O'Neill more touches
• Nicknaming fellow WAC coaches
• Writing a paper for Jeremy Childs
• Stewing over the attention paid to the Bronco basketball team
• Spying on University of Idaho practices
• Naming a starting quarterback

Modern-day MySpace journalism

Earlier today, OBNUG broke a story on Orlando Scandrick being focused heading into the Combine. The story was attained from research done on Scandrick’s MySpace page, to which we did not have full access since we are not technically friends. Nevertheless, our cutthroat reporting skills and attention to detail led us to the breakthrough the NFL Combine had been waiting for: Orlando Scandrick’s mood, complete with emoticon.

All of this got us thinking: is MySpace a credible source for breaking news? Most certified news programs use actual people or first-hand experience to inform their opinions. Should we really be putting our faith in a system that epitomizes the omg generation?

OBNUG votes yes.

We feel that MySpace is a perfectly reasonable place to find out information, especially from today’s generation. Kids are much more likely to post comments or blogs about their life than they are to tell Paul J. Schneider “what’s the haps.” No BSU athlete is running to Mike Prater to tell him how he did on his macroeconomics test, especially not Jeremy Childs. That kind of information is going to hit the interwebs of MySpace long before it makes its way to the middle-aged dad mouths of Idaho media.

Welcome to the future of reporting, where breaking news is sandwiched between the backdrop of Hello Kitty pics and the aural onslaught of Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back.”

Consider OBNUG resourceful. We’ve gleaned copious amounts of knowledge from Ryan Clady’s profile (of particular note, which shows may or may not be the sh*t), and we never cease to be amazed by Marty Tadman’s page (appropriately set to DC Talk’s “In the Light”).

Taste the revolution, David Augusto. You can have your agents and directors and personal contacts. We’ve got this guy:

Of course, one needs to be careful straddling the line of journalistic exposure and personal privacy. We would never share with the world that Ryan Clady, according to his MySpace page, makes less than $30,000 a year. That is his personal business, and we intend to keep it as such.

Likewise, MySpace reporters like ourselves need to know how to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to bogus info. Believe it or not, some people lie on their social networking profiles, so you have to take everything you see with a grain of salt. We at OBNUG realize the potential problems, which is why we have adopted a surefire rule to differentiate between the truth and the lies: Always trust an emoticon. Except the surprised emoticon.

We would welcome the media hordes of Idaho to join us in the evolution of journalism. There is a lot to be learned on the pages of MySpace, even if most of it is written in tweenspeak. If you can’t understand something, go ask your teenage daughter. If you can’t figure out a computer, go cover the Vandals. Enjoy finding out more than you ever thought you’d know about today’s athletes.

As for us, we’re moving on to Facebook.

Bold Predictions for the Week Ahead

We had a good time watching the Oscars last night, although we were a little disappointed that there was a complete lack of sports throughout the entire four-plus hours. Couldn't we at least have had Will Ferrell do something in short basketball shorts? We will never understand Hollywood.

Here is what we see happening in the nex

• Orlando Scandrick blows everyone away at the Combine on Tuesday, prompting scouts to wonder: "If Scandrick is this good, then Marty Tadman must be great!"
• Academy Award voters go see Into the Blue, declare it the finest documentary ever made, and reverse their decision to give the Oscar to some foreign flick instead.
• Ryan Clady's disappointing Combine performance will be overshadowed when, at BSU's Pro Day, he runs the 40 in 4.3, drags an airplane across the field with his teeth, deadlifts a live horse, jumps from midfield to the top of the new press box and walks on the Boise River.

WIR: Boise State football with love

Week in Review (WIR) is very glad the writer's strike is over because watching Deal or No Deal was starting to get pretty old pretty fast.

Dave Tester's mugshot from hell.
Kudos to the Statesman.
Scandrick going to the combine.
We couldn't be more over Sean Renfree.
Grading WAC recruiting classes.
Southern Miss still on the schedule.
Marty Tadman forever.
Hawaii's rings of power.
Vote, vote, vote.

See you all next week.