New beverage helps improve underdog-ness

ReddRox, a Boise-based energy drink company, is out to turn the Gatorade world on its ear...with the help of the Boise State football team.

Gary Craner, Boise State University head athletic trainer, says he has seen good results with athletes who have tried the drink. Craner said it's always a challenge to get athletes to drink enough water but that hasn't been the case with ReddRox.

"We started putting ReddRox in the water and the players started drinking a lot more," Craner says. "As a result the student athletes have experienced little cramping that normally takes place when athletes don't drink enough water."

For now, the energy supplement comes in powder form, intended to mix in with water or a Fun Dip; but in the future, the company plans to produce its own bottled beverages. Whatever it is, it must be working because Boise State athletes are often the best conditioned players on the field. Perhaps it's the active gardening ingredients.

(ReddRox) found the answer in a South African plant that natives refer to as "red bush" and that local athletes were using as a hydration drink. They developed a way to crystallize the African red bush into granules that are 100-percent water soluble.

ReddRox is naturally caffeine free, and contains no sugars, calories, additives, preservatives, oxalic acid or colorants and contains the antioxidants of green tea without the unpleasant diuretic effect. But the key is that it adds back the natural minerals and electrolytes needed for hydration.

One thing that it does not add back is taste.

We remember when coaches thought drinking pickle juice before a game and popping M&M's at halftime was a good idea. Man, we're old. And still a little sick to our stomachs.

The Big Water Cover-up [MarketWire]
RedRoxx Website [RedRoxx.com]

Nevada QB struggles against Nevada defense

The Nevada Wolfpack held their first scrimmage of the spring last week, and in the midst of encouraging signs comes the stat line of starting QB Colin Kaepernick:

Kaepernick 2-of-9 for 26 yards, 0 TDs, 0 Int

This will just further serve to promote the theory that Kaepernick is not a quarterback, but rather a running back who happens to take snaps.

The team was encouraged with the rushing of RB Luke Lippincott and the receiving of WR Marko Mitchell, both of whom seem to have been in mid-season form. Lippincott caused the Broncos trouble last year, and it looks like he will be a handful again.

Good signs in first spring scrimmage [Nevada athletics]

An open letter to Titus Young's 40 time

Dear Titus Young's 40 time,

Where are you? You have 4.23 seconds to show yourself or we're beating down Chadd Cripe's door to find you.

Sincerely,
OBNUG

Spring football practice: Day Two

Tuesday seemed to be the day for offensive linemen as both the Statesman and Press-Tribune focused their pieces on the front five. Despite losing five of the top six guys off of last year's line, the newcomers fighting for spots look to be a good bunch, but it is far too early to tell who will be starting come August 30.

“Basically, right now it’s gonna be the best five guys, I don’t care it they are all left tackles,” Boise State offensive line coach Scott Huff said.

Well, we actually do care if they are all left tackles, so we hope Coach Huff was joking.

Chadd Cripe had a decidedly firmer stance on the o-line race:

A few seem like safe bets to play significant roles, but definitely not sure things — freshman center Thomas Byrd, freshman left tackle Nate Potter, senior guard Andrew Woodruff and senior guard Jon Gott.

Other guys who look like serious contenders include sophomore tackle Matt Slater (a promising walk-on), freshman tackle Garrett Pendergast and junior tackle/center Paul Lucariello.

In QB news, Cripe made a point of singling out Bush Hamdan for his play thus far.

Senior quarterback Bush Hamdan has made some nice plays the first two days of practice, including one Tuesday when he picked up a fumbled snap and threw a touchdown pass.

Hamdan has declined interview requests this spring in order to focus on competition for the starting job. We seem to remember him doing this before, so maybe he has a phobia of handheld voice recorders.

Huff searching for right O-line combo [Idaho Statesman]
Bronco O-line a work in progress [Press-Tribune]

Is the no-huddle in BSU's future?

One of coach Chris Peterson's points of emphasis in spring football practice is an increased tempo. He wants to see a quicker pace to the practices, and he wants to see faster and fewer huddles. Could the hurry-up offense be far behind?

We love the idea of a no-huddle Boise State offense, and we think it could add a fantastic wrinkle to a playbook already filled with wrinkles. Imagine being able to switch into the hurry-up at any point in the game to catch an opponent off-guard or create mismatches. The Colts and Patriots do it well in the NFL, and there is no reason why it couldn't work for Boise State.

But just in case the coaching staff isn't sure, we at OBNUG have compiled a list of pros and cons to make the decision painfully clear.

PROs:

• The no-huddle offense, when done correctly, is very difficult to stop.
• Shuttling in fresh running backs and wide receivers would be easy.
• Switching from conventional to hurry-up could catch opponents off-guard.
• The offensive line would get an advantage over a tired defensive front.
• Kellen Moore ran the no-huddle at Prosser High. And called his own plays.
• You could maybe score 150 points on Utah State.

CONs:

• Linemen don't like running.
• Nick Lomax's head might explode.
  

Ryan Clady eats teriyaki

We were just down at Yokozuna Teriyaki on Vista, and we ran into former BSU offensive lineman Ryan Clady. He was sitting in the corner, waiting for his order, being awesome. And no one recognized him! Not a soul. A few seconds after we got there, he picked up his order at the front counter and left out the door.

It. Was. Incredible.

KTVB's interview with Coach Pete

Channel 7 has an interview with BSU head coach Chris Peterson up on its site right now. Here's the link: http://www.ktvb.com/video/. Chadd Cripe poached most of the good quotes in his story in today's Statesman, but the unintentional comedy of the Boise media is still worth a look.