Tuesday: Links with recruiting

Story of the day:

Welcome, Malcolm Johnson [OregonLive Blog]

The big recruits just keep coming.

Boise State got a verbal commitment from Barlow High (Oregon) RB Malcolm Johnson, one of the top-rated running backs in the state.

"I really wanted to commit early and then focus on my senior year," Johnson said.

We really wanted you to commit, too.

Johnson's junior season numbers were outrageously great and not at all congruent with the offers he had received.

Johnson, who led Oregon’s Class 6A in rushing with 2,514 yards last season, chose the Broncos over offers from Portland State and Air Force.

Hmm, Portland State, Air Force, or five-time WAC champion and national darling Boise State? We like that our recruits can problem solve, too.

Other links:

Wolfpack players not above Reno DUI law [Deadspin.com]

Well, at least they're getting national media attention.

Colt Brennan throwing for Redskins [Redskins.com]
We don't really have a joke for this one.

Fresno season hinges on injuries [Fresno State blog]
...and on actually beating teams on the WAC schedule.

New CB recruit a Scandrick clone? [Dave's blog]
Hello, shirtless wind sprints!

Oregon prep RB commits to Broncos

Oregon three-star running back Malcolm Johnson (Barlow High, Gresham, Ore.) has given his verbal commitment to Boise State. Rivals.com was first to break the story, and with follow-ups from the Idaho Statesman and Fight Fight BSU, we know it to be true.

Thanks for a heads up email from one of our loyal readers. We'll have more on Johnson tomorrow.

Let's get this 2009 recruiting class wrapped up before August!

Malcolm Johnson [Rivals.com]

Coach Pete not abandoning traditional snaps

Boise State coach Chris Petersen sat down to talk with the Statesman's Chadd Cripe, and in between long paragraphs of cryptic coachspeak, he dropped this nugget of relief:

Q: You also experimented with more shotgun snaps. Will that continue?

A: "We will do maybe more of it, but we will not be exclusive. That's not us. We don't like to be exclusive any one thing. We still feel it's important for this program to be under center."

Finally, our nightmares of shotgun snaps going over quarterbacks' heads will cease!

Coach Pete spent the rest of the interview discussing how he hoped that everyone would be in great shape this fall and come in ready to work (we think he was looking at J.P. Nisby when he said this). There was no mention of who he thought the starting quarterback would be, which comes as a surprise to no one except the Idaho Press-Tribune's Phil Dailey.

Catching up with Coach Pete [Idaho Statesman]

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."

Monday: Links with obscurity

Story of the day:

Fresno recruits another Carr [ESPN.com]

The WAC just wasn't the same without a Carr at Fresno State.Derek Carr, younger brother of overhyped Fresno star David, will be joining the Bulldogs after high school, and opportunistic WAC defenses couldn't be happier.

Derek Carr, brother of David, the first overall player selected by the Houston Texans in the 2002 NFL draft, told us recently his older brother had a major influence on his quarterback development, which is obvious by his quick release and sound mechanics.

The elder Carr also taught little bro how to take a sack 76 times in one season.

We project Derek will blossom in the latter half of his college career like his brother and fit just as smoothly in the Bulldogs' system.

...never winning a WAC title.

Other links:

Welcome back, Drew [Fight Fight BSU]

LaTech looking at 3-star QB [Scout.com]
Is his campus visit similar to a pity date?

Yet another preseason blogger poll [cidsports]
And yet another "Fresno State in Top 25."

BSU starting a softball team [Press Tribune]
We would have preferred a second football team

Life Coach: Airport Cheering 101

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 recently was in another airport and saw another traveler wearing a Boise State shirt. I suddenly had an uncontrollable urge to shout "Boise!" and he responded with "State!" Is this acceptable?
Annoying in Arco

No. A thousand times no. Please do not do this. If you do this, mature Boise State fans will slowly shake their heads, look down to the ground, and sigh. Here’s why.

I lived in Ohio for a year once. In Ohio, one person will yell “O-H!” and another person will yell “I-O!”. It’s fun. It’s unique. It’s been around forever. That’s why it works. But it does NOT work for us to do our "Boise...State!" cheer. First, it’s not fun to do it with just two people (especially if the guy on the back end is a little quiet because then it's just a dude in an airport yelling “BOISE!” and that’s a little odd). Second, it’s not unique at all. Every team has a back and forth cheer like that. And third, we’ve only been doing it so habitually for, like, 10 years – ever since we’ve been good. So please, please, don’t do this.

But there is something all to our own that is kind of cool that you can yell in an airport at another Boise State fan. By yelling this, you will see if this person really is a fan or not, and it will be a special moment between the two of you where you will both laugh and high-five each other. Just yell out, “And that’s another Boise State…” And if he or she is a true fan, they will yell back “FIRST DOWN!”

Life Coach,
How many Idaho Vandals does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Seriously, because I have four here right now and that isn't enough.
Handy in Hailey

It actually takes 17 Vandals to screw in a light bulb. Why? Because 16 isn’t enough, and 18 is too much.

It doesn’t have to make sense. We hate you, Vandals. Get better so we can have a rivalry again.

Mr. Life Coach,
Are Utah State fans worth jeering or are we just wasting our breath?
Sincerely, OBNUG

Well, let me say this. The name “Aggies” is actually short for “Agriculturalists." Now, don’t get me wrong; I support our agriculture as much as the next guy. But I just don’t think we need to waste our breath jeering the Utah State Agriculturalists. Not worth our time.

But we could do something new and exciting. I would encourage all fans instead of jeering to simply pity the other team. Simple and genuine pity. Instead of giving them the effort of our jeers, we could just feel bad for the Agriculturalists and their relative obscurity (ed's note: this works well with those New Mexico State Agriculturalists, too). Gentle pats on the back. Small encouragements for them to “keep trying, guys!” This will infuriate them. Agriculturalists hate pity.

Friday: Links with education

Story of the day:

Boise State recruiting adds two more [CSTV.com]

Yesterday's big news of getting a commitment from California QB Joe Southwick was just what we needed during this long summer. And now this!

Quarterback Joe Southwick of Danville-San Ramon Valley, Cal., who passed for 3185 yards and 35 touchdowns as a junior; defensive back Quaylon Ewing of Sugar Land-Kempner, Tex; and defensive back/receiver Ebenezer Makinde of Phoenix-Paradise Valley, Ariz., have committed to Boise State.

Looks like the Broncos have added two defensive backs to their 2009 recruiting class. This year's incoming class was short on both positions, so it is nice to see that the coaches have made it a point of emphasis to build up those areas of the team. And it is nice to have something fresh to talk about in late May.

Other links:

Southwick stories: Press-Tribune, Idaho Statesman, and Contra Costa Times.

More from Dave Southorn's interview with Southwick [Dave's Blog]
Good to know the Fiesta Bowl got Southwick's attention.

Boise State cracks Top 25 in random guy's poll [Domer Law]
But we don't really give too much credence to any poll that contains Notre Dame.

Fresno State adds Colorado to future schedule [Daily Camera]
Pat Hill will have to wait until 2011 to lose to Dan Hawkins again.

MAC looking to steal Sun Belt teams [AOL Fanhouse]
Please, take Idaho! Please!