OBNUG roster update: Running backs

Spring football gets OBNUG in the mood to speculate, so over the next few weeks, we will be making blind guesses as to who will be starting for the Broncos in the fall. We’ll do it position-by-position. Today: Running Back.

Boise State football starting running back

Ideal candidate: This vehicle:

Worst candidate: Ian Johnson 2007

Actual candidates: Ian Johnson, DJ Harper, Jeremy Avery, Doug Martin

OBNUG pick: Ian Johnson

Johnson will win the starting job, but whoever gets to be his back-up will be in good position to replace him next season. We hope it is Doug Martin because we have an unhealthy affection for him and we’ve yet to even see him in person.

Friday's event schedule

Friday is a big day for Boise State athletics with both the football team and the basketball team in action. OBNUG will be at both events, and we'd love to meet you.

• 3:30pm: Spring scrimmage at Bronco Stadium.
• 8:30pm: First-round NCAA tournament in Birmingham, Ala. (tipoff 30 minutes after opening game)

We'll post pictures from the scrimmage and the tournament game as soon as we can, and we'll be live-blogging the TV broadcast of the basketball game. It will be a fun day!

Nevada QB redeems himself

Colin Kaepernick restored the faith of Nevada fans with a four-TD day in the Wolfpack's second spring scrimmage, this after a performance in the first scrimmage that could best be described as "setting offensive football back several years."

The reigning WAC freshman of the year threw touchdown passes of 71, 65 and 55 yards and added a 1-yard rushing score in Saturday's scrimmage, the Wolf Pack's second of the spring.

No word on whether or not the Nevada defense attended the scrimmage.

Non-BCS Notebook [ESPN.com]

OBNUG in Birmingham!

As disappointed as the rest of Bronco Nation was to hear that BSU would be playing its NCAA tournament in the East region and, consequently, in Birmingham, I was a little excited. Being the eastern arm of OBNUG since I live in Nashville, this was a nice surprise. Even more of a surprise, however, was finding out that Boise State would be in the late session on Friday night. Due to the length of the trip and prices of airfare, there were BSU tickets to spare, and I was able to procure myself a pair to the first round game.

So, for those of you able to make the trek or lucky enough to be in close proximity to the game, I look forward to meeting each and every one of you. For those of you who have a job, bills, and a fear of flying, I will attempt to sneak my laptop into the game and upload as many pictures of Billy Packer and Jim Nantz as I can. Go Broncos!

BSU's new offensive look

Word from Boise State spring practice is that the Broncos are implementing Nevada's "Pistol" offense into the playbook. This makes OBNUG feel weird.

The Broncos spent most of the first week of spring ball experimenting with formations and plays that are a combination of Boise State staples, the hip spread offense and — here’s where it gets uncomfortable — the rival Nevada Wolf Pack’s pistol offense.

Go ahead, Chadd Cripe. Tell us more.

The Broncos will place a tailback behind the quarterback in a one-back formation like Nevada. However, they also will put a fullback beside the quarterback for a unique two-back look.

Or, the Broncos might put a tailback or two beside the quarterback in the shotgun formation — setting up the spread option — or place the tailback behind the quarterback and offset like Florida.

Throw in wide receiver Tanyon Bissell or wide receiver Vinny Perretta at quarterback, and things get truly funky.

The goal for the Broncos is to retain their power-running plays while using the shotgun, which allows the quarterback to scan the field and direct the offense more easily than getting under center.

OK, we're sold.

We really like the options that this offense presents. You are a genius, Chris Peterson! A genius! This new formation (which BSU coaches call the "Q") could be an exciting twist to the traditional power runs and shotgun plays. You have our blessing, Boise State coaching staff.

Boise State tinkering with offensive formations... [Idaho Statesman]

An open letter to Brian Murphy

Dear Brian Murphy,

You continue to amaze us.

Days after throwing the Bronco men's basketball team under the bus, you are back on the bandwagon. Who let you on? Was it the FOX 12 News at Nine guy? We knew we should have kept a better eye on him.

Your article about the Broncos' winning the WAC championship was a 180 from your previous stance, and it was dripping with condescension and fragments. But amidst the rambling and feelings, you still found time to slip in a shot at BSU fans:

New rule: The bandwagon is accepting all comers. The first sign-up is today at Taco Bell Arena, where the Broncos will watch the NCAA Tournament selection show.

Doors open at 3 p.m. Bring your dancing shoes. Maybe the fans will fill it up. For once.

Ouch! Touche!

We know you'll be busy patting yourself on the back between now and the Broncos' first game on Friday, and you might not have a chance to put the usual half an hour of time and effort into your column. So we figured we would try our hand at writing your column for you. How hard could it be? Answer: not very. See for yourself:

"Who would have thought that the Boise State Broncos would be sitting in Birmingham, Alabama, about to play Rick Pitino and Co. in the NCAA tournament? Certainly not the media. Certainly not the WAC. Certainly not BSU fans.

Bandwagon.

But here they are. The team that wouldn't quit. Head coach Greg Graham has readied his troops for the greatest moment of their careers and the greatest moment in Boise State basketball history--perhaps even the history of amateur basketball.

Statesman.

The lessons learned through the regular season and the WAC tournament will serve this team well. They will not get discouraged if they get down early. Perseverance. They will not panic in crunch time. Relaxed. They will not be intimidated. Vikings.

This Boise State team is different, and it is a shame that more people don't know about them. But perhaps that is why the Broncos are standing here today: to prove everyone wrong.

Bandwagon again.

When Reggie Larry, Matt Nelson, and company hit the court in Alabama on Friday night, the whole world will be watching. What will that world see? It will see grit and toughness, passion and fire, excitement and courage. The world will see the best Boise State Broncos men's basketball team in ever, and no one can take that away from them.

Murph Turf."

You can thank us later, Brian Murphy.

Sincerely,
OBNUG

Ian Johnson to return kickoffs

From Chadd Cripe's Bronco Beat blog:

His role in the offense might slip this year with three other excellent tailbacks on the roster, but he will return kickoffs and could land roles on other special-teams units, too.

We thought there might be some other candidates for kickoff return duties, but it appears that the job is Johnson's to lose.

Cripe's story had a lot of encouraging news on the Johnson front, including the RB's plan not to injure any internal organs this fall. Johnson seems to have really dedicated himself to conditioning and weight training, which means he could have a great senior season ahead. It appears he's not banking on that plumbing/knitting career to pan out.

Ian Johnson getting bigger [Idaho Statesman]

The Press-Tribune and the Arbiter have a couple stories about the QB race. Here are the links:

Broncos search for next QB [Press-Tribune]
BSU searches for a QB, again [Arbiter]