WIR: Spring ends, Public Enemy nears

Week in Review (WIR) has loads of loathing for all the candidates on OBNUG's Public Enemy #1 list, which has made choosing between the six candidates extremely difficult. Still, debating the villains has provided a good dose of relief for the long, football-less summer ahead. Maybe we'll just drag this thing on until August.

Here is the best from the last week.

• Farewell, spring football.
• Spring grades and awards.
• Augusto gets demoted.
• Hal Mumme, oh how we loathe you.
• New uniforms? We hope not.
• New Nevada blog.
• Public Enemy #1 decision looming.
• OBNUG's newest feature: the Life Coach.
• Richest 41-10 loss ever?
• Politicians are good for something.
• Ticket prices continue to rise.

Have a great weekend, Bronco fans. We'll see you on Monday for some NFL draft talk.

An open letter to Congress

Dear Congress,

If you don't vote to end the BCS, the terrorists will win.

Sincerely,
OBNUG

Ticket prices climb the slippery slope of progress

The cost of being a college football powerhouse is at least 9-10 percent higher than it was last year.

Boise State jacked ticket prices by as much as 14 percent for next season, continuing the steady rise of past ticket precedent. The average hike of 9-10 percent for 2008 tickets compounds the increases from years prior, meaning that some sections have had to swallow some enormous raises. Family packages have been hit hardest, going up over 40 percent the past two years.

We have no problems with increasing the cost of admission, but we do have problems with the university's excuses for doing so. Here are some of them:

Bleymaier is projecting increases of more than $400,000 in scholarship costs for next school year, $130,000 for employee health insurance, $500,000 for employee raises and $300,000 for the first year of softball. (ed's note: We can think of a quick way to save $300,000.)

...and...

Plus, travel costs are escalating because of fuel, airfare and food prices.

...and...

And success - the Broncos are coming off terrific seasons in football, men's basketball, women's basketball, wrestling and gymnastics - isn't cheap.

...and our personal favorite...

"It takes money to do that," Bleymaier said.

Wow, what a roller coaster of fallacies!

The fact of the matter is that Boise State is raising ticket prices because Boise State can. The university should have come right out and said it instead of trying to sugarcoat things. Ticket prices are going up because Bronco fans will keep paying for them, and it makes business sense to take advantage of a profitable market.

Right, Blue Turf Towel guy?

BSU football season ticket prices jump [Idaho Statesman]

Fighting The (BCS) Man on Capitol Hill

A resolution is underway in Washington, D.C., to investigate the legality of the BCS. We have never loved politicians more than we do right now.

Representatives Neil Abercrombie, Democrat of Hawaii; Lynn Westmoreland, Republican of Georgia; and Mike Simpson, Republican of Idaho, introduced a resolution saying the B.C.S. restricts trade because only the largest universities compete in its games. The resolution would require the Justice Department’s antitrust division to investigate if the B.C.S. violates federal law.

Good for Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson leading the charge. He has earned our vote from now until eternity.

The measure, if it passes, would put Congress on record as supporting a postseason playoff.

With OBNUG also on record as supporting a postseason playoff, Congress will have a hard time ignoring this issue.

Three lawmakers seek inquiry... [New York Times]

Celebrate moderate success with the Vandals

Prior to the University of Idaho's Silver and Gold game tonight, there will be a ceremony to honor one of the rarest of Vandal feats: winning.

Before the game, the Vandals' 1998 Humanitarian Bowl Championship team is having a 10-year reunion that is open to the public.

Sigh. The only thing worse than paying so much pomp and circumstance to such a non-historic victory is paying money to attend the party for the non-historic victory. Vandal fans must be desperate.

The reunion begins at 5 p.m. on the North Concourse of the Kibbie Dome. Tickets, which are available through the University of Idaho ticket office, are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

Next year, the Vandals plan on celebrating the two-year anniversary of defeating Cal Poly.

Former Timberline standout... [Idaho Statesman]

Public Enemy #1: The recap

Over the past few weeks, OBNUG has been on a journey of contempt in search of this website's most hated villain. We narrowed the nominees down to six scoundrels, each of whom would make a perfect nemesis.

Now things get serious.

Next week, we will crown OBNUG's Public Enemy #1, and we would like your help. Please let us know who you think should be the McShay to our Kiper by either leaving us a comment or shooting us an email at OneBroncoNationUnderGod@gmail.com. Help us decide because we really can't be trusted with big decisions.

Here are the candidates:

Dan Hawkins: a backstabbing phony
"The greatest crime that Dan Hawkins committed was his assault on our trust. When he left to coach the Colorado Buffaloes, he did so in a way that forever scarred how a BSU fan will look at the team."

Colin Kaepernick: a skinny-legged Bronco killer
"Sure, we enjoy pointing out his passing flaws and demeaning his achievements on the football field. But as far as we’re concerned, he started this feud with his impartial supernaturalness."

Sean Renfree: an uninformed 18-year-old
"His spurning of the Broncos, in particular, really gets our goat, especially considering his rationale. Renfree based his decision on Duke's impressive academic record, the promise of playing time, and the experience of new head coach David Sutcliffe. We liken this to choosing a Quarter Pounder based on taste, texture, and presentation."

Robb Akey: a jerk with a mustache
"There are plenty of things to dislike about the man: his attitude, his smugness, the fact that his first name has more "b"'s than the Vandals have wins. But when it comes right down to it, Akey is reviled by OBNUG because of that larger-than-life caterpillar taking residence under his nose."

Mike Prater: a belligerent Vandal homer
"He knows full well that defending the Vandals is a crime against Bronco Nation, and his doing so in the city of Boise only magnifies his betrayal."

Hal Mumme: a self-promoting underachiever
"Couple Mumme's lameness with an undeserved air of importance that his towel-toting exudes and, well, you have made a case for Public Enemy #1."

New feature: the Life Coach

In the spirit of original content, we will be starting a new feature next week: an advice column for Bronco fans! "The Life Coach" will be a forum for questions, concerns, and quandaries relating to the everyday life of a Boise State aficionado. Sure, the column will probably devolve into rampant patting ourselves on the back, but doesn't everything here?

If you want to participate, shoot us an email at OneBroncoNationUnderGod@gmail.com.