Colt Brennan speaks via Google News

Shall we check in with our favorite overrated, system quarterback?

Apparently Google News now pulls out random quotes from the person you're searching for. With Google's tendency to pull the most popular things first, it doesn't look like I'm the first person to put in Brennan's name. See below:

Now, that's the spirit!

To be fair, here's the whole story that he was quoted in. It was part of a longer quote basically about how June Jones had brainwashed him into thinking that he was the best quarterback to ever play college football, ever, but then realizing when he stepped onto the mainland how things really are. He was miffed by the thought of NFL scouts grading him on his physical abilities at this newfangled thing called the "combine". Well, that was my interpretation at least. You might want to read it for yourself.

Redskins Select Hawaii QB Colt Brennan in 6th Round [WUSA9.com]

Bulldogs, Broncos battle in post-spring polls

Thanks to preseason polls, Fresno State and Boise State don't have to wait until the regular season to start competing against one another.

Polls from a wide variety of Internet media outlets have popped up over the past few weeks, and many have been anxious to put in their two cents now that spring ball is over. The consensus still lies with Fresno State as the WAC favorite, but we'll let the Bulldogs win that battle so long as the Broncos win the war.

CBS Sportsline
For his number one spot, Dennis Dodd takes Ohio State over Georgia despite the undeniable evidence of Ohio State being traditionally overrated and overmatched when it counts. Fittingly, he also has Fresno State in the Top 25.
Fresno State: #24
Boise State: not mentioned

Si.com
At least someone in the national media uses precedence to make their predictions. Stewart Mandel knows what's up (see below).
Fresno State: not mentioned
Boise State: "On the cusp"

Sporting News
Matt Hayes at Sporting News puts the Bulldogs at the top of his rankings. The Georgia ones, not the Fresno ones. But give him another month and Fresno might just get there.
Fresno State: #25
Boise State: not mentioned (ed's note: subscription canceled)

CSTV
You know preseason polls are popular when even the CSTV guys are participating.
Fresno State: #23
Boise State: "On the cusp"

Fanblogs
How original. Instead of a Top 25, Mr. College Football made a Top 30. That's, like, 20 percent more prognosticating!
Fresno State: #25
Boise State: "Almost made it"

Friday: Links with motivation

Story of the day:
Bold WAC predictions [CUSAbbs.com]

Yesterday, we linked to a site that predicted the Broncos would face Maryland in the Humanitarian Bowl this year. Today, the same site goes one step further in guessing Boise State's 2008 record.

WAC
1. Fresno State (7-1, 9-3)
T2. Boise State (6-2, 9-3)
T2. Hawaii (6-2, 8-5)
4. Nevada (5-3, 7-5)
T5. New Mexico State (4-4, 5-7)
T5. San Jose State (4-4, 5-7)
7. Louisiana Tech (3-5, 3-9)
8. Utah State (1-7, 1-11)
9. Idaho (0-8, 1-11)

Seriously? 9-3? This is the worst news we've heard all day. Plus, if the Broncos finish 6-2 in the WAC, we might go into severe depression.

At least he got Utah State and Idaho right.

Other Links:

Humanitarian Bowl set for Dec. 30th at 2:30pm [Idaho Press-Tribune]
Fortunately we always keep our Tuesday afternoons free just in case a bowl game should happen.

T.J. Acree switches CFL teams [Scott Slant via J Bates]
An Eskimo to an Argonaut. Sounds like a Guillermo Del Toro movie.

Fight Fight skewers Akey for his comments [Fight Fight BSU]
Also skewered: the mustache.

Women soccer stars to visit Eagle [Idaho Statesman]
Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain?! We haven't been this excited since the Humanitarian Bowl date and time were announced!

Rimington watch list [Rimington Trophy]
Idaho, Nevada, and Utah State made the list. Just another thing for them to lose.

June Jones update: still thinks the run 'n shoot works [ESPN.com]
Isn't that cute?

The Life Coach: you need to get that looked at

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,
My blue body paint from the New Mexico State game still hasn't worn off. Should I consult my physician?
Lead-Poisoned in Lewiston

My short answer is,“Yes.” Actually, it is an immediate and worried, “Yes.” But your question actually brings up some deeper issues.

1) Did you go to the game painted entirely blue by yourself? Or did you have an orange friend as well? If so, you might want to bring your friend with you to the doctor.
2) Ummmm, are you sure it was paint and not possibly sealant?
3) I am pretty sure the New Mexico State game was about five months ago. Have you really been blue all this time and for some reason just not been worried until this week?

My friend, I would suggest three things. Go see a doctor. Go see a shrink. And try a large funny Boise State hat or a nice sweater or something. Maybe people won't notice.

Life Coach Sir,
My wife and I will be attending a formal dinner on Saturday night, and we need some help with our wardrobe. I would like to wear a Boise State jumpsuit with a giant orange wig, and my wife would like to wear her pink Kyle Wilson replica jersey. My question: is all Boise State apparel fashionable and acceptable for any occasion?
Tacky in Twin Falls

Little known fact, there is actually only one occasion where Boise State apparel is neither fashionable nor acceptable: church. We need God on our side. Don’t make Him mad. Save the BSU stuff for later. Wear the khakis. Wear the button-up. Wear the tie. Leave the pink Kyle Wilson jersey at home…for God’s sake.

Life Coach,
Who would win a cage match between Buster Bronco, the Carl's Jr. mascot, the Verizon Wireless giant puffy phone, and the Idaho Powerball?
Sincerely, the Coca-Cola Bear

This would be a great fight, and I would hope that it would be broadcast on that 24/7 channel thing. Here’s how it would play out:

The Idaho Powerball would have to get lucky in order to win. He’s got like 140 million to 1 odds.

The Verizon Wireless giant puffy phone would do well to start, but then he would get tired and his battery would just run out towards the end of the fight – rendering him useless.

Now, Buster Bronco would be able to put up quite a fight. But I am going to disqualify him because he is more of a centaur (I mean, come on, he walks on two legs) than a bronco. But, after a while, he would get tired and just lie down or eat oats or something.

The winner would be the Carl’s Jr. mascot. And he would win for two reasons. First, his whole slogan is that “Don’t Bother Me, I’m Eating”. If he’s that angry when he is eating a hamburger, can you imagine how angry he would be in an actual fight? Wow. Secondly, I am pretty that stars have excellent balance thanks to their five-sidedness. Therefore, you could never really knock him down. You could punch him all day, and he would just bounce right back up.

So, put all of your money on Carl’s Jr. And then don’t bother him.

Ian Johnson shares cover of Athlon sports mag

The above image is the cover of the upcoming Athlon Sports college football preview issue. Personally, we would have preferred to see a four-headed manga monster of Johnson, D.J. Harper, Doug Martin, and Jeremy Avery on the cover. Then again, we don't have very good taste.

Pre-order your copy here.

Thursday: Links with nepotism

Story of the day:

Hawkins promises championship, metaphors at CU [Rocky Mtn News]

Former BSU coach (and current OBNUG Public Enemy #1) Dan Hawkins was back to his old Zen-like ways during a speech in Denver on Wednesday, but amidst a shower of metaphors, similes, idioms, and analogies, he dropped this burden on the CU football program:

"Our goal is to win a national championship at Colorado," Hawkins said, veering into his booster speech. "They laugh at that now, but you won't be laughing because we'll do it, at some point. I promise you that."

We'll believe it when we see it.

The best part of Hawkins speech, however, was not the blathering prediction. Great expectations were only a lead-in to a bevy of classic Hawkinisms. Enjoy.

"Sometimes you've got to be a potter. You've got your hands on the clay, softly, gently molding. And then other times you've got to be a blacksmith and put 'em in the fire and heat 'em up and pound on 'em."

...and...

"It takes all the people in this room, that we all support each other in this thing. As Nelson Mandela says, it's about ubuntu, that we're all in this together."

...and...

'The gutter always recruits. The gutter always needs reinforcements.'

...and...

"We have a saying: There's two types of class, there's first and there's no

...and one more...

"I always tell our guys that excellence is doing a common thing in an uncommon way, and I didn't make that up."

He ended the speech with, "Go play intramurals, brother."

Other links:

Akey responds to NCAA sanctions [Idaho Statesman]
His response: "We have to worry about academics, too?! We haven't even figured out this football thing yet!"

Will Boise State crash the BCS again? [Red Zone Report]
More importantly, are you really crashing the BCS if you're invited?

One man's BSU bowl prediction [NCAAbbs]
The Humanitarian Bowl? Versus Maryland? Great, now we're depressed.

Montana to the WAC? Not anytime soon.

The WAC needs a lot of things. Might a Big Sky team be one of them?

An interesting article from the Mizzoulian, a website for Montana University athletics, tackles the issue of the Grizzlies joining Division I-A football and possibly playing in the WAC. They would certainly raise the average winning percentage.

For the tenth year in a row, the Montana Grizzlies football team exited spring practices with the title of “reigning Big Sky Champions"... There’s one debate that reigns over all the rest. It’s something every passionate Griz fan has an opinion on: whether or not the Griz have grown too big and too good for this level of competition.

At the earliest, Montana could not join the WAC until 2011 thanks to an NCAA law capping the number of schools moving up to Division I-A. Shoot, by 2011, Idaho, Utah State, and New Mexico State might not even have viable football programs anymore. And the Broncos will be in the PAC-10.

The story, which ends up taking a decidedly negative tone on Montana's move, references a similar jump to I-A by Boise State and Idaho, even working in a snide jab at the Vandals suckiness.

In 1996, a similar packaged deal was made with Boise State and the University of Idaho. Boise State has excelled since the move with seven conference championships (two in the Big West and five in the WAC) and a Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Idaho has struggled.

“Obviously, we would’ve liked to have been more competitive in our revenue sports,” Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spears said.

The University of Montana might not be able to move just yet, but judging by their Idaho snarkiness, the Grizzoulian would fit in just fine with us WAC media.

Should Montana move to the FBS? [Grizzoulian]