Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Webcams to cloning: the future of recruiting


As if the sordid world of college football recruiting isn't cutthroat enough, technology has kciked the yearlong beefcake auction into high gear. Coaches have turned to webcams to aid their recruiting, as if monetary gifts, hot coeds, self-doing homework, and hero worship weren't an easy enough sell.
(Webcams) are without a doubt the wave of the future in long-distance communicating with high school players. (Alabam's Nick) Saban and Southeastern Conference rivals Les Miles of LSU and Phillip Fulmer of Tennessee are using the Internet tool. Others among several dozen schools
contacted by The Associated Press are considering or have considered it.
The technology is catching on across the nation, especially with uncouth former NFL coaches.
Saban said he speaks to “four or five” recruits a day on the Web when he’s in the office.

Nerd alert!

If webcams are the present, then what is the future? With technology only increasing over the next few years, the prospects of long-distance communication have never looked so good.
  • Star Trek transportation. NCAA rules may prohibit traveling to visit recruits, but they certainly do not say anything about teleporting to visit recruits. How else do you think Captain Kirk convinced Spock to join the S.S. Enterprise? It certainly wasn't a pre-owned Vulcan two-door sedan.

  • Subliminal television messages. The mass media of TV is a great tool for reaching high school prospects, and the art of subliminal messaging could have a five-star player pining after Winnemucca U for reasons they do not entirely understand. The way it works is simple: during the popular ABC Family series Greek, Joe Coach will set up unique banners and ads to display in the background of certain scenes. Also, inserted between cuts from one character to the next would be brief messages intended on convincing college athletes to come to Joe Coach's university. Some call this College Football Live on ESPN.

  • ESP. Banning text messaging, phone calls, and other communication has made life tough on college coaches. But The Man can't keep down brainwaves! Selling a recruit on a school would be as easy as thinking (note: not that easy for all college coaches). The home visit would be replaced by cross-country brain feed. The recruiting calls would give way to recruiting thought missives. Headaches aside, it would be pretty great.

  • Cloning. The job of a college coach is often too much for one man. That is why God invented cloning. The only thing better than one Chris Petersen would be two or three Chris Petersens--one to do the coaching, one to do the recruiting, and a third, miniature one to appear at charity events and children's birthday parties. Regulate that, NCAA!
Web cams new tool in college recruiting [Yahoo! Sports]

Tuesday: Links with family


Story of the day

Kyle Wilson named to Nagurski watch list [WAC Sports.com]

Who needs Orlando Scandrick? The future Dallas Cowboys star bolted the Broncos for NFL riches after his junior year, leaving room for junior Kyle Wilson to fill his shoes. The media thinks that shouldn't be a problem.
The Football Writers Association of America has announced the Watch List for the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the best defensive player in college football and sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Four WAC players made the list: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State; Solomon Elimimian, LB, Hawai‘i; Antonio Baker, DB, Louisiana Tech; and D'Anthony Smith, DT, Louisiana Tech.
By the end of the year, we fully expect Ryan Winterswyk, Derrell Acrey, and Jeron Johnson to join the list.

Other links:

Murphy unimpressed by Idaho prospects [Fight Fight BSU]
And Idaho prospects are unimpressed by his diction.

ESPN/ABC schedule released [ESPN.com]
Navy at Ball State. Clear your Friday, Sept. 5th!

Scott Slant sees more of the same for BSU in '08 [Scott Slant]
More of the same WAC dominance, we hope.

Changes to Taco Bell Arena next? [Idaho Press-Tribune]
Advice for sounding like a Boisean [Real Estate Blog]

Monday, May 12, 2008

Hawaii fan blog loads up on quantity, links


We Bronco bloggers are a rare breed, pumping out posts in an offseason devoid of news and information. Thankfully, we are not alone.

One of the big WAC bloggers is Hawaii's The Warriors Will Throw, and they are in the middle of a posting schedule of OBNUG proportions. The wholesale posts are admirable, but we have taken particular notice of the giant amount of linkage. Here is a taste:

  • SMU fan site
  • Hawaii Warriors wikipedia
  • Colt Brennan draft post
  • TimmyChang.net
  • Ikaika Ilama-Francis' blog
  • UH Rainbowtique
No OBNUG link? This Bronco-Warrior rivalry runs deeper than we thought.

Monday: Links with pectorals


Story of the day:


BSU chosen to research turf injuries [Int'l Herald Tribune]

Always at the forefront of turf-related news, Boise State University has been commissioned by the NFL to investigate turf-related injuries.
The (research) could provide the NFL with some of the most comprehensive information available on how and why turf-related injuries occur, and if changes in footwear or artificial turf could result in fewer injuries for NFL players. The NFL gave Boise State researchers a $115,000 grant last year for the project.
Our best solution for turf-related injuries is to plant grass. Problem solved. Now, go spend that $115,000 on Dairy Queen kiosks.

Other links:

Greg Graham closes in on extension [Idaho Press-Tribune]
The contract might include bonuses for successful inbound plays.

Idaho high school kids hit the combine [Scout.com]
No word yet on if Robb Akey cared to attend.

Mark Schlabach's post-spring Top 25 [ESPN.com]
Fresno State and Oregon crack the top 25. Boise State waits for when it matters.

Alex Guerrero interview [Fight, Fight, BSU]
Do all former Boise State players end up in the CFL at some point?

Webcams are becoming new recruiting tool [Int'l Herald Tribune]
Yeah, for recruiting nerds.

Friday, May 9, 2008

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?