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Sunday, August 29, 2010

Just a sweet video!

So I was doing some messing around on Youtube and I discovered this little diddy. This was the actual video played on the big screen at the 2010 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl before the Broncos ran out onto the field. It is short, but it brings back a lot of really memories. I was at every single home game this last year and watched the rest on TV. I was also present in Glendale for this one. By far the most amazing thing I have experienced sports wise in my life. The feeling of complete elation and letting myself get out of control when Winston Venable made that last interception is only eclipsed by the birth of my son. So seeing this video makes me remember everything all over again. TCU is a great team and I am really looking forward to seeing them play this coming season, plus they beat Boise State the year before in the Poinsettia Bowl so the victory on a bigger stage was even sweeter. Anyway, enjoy and get ready for more starting September 6th in Landover, Maryland!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Just when we thought it was over...

Alright, we thought the crisis and mass hysteria was over, avoided, done, and in the past. But then the Salt Lake Tribune delivered this snot-bubbler to the ribs of the college football world (note: a snot-bubbler is a term that I coined. It is used in football to describe when a defender hits the guy with the ball so hard and ferociously that it forces snot to bubble and blow out his nose). Actually, Colorado State had reported the story two times via Twitter in the early hours of Wednesday morning, only to delete the posts claiming that someone had hacked their account. Anyway, what is important is what the article says; BYU is leaving the Mountain West to become independent in football and will rejoin the WAC in all other sports. Holy Bill of Rights Batman!!!!! No where else is reporting that this is a done deal, just that there is heavy momentum swinging the Cougars that way. Even ESPN has not officially confirmed the move. Stay tuned, it could happen any second. What does this mean and what could happen because of it?

Here is what I think will happen if BYU's move is completed and becomes official: Well, Boise State will be kicking themselves for joining the Mountain West. Without BYU, they aren't that much better off than they were in the WAC. TCU is still there, which is nice, but my bet is TCU finds its way into the Big 12 when all is said and done. It could take a year or so, but it will happen, they are too good and carry too much prestige with their name for it not to happen. Goodbye Horned Frogs and then the Broncos are really in it deep. The Mountain West could try and invite Fresno State and/or Nevada, but both schools along with the everybody else in the conference just signed a contract to stay in the WAC for the next 5 years, and it has a $5 million buy out clause (source: ESPN's Andy Katz here ). This does not look good for the Mountain West Conference. The Broncos will rejoin the WAC. You can quote me. If BYU leaves, Boise State will be back pedaling faster than a cornerback trying to defend Titus Young on a deep post route. Karl Benson, the WAC's commissioner will gladly welcome the Broncos back, and then bellow a huge sigh of relief. Then the Western Athletic Conference can renegotiate their TV deal with ESPN, of which the Broncos are a huge pawn to have back on their side. The WAC is not only preserved, but is better off with BYU competing in all other sports and against 4 to 6 WAC football squads a year (source: same ESPN Andy Katz article mentioned earlier). That's not too bad of a deal for the once not-so-flashy Western Athletic Conference. However, if Fresno State and Nevada somehow get an invite and decide to pay the price to leave the WAC, I think Boise State and TCU will both stay, for now at least. This will make the Mountain West about equal to what it would be if BYU stayed. We will see.

In the eyes of the Cougars, they are getting shafted. It boils down to the fact that they are getting only $2 million in shared revenue from the Mountain West TV deal, plus their bitter rival, the Utah Utes, are joining the soon to be Pac 12. BYU is feeling upset about the lack of money and that they didn't get the invite to join Utah as a package deal (something I think should have happened anyway, but that is another story). Think of it this way, BYU-TV already exists and there are so many members of the LDS church inside and outside of Utah that would pony-up big bucks to order a TV package to see all of BYU's games (a la Notre Dame). The revenue would increase exponentially. All of these things are what good would come from BYU going independent.

However, there are far more undesirable things that would take place. BYU does not have the prestige or pull or uniqueness that Notre Dame has and therefore will have a harder time garnering national attention while on their own. Scheduling would be tough, not impossible, but tough. The biggest set back is one that I think, on its own, could compel BYU to remain in the Mountain West. It consists of three letters: BCS. Notre Dame has a deal with the BCS gurus that if they finish in the top 8, then they get to go to one of their bowls. That royalty-like treatment is due to the Irish's national pull and following, history, and prestige. The Cougars would not get anything close to that kind of deal or promise. They may be left out in the cold all together. I guess if they finish number 1 in the nation then there would be no choice but to include them, but that is unlikely to happen. The entire goal of all non-automatic qualifying schools is to bust the BCS and get into one of their bowl games. BYU has been on the precipice of doing just that for a few years counting. All that would end if they went independent. Have fun playing in the papajohns.com Bowl, or the new Yankee Bowl or whatever crappy game invites you.

That is a lot to loose if you are BYU. Surely the risks outweigh what there is to gain. But who knows, they may just do it because they are pissed about the Utah thing and the money thing, but I think it would be a huge mistake, and I am not alone.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

There is the run, but where is the gun?

I was chatting online with Brian Murphy of the Idaho Statesman, along with probably hundreds of others. I had a few questions, all of which he answered very well. There was one particular inquiry that I decided to research a little bit myself. The Virginia Tech Hokies bost running backs Ryan Williams, Darren Evans, and quarterback Tyrod Taylor, and all are beasts on the ground. As a freshman, Williams ran for 1,655 yards. Evans was injured but started out on pace to put up similar numbers and is considered a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. Taylor is an athlete and a half and can run and throw. He is the proverbial cliche dual threat quarterback.

But that got me thinking, who does he have to throw the ball to? I have not heard anything about their receivers, just the rushing attack. I went on Virginia Tech's football website and looked at their roster. They do not have anybody officially listed as a WR (wide receiver). There are a few tight ends but that is it. Taylor had 2,311 passing yards last season and there is no way he got all of them from tight ends! In fact, his passing yards doubled from 2008 to 2009. So let me try and break it down; Jarrett Boykin led the team with 40 receptions for 835 yards, Danny Coale was second with 30 for 614. Dyrell Roberts with 22 for 390, Ryan Williams (running back) with 16 for 180, Xavier Boyce with 8 for 88, and 6 others totaling 21 catches for 284 yards. That totals 2,391 yards for the team. Compare that to Boise State Kellen Moore who alone threw for 3,536 yards. The Broncos finished with 2,606 yards on the ground. Compared to 2,706 by the Hokies, they aren't that far ahead. So the Hokie offense does seem fairly balanced, while the Broncos are pass happy, but get it done on the ground as well. Advantage Broncos.

My conclusion is this; the media focuses on Ryan Williams and Darren Evans for a reason. They are too good to even describe. Just watch some highlight of Williams here and Evans here, with a combined video right here (watch Evans truck some tool from Maryland at second mark 29. It' sick!). But don't overlook Tyrod Taylor and his arm, even if he throws to players who aren't even talked about. The running game is that dominant. If Boise State can at least contain the double-headed rushing monster, then their defensive backs can focus on their job and shut down Virginia Tech. The Hokies' biggest question is on defense, and I don't think they will be able to stop Boise State very often. Bronco fans are hoping it doesn't turn into a shootout a la Nevada in 2007, but rather they keep it looking like the Oregon game in 2009, maybe with a few more points from the Broncos mixed in. All in all, it should be a fantastic game and there is no better way to start the season!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

It's a dirty job but someone's gotta' do it.

Looks like I have found another idiot to put in his place. This time I will not be taking on a legitimate sportswriter from si.com, but some sort of chimpanzee who someone let get in front of a computer, he goes by the name of Ryan K. Mitchell. Just read a little bit of this steaming pile and you will see what I mean. This is just some amateur blogger (much like myself) who decided to jump in the middle of a non-existent story and promote his own sort of uninformed banter that is about as intelligent and useful as the contents of the used diaper that I just threw away. Let's get this thing started;

First of all, if you are going to use Bleacher Report as your only source to back up your claim, then you can go ahead and expect a lot of backlash to come your way. Bleacher Report is where regular contributor's from most schools get on and post a very biased story about the team that they support. You will find similar articles from other contributors at other schools who talk the same junk about their next opponent. Bleacher Report is an apparatus for homers to get on and do what homers do. The first rule of decent amateur blogging is; don't use Bleacher Report to get all up in arms and cracked out of your mind. Mr. Mitchell, you have committed a cardinal sin. Along with that, let me provide my readers and his with a few links where you can find substantial proof that Boise State and the media in this neck of the woods is not disregarding the Hokies, but rather respecting and fearing them. Let's go with this one (the first two paragraphs really), this bad boy (this one is a fan blog), oh and click here (an official message board, to which Mr. Mitchell was referring in his dumpster fire of a post). Those are just a few that I found quickly searching. You will not find anything out of the norm of what fans post about upcoming games. Compare it to other message boards about other schools. I also found this quote that gives as much respect and awe to a team and a game as you are going to find;

"[Boise State vs. Virgina Tech is] the biggest regular-season, non-conference game in WAC history." (WAC Commissioner Karl Benson, source idahostatesman.com

The numbers don't lie. Boise State has been sub par against BCS conferences. But, are we comparing the past to see who will win this upcoming game. I don't think so, at least no one ever has before. Doesn't it make sense that Virginia Tech has a better record against BCS teams than Boise State? For goodness sakes V Tech has been one of the most consistent programs in the country for a long time, and they come from an established BCS conference, the ACC. BSU plays in the WAC and just barely started playing division 1A football games in 1996. I sure hope the Hokies would have a better record. Switch conferences and history and I'm sure the records would flip flop as well. What you need to do, Mr. Mitchell, is look at the history of Boise State in relation to the level that they were playing. I believe there is a 1-AA national championship in there at some point (actually I don't believe, I know it's a fact. The year was 1980). You can't play or recruit any better or more than the level at which you are playing. Like I said, the past doesn't decide the game on Labor Day. It should be a lot of fun to watch, even with internet-privileged primates (Mitchell) posting bull crap to try and ruin it for me!

There is not much more that I can say to discount Ryan K. Mitchell's grease fire of a blog post that he claims is true. Get your facts straight and for the sake of all things good and holy, don't use Bleacher Report as a legitimate source. Ryan K. Mitchell's comments remind me of a quote that I love and fits his claim perfectly; "It's better to stand there and look stupid than to open your mouth (write a blog) and remove all doubt."

Friday, August 6, 2010

El campeonato y la victoria de España-dos cosas importantes

Sorry to my English-speaking friends, but I need to be multi-cultural for a second.

¡Por fin escribo algo en español! Discúlpenme por no haberlo hecho anteriormente. Lo que es importante es que se haga, ¿verdad? Bueno, para mis amigos que hablan este mismo idioma de castellano (en verdad no se llama "español," pero eso es otro sujeto para otro día), sé que quieren oir algo del fútbol. Ya se acabó la Copa Mundial, pero sigue resonando la importancia y el efecto que tiene lo que hizo España. Es muy difícil comprender como es posible que fue la primera vez que ese país estuvo en el final del torneo. España tiene una historia y un pasado muy decorado y largo con el fútbol de los clubs. Real Madrid y Barcelona han estado ganando por años y épocas. Los mejores jugadores del mundo se van a España para jugar para esos clubs. Ojalá que el país siga ganando. ¡Aver como le va en Brasil en 2014!

Anteriormente hablé del efecto del campeonato de España tiene sobre el país completo. Después de tantos años de lucha, pelea, ira y odio entre las naciones seperadas, el equipo nacional calmó a la gente un poco. A la vez, se hizo algún tipo de unificación. Los catalanes, los euskadis, los gallegos y los castellanos tienen ese campeonato en común. Es algo que pueden compartir al olvidarse de sus diferencias y tensiones, si solo por un momentito. El imagen o el acto que promociona ese idea fue el gol de Carles Puyol en el semi final contra Alemania. Puyol, un catalán orgulloso, contribuyó al triunfo del país completo. Así que ¡sigan celebrando, todos los del país de España! En esta victoria se ha encontrado algo más y mucho más importante que un campeonato, y es la manera de unirse despues de tanta contención.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Sick nasty!

This video is sick nasty! I don't know who put it together, but it is really good. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am uber-excited for football season to start! If this video doesn't do that for you or if you have a problem with it, you have a problem with yourself! Check it out!

A-Rod finally hits his 600th A-bomb

Well it has happened, finally. I guess there were some people who were paying attention and cared about Alex Rodriguez hitting his 600th home run on Wednesday morning/afternoon (depending which time zone you are in). If you care, you can watch it in all its glory(?) right here at the bottom of this post. How convenient, it's embedded.

All I can say is poor Shaun Marcum, the pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, who will forever go down in history as the guy who gave up this home run. At least he didn't give up number 756 to Barry Bonds like Mike Bacsik of the Washington Nationals. Too bad that is all they will be remembered for. Hey, someone has to be the sucker who gives up record-breaking and career milestone-achieving home runs, right? Notice how it's never a big name pitcher? It's usually just some scrub who bounces back and forth between AAA and the Majors.

Anyway, the point is how important is this home run in the scheme of things? How will Rodriguez be remembered by the fans, the media, and most importantly the Hall of Fame? There is no disputing that his legacy and any important numbers that he reaches are tarnished after his steroid-use admission. The matter at hand is to what degree is it tarnished? Personally, I think the steroid era is in the past and needs to be viewed as the dark ages of baseball. There has been new enlightenment and knowledge given and let's just move on. Who cares about who is on "the list" and who did or didn't use! The guy crushing home runs who was hopped up on HGH and a anabolic steroids was doing so with pitches from a pitcher who was also doping. It was as wide-spread as could be. It is just too hard to try and pick out who did what, when, and for how long. But most importantly, it is impossible to decipher and analyze how much the steroids helped. Plus if everybody was on them, then the playing field was even anyway. Think about it, if you didn't take steroids and everybody around you was taking them and performing at a higher level than you, why not just join in? It's either that or go join the previously mentioned milestone giving-up pitchers in the minor leagues.

In a nutshell, it is what it is. It's in the past, get over it and forget about it. Just don't forget about the dark cloud that steroids cast over the game. It is important to learn from the mistakes. To put it in the form of a cliche, there is no use crying over spilled milk, just be more careful next time (I added that last part!). In one of my first posts, I mentioned that baseball has a dying fan base and that is partly due to the steroid era. But again, commissioner Bud Selig needs to do his part to modernize the game. It's a slow process, but it needs to be done. With the game preserved and with new fans, the legacies of players such as Alex Rodriguez will gain ground and momentum in the face of what has been lost by a stagnant fan base.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The Andy Staples that we like

Finally, something to which si.com gave equal and fair coverage! After all the bashing on Andy Staples I administered and here he has Boise State's back. He must have filmed this before the piece he wrote. Enjoy1