Gem State Joys....

There are a few things that the month of February brings....it brings Groundhogs Day (commemorated with Punxsutawney Phil), Valentine's Day (commemorated with hearts and chocolates), and President's Day (sadly commemorated with a Mattress Sale at J.C. Penney's). The other thing February brings is National Signing Day, and for Idaho State, the requisite argument over Idaho athletes.

Now, as I delve into this, I can't really comment on certain things due to NCAA regulations (remember, the Bible gave us 10 commandments, and people struggle with those...the NCAA gives us 440 pages of commandments...you do the math).

Anyways, John Zamberlin signed five Idaho kids to scholarships, upping his total on his tenure to 18. California led the way this year with 12, and then it went Washington with 7, Idaho with 5, Hawai'i, Arizona, and Utah each with 1. The comments I always hear can be broken down into a select few, and I'll go through each of them....

Why don't we sign more Idaho athletes?
The answer is we try. I'm not allowed to say who we offered to and who we didn't, but we offered many Idaho athletes....they don't all chose to go to Idaho State. John Zamberlin's summer camp includes so many Idaho High School teams now, and that helps recruiting tremendously, just in the relationship aspect of things. Larry Lewis had a very good commitment to Idaho, and John Zamberlin has taken that vision and expanded it.

If Montana can win with all Montana kids, why can't ISU just get Idaho kids and win with them?
This is an apples and oranges argument. First of all, the University of Montana is the largest school in their state in terms of athletics (sorry Bobcat fans). In Idaho, the Bengals are #3, behind Boise State, and then Idaho (sorry Bengal fans). Montana doesn't have to deal with the issues that ISU does in relations to the pecking order in the state. Start adding in the facilities argument, the desire for many Idaho athletes that are LDS to either play in Utah or attend BYU (don't underestimate that), and the fact that last year Idaho State had 29% of the roster as Idahoans is solid.

Compare it this way...in 2008, Boise State and Idaho had 203 roster slots, and a grand total of 28 went to Idaho kids (mostly walk-ons) ... that's just 13.8%. At Idaho State, 23 of 81 roster slots went to Idaho kids, with well over half on scholarship I believe, and that percentage is 28.4%, more than double the other two institutions.

Why so many kids from California?
This is easy....according the census.gov, the population of Idaho in July, 2008 was1,523,816 people, spread out over 83574 square miles. The same census pegs California's population at 36,756,666 people, and Washington as 6,549,224 people. Let's stay with California though. Say you wanted to recruit just the Sacramento Area and a 15-mile radius around the city center. According the the census, there are over 2.12 million people in that little area, compared to just 1.5 million in the entire state of Idaho. There are just so many kids in California looking for places to play...it's only natural to go there. Look at it this way combined with the above stat...the population of Idaho represents 0.4% of the entire population of the United States, and yet, the football roster is made up of 28.4% from the state...that's a heck of a ratio for us.

My tax dollars go to ISU, so I want scholarships to go to Idaho kids.
Actually, tax dollars (mine included) go to ISU for the programs, but the scholarships are fully raised on donations and contributions to the athletic scholarship fund.

Anyways, all of that is to basically say that John Zamberlin and the football program are going a great job of showcasing the school to in-state kids, and trying to get them to stay at home and play for Idaho State. Sorry if this sounds like something from the high-horse, because really it's not, but I know there has been some internet discussion of this topic, and I thought I could do more justice with a blog-post, plus, my brain is currently fried dealing with softball, so this was a welcome diversion LOL.

Wanna Help? Buy a Locker!
The locker dedication project is in full swing....for those of you that read the Journal's piece on Holt Arena (which my name was spelled wrong and I didn't like the articles anyway, because they were basically negative and ill-informed. Really...the only fan they could interview was one who said they don't go to the games because their son doesn't think the team will win? That's your source? The journalism teacher in me bristled....), they mentioned a wooden stand alone locker in the middle of the locker room. This is why it was there. Seriously, you can attach your name to a piece of ISU that will last for a long, long time...your own personal legacy. (NOTE: That web page went live around 10:30 am, and within three hours Donna Hays had several phone calls from ex-players wanting the contribute!) Hey, if you can't afford the $500, five people can join in, and dedicate a locker together as well.

Jay McMillin, Live in Your Living Room
If you watched the Altitude game on Sunday (we were traveling back from Greeley so I missed it), but former Portland State Viking Rashad Floyd did the color commentary, and all in all, he held his own. This week with the game at Idaho State, ISU's own Jay McMillin will be the color analyst for the ISU/EWU game, which is at 4:07 pm. Jay's Big Sky knowledge is excellent, and he did a great job on the radio for ISU against Boise State earlier this year, so I think Jay will be a star on Saturday.

Little Kids Everywhere

That's what we had yesterday after practice....little kids everywhere. ISU football hosted a free youth clinic on Thursday, and well over 200 kids came out, including girls, to learn some basic techniques, get taught by their favorite player, and just have a good time.

It was great to see the players interacting with the little kids (and some bigger junior high school kids). My favorites were the offensive line guys, showing kids that playing the line and blocking is cool. News Channel 6 was there filming at one point and Mitch Rudder started pumping one little guy up, yelling "Channel 6 baby, they want you little man...they want to see you throw a big block!" Now that little guy was pumped.

Great job by John Zamberlin and Jeff Tingey in setting that up. There was a huge poster signing after the day was over, and every kid got a voucher for a free ticket for Saturday. Many of the parents went around with the kids and got to talk with coaches and players as well, so there was lots of good communication lines going on. It was really a sight to see.

You Do Realize Returning Kicks Isn't Always Easy
While I don't necessarily disagree that we have to do a better job returning kicks, Kellis might be slightly off base a bit here, because I'm pretty sure they will take their chances with JD as opposed to a touchback. The unit did spring JD Ponciano for some huge returns against Idaho, and getting big returns this week might be really tough facing a solid coverage team in Montana State.

Barn-Burner
Ryan Collingwood talks about ISU's improvements on defense, and the close nature of the ISU-MSU series.

I Would Think They Would Want the Attention
The University of Idaho cheerleading saga continues, as the new, less risque uniforms will debut against Nevada on Saturday. It was nice of the cheerleaders to change the uniforms to focus more attention on the team, but Idaho hasn't won an FBS game since 2006.

Remember, soccer today at 4:00 pm at Davis Field....be there!

Dah-dah-dah-dahhhhh.....

It was cool out this morning, and there is a 10-hour bus ride mocking me at 3:00 pm. At least football is breaking the trip up...soccer left this morning at 7 am to get to Moscow, and they are actually stopping in Missoula to practice. Football is staying the night in Missoula.

Anyways, the NFL starts up tonight, but I'll miss most of it. Thankfully, for the first Sunday of the season, I'll actually get to watch my Miami Dolphins on TV in my house (no Sunday Ticket for me), so I'm kinda stoked. But maybe you aren't stoked about the NFL? Well, if you are like me without the NFL Sunday Ticket, and you are stuck with whatever game they show, just go check the NFL TV Distribution Map to see what is being shown where. I live for this map.

But do you want to REALLY get into a football mood? Really? I mean really? Then stop what you are doing and take yourself back to 1960, and listen to the Marching Band Fight Songs of the 13 NFL teams from before the merger. I'm seriously on Cloud 9 right now. An anvil falling on my head couldn't wipe away this smile...seriously...download the polka, you know you want to.

Also, just for grins and giggles to REALLY get you in the mood.

OK, ISU Linkage....
ISU was all over the Journal today. Dan Thompson has a pair of stories, one on Montana's task of stopping Cal Poly, and also a commentary on the in-state money games ISU is playing. Kelvin Ang also had a great article on two of ISU's freshmen that are roomies and teammates on the volleyball court.

There's no "I" in team, butt.....
Now, ISU is a Nike school, and our Nike unis are very, very spiffy (seriously, we are like the best dressed team in the league). Idaho is also now a Nike school, dropping Adidas, and they debuted there new uniforms last week, but there has been a big brouhaha over the placement of the Idaho Vandal logo ... yeah, I would probably complain too.

Speaking of Idaho, Robb Akey spoke with the media, and when your best positive about the last game is that plane didn't crash, let's just say that isn't great.

Get Your Own Foul Ball Day
School restarted yesterday in Broward County, Florida. Plus, it was 95 degrees. Plus, it was really humid. Plus, the Marlins have allen out of the race in the NL East. That, plus playing the Atlanta Braves equaled a game played in front of less than 600 fans. Relieve Joe Nelson's line was a classic. "We counted 584 in the bullpen, but the guys int he press box probably had a better view."

Bengals, Aggies, Soccer, Oh My!

Another day, another contest for Idaho State, and this time it counts. The ISU soccer team will take on Utah State at 4:00 pm today at Davis Field in what should be a pretty good game. Last year ISU went 7-5-6, and Utah State was 10-11-0, tying a school record for wins. The Aggies were 5-2 in the WAC last year thought, and interestingly enough, ISU head coach Allison Gibson has not beaten the Aggies, losing 1-0 in the 2006 opener, and 1-0 last year in overtime with Gibson in stands (she was red carded after the Utah game last year).

Anyways, the game kicks off at 4:00 pm, and the radio broadcast is at 3:55 pm or so....I'll try not to stink up the joint like I did last Wednesday...I'll be better...promise. Also, Utah State's take on today's match is here. In a "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon", USU's soccer SID is Kara Irving, who just joined that staff after working at the Western Athletic Conference as an Information Director, meaning that Jason Erickson, formerly the Assistant SID here, was promoted at the WAC to Director of Men's Sports Information. Jason and his wife Marisa are also expecting a boy in early January! Yea Jason!

Over Hill, Over Dale....
Russel Hill had been fairly vanilla in the first two scrimmages, but for the final one, he was near letter perfect, yet everyone, including Dan Thompson, wanted to talk to backup quarterback Kyle Blum, who had the play of the day on a blocked extra point. His extra stuff made it to the blog on the Journal site as well. Tony at Channel 3 filed a scrimmage report, as did Paul Shahen of Channel 6.

Thoughts on the Big Sky state
The folks over at MaxMedia in Montana have been blogging on the state of Montana and Montana State practices....and honestly, and I've said this before, but sometimes practice is just practice...guys are gonna throw interceptions in practice, guys are gonna catch passes...it's the little things that you look for in a practice. How a kid blocks away from the play when the coaches aren't watching...things like that. Still, you can see tons of practice video there, which is a little goofy, but oh well.

Look Who is Here....
Freshmen have arrived! Thankfully, no one has come to the office looking for the Holt Arena elevator just yet. Apparently, one senior isn't thrilled about things though, but hey, I took 21 hours and then 20 my final year to graduate...anything can be done.

A Bronco Perspective on Things
JT Ray, who writes for the very informative BroncoNationNOW blog, will be interviewing me about the game sometime Saturday for the blog. He posted his take on the game (mentioning the 2003 game as ammo of course), including some links, even linking to the Globe of Death that I posted on the site a while back. Even if you aren't a Bronco fan, JT's writing style is pretty good, and he's well informed. I'm curious to what type of access he gets from the BSU media relations folks, and I'll find that out on Saturday, but it should be a fun interview.

Also, have you heard that BSU is opening the season with a freshman quarterback for the first time in school history? Because it's been plastered everywhere, but here are the other freshmen who have started games for BSU.

Looking Ahead
Here is a report on the Vandals fall camp from the Argonaut. Cause, you know, we play them right after BSU...it'll be the first game of the season on a green field, so that should count for something.

I Got Email!
I just got the official release from the Sports Network that Eddie Thompson was named Preseason Second Team All-America at receiver...very cool.

Office Exploits
While I get grief for mentioning my hockey exploits (I neglected to mention the 195 foot goal I gave up last week from behind the other teams net....stupid bouncing pucks...), but this summer, Assistant SID Katie Zigars won a pair of tournaments, defending her title in the Chubbuck Days tournament and winning the Juniper Hills Open, which is a fairly big one as a USTA Sanctioned Adult Tournament (winning the women's singles open and doubles open). Of course, there are no online links to that, because as I've told Katie, my hockey is way more important than her tennis ... lack of online data supports my conclusion!

As always....
Questions, concerns, blog thoughts? Leave a comment, or email me at mercfran@isu.edu.

What an Opening!

Lots of stuff this week, but a couple of thoughts on the Olympics, and the scrimmage...first the Olympics.

Olympic thought #1: The opening ceremonies were as my daughter says "off the hook". Truly a thing of wonder, but I'm not happy that Bob Costas who is so quick with his quips and stuff missed the best one of all. When the Chinese gymnast was hauled to the roof and then titled to simulate running around the top of the stadium before lighting the torch, the guy's name was Li Ning. LI NING.....LEANING....he was tilted and his name was LI NING. That's too perfect.

Olympic thought #2: Tim Flagstad's blog is correct that it sucks that our time zone still doesn't get stuff live, so I have to avoid ESPN and the ticker and things like that, but I did, which made the swimming relay that much better and more exciting. What's funny is this is when folks come out and start thinking that maybe swimming and track will work on television, and while swimming and track meets are wonderfully exciting and feature world class athletes, it's that Olympic Medal at the end of the rainbow that really gets it going. This is why I could sort of care less about Olympic tennis. I'd rather watch Federer and Nadal at Wimbledon or the French Open....not the Olympics.

Olympic thought #3: If you want high comedy, invite my daughters over for the next Olympics gymnastics coverage...you will be entertained.

Scrimmage Stuff
Dan Thompson was at the scrimmage and thought it was the best he's seen in three years. He also has a general overview in the print edition, and Tim Flagstad makes a very good point about ISU's receiving corps. There is also some more football stuff with video here from Channel 6, and here from Channel 8. Make sure you click the Fast Chat with Russel Hill....all I'm gonna say is my dream car is the Batmobile...isn't it for everyone? To change it up, here's a soccer story from Channel 3, and they also have a report on the new Holt Arena fees.

Opponent Stuff
Not sure if he can quarterback or not just yet, but the Idaho Statesman reports that BSU QB Bush Hamdan can put on a heck of a softball game. Also, Chadd Cripe has camp reports from last week here and here. Up at Idaho, they are apparently having some receiver issues, and here from the Idaho Press Tribune is everything you ever wanted to know about Ian Johnson's injuries. I can't believe they left off the hangnail he suffered some in week seven of his freshman year.

The Favorites are Up and Running
Montana is the last Big Sky team to get going, and the Missoulian has the information.

Bengals in the NFL
Dan Thompson caught up with five of ISU's six NFL players for a fascinating look at life in the NFL. The story got more poignant when Johnson was cut yesterday.