Schedules, schedules, schedules....

...OK, just got through with the team walk-through (and oddly, Eastern Washington was having a function for the 100th year/Hall of Fame deal, so there were all these Eastern Washington people at our closed practice...nice) and I told you all I'd let you know a little about life on the road.

After the three hour drive to Boise, we all got some meal money for the Boise Airport...it was interesting to see where folks went. Quizno's for some, pizza for others, a good majority played it safe with McDonalds. Most folks assume correctly that I'm not a team member (I'd only pass for a kicker, and a short one at that), but TWO people in the airport came to me to compliment me on the team, their appearance and their manners, so that was actually very cool. Also, on the ride over, we watched Casino Royale, the first Daniel Craig Bond movie. I used to be a huge Bond geek, but I sort of grew out of it....well, let me tell you, that movie is fantastic. Daniel Craig is so good as Bond....man, what a movie.

Anyways, we went back in time on the flight, leaving at 2:45, and landing at 2:35 due to a time zone change, and then we took about a 46 second bus ride to the hotel. From there the players have a little time before heading to the walk-through. The team then has a special teams meeting before dinner. The dinners are usually pretty nice. Usually a big salad, rolls, and then most guys get both main entrees, but you have your choice of a pasta (almost always lasagna), or beef/chicken and potatoes. Now, if there are chocolate chip cookies available afterwards then it's like the perfect capper.

Due to the early game time (12:37 out here), the team has an early wake up call, and then a walk-through in the hotel before a breakfast. Breakfasts are ALWAYS good. Eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes...always a good time there. The post game this time is going to be some buffet (they have no idea Demetrius Amos and Braeden Clayson are coming LOL). Fly home on Sunday...easy as pie, no?

Tonight's meal (which I'm leaving for in scant moments) is cool too because all the players need to wear slacks and a collared shirt. Coach Z is big on how ISU is represented, and folks should really know he is big on that.

OK...I'm getting hungry, and I smell me some pasta. Any questions, just hit the ol' comment button....

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

Heading out to Boise (load the busses at 8:30, wheels moving at 9 am), and from there, a quick flight back in time to Spokane, since we land earlier than when we leave. Sometime tonight I'll send out another post with some of the details of a road trip...I was thinking you folks might like to know a little about how a trip like this is structured. I would have done it now but this is our first commercial flight with the team, so I'm kind of curious to see how it goes myself.

Also, the team looks pretty sharp.....ties for everyone on this trip....just trying to represent. On quick link....after my guest column on Eye on Sports Media (I've linked permanently to their blog, as it is really pretty insightful, Will Hoenike at IdahoSportsZone had a guest column as well, talking about how we at ISU are way ahead of the curve. What's funny is I credentialed Boise Bengal YEARS ago when he was taking photos and doing stuff for a very, very, very old incarnation of the Bengal Den....back even before it was on rivals for a little bit. Also, Tacoma picked up Dan Thompson's story on the wide-spead coaching tree for the Eastern game, and I believe Dan's piece that will be in GameDay is longer, but here is what was in today's Tacoma paper, which is John Zamberlin's hometown paper. Mitch Worthington's must read blog also has his thoughts on wrestling overtaking Holt and displacing the basketball team, and he makes some pretty solid points. OK...see you in Cheney/Spokane ... behave yourselves...

Pinch-Hitting for Pedro Borbon.....Manny Mota

Ah, one of the best parts of Airplane for those that didn't get it. Just a note to let you know when you tune into the broadcast on Saturday at 12:30 pm, it will not be Jerry Miller and Brad Bugger, but myself and Brad. As many of you guys know, Jerry worked at KLCE on the morning show with Wayne and Liza for over nine years, and sadly, Wayne passed away over the weekend while vacationing in Hawaii with his family. Wayne's funeral is on Saturday, and Jerry understandably wants to be there, and that is totally understandable. I'm proud to stand in for a week, and I hope to do him proud.

The irony of all of this is last year I filled in for Russ and got to announce Josh Barnett breaking the all-time rushing record, and now I will probably get to announce Eddie Thompson breaking the receptions record. Jerry may be "Voice of the Bengals", but I'm quickly becoming "The Voice of History"

Links, links, links
Dan Thompson is just chock full of links today, including links to his column on why the Big Sky should add ... North Dakota. Kellis Robinett also jumps in with some thoughts on ISU's four walk-ons in basketball (and since it has been asked about elsewhere, nothing official on Kelvin Krosch playing basketball at this point, and that was from the head coach). Kellis however is none-to-happy about the last two games being at Reed Gym, and in a perfect world, yeah, we don't want those games there, but like Jeff Tingey stated in the release, the economic impact to the area was too great...we have so many great sponors in the hotel and restaurant industry that need this tournament. This is why we have to have Bengal Village, and it's why on all these football road trips we've had our fundraisers glad-handing, driving to meet with boosters and potential boosters, and basically getting the processes started.

Eye on Sports Media
Eye on Sports Media apparently knows of this blog (at least someone does), and they a while back made mention of the fact I broke the two-deep here, and I sometimes get stuff here first for the die-hards before the offiical page. Well, they asked me to write a guest piece on why I credentialed the blog site www.idahosportszone.com (a must visit site by the way), and they posted it this morning. I swear I look like I'm 12 in that picture. Seriously...I shave like all the time.

Beer Pong Gone Wrong
Now while it is true that according to statistics that the alcohol-related citations have gone up at ISU to 70, when you figure that's less than six per month, or like just over one per weekend in a school of almost 14,000 .... well, that's not horrid, is it? However, I'm guessing that if beer pong is going to happen in the Gem State, it'll be a happy affair. Sadly, that's not the case at the University of Montana.

Volleyball Drops One in Four
Katie Zigars filed this story regarding ISU's loss at Boise State in volleyball last night.

The Greatest Catch You Will Ever See...
Seriously...catch out this catch by Morgan State's recevier....this is the greatest catch in college football history. Seriously...I defy you to show me a better one. If you think you have one, you know what to do.