There wasn’t a hands-down surprise breakout player in 2005—defensive end Mike T. Williams would come the closest with his 2½ sacks and four pass knockdowns. When asked at the WAC Media Days which of his newcomers had a chance to be a surprise this year, BSU coach Chris Petersen mentioned just one player by name: Garrett Tuggle, a JC transfer from Chabot College. At 6-1, 213 pounds, he’s undersized, but he has the speed the Broncos covet. Tuggle has been playing the part of an interception machine so far in fall camp. He played just one year at Chabot, so he’s only a sophomore in eligibility. File that name away.

This is an interesting nugget, considering Boise State’s run of four straight WAC championships has been built on the commitment and chemistry developed during summer conditioning. The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that, as the Nevada football team opened fall camp Sunday, “the coaching staff found out that an alarming number of players—all on the offensive side—aren’t in the physical condition they expected them to be in.” Coach Chris Ault told beat writer Chad Hartley the players didn’t achieve the expected times in Nevada’s conditioning tests. Contrast that with what coach Chris Petersen said yesterday after BSU hit the blue turf for the first time on a 104-degree day: “They’re in as good of shape as they can possibly be.”

Royal Gill’s frequent-flier college football career has one year to go, and it’ll be in Cedar City, UT. The former Eagle Mustang split time with Joey Vincent last year at New Mexico State—then coach Hal Mumme brought favorite son Chase Holbrook from the team he used to coach, Southeastern Louisiana. Gill though it in his best interests to transfer, and he landed at Southern Utah. He can play right away for the Thunderbirds since they’re Division I-AA. This is actually Gill’s second I-AA school. He started his career at Stephen F. Austin after graduating from Eagle, then went to Pima Community College before hooking on with NMSU. The 6-5 senior threw for 1,930 yards and 11 touchdowns against nine interceptions for the Aggies.

Coach Larry Lewis has three years left on his contract at Idaho State, but that doesn’t mean this season isn’t pivotal. Lewis is 38-40 at ISU, and after two straight losing seasons, there are expectations that the one-time BSU linebacker will get the Bengals back on track in this, his eighth year—to at least contend for their first Division I-AA playoff berth in 24 years. Especially with Michigan transfer Matt Gutierrez at quarterback. The Sports Network’s preseason I-AA poll reflects that. ISU isn’t in the Top 25, but they’re standing in line at no. 28. The Bengals were ranked once last year, at 24, before things went south.

It’s an extremely frustrating time for former BSU standout Bryan Johnson, who was expected to be an NFL mainstay by the time his third season with the Chicago Bears rolled around. Just Friday there was a feature about him on the Bears website, talking about how he’s come back from the foot injury he’s battled for over a year and a half. To exercise the ailing right foot, Johnson had been picking up 250 marbles with his toes every day and dropping them in a cup. The camp reviews were good for Johnson—until Saturday, when he injured his right hamstring. There’s concern that the Highland High grad may miss the season. Johnson signed with the Bears in 2004 after four seasons with the Washington Redskins.

Dan Hawkins finally raids Fresno State instead of Boise State. Hawk’s most recent acquisition at Colorado was long-time BSU strength and conditioning coach Jeff Pitman. Now he goes to Fresno State to get Miguel Rueda, the Bulldogs' director of sports medicine and the head trainer for football. Rueda had been Fresno’s head trainer for three seasons.

After a train wreck of a homestand last week against Salem-Keizer, the Boise Hawks finished a crash-and-burn series in Eugene last night in a 3-1 loss to the Emeralds. How about this: the Ems scratched out just two hits in the victory. Hawks starter Kitt Kopack issued three walks and hit two batters, and reliever Jayson Ruhlman walked four more as Eugene took full advantage. The Emeralds didn’t collect their second hit of the night until the bottom of the seventh, but by that time they already had their 3-1 lead. The Hawks have now dropped eight of 10 and are just two games above .500 (25-23). They still have a one game lead in the Northwest League East Division, though, as Tri-City cooperated with a 3-2 loss to Everett last night.

This Day In Sports…August 8, 1976:

In a 5-2 victory over Kansas City, the Chicago White Sox make history by wearing shorts. Thank goodness Comiskey Park had natural turf. The latest of Bill Veeck’s experiments didn’t take (it was probably then that they started planning for Disco Demolition Night).

(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment Sunday nights at 10:30PM on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra and anchors five sports segments each weekday on ESPN Radio 1350 KTIK.)

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