Wednesday, October 4, 2006.

The interceptions have been the most visible ingredient of the Boise State defense so far this season—10 of them in five games, two returned for touchdowns. But the Broncos’ priority remains the same. Their rush defense is right where it always has been all the way through the new century. In five games, BSU is allowing only 79 yards a game on the ground and has given up just one rushing touchdown. The Broncos averaged between 100 and 110 in each of the past four years. It used to be that they’d dare opposing offenses to throw, stacking eight in the box. Now they’re daring the other guys to do anything.

From the get-go in spring football, the BSU coaching staff said it was going to tweak things against the pass. A more physical presence. Coverage changes that would take the cornerbacks off the islands that had occasionally given way to big plays. That is where the dramatic change has taken place—that’s what has BSU leading the WAC in defense by a wide margin at 250 yards a game. The tweaks have worked, as BSU’s giving up an average of just 171 yards passing, down from 262 last season. The alarming number last year was touchdown passes, with the Broncos yielding 31. That stands at six right now.

There’s more zone and more safety help this season, and that has taken the explosion plays way down. Remember San Jose State’s first possession last October in Bronco Stadium? A 90-yard touchdown strike? The Broncos have not allowed a completion of 40 yards yet this season, and just four have been in the 30’s (three of those by Hawaii). Utah’s longest gain in the passing game last Saturday was 10 yards. So that takes us full circle back to the interceptions. That’s been an area of emphasis this year, and that’s a team thing. Linebackers Korey Hall and Colt Brooks have five of BSU’s 10 picks.

Criticism comes with the territory as BSU re-enters the national spotlight. There are plenty of non-believers around, more of which will surface on today’s “Instant Message Dirtbag” segment on KTIK’s Idaho SportsTalk, no doubt. But it’s not like Bronco fans are making all this stuff up about the Top 25 and whatever lies beyond. SI.com’s Stewart Mandel jumped BSU from 24th to 19th in his power rankings this week, writing: “I can't say enough about the Broncos' defense. Utah has played a bunch of major-conference foes the past few years, and none of them came close to holding the Utes to three points and 178 yards. It's becoming clear that this is Boise's most physical team since it began its run.” He emphasized the “178 yards” with italics. So is Mandel crazy? He’s been doing this a long time (in fact, he was one of the guys who piled it on after BSU’s loss at Georgia last year).

When they say homecoming in Moscow, they mean it. As New Mexico State comes into the Kibbie Dome Saturday, Idaho has played only six of its last 15 games at home. Home games are great, but they’re not big revenue-producers for the Vandals. And revenue is key. Their three road trips to Michigan State, Washington State and Oregon State have added $1.11 million to the Idaho athletic department coffers. That’s the way it’ll be for the Vandals unless they can build a larger stadium someday. Current attendance is the first step in convincing people it can be done, and they look to build on their home opener, which drew 15,162 for the win over Idaho State.

Just like Idaho did last week, Fresno State can get well in a hurry Saturday when it goes to Utah State. The Aggies find a way to lose, and they won’t have to find too many against the Bulldogs. They’ll give hometown hero Riley Nelson a try at quarterback, as the Logan freshman makes his first start in place of the benched Leon Jackson. But Fresno State will simply overpower USU—it won’t matter if quarterback Tom Brandstater is struggling or not, because running back Dwyane Wright, second in the WAC in rushing behind Ian Johnson, will be more than enough. The Bulldogs have lost seven of their last eight games since beating BSU last November.

Let’s go around the horn with 2006 college football curiosities as September has passed. Starting with Montana State, which followed its upset of Dan Hawkins and the Colorado Buffs with a loss to Division II Chadron State in a not-so-triumphant return to Bozeman. Then the Bobcats got goose-egged 45-0 by UC Davis—also in Bozeman. Another loss followed at Eastern Washington before MSU toppled Northern Arizona 39-32. In Flagstaff. With the Lumberjacks ranked 25th in Division I-AA. Wyoming is another interesting study. The Cowboys are a pretty good 1-4, having lost four in a row by a touchdown or less—to Virginia, Boise State, Air Force and Syracuse. The Pokes are going to jump up and bite somebody pretty soon, maybe Saturday at New Mexico.

There are nine former Idaho Stampede players in NBA camps this week, none of them with the Stampede’s new D-League affiliates, Utah and Seattle. That doesn’t mean the Stampede couldn’t pick them up as free agents, though, offering a better avenue now to the NBA. Among the nine are Eric Chenowith and Matt Freije off last season’s team. Chenowith, the rebounding whiz, is on Chicago’s roster, while Freije, the emotional sparkplug, is trying to make it with Atlanta. The two veterans of the group are both with Cleveland, as they were last season: 1999 CBA Newcomer of the Year Damon Jones and Ira Newble.

This Day In Sports…October 4, 2003:

A record-shattering day for Boise State in Ruston, LA. Ryan Dinwiddie became the first Bronco ever to throw for over 500 yards in a game, amassing 532 in BSU’s 43-37 win over Louisiana Tech. The senior quarterback was 40-of-60 on the day, on his way to 2003 WAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Meanwhile, wide receiver Tim Gilligan broke a 30-year-old Bronco standard with 16 receptions. As a team, the Broncos set marks with 569 passing yards overall and 732 in total offense.

(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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