Wednesday, August 8, 2007.

Boise State traveled 25,000 fans to the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale on New Year’s Day. It was proof that in this new world of BSU football, Bronco Nation would go anywhere. But Beijing? Shanghai? Chadd Cripe reports in the Statesman today that the Broncos and Oregon are discussing the possibility of opening the 2009 season with a game in China. That would move BSU’s first-ever home game against the Ducks overseas. In that case, athletic director Gene Bleymaier tells Cripe he’ll ask Oregon to visit Boise in a different year. But there’s a lot left to do before this scenario would play out. The Ducks are determined to do the China thing with somebody, and BSU is willing. How many blue and orange RV’s can they fit on a freighter?

It started innocently enough a year ago as a way to keep Boise State players amped up during the rigors of fall camp. But the little ol’ “Camper of the Day” award is telling us a lot about the makeup of the team. There have been five so far, and four have been guys who are going to have to be at the core of BSU’s success this fall: Orlando Scandrick, David Shields, Richie Brockel, and Nick Schlekeway. Come to the think of it, the other one is, too. The first “Camper of the Day” award went to true freshman wide receiver Austin Pettis, and it’s sounding like it wasn’t just a reassuring pat on the back to a homesick newcomer. Pettis, the 6-3, 190-pounder from Anaheim, may be a name you’ll want to know.

Mark Schlabach unveils his “What's hot (and not) for 2007” at ESPN.com this week, and there are two pertinent items in the “hot” column for local football watchers. One is—you guessed it—Boise State. Says Schlabach: “With Ian Johnson returning, the Broncos have a legitimate chance to go unbeaten in two consecutive regular seasons. Home games against Southern Miss (Sept. 27) and San Jose State (Nov. 3) are potential obstacles, along with road games at Washington (Sept. 8) and Hawaii (Nov. 23). At least we know Boise State will keep us on the edge of our seats along the way.”

The other “What’s Hot” of note is the WAC, according to Schlabach. “Not only does the WAC have two teams (Boise State and Hawaii) talented enough to reach the BCS, but it also has two legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates. The Broncos' Johnson led the country with 25 rushing touchdowns last season, and Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan broke an NCAA single-season record with 58 touchdown passes in 14 games.” This we know. Whether everything will shake out for the ultimate WAC showdown November 23 we do not.

It looked like the Boise Hawks were going to come out on the south end of another slugfest with Eugene last night. Then the sixth inning rolled around. The Hawks put up an 8-spot on the Emeralds and won going away, 14-8. The catalyst was a two-run homer by Tony Thomas, the third for the former Florida State star since joining the Hawks three weeks ago. Thomas raised his average to .325 after a 3-for-6 performance. Interestingly enough, one of the feel-good sidebars in the game came from pitching. After a rocky outing against Eugene Saturday (three runs in two innings), Mark Pawalek came on to end the game with two perfect innings versus the Emeralds last night. The Cubs 2005 first round draft pick struck out three.

The Hawks open a five-game series tonight at Salem-Keizer, facing the team that swept ‘em in the opening series of the season at Memorial Stadium. The Hawks have made a nice recovery since then, moving into the lead in the Northwest League East Division. The Volcanoes? They haven’t changed a bit. Salem-Keizer has it going over there. Despite the fact this could be a preview of the Northwest League Championship Series, look at it this way: if the Hawks were in the West Division, they’d be trailing the Volcanoes by a whopping 15 games right now. Salem-Keizer, the defending league champion, is an amazing 38-10. If only that farm system strength could show up in San Francisco and help the woeful Giants. I guess you just have to say it bodes well for the future by the Bay. Soon they’re going to need a new leftfielder.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it—on either end. The Idaho Steelheads have enjoyed their working relationship with the Dallas Stars, and the Stars have liked the way Derek Laxdal develops young players, especially when it comes with Kelly Cup championships. After all, the Stars and Steelheads were hooked up during the 2004 Kelly Cup title run as well. So the association continues, as the NHL club yesterday announced a two-year extension of its affiliate agreement with the Steelies. Therefore, the relationship continues with the AHL’s Iowa Stars, whose general manager is John Olver, the former Steelheads coach.

A columnist in the Tulsa World calls Kevin Burton “certifiably courageous or crazy if he goes through with his opening-round plan” tomorrow in the 89th PGA Championship. All the Boise State golf coach is doing is wearing a Bronco shirt, but Dave Sittler writes, “Burton's wardrobe selection will test the pristine reputation of local golf fans,” coming just eight months after the beloved Oklahoma Sooners were stunned by BSU in the Fiesta Bowl. Doesn’t seem like it would be that big deal. And, as Sittler points out, “Burton can be certain that a large contingent of Oklahoma State fans in the galleries will have his back.”

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 1350 KTIK/The Ticket. He also handles color commentary on KTVB’s telecasts of Boise State football.)

---

---