Friday, August 29, 2008.

You don't have to remind the Boise State Broncos of the following: they're on a two-game losing streak for the first time since the beginning of the 2005 season. And they are not the defending WAC champions for the first time since their first season in the conference--in 2001. Coach Chris Petersen drew a line in the sand as soon as the team reconvened in January. "There's an unsettled feeling around here that we could have finished better." There's one message from the staff that's a constant: "Get that chip back on your shoulder." It was not there in the disastrous first half against East Carolina in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. "We'll learn from those lessons, and we'll move forward." Tomorrow night we find out if forward movement has been made, as BSU opens the season against Idaho State in a Bronco Stadium that has certainly moved forward.

It's a familiar refrain for seniors at the beginning of every season: "Don't blink." As long as a 12-game campaign can seem, before the 18 BSU seniors know it they'll be taking on Fresno State the day after Thanksgiving. From the time they come out of the tunnel tomorrow night, they've gotta savor every moment. How about Senior Day 2009, though? The Broncos open tomorrow night with only six juniors on the active roster--count em, six. By the way, you can ask former Bronco quarterback Bart Hendricks about blinking; he's already facing his 30th birthday tomorrow.

Just in time for his senior debut, Ian Johnson has been named to the watch list for the 2008 Doak Walker Award. Johnson is one of 43 candidates for the trophy that honors the nation's top running back. With the crowd in Boise State's backfield this season, Ian might not get enough carries to break the single-season rushing record of 1,713 yards he set as a sophomore. But he'll be on track for some career marks, including Cedric Minter's rushing record of 4,475 yards (Johnson is 1,058 away), and Brock Forsey's standard of 50 rushing touchdown (Ian is just five TDs behind). Also on the Doak Walker list are Idaho's Deonte Jackson and Nevada's Luke Lippincott.

The biggest buzz tomorrow night will surround the collegiate debut of BSU quarterback Kellen Moore. Petersen was asked if the offense would be toned down at all, considering Moore is a redshirt freshman in a season opener. "Normally yes--but not with Kellen," said Petersen. For a guy who's been in the program a little over a year, Moore has an uncanny knack for the Bronco offense. Personnel changes didn't affect the effectiveness of the Bronco attack last year. Despite inaugurating a new quarterback and a wholesale changeover at wide receiver, the Broncos still were second in the WAC and fourth in Division I-A in scoring at 42.4 points per game. That was over 2½ points a game better than the undefeated season of 2006.

Pat Forde's first "Forde-Yard Dash" of the season is up at ESPN.com, and one of his themes is takeaways and giveaways. That brings BSU into the conversation. "If you don't think turnover margin is the most important stat in football, read the numbers," writes Forde. "Boise State has had two seasons in the past six with three or more losses. Average turnover margin in those years: minus-3.5. It has had four seasons of one or fewer losses in the past six. Average turnover margin in those years: plus-9.8." Touche. But again, the Bronco staff is trusting that the offense will take care of the ball. The concentration is on the defense upping its takeaways.

When WAC teams step up against BCS schools, what happens in the trenches is usually a key. Idaho's game at Arizona tomorrow night would be no exception, with the Vandals going in as 27-point underdogs. Idaho has some depth in its offensive line for the first time in years, and the Vandals hope that saves them, considering their injury problems. Early in fall camp, Idaho lost its projected starter at left tackle, redshirt freshman Matt Cleveland, who is gone until late in the season with a cracked fibula. And left guard Mike Iupati is a few weeks away from joining the lineup as he heals from shoulder surgery. But this year there are experienced reinforcements, as seniors Billy Bates and Kris Anderson step in on the left side. If the Idaho O-line can hold up, the running game could give the Vandals a chance.

Beyond the much talked-about Fresno State-Rutgers and Hawaii-Florida games, WAC schools face a potpourri of competition in Week No. 1. The highlight of Nevada's home opener against Grambling Saturday might be halftime. Grambling's world famous Tiger Marching Band will travel to play--then join the Nevada band for postgame performance. This may be the final year for Nevada's band unless a fundraising drive spearheaded by Reno mayor Bob Cashell can save it. Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech has a milestone game, drawing Mississippi State into Ruston (not Shreveport, but Ruston). It's the first time an SEC team has visited Joe Aillet Stadium in its 41-year history.

It's not going to be easy, but it's possible. The Boise Hawks face off with Spokane in the final six games of the season--three home and three away. And they trail the Indians by exactly six games in the Northwest League East Division after a 9-4 victory over Yakima last night. It was a monster night for Hawks shortstop Ryan Flaherty, who went 3-for-4 with a two-run single and a solo homer. Catcher Michael Brenly was also 3-for-4 on the night. Brenly, the son of former big league player and manager Bob Brenly, was used sparingly by the Hawks early in the season. But he's proven to be one of the team's steadiest performers, now hitting .325.

The Albertson's Boise Open field now holds two of the best golfers in BSU history, as Graham DeLaet was granted a sponsor's exemption in the tournament yesterday. He joins Troy Merritt in the Nationwide Tour event in two weeks at Hillcrest Country Club. DeLaet, a Saskatchewan native, is probably the hottest player on the Canadian Tour right now, winning the Montreal Open two weeks ago and finishing second in the Jane Rogers Championship last weekend.

This Day In Sports...August 29, 1998, 10 years ago today:

The New York Yankees beat the Seattle Mariners 11-6 for their 98th win in 134 tries, clinching a post-season spot the earliest in the team's storied history. The Yankees would win 114 games in '98, the most in American League history until the M's eclipsed that in 2001. The Yanks would add another 11 in the post-season for a total of 125--a major league record. Considering what's going on now in New York, those were the days.

(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.)

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