Monday, September 8, 2008.

It would have helped the hype of this week's Boise State game against Bowling Green if the Falcons were hearing whispers of BCS hype. But the upset of 25th-ranked Pittsburgh in Week 1 was just a mirage. Bowling Green was bowled over in its home opener Saturday, blitzed 42-17 by Minnesota, a lower-echelon Big 10 Team. Consider the headline on BGSU's own website, "Bowling Green folds against Minnesota." Uncharacteristic gaffes in the kicking game helped the Falcons turn the ball over five times. That'll make film-watching interesting this week in the Bronco Football Complex. BSU has to discount Bowling Green's mistakes and prepare for the true potential of this team.

A bye week didn't do anything for Fresno State in the polls. But neither did it hurt the Bulldogs, as they remain No. 21 in both rankings. A bye actually gave Boise State a boost, as the Broncos are now fourth in line waiting to get into the AP Top 25 on the "also receiving votes" list--they're the fifth "bubbling under" team in the Coaches Poll. BSU's conquerer last December in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl didn't just debut in the rankings this week, it blew a hole the AP Poll. East Carolina went from nowhere to 14th on the AP list and to 20th in the Coaches Poll after dismantling West Virginia, 24-3. Also of note, Oregon is ranked 16th and 14th in the AP and Coaches Polls, respectively.

Idaho's 42-27 win over Idaho State Saturday provided the Vandals their biggest margin of victory in almost two years. A rather pedestrian statistic, but it sure beats what everybody was talking about a week ago. Idaho circled the wagons after the 70-0 pasting at Arizona and erased the 11-game losing streak dating back a year in their home opener at the Kibbie Dome. There were ups and downs--quarterback Nathan Enderle was sacked four times and ISU made it interesting in the fourth quarter. The Vandals would prefer to remember the ups, like Enderle's home run ball, the 77-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Shaw after the Bengals bit on a play fake on UI's first play from scrimmage.

Going into this game, Idaho State was feeling better about itself than Idaho was. The Bengals had hopes of an upset, but now they head back to Pocatello at 0-2. They feel especially badly about their special teams, who gave up a blocked punt for a touchdown, a blocked field goal, and a bad snap on a botched PAT. Quarterback Russel Hill is likely sorting things out with ice on his right arm this week. The Timberline High grad aired it out, going 36-of-65 for 308 yards and four touchdowns--but with four interceptions.

A couple things came out of Nevada's 35-19 loss to Texas Tech Saturday night that could affect the WAC season. First, the Wolf Pack defense held Red Raiders star quarterback Graham Harrell to 181 yards on 14-of-34 passing through three quarters. And second, Nevada star running back Luke Lippincott was lost for the season to a torn ACL. Harrell hit an 82-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, and the Wolf Pack's ineptness in the red zone (one touchdown and four field goals on 488 yards of offense) allowed Texas Tech to escape. The WAC went 0-4 versus FBS teams Saturday (all four were BCS schools).

Notables among former Boise State stars in the NFL: Quintin Mikell had a huge game in his first Opening Day start for Philadelphia. The strong safety had nine tackles, a sack, a tackle-for-loss and a forced fumble in the Eagles' 38-3 rout of St. Louis. Chris Carr handled all the return chores for Tennessee--kickoffs and punts. Carr took back two punts for 15 yards and two kickoffs for 33 yards in the Titans' 17-10 win over Jacksonville. Orlando Scandrick, the fifth-round draft pick of Dallas in April, made his NFL debut with one kickoff return for 19 yards in the Cowboys' 28-10 victory over Cleveland. Jeb Putzier was a surprise starter for the Seahawks' and Derek Schouman was the same for the Bills in Seattle's 34-10 loss at Buffalo. A double-eagle, if you will. Neither of the two Eagle High grads had a catch, though.

Three more BSU products are involved in tonight's double-dose of Monday Night Football. The school's first-ever first round draft choice, left tackle Ryan Clady, makes his NFL debut for Denver against Oakland. And fullback Korey Hall and left guard Daryn Colledge are listed in the starting lineup for Green Bay against Minnesota. For Colledge, it's an injury-assisted opportunity to re-prove himself after it appeared he lad lost the battle for his starting job with the Packers in training camp.

Boise's Ryan Hietala has rolled up some momentum for his homecoming this week at the Albertson's Boise Open after finishing second yesterday at the Utah Championship in Sandy. Hietala 67-68-67-66 over the four days at Willow Creek Country Club. Brendan Todd ran away with it, winning by six strokes and finishing 22 under par. It was the first career victory for the former University of Georgia standout. Todd jumped all the way from 53rd to 15th on the money list and is now comfortably inside the Top 25 on the Nationwide Money List, giving him a good shot at advancing to the PGA Tour next year.

It's kind of a lonely day out at Hillcrest Country Club without the Kraft/Nabisco Shootout. The skins event traditionally provided a launching pad for the Albertson's Boise Open, which is ready for its 19th edition this week. But the Shootout was scrapped this year due to spiraling travel and production costs. Charity remains the core mission of the tournament, though. Local non-profits will have received $8.5 million over the 19 years of the Boise Open when it's all done this Sunday. The tourney begins Thursday at Hillcrest.

This Day In Sports...September 8, 2007:

One link to the undefeated season and Fiesta Bowl championship is shattered for Boise State, as Washington breaks the Broncos' 14-game winning streak that carried over from 2006, 24-10. The 70,000 fans in Husky Stadium included 10,000 Bronco faithful, but the blue-and-orange attendees couldn't will their team to victory against temporarily resurgent UW and its star freshman quarterback, Jake Locker. BSU outgained the Huskies but couldn't get it done in the red zone and turned the ball over four times.

(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.)

---