Tuesday, September 30, 2008.

One virus that ran through the Boise State defense off and on in 2007 was explosion plays. The long ones that sometimes come when you least expect them. The Nevada and East Carolina games come to mind--the drive-a-truck-through-it holes that Colin Kaepernick and Luke Lippincott ran through in the four-overtime classic, and the 68-yard blast by Chris Johnson in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. So far this year, the Broncos have been able to avoid the explosions, allowing just two plays of 25 yards or more in three games (while the BSU offense has been amassing 10 such plays). But the arrival of Louisiana Tech tomorrow night brings more explosive memories of last season.

Coach Chris Petersen is quick to point out that last October's 45-31 score in Ruston is deceiving. The Broncos didn't put the Bulldogs away until Taylor Tharp and Jeremy Childs hooked up on a couple long fourth quarter touchdowns. Up to that point, La Tech stayed on BSU's heels with explosion plays. Just when the Broncos seemed to be getting a handle, Daniel Porter rips off a 74-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to tie the score. Earlier, Patrick Jackson scored on a 25-yard dash, and Philip Beck made a 46-yard catch. La Tech ran for 208 yards and had 463 total on the night. BSU defenders are playing with a renewed vigor this season, and that'll be tested by the speed of Louisiana Tech tomorrow night. All three of the aforementioned players are back, by the way.

Tomorrow night's game marks Boise State's first appearance on ESPN family of networks this season and 31st overall. The Broncos are 24-6 all-time on ESPN and are favored by 22½ points to make it 25-6. Another Chamber of Commerce night is shaping up for the national telecast from Bronco Stadium, with temperatures in the mid-80's at kickoff. It's quite a setting on nights like that. To Louisiana Tech, coming from the oppressive humidity of the South, it'll feel rather refreshing. It's the first of four ESPN appearances this season--the next is October 17 against Hawaii, and the Broncos would trade the Chamber of Commerce climate for some good autumn chill for the weather-spoiled Warriors.

The bloom may be off the rose of Fresno State's wins at Rutgers and Toledo, and a victory at UCLA Saturday was expected. But the Bulldogs have two road wins over BCS schools nevertheless after getting past the Bruins 36-31 Saturday and are ranked 22nd in AP and 21st in the Coaches Poll. Rutgers' recent losses to North Carolina and Navy have made the Scarlet Knights look not-so-formidable, and Toledo's embarrassing home loss to lowly Florida International Saturday pours cold water on the Bulldogs' double-overtime win over the Rockets the week before. But how about the Bulldogs, forcing a fumble on their own three-yard-line with nine minutes left--then running out the rest of the clock with a 17-play drive.

Daryn Colledge keeps hangin' on to his starting job with Green Bay. Scott Wells was back at center for the Packers in their 30-21 los at Tampa Bay Sunday, and it could have had a trickle-down effect that could have bumped the former Boise State star at left guard. Jason Spitz did indeed go back to right guard in place of Nevada product Tony Moll. But Josh Sitton did not play, Allen Barbre was a backup, and Colledge stayed put on the left side. Not that he and the O-line aren't taking some shots for a lackluster effort against the Buccaneers. "Too many mistakes, too many misidentifications by certain guys, too many bad steps and bad footwork," Colledge told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Presumably he's one of the "certain guys."

Scott Linehan's star was burning bright in the mid-1980's when he kick-started Idaho's 12-game winning streak over Boise State with two victories over BSU in Bronco Stadium. It continued when he went into coaching, honing his skills as John L. Smith's offensive coordinator with the Vandals and eventually following Smith to Louisville. But the NFL has been misery, as Linehan was fired yesterday as head coach of the St. Louis Rams. His record was just 11-25--he's only the third NFL coach since 1970 to be fired before the fifth game of the season. Linehan will be replaced in the interim by his defensive coordinator, Jim Haslett, the former New Orleans coach.

Utah Jazz training camp is set to start today at Taco Bell Arena, with a little tweak to the agenda. The open practice previously penciled in for Friday has been moved to Thursday night. It's a free session, but you have to have a ticket that you can get at any Boise area Larry Miller auto dealership, naturally enough. The Jazz will bring 18 players to camp, including former Idaho Stampede forward Britton Johnsen, who was signed last Friday. The one-time Utah Ute averaged 18.2 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Stamps in 40 games in 2004-05.

One other NBA note: the Memphis Grizzlies have signed Brent Petway, last season's highest-flying Stampede player. Petway wowed fans in Qwest Arena with his acrobatic james--then won the inaugural D-League Slam Dunk Contest during 2008 All-Star Weekend in New Orleans. The 6-8 forward out of Michigan had 7.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game last season while helping the Stamps win the D-League championship. Petway then played for the Grizzlies' entry in the Las Vegas Summer League.

Former Bishop Kelly star Josh Osich rode the learning curve last season as a freshman pitcher at Oregon State, going 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA. But he poised for a leap as a sophomore after summer in the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League that saw him named the second-best pro prospect in that circuit by Baseball America. Osich was 5-0 with a 1.96 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 46 innings, and a story in the Portland Tribune says he's in contention for a spot in the Beavers' starting rotation next season. OSU held a fall scrimmage last Thursday as an opening act for the Beavs' stunning 27-21 football upset of top-ranked USC.

This Day In Sports...September 30, 2006:

Boise State wins its 11th straight game over current members of the Mountain West Conference by shocking Utah, 36-3, in sold-out Rice-Eccles Stadium. Star linebacker Korey Hall set up two scores with interceptions, and fellow senior Colt Brooks notched his first career touchdown on another, as the Broncos had four picks on the day and held the Utes to 178 yards. Things were just as impressive in the stands, as the Salt Lake Tribune estimated 8,000 BSU fans made the trip. And they made noise wire-to-wire.

(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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