Tuesday, November 11, 2008.

When you think about it, Boise State's status as the youngest team in the Top 25 shouldn't get in the way of education on the Bronco-Vandal rivalry. There may be a freshman under every rock, but BSU's local flavor is strong. It's only a shame Jarell Root won't be able to experience the Idaho game. The freshman defensive end from Capital High broke his leg against Utah State and is lost for the season. That creates more opportunity for another Idahoan, though, as true freshman Byron Hout will get a lot of Root's playing time. A trip to the Kibbie Dome means a lot to Hout, who was the state's Gatorade Player of the Year last season at Lake City High in Coeur d'Alene. The loss of Root will also mean more snaps for Shea McClellin, the defensive end out of Marsing High who's been having a stellar true freshman season.

There are more contributing freshmen on the Bronco roster who need no initiation to the rivalry. Former Capital Eagle Kyle Efaw has been a breakout tight end, especially since the injury to senior Chris O'Neill. Efaw has 14 catches for 191 yards, and some almost-touchdowns. Timberline grad Nate Potter, who was back in the starting lineup at right tackle last week, also knows what it's all about Saturday.

If you need a graybeard's view, you can get that from Tim Brady, the senior linebacker from Bishop Kelly. Brady left the Utah State game with an injury, but nothing's going to keep him out of his final Bronco-Vandal tilt. It's a generational thing for Brady--his uncle Mike played for the Broncos in the late 70's, and his late grandfather Hugh, founder of Idaho Sporting Goods, was among the original group of boosters who got the Boise State program going when it started playing four-year football 40 years ago.

On newsstands right now, just in time for Idaho's reading pleasure, is Sports Illustrated. And there inside is a feature headlined "Boise State II." The article runs through with all the 2008 storylines: the defensive orientation this year, Kellen Moore's status as the top-ranked freshman quarterback in the country, the team's overall youth, and Ian Johnson's changed role as a senior. More fuel for the Vandals.

BSU has been through the Titus Young rigmarole this fall, with the standout sophomore wide receiver suspended indefinitely for "conduct detrimental to the team." Young's been gone since the first week of October. Idaho's adventures are more recent, with coach Robb Akey's suspension of Breyon Williams, Shelton Miles and Dewey Hale after an apartment fight following the loss to San Jose State 10 days ago. One of them has now pressed charges against running back Deonte Jackson resulting from the same incident, but he will play Saturday. Akey says the fight was a culmination of things for the trio he suspended. With Jackson, he says, it was one occurrence.

Rivals.com reports that Boise State has landed a verbal commitment from Nicholas Alexander, a 6-3, 235-pound defensive end from Crenshaw High in Los Angeles. Alexander also had an offer from Washington State, but Rivals says he made his decision after his visit to Boise for the Utah State game. He's the grandson of Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famer Carl Eller. It's only Veteran's Day, and the Broncos already have 16 commits for their 2009 recruiting class. National Letter of Intent Day is still 12 weeks away.

According to the Portland Tribune, former BSU quarterback Nick Lomax is closing in on his next stop. "(Lomax) will transfer to Pacific Lutheran, Linfield or Central Washington, with two seasons of eligibility remaining." That snippet was in a story about younger brother Jack Lomax, currently the starting quarterback at Oregon's top-ranked 6A school, undefeated Lake Oswego. "'Jack is more athletic than Nick, has more arm strength, better feet. They're similar in knowledge of the game, having grown up around it with Neil. Jack is much more competitive than Nick was. That's something you just can't teach,' said Jack's coach, Steve Coury." Jack committed over the weekend to Oregon State. Heck, if Nick had stayed in Boise, he probably could have thrown a touchdown pass last Saturday along with everybody else.

Boise State men's hoops coach Greg Graham is looking for effort tonight in the Broncos' final exhibition game against Concordia. Graham says he's been disappointed with BSU's last couple of practices, but he thinks that's due to the monotony of the players continually facing themselves. A common affliction this time of the year. With that said, Graham noted, "This is the best preseason since I've been here." It is a key night for several guys, as Graham says the only starting position that's set is point guard with Anthony Thomas.

Speaking of rivalries this week, the College of Idaho and Northwest Nazarene face off in the United Heritage Tip-Off tonight at the Idaho Center. The way I add it up, it's the 187th meeting between the Canyon County foes. The last three matchups in the Tip-Off, all wins by the Coyotes were exhibitions like tonight's game and don't count in the series record--C of I leads it 111-72. This get-together dates back to 1933, when the Yotes topped the Crusaders, 23-16. When both teams were in the NAIA together, they'd play up top four times a season. But this has been the extent of it since NNU moved to NCAA Division II.

The Idaho Steelheads have won only one of four home games this season. They have two chances to tilt that scale this week, as Fresno comes to town tonight and tomorrow night. One thing that hasn't been a problem for the Steelheads is goaltending. Rejean Beauchemin and Matt Climie have split time almost equally--308 minutes and 304 minutes, respectively. Beauchemin's been the hard-luck guy, though. He has the better goals-against average at 2.14 but has a record of 1-2-2. Climie's GA average is 2.57, but he's 3-2.

We seldom mention Geovany Soto as a former Boise Hawk, because he only played one game here in 2002, for cryin' out loud. But give him props today for winning the National League Rookie of the Year award. The Cubs catcher hit .285 this season with 23 home runs and 86 RBIs. Here's your "stretch of the day": Soto is the second Hawks alum to win Rookie of the Year honors. Dontrelle Willis took the NL honor with the Florida Marlins five years ago.

This Day In Sports...November 11, 2006:

The closest call of Boise State's unbeaten regular season, as Anthony Montgomery boots a 37-yard field goal on the final play of the game to beat San Jose State, 23-20. The Broncos had trailed 20-12 midway through the fourth quarter before mounting their rally, helped by Ian Johnson. The sophomore sensation had suffered a partially collapsed lung earlier in the game but played through it to the tune of 149 yards rushing. Johnson ended up spending five days in a San Jose hospital and missed the following week's game after returning to Boise.

(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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