Monday, January 5, 2009.

After hosting BCS-busting Boise State two years ago, the Fiesta Bowl is back in the big-time with Ohio State and Texas tonight. But you can bet bowl officials, on several levels, miss the Broncos. On Media Day two seasons back, Ian Johnson happily answered every question thrown his way. And that was before we knew what was coming. Now you have Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who has driven the Fiesta Bowl people nuts.

Pryor snubbed bowl officials Friday, no-showing at Media Day despite an implied requirement that he be there. OSU coach Jim Tressel said, in effect, "Too bad--so sad." Fiesta Bowl president John Junker, the guy who stood gleefully in the Broncos' locker room at Nevada after their BCS-clinching victory in 2006, is not happy. Ah, if only he could have something new, fresh, entertaining, innovative and appreciative again.

Gary Anderson takes a little momentum with him to his new job at Utah State, do ya think? Anderson, now the former Utah defensive coordinator, sheds his red and dons Aggie navy blue after the Utes dismantled Alabama 31-17 in the Sugar Bowl Friday night. Anderson dialed up a great game plan against the Crimson Tide. The disguising and timing of Utah blitzes was masterful, resulting in a whopping eight sacks. It'll be inspiring stuff to Anderson's new USU subjects. And the WAC needs the Aggies to be inspired. Meanwhile, the Utes' victory was inspiring stuff for all non-BCS schools. BSU's win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl was higher on drama and was more memorable, but the Utes were higher on dominance and did even more to benefit the cause of mid-majors.

I'd be shocked if there's anyone else in the world like Aiona Key right now. The former Boise State wide receiver earned a Fiesta Bowl ring two years ago with the Broncos. Now he'll have BCS bowl rings from two different schools after playing for Utah in the Sugar Bowl. Key, of course, was a central figure for BSU in Glendale, AZ. It was his leg off which an Oklahoma punt bounced in the third quarter after the Bronco defense had stopped the Sooners, seemingly protecting a 28-10 lead. OU recovered, and its turnaround began. Key transferred to Mt. San Antonio College in 2007, then to Utah this year. He had just one catch for 19 yards this season, but he blocked a field goal attempt and two punts, returning one for a touchdown.

On a night when all the road teams had already won their WAC openers (how about Idaho's stunning win at Nevada?), Boise State's task was to hold serve out in the Pacific. The Broncos did their part by getting up on Hawaii early, weathering a second-half Warrior run, and pulling away at the end, 70-58. The Broncos struck from outside in the first half, hitting 6-of-9 three-pointers, and inside in the second half behind Kurt Cunningham and Mark Sanchez.

Cunningham had one of his best games of the season, playing 31 minutes and scoring 14 points with six rebounds. Ironically, it was his poorest shooting night of the season, but if 5-for-9 is going to be considered poor, that's okay. Sanchez picked up another double-double with 12 points and 12 boards. It's was BSU's fourth straight victory, three of them away from home. The Broncos face Hawaii again this Saturday night in Taco Bell Arena, with a date against San Jose State sandwiched in Thursday.

By definition, the D-League can be more about "me" than "us" when you consider its mission: getting players developed for the NBA. But, as has been the case in two previous seasons under coach Bryan Gates, it was a lot of "us" over the weekend for the Idaho Stampede. They took down two division leaders, Bakersfield and Austin, in Qwest Arena games that they professed meant a lot to them. The 100-77 win Friday knocked the Jam out of first place in the D-League West Division and lifted the Stampede in. And the 97-94 victory over the Toros Saturday was a grinder in a rematch of the D-League Championship won by the Stamps last spring.

It was a streak-extending, then a streak-busting weekend for the Idaho Steelheads as they met the Ontario Reign for the first time. The Steelheads' 3-1 win Friday was their fourth in a row and saw rookie goalie Matt Climie win his sixth straight start and eighth in nine tries. And the Steelies' Bryan McGregor potted a goal in his fifth straight game. All the streaks ended abruptly Saturday night when Ontario stumped Idaho, 2-0. The road split left the Steelheads 10 points behind Victoria in the ECHL West Division, as the Salmon Kings have extended their winning streak to 13 games. The Steelies return to Qwest Arena this Friday for a two-game intersectional series against the Reading Royals.

Former Boise State stars Quintin Mikell and Legedu Naanee see their NFL seasons continues as both were part of victories on Wild Card Weekend. Mikell was part of an Eagles secondary that flustered Minnesota quarterback Tavaris Jackson into a 15-for-35 day in Philly's 26-14 win. Mikell had eight tackles and a pass deflection, building on a fine first season as a full-time Eagles starter at safety. During the regular season he had three interceptions for 53 yards and registered 93 tackles, with two sacks and three forced fumbles. Naanee got a lot of playing time as a slot receiver in the Chargers' 23-17 overtime victory over the Colts. He had one catch for 15 yards and was a target on a Phillip Rivers deep ball during San Diego's fourth quarter rally.

This Day In Sports...January 5, 2004, five years ago today:

The final college football polls for the 2003 season have Boise State finishing 15th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and 16th on the AP list after the Broncos' record 13-1 season. TCU, the team BSU beat in the Fort Worth Bowl a couple weeks earlier, stayed in the rankings, making the Broncos and the Horned Frogs the first schools from non-BCS conferences to post back-to-back Top 25 seasons in 12 years.

(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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