Thursday, June 18, 2009.

Andy Staples' "Inside College Football" column at SI.com recently concocted an "Ultimate Playoff Buster Scenario" that placed Boise State and Utah in an expanded Pac-12. Staples received a response from a supportive Florida reader who said, "Too bad your excellent idea won't get any further than a submarine with screen doors and windows." Staples also got a lot of predictable feedback from BYU fans, to whom he replies in this week's column. "I only did this because Boise State seems like more of a TV draw, but, in my new role as Pac-12 Commissioner, I am open to arguments in favor of the Cougars," writes Staples. "Unfortunately, I only have one open spot instead of two. After much careful consideration, I've decided to grant one of the Pac-10 expansion slots to a school with a nationwide reach and a state-of-the-art facility. I refer, of course, to the University of Phoenix." Classic.

A story in the Montreal Gazette tells us one thing we didn't want to know about Andrew Woodruff, and one thing we did. Woodruff is the focal point among newcomers in training camp with the Montreal Alouettes. The article introduces the former Boise State star to fans and says, "Vomiting became somewhat of a ritual before Broncos' games [for Woodruff]." He's trying to avoid that habit in the CFL. Then there's Woodruff's contract. In April, as the 12th overall pick in the 2008 CFL Draft, he signed a four-year contract that totals $400,000. "Incredible money for a Canadian Football League freshman, the deal established a new Canadian rookie standard in a league where most first-round draft choices earn perhaps $50,000."

A couple notes from around the WAC: Fresno State's athletic department, which sorely needed it, has received a $10 million gift from a former backup linebacker. Alphonso Bigelow played for Jim Sweeney in the mid-1990's. According to the Fresno Bee, Bigelow "gave few details about the source of his bounty," but Fresno State insists everything checks out. The donation comes from Nykel Bam International LLC, a little-known Clovis-based commodities brokerage firm. And Nevada has picked up a defensive tackle who faced Boise State last September at Autzen Stadium. Tonio Celotto has transferred from Oregon to join the Wolf Pack; he'll be eligible in 2010.

New Colorado offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau tells The Denver Post the Buffaloes' future recruiting efforts at quarterback will focus on big, dropback passers. But Kiesau says he's ready to let it roll with 5-11 Cody Hawkins. "Cody's not 6-5. He's not 230," said Kiesau. "He's not going to be able to stand in the pocket and gun it downfield. But he's very, very smart." Kiesau is going to a more pro-style attack this season, and he's not worried about the Bishop Kelly grad thriving in it. "He can look at a defense and get us in and out of plays. I'm going to put a lot on the quarterback mentally, and if we didn't have the guy to do that, a smart quarterback, the things I'm doing would be very, very difficult."

A year ago--two years ago also, for that matter--the Boise Burn were miles from nowhere and falling fast. Not so this season, as the Burn have risen to No. 4 in the af2 Coaches Poll. A six-game winning streak has produced the franchise's first winning season with a club-record nine victories and has all but assured Boise of its first berth in the af2 Playoffs. Saturday night in Qwest Arena the Burn host the Stockton Lightning.

The resilient Reggie Theus has popped up as a candidate for the USC head coaching job vacated by Tim Floyd. Theus, the former New Mexico State coach, was fired last fall after struggling as the head man with the Sacramento Kings. He was 41-33 in Las Cruces, including a 25-9 mark and a trip to the NCAA Tournament in his final season. Theus is reportedly going to interview with the Trojans today.

I saw the Boise Hawks' bus pull up to the Owyhee Plaza yesterday, unloading a new crop of short season Class A hopefuls. Not that these guys are thinking about this, but as the Boise Hawks approach the 2009 season Saturday night, they'll seek to avoid the "odd-even oddity" of the past seven years. Since 2002, the Hawks have had winning seasons in even years and losing campaigns in the odd ones. This is an odd year, one in which the Hawks hope to get even against this odd trend.

The 2009 Idaho Women's Amateur tees off today for a 54-hole run at Twin Falls Municipal. Four past champions are in the field, but only one from the new century, defending champion Cali Hipp of Caldwell. The tried-and-true names from the 1980's and 90's are seven-time champ Jean Smith, five-time winner Karen Darrington, and one-time champion Virginia Undhjem.
Cali Hipp, Caldwell, ID 77-73-76--226 at Scotch Pines GC, Payette, ID

This Day In Sports...June 18, 2000:

Tiger Woods turns the 100th U.S. Open into a one-man show, winning by 15 strokes over Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez. Woods' 15-shot margin shattered the Open mark of 11 set by Willie Smith in 1899 and is the largest in any major championship--surpassing the 13-stroke victory by Old Tom Morris in the 1862 British Open.

(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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