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Thursday, March 20, 2014.
Bryan Harsin gets to take the pulse of his new Boise State program today when the Broncos hold their first spring scrimmage. Harsin says they’ll run 25 plays per group, plus a goal line session “if needed.” The quarterbacks will not be live, so the playing field will be level for Ryan Finley in relation to colleagues Grant Hedrick and Tommy Stuart. The redshirt freshman has surprised the coaching staff this spring with the progress he’s made coming off shoulder surgery last fall. No more pitch count. “That’s out,” said Harsin, who is rotating Finley’s reps with Hedrick and Stuart now. “What he’s getting right now is a lot more than I thought he was going to get,” said Harsin. That goes for the scrimmage, too.
Corey Bell is one unique individual. The senior from Boise has been the star of spring football so far. In the fall of 2010, Boise State made a scholarship offer to the undersized running back/linebacker from Capital High. Schollies are hard to come by for local kids. Then the Broncos had to find a spot for Bell, and he landed at nickel. Halfway through his true freshman year, his redshirt season was shelved, and he started making plays on special teams. Bell pushed the presumed starters at nickel as a sophomore and junior, making a combined 121 tackles. Now Harsin’s staff has scrapped the old nickel position and has moved Bell to safety, with a laundry list of new skills to learn. All he has done is earn Ballhawk of the Day honors for each of the past three practices with a collection of interceptions.
Another Capital High grad has garnered some notice during spring ball—one who is taking a more typical route up the Boise State ladder among local players. Kellen Buhr is a sophomore walk-on, and he was Offensive Player of the Day on Tuesday. Buhr has been taking some reps at center, a depleted position for the Broncos, but has been working more at guard according to Harsin. “He was part of the run plays that were pretty good (Tuesday),” Harsin said.
There’s nothing concrete on the Leon Rice-to-Washington State front. The Cougars, who fired Ken Bone as head coach Tuesday, have apparently made contact with Rice. All the while, Coug fans seem to be clamoring for a more “edgy” hire. One report says Rice has balked at Wazzu’s facilities compared to those at Boise State. Of course, that could be remedied by the pot of Pac-12 gold that keeps falling into Washington State’s lap. And Rice would still more than double his salary on the Palouse.
San Diego State hopes to cap what many see as an overachieving season by making some noise in the NCAA Tournament, where they play New Mexico State tonight. The Aztecs were brushed aside in the round of 32 last year by the Cinderella, Florida Gulf Coast. They were supposed to do a little rebuilding this season and received not a single Top 25 vote in either poll at the outset. SDSU was picked fourth in the Mountain West behind New Mexico, UNLV and Boise State but ended up as regular season champion. The Aztecs made it as high as No. 5 in the polls, the second-highest ranking in school history. It’s a tribute to coach Steve Fisher, who turns 69 on Monday. By the way, Fisher hired NMSU coach Marvin Menzies to be on his first San Diego State staff in 1999.
Idaho SportsTalk has discussed this week the best Boise State team to play in an NCAA Tournament. There are only six of ‘em. I concur with Paul J. Schneider that the 1988 team that finished 24-6 and lost its first round game 63-58 to Michigan was the best when it got to the tournament. Taking it a step further, how about an all-time Boise State starting five in NCAA Tournament games? Here’s mine. At center, Tanoka Beard (1993). At forward, Anthony Drmic (2013) and Shambrick Williams (1993-94), and at guard, Steve Connor (1976) and Chris Childs (1988).
In other tournament doings, Fresno State’s season continues after a 61-56 victory at UTEP in the CBI last night. The biggest lead by either team the entire game was the Bulldogs’ five-point advantage at the final buzzer. Wyoming’s campaign came to an end with a 59-43 CBI loss at Texas A&M. Tonight the Boise State women make their first postseason appearance in six years when they visit Grand Canyon in the first round of the WBI. The Antelopes are among the many new members of the WAC this season, their first as a Division I program. GCU, with a record of 21-8, has eight seniors on its roster, seven of them transfers from other schools.
The Idaho Steelheads gutted one out last night against Colorado, winning 4-3 in overtime. The Steelheads found themselves down 3-1 early in the final period, but their third period magic—and short-handed magic—saved them. After Tommy Grant pulled the Steelies to within one, Gaelen Patterson ruined an Eagles power play on a game-tying tally with 9:14 remaining in the game. David de Kastrozza assisted for his ninth short-handed point of the season, extending his ECHL lead—and Idaho’s 81 third period goals lead the league as well. Idaho won it via a Mitch Wahl power play goal that deflected off the stick of a Colorado defenseman just under four minutes into the OT. In what might be his final appearance, Kevin Kapalka made 25 saves to get the win (Josh Robison has returned to the Steelheads from the AHL’s Texas Stars).
Eight Boise State athletes go into national competition this week. Seniors Jake Swartz and J.T. Felix will represent BSU at the 2014 NCAA Wrestling Championships beginning tonight in Oklahoma City. Swartz is the No. 6 seed at 184 pounds, while Felix is the No. 8 seed among heavyweights. Junior Sydney Johansen leads a contingent of six Broncos into the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships starting today in Minneapolis. Johansen is making her second appearance at nationals.
Back to football—former Boise State star Chris Carr has announced his retirement from the NFL after nine seasons. Carr’s career was pretty productive considering he was an undrafted free agent in 2005. He caught on with the Oakland Raiders and played for five other teams, most recently with the New Orleans Saints in a five-game stint last fall. Carr completes his career with 229 tackles, seven interceptions, 2½ sacks and seven forced fumbles. The 30-year-old cornerback’s all-time highlight had to be an interception of Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roesthlisberger in 2006 that he took back 100 yards for his only NFL touchdown. Carr has big plans, with his sights set on becoming an attorney. He plans to enter law school this fall.
The Arena Football League season is underway, and former Idaho quarterback Nathan Enderle made his debut Monday night with the expansion Portland Thunder. Enderle split time with ex-Oregon QB Darron Thomas and went 10-of-19 through the air for 96 yards and two touchdowns in a 64-34 loss to the San Jose Sabercats. Enderle also rushed for a score. He threw for 10,084 yards and 74 touchdowns during his four-year career with the Vandals.
This Day In Sports…brought to you by ZAMZOW’S…nobody knows like Zamzow’s!
March 20, 2004, 10 years ago today: One of the most unique nights in Boise State basketball history. When the Broncos blitzed UNLV 84-69 three nights before in the NIT, it looked like they’d be traveling for their matchup with Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the next round. After all, the Pavilion was booked all weekend. But a date was hastily arranged with the Idaho Center, and 10,153 BSU fans hastily scooped up tickets to see the Broncos get past UWM, 73-70, on a raucous night in Nampa. Their NIT run would end three nights later with a 66-53 loss at Marquette. Milwaukee, by the way, was coached by Bruce Pearl, now the new head coach at Auburn.
(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 93.1 The Ticket. He also served as color commentator on KTVB’s telecasts of Boise State football for 14 seasons.)
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