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Tuesday, April 8, 2014.
The first of Boise State’s two Junior Days had already paid off handsomely with commitments from quarterback Brett Rypien and linebacker Kyler Manu. Another came yesterday in the form of wide receiver Akilian Butler from Mesquite, TX (and he didn’t even attend Junior Day). This is two days in a row I’ve mentioned Mesquite, TX. Butler, a 5-11, 170-pounder, happens to be a former teammate of Bronco true freshman Dylan Sumner-Gardner at West Mesquite High. Tweeted Greg Powers, a National Recruiting Analyst for Scout.com in Texas: “Boise State is getting a fierce competitor and tremendous route runner in Akilian Butler. Big commit for the Broncos.” Boise State now has five commitments for the 2015 recruiting class, more than it has ever had at this time of year.
Kyler Manu talked a lot about family ties when he committed to Boise State. I certainly remember the Manu name from the Idaho State teams of the 1980s. Kyler’s dad, Tony, was a Bengal from 1986-89, following Ron Manu, Kyler’s uncle and Tony’s brother, who played from 1983-86. Ron, who is now the linebackers coach at Rocky Mountain High, played on the last ISU team to make the Division I-AA Playoffs in 1983. Both Ron and Tony were on the 1986 squad that upset Boise State in Holt Arena, 25-6. And Tony actually went 2-2 versus BSU, as Idaho State won 35-32 in Bronco Stadium the following year (the Bengals have beaten the Broncos only six times in 30 tries). Ron Manu was ISU’s leading tackler in 1984 and 1986, and Tony Manu was the leader in 1989. Finally, Kyler’s older brother, Taison, is currently a safety for the Bengals.
A funny thing happened on the way to Boise State’s scrimmage Saturday night. Seniors Matt Miller and Corey Bell had won multiple daily “playmaker” awards handed out after spring practices. The duo then fittingly dialed it up in the scrimmage. Miller has been heralded by coach Bryan Harsin for making great catches all spring. “Not just good—great,” Harsin said last week. Well, the senior from Helena, MT, made an amazing, leaping one-handed catch in the end zone on a 25-yard Ryan Finley throw. And Bell, the Capital High product, had the 79-yard pick-six. “It’s amazing how that works out,” said Harsin. “To see them making plays in practice—then it shows up in the scrimmage.”
The coaching staff didn’t give the kickers a lot of work during Saturday’s scrimmage. But they were challenged nonetheless. Instead of placing the ball on the three-yard line after touchdowns, coaches backed the kickers up. Working against a gusty wind, senior Dan Goodale booted extra points of 35 and 40 yards, and sophomore backup Tyler Rausa also kicked one from 35 yards out. Sophomore Sean Wale got the call during punting sessions, and his kicks had consistent hang time.
Idaho Steelheads play-by-play man Will Hoenike pointed this out, and I thought it was good. Brett Robinson was named this season’s team MVP Saturday night despite not ranking in the Steelheads’ top five in goals, assists or points. Reason? His team-leading plus-20 rating, which means the Steelies have scored 20 more goals with Robinson in the game than without him. When Robinson missed time due to injury earlier this season, the Steelheads had a .500 record. But in games Robinson has played, the team's winning percentage when is an impressive .641. If the Steelies take that up two wins’ worth this Friday and Saturday at Utah, they can overtake the Grizzlies for the No. 3 Western Conference seed in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
For better or for worse, the Idaho Stampede will get a fresh start next season after registering their fifth straight non-winning season. The Stampede have not finished over .500 since 2008-09, their final campaign under coach Bryan Gates. There will be no Portland Trail Blazers single-affifliation arrangement now (how much that helped the franchise the past two years is debatable). And with the Blazers goes coach Mike Peck, who was 43-57 in his two seasons. Maybe a blank canvas is what the Stampede need. The fans are ready—managing investor Bill Ilett said yesterday on Idaho SportsTalk that attendance was up 19 percent this season. Ilett also said it’s “80/20” that the Stamps will have another single affiliation agreement before long.
Until recently (very recently), I had never heard the term “microdiscectomy.” That’s the name of the back surgery Tiger Woods had a week ago, the one that’s keeping him out of the Masters. Well, Graham DeLaet may have shared second place with Woods at the Barclays and played on opposite sides in the Presidents Cup last year, but that’s the extent of his relationship with Tiger—until, that is, the microdiscectomy. The former Boise State star underwent the same operation in January of 2011, keeping him out of all but two events that year. "When I was at my absolute worst, I couldn't sit down for more than 10 seconds," DeLaet told ESPN.com.
Sitting out most of the season was difficult. "The competitive nature in all of us is that you want to get out and play,” said DeLaet of his rehab. “You feel like you're good enough to go. It wasn't so much that I was in discomfort after coming back. I just didn't feel I could play at a high level. For me, 80 percent isn't going to work. That works for Tiger, but for my future, it was the right move to shut it down. I don't have the same skill set as Tiger." Will the recovery time be as long for Woods? Maybe, maybe not. But can he regain his old form? One look at DeLaet, playing in his first career Masters this week, tells you Woods can.
I promise not to work the John Lackey story to death this season, but the former Boise Hawk is off to a sterling start for Boston. Lackey allowed just one unearned run in seven innings last night, improving to 2-0 as the Red Sox dropped the Texas Rangers, 5-1. What’s more, Boston had lost its first three games at Fenway Park and was rescued by Lackey. The Red Sox have not begun a season with four straight losses at home in 30 years.
This Day In Sports…brought to you by HARMON TRAVEL…the art of travel—perfected.
April 8, 1974, 40 years ago today: In a game plugged into national prime time TV, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hits the 715th home run of his career to break Babe Ruth’s record. Al Downing of the Dodgers served it up. It would be Aaron’s final season with the Braves, as he would finish his career the following year with the Brewers in Milwaukee, former home of the Braves. Hammerin’ Hank’s homer record, of course, ended up at 755, and it lasted 33 years until the infamous Barry Bonds eclipsed it in 2007.
(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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