In Plainspeak...BSU Tells Idaho to Go F**k Itself

Maybe I should have placed a disclaimer..."This picture frightens little children and every time he smiles, a kitten dies. In this case, 967 kittens have died as a result of this single photo"

So the long-standing rivalry between our almost forgotten relatives in Boise and Moscow has now taken a turn for the nastier and the better as President Kustra's remarks are something that has become very rare for people in his position to speak, and so bluntly at that. Boise State, a football team rumored to have an actual school with a few other teams to compliment it, made the remarks to defend itself against Idaho's attacks on its academic side (or lack thereof). Kustra complained of a "nasty, inebriated culture" that he feels embodies the University of Idaho. It is to be pointed out that BSU not only has the lowest graduation rates out of every FBS school in the nation (and being beaten by plenty of FCS schools as well), but it is likely that the majority of Bronco fans have never even attended the university, or if they do they either make up the minority that does or they are non-traditional. Kustra is apparently deeply hurt and offended by the horrible things Vandal fans say and do when Boise travels up there and he and the Oh-So-Professional-*Cough* ASSHOLE *Cough* Coach Petersen openly stated they were more than happy to ditch the rivalry when Boise State makes their move to the Mountain West Conference in 2011. In a nutshell, Kustra and Boise State's fans (both the asshat bandwagon ones and the actual ones...and the weirdos who wear hunting gear to their games) have no balls whatsoever, and if a group of devoted and determined fans up in the Kingdom of the Vandals hurt their feelings, then BSU should never, EVER play a game that isn't a neutral site game. Because if you travel to a place like Camp Randall, Wisconsin or Ohio Stadium or Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, they will cut your heart out and roast it.

Meanwhile, the Vandal fans have reacted with indignant rage and outright contempt for anything with the blue and the orange. And rightly so! Robb Akey, a coach who is climbing my list of favorite coaches, has said that "BSU is running away from us" and their President, Duane Nellis, stated that this is essentially how Division 1 college football is. I agree. Wisconsin fans throw beer bottles full of piss at pretty much anybody (except Nerdwestern fans, because Nerdwestern fans are harmless. Beating up on them is like beating up on the elderly; it's low class and just socially unacceptable), and there is a video of Penn State fans abusing Buckeye fans and throwing beer cans at us. And Ohio State-M*ch*gan has too many stories to count, really. There has been wonderful cooperation between us and M*ch*gan, with the annual blood drives against each other and the fraternities from both schools compete to raise money for charities. All of the heated rivalries do both good things and bad things. I have entertained Griz fans and I have been downright nasty towards them throughout the years. I have downed beers with MSU fans and I have tackled MSU fans who run their flags through our fan section after they score touchdowns. It's part of the college football landscape. Bob Kustra, with his antics and his assholish behavior, reminds me and others of Max Hall for his comments after beating Utah in overtime last year. Only this is coming from a college president, not some sissy-mary quarterback who has done little to nothing in his 4 years at BYU.

One of the things you need to know about both schools is that Idaho has, by far, the better college atmosphere. To quote the Examiner:

"The core of Idaho’s fans is its own students. With 88.71% of its students being full-time, the campus in Moscow boasts 190 clubs, 26 Greek houses, and 13 Honor societies, making it a very socially active campus and one that breeds an atmosphere of pride and readiness in defending the university. Since Northern Idaho gets little to no acknowledgment from Southern Idaho media outlets, the choice to be a Vandal is one that is pursued rather than opted into like a low end health care plan.

On the other side of the coin, BSU’s fan base is the complete opposite. The campus, while boasting 11% of its undergrads living on it, the same social connection found up north just isn’t there, mostly due to the sprawling city and campus’s general design from when it was nothing more than a community college. Although it may be a bold assumption, most of BSU’s fan base consists of people who never attended the school. Those who do attend are mostly those who decided to earn their degree later on in life or return to pursue further education such as their masters."

This blog declares solidarity with the Vandals in this fight, because BSU is not only being incredibly disrespectful (and thus deserves it in kind), but they are being hypocritical in the first place (the school that has so often jobbed and jabbed and whined and cried at the BCS schools for being jerks and being obsessed with their money and whatnot is now doing the exact same thing to Idaho. It's not right). Go Vandals and please, for the sake of a tired nation's ears, beat the Broncos. If it is indeed the last time you will get to play them, just let everything go. Beat them to hell! TO ARMS VANDAL WARRIORS!

Softball Announces Julie Wright as Head Coach

The NEW face of ISU Softball...Julie Wright!

While they couldn't negotiate a special appearance from Bucky Badger, ISU hired the 7th coach in its softball history with the hiring of Julie Wright. Details are in the link. Wright has one impressive resume, tallying in her 10 years as an assistant or a head coach four 30-win seasons and finishing over .500 7 times (for those not familiar with your decimals in your stats, .500 means winning half your games). She has quite a list of accomplishments to her name, which is why I decided to highlight the link because the ISU website (i.e. Frank and Katie, THE DYNAMIC DUO MYAWWW) because stating all her accomplishments would likely overload the system! I really like what we did with her introduction on the site, by the way. It's the most detailed I've seen from any coach.

Accomplishments or not, Wright has some serious workage cut out for her. She will be the 4th coach in 4 years for the softball team, who hasn't seen a coach last more than 1-2 seasons since Ellen Margolis waaaaay back in 1980, and she only lasted 4 (1976-1980). Wright will also have to keep the players happy, because this program has seen turnover rates as high as 75% before (and if it's not that high, it certainly seems like it), mainly due to dissatisfaction with the coaching, and ISU/Pocatello in general. With her resume and the comments she made when she got hired here 2 days ago, it appears that she is not only up to the task but she is very eager to get started. Everyone here at the Wide World of Idaho State (mostly me and a group of dead generals and monarchs) wishes her the best of luck and hereby pledges our swords and flags to her cause. Welcome aboard Coach Wright!!!

In other news, ISU Feldmarschall Ali Gibson has hired Stephanie Beall as the goalkeeping coach to replace the outgoing Shannon Boyle. Beall, affectionately called "Kramer" due to her hair (it really DOES resemble his hair!), will also be looking over film, day-to-day duties, practices, and will assist with conscripting (oops! I meant to say, "recruiting"). Welcome aboard Coach Beall and glad to have you in the WAR MACHINE!

ISU Picked Last in Big Sky Polls

That's why you got picked last...that, and averaging like 13 points a game while opponents averaged close to 40. Self-explanatory, really.

So Idaho State was picked to finish dead last again in the polls this year in football, according to the media and coaches. This wasn't surprising given the Luigi Cadorna-like performance of the squad last year. The polls, for those of you too lazy to click on the link, are as follows:

#1) Montana

The Griz were picked to finish first again, for the 1,375 time in a row...and they are once again a contender for the national championship. The Griz, under first year coach Robin Pflugrad, are looking to win said national championship in its inaugural year in Frisco, Texas and finally stand atop every broken body like Yurtle the Turtle and gaze at the carnage wrought by Montbo.


(Montbo pictured here)

#2) Eastern Washington

The Eagles have been picked to finish second with an at-large bid to the playoffs. They will begin the season not only as the Big Sky's sole hope of knocking Montana off the throne but they will be aided by a SHINYREDFIELDOMG!

#3) Montana State

The Bobcats were picked third here, and this could be the year they knock off the Griz and make Bozeman the center of the Big Sky! (Refer to link, please...heh heh). The Bobcats are hoping to make it a reality and make a run for their first title since 1984, when Communism was still the boogeyman and not the awesome element of campus culture it has become (I own several CCCP t-shirts...and people think it's really cool).

#4) Weber State

The OTHER cats, those of the Wild variety, are picked to finish fourth. Cameron Higgins is back but loses uber-back Trevyn Smith, who dominated ISU everytime he played us. I'm talking like Beanie Wells dominating Michigan every year with 60-70 yard runs.

#5) Northern Arizona

The biggest enigma of a team, the Lumberjacks, look to do something other than look fast this season as they were picked 5th. This is one of the conference's most tragic teams, as they have great athletes but aggrovating coaching from Jerome Sauers.

#6) Sacramento State

The Hornets are 6th. Move along now...

#7) Northern Colorado

The Bears are picked 7th and have slowly improved over their time in the Big Sky Conference; they are looking to capitalize on that progress to finish better this season in order to regain what they had when they were the vicious, mauling machines of Division II football.

#8) Portland State

Elvis has left the building, and PSU has said if they don't get this hire right it will be the final hire they ever make for football. And the preseason poll at 8th in conference doesn't put them in a favorable position. ISU's lone win looks to do better this year.

#9) Idaho State

Well, we're picked last, like the past 2 or 3 seasons (it's easy to lose count). ISU has to improve on just about everything, from defense (allowed way too many yards and points) to offense (had the most anemic offense out of everyone last year...including Division 1, 1-AA, D-II and possibly D-3). There really isn't much more to say about it other than ISU has to start producing somewhere. Anywhere. We have to let the conference know we can still register a pulse. Failing that there is always our good friends in Bacardi and the Cheers theme. Or Adagio for Strings. Whichever tickles your fancy, really.

The Word on the Street

Gone before even taking a snap...thanks...really

An ugly yet hardly surprising story has surfaced recently on TheBengalDen concerning former Bengal-to-be quarterback recruit Grayson Galloway. User Bengalcub can provide the details through the link above as he had actual contact with Galloway through his "Meet the Recruits" segment that he does with every incoming player for the new season (it's very popular and gives us Bengal fans a lot of perspective on incoming players).

To make a quick point, it hasn't helped that the administrative side of the Den, ISUSID and VOTB, are pleading to change the subject and that to keep discussing this is to keep beating a dead horse...while offering little to no counterpoints and basically telling anyone "the information is out there if you want it, you just have to do the work." It's the ISU Stonewall Strategy in effect once more!

Previewin': ISU Volleyball, 2010-2011 Season, Part 2

Not exactly Waterloo but alright, "I'm Game"

So ISU has a bunch of games this year for the schedule, and I thought, "hm, I'm going to need some help on this. I know! The Duke of Wellington can help! He's a smart, agreeable fellow!" So Arthur Wellesley, the legendary 1st Duke of Wellington, is going to help me look at the schedule!

Wellington: Well now this looks like a rather tough schedule. Nothing the British Heavy Cavalry couldn't take head on. But because this is sport, I am certain that full horse charges are not permitted (blast!)

Me: Trust me, Wellington, I feel the same way.

Wellington: Quite alright friend! Now, let us take a look at this schedule of yours

*Looks at schedule*

Goodness! This is quite a campaign!

The schedule:

Texas Pan-American Tournament; Edinburgh, Texas

08/27-UTPA (12:00)
08/27-Oral Roberts University (3:00)
08/28-Lamar University (9:00am)

Wellington: So we start in Texas...and then we march back closer to home...

Me: In Provo, Utah

Wellington: I send my condolences. I'd rather be the French at Borodino

Brigham Young Tournament; Provo, Utah

09/03-Cal Poly (4:30)
09/04-BYU (10:00am)
09/04-Nebraska (5:00pm) (Wellington: Nebraska?! I'm beside myself with shock! They are one of the most formidable opponents in the United States! Me: Yes, we have a game with the Cornhuskers, a Top 5 team every year. Wellington: Blücher would love your team! Your Bengals shy away from nobody!)

Drake Tournament; Des Moines, Iowa

09/10-South Dakota (9:00am)
09/10-Drake (6:30)
09/11-Wisconsin Green-Bay (9:00am)
09/11-Stephen F. Austin (1:30)

Wellington: Well now that's quite the start. Your team shall be away for the first 3 weeks of the school year! Tsk tsk...well it cannot be helped. And then you shall be starting conference correct?

Me: Yes, that's right. Here are the first 4, to end the month of September:

09/17-Northern Arizona (7:00)
09/18-Northern Colorado (7:00)
09/24-@ Eastern Washington (8:00)
09/25-@Portland State (8:00)

Wellington: Gracious me, those are the 4 most solid teams in the conference! With all due respect to Sacramento State of course.

Me: That's quite the start to the conference, eh? The first 4 teams we face are indeed, the major title contenders this year

Wellington: At least October has a decent mix of opponents as to not lower morale...indeed this is a good month to enter with momentum, like when the momentum shifted to our favor when the Prussian cavalry entered the fray at Waterloo!

10/01-Montana (7:00)
10/02-Montana State (7:00)
10/05-@ Boise State (7:00)
10/08-@ Sacramento State (8:00)
10/09-@ Seattle (8:00)
10/12-Montana Western (7:00)
10/16-Weber State (7:00)
10/22-Portland State (7:00)
10/23-Eastern Washington (7:00)
10/28-@ Northern Colorado (7:00)
10/30-@ Northern Arizona (7:00)

Wellington: Well, this is the major meat of your schedule, where the campaign really heats up. You have 6 home matches and 5 on the road, so we can hope that the travel doesn't wear you down too badly. From what I have gathered, the month of October is highly crucial as always.

Me: You are correct good sir! The next month of November is hopefully the tune-up for the Big Sky Tournament which we shall hopefully be participating in...

Wellington:...and routing any opponents that stand in your way!

11/04-Texas Pan American (5:00) (Wellington: Them again? Next time we'll exile them to...where DO you exile your enemies, Ross? Me: usually to somewhere barren and lifeless, like Ann Arbor, Michigan...but you know, Napoleon is kind of lonely on St. Helena...we should take them there! Wellington: A fine choice! He can always use company...and some exercise would do him well!)
11/06-Sacramento State (7:00)
11/12-@Weber State (7:00)
11/19-@Montana State (7:00)
11/20-@Montana (7:00)

Big Sky Conference Tournament (Also known as the Battle of Nations, Part 2)
11/26-Big Sky Conference Tournament
11/27-Big Sky Conference Tournament

Wellington: Well that's that. You start on the road and end your season like so. I'm feeling particularly good with this campaign, considering we have so many veterans back from previous years of battle. These women are battle hardened and General Teichert has done good work in making this a fighting unit to be reckoned with. If everything falls into the right places, Idaho State could very well be crowned queen of a new empire in November! The prospects and potential of this season and team excites me!

Me: Thank you so much for your help Lord Wellington! I'm fairly certain that ISU will roll to victory. That first stretch of all important conference games in September will be the critical point of the season, in my opinion. Because we have all the title favorites in one swoop...

Wellington:....it's imperative that you strike and strike quickly! ISU could very well establish control early on in the campaign if it wins these first 4 matches. Win those 4 and you could very well control your fate for the rest of the season! So you must get going! You should really emulate my ally and fellow commander, Gebhard von Blücher. "Marshall Forward" they used to call him; always SO aggressive and direct. This is the spirit I see in your team. You have all the pieces my good sir!

Me: That we do. You are correct that we must come out of the gates like Blücher did at Waterloo. This volleyball team is, in a singular word, awesome. We have the skills and power and the fire. This is our season if we want it!

Wellington: Best of luck upon you and this team for the season! May you all have your laurels at campaign's end!

Well that's pretty much it for the preview! ISU has a rough start but also has a huge opportunity in a 4-game stretch this September against the 4 best conference teams from last season. Win here and ISU could enter October riding on a wave of sheer momentum; that month starts with a pair of home games against the Montana schools. The rest of October will feature us in a 4-game stretch at home with one patsy in Montana-Western. November will see only 2 home games and unlike the last 3 years, the home season will end before the 10th (whereas the home season was extended to the 3rd week of November).

Don't forget that the home matches will be in Reed's Gym!

This should be a fun season with lots of excitement and expectations and I am confident the gals can hold up and deliver BIG! RAN WIE BLÜCHER!!!

Previewin': ISU Volleyball, 2010-2011 Season, Part 1

The man behind the music...Chad Teichert

One bit of news before I get started, the official ISU website cannot be updated at the moment, so the legions of Bengal fans shall have to visit the ISU Bengal Blog for news. And here as well; I will update as much as I can.

Overview:

The 2010 version of the Bengal Volleyball squad is hoping to pull off something no Bengal squad has pulled off since 1990: winning the Big Sky Tournament. Under the wise, firm and calm leadership of Chad Teichert, ISU definitely has a legitimate chance at doing it. The coaching staff will feature a new face as Katie Edgson has departed for married life with her husband, Nic, who played defense for the football team and finished this past year. That new face is Ali Gorny, a 2004 graduate of the volleyball team and has stuck around here for awhile working on her advanced degrees (you know...the really fancy kind). Teichert, along with David Hyte, will be entering his third year at the helm.

Personnel:

Teichert enters his 3rd year without a few players due to graduation and other reasons. The graduating players were Emily Waldron, Kolay Mickelson-Sutton, and Paige Palmer, who all had some solid, if not bright, careers at ISU (Paige Palmer especially). The players who left on their own accord were Emily Beardmore (transferred to Texas Tech), Savannah Leckington (married), Bryndy Anderson, Malia Bird, and Paige Findlay (joined the tennis team). However, Teichert will be welcoming back 4 seniors, all of whom who will form the core of the best team ISU has seen in recent memory. Sarah Carson (Middleback), Britta Bartschi-Rhodehouse (another Middleback), Jenna Proost (Defensive Specialist/Libero) and Haylee Thompson-Brock (Outside Hitter) have been terrors for other teams: Carson is very skilled, Thompson-Brock can pack some vicious power in her hitting (I've seen the craters), Proost is very versatile and there's not a lot that can get by her (hehe...she's a Court Ninja), and Bartschi-Rhodehouse is probably a living Berlin Wall...good luck getting much past her on the court. ISU will also be welcoming back a very talented duo in juniors Karissa LeGeaux and Jaclyn Hone, who provided a lot of excitement last year, not to mention blistering hitting power and brought a lot of skill and talent to the team. Hone, if you saw her last year, blasted teams with sheer might (and one of those hits laid out a UVU player. No, I'm not kidding. That ball hit the poor girl in the face and sent her to the ground, spread-eagled). LeGeaux did much of the same; while not possessing Hone's power, she has a lot of talent and figures to really bloom this season. ISU will be welcoming some newcomers who will likely contribute to a hopefully great campaign this season: Lori Mendenhall, a Setter from Salt Lake City, Utah; Kylee Searle, a Defensive Specialist/Libero from Idaho Falls, Idaho; Danielle Downs, an Outside Hitter from Kaysville, Utah; and Vanessa Muir (pronounced, by any respectful fanbase, as MERRRRRRRR), a junior Middleback transfer from Casper College (she's from Smoot, Wyoming). There is a group of untested freshmen in Paige Hansen and Katie Grajewski, both Defensive Specialists who should likely see some action this year. Breanne Van Every saw some action and figures to see some more playing time this year (she's an Outside Hitter). The position breakdown is as follows:

Outside Hitter: (5: Jaclyn Hone, Breanne Van Every, Paige Hansen, Haylee Thompson-Brock, Danielle Downs)
Setter: (2: Karissa LeGeaux, Lori Mendenhall)
Middle Blocker: (3: Sarah Carson, Britta Bartschi-Rhodehouse, Vanessa Muir)
Libero/Defensive Specialist: (3: Jenna Proost, Katie Grajewski, Kylee Searle)
OH/Defensive Specialist: (2: Jaclyn Hone, Paige Hansen)

Record analysis:

Last year, if many of you recall, ISU had a really good showing. The 13-15 record (7-9 Big Sky and a nice 3-2 record on neutral courts) was a vast improvement from the past 5 years and this year will welcome back a lot of veterans from that campaign; many of them key players. ISU was so very close to a tournament berth and had a few potential wins slip away at the last moment (see: the near 3-0 beating of Conference #1 Son Eastern Washington; they would rally to win 3-2 after we jumped out to a 2-0 lead and a wild 3-2 affair with conference champion Northern Colorado). This could very well be our year if everyone comes together and survives the usual brutal start to the season (being away for a good 3 weeks to start the season is not easy, even if you're Penn State or Nebraska). ISU could have a tough time if it doesn't get together by September 17th, which is when the conference season commences and could miss out on a golden opportunity with the wealth of talent and skill that returns for the 2010-2011 campaign. ISU also must protect Reed Gym; a 5-6 record at home is not the way to blaze into conference, and ISU must improve on the road. A 5-7 record is not bad, given the distance one must cover in a short time in the Big Sky Conference, but there is room for improvement.

The Bengals, in matches that go 3 sets, are about average with a 7-8 record. ISU should be able to build off of a 5-3 record in matches that go 4 sets. One of the major reasons why ISU did not advance to the conference tournament, if not the biggest of them all, was ISU's inability to close out 5-set matches. ISU was 1-4 last year in matches that went 5 sets, and given that we missed the conference tournament by 1-2 games, we could have not only gotten in with a better record in the 5 set matches but even a better seed in the tournament. ISU MUST improve on the 5 set record while building and improving on the 3 set and 4 set records.

Final Analysis:

This is ISU's year. The Bengals not only possess the talent and skill, but the experience. Although we will be missing Emily Waldron and Paige Palmer, we have some the most solid players in ISU history coming back. This is the best chance at our first tournament berth since 2005 and we could potentially win the Big Sky Championship for the first time since 1990. Everything points in the right direction. The pieces are in place. The players are hungry and ready. 2010-2011 should be a great year for Idaho State!

Happy 4th of July, All Early-Like

FREEDOM IS THE ONLY WAY, YEAH!

Being that most of SE Idaho is conducting celebrations a day-early because the 4th falls on a Sunday, and that I have no idea if I'll be on tomorrow...Happy 4th of July! What better way to spend the 4th of July then having picnics, eating hot dogs, going swimming, blowing up fireworks, BLOWING UP MORE FIREWORKS, drinking lots of beer, garbling ice cream and lots of flag waving? There is only one thing more American than all those, including Chuck Norris...

RICKY STANZI!!! MORE AMERICAN THAN APPLE PIE! MYAW!

ISU to see Vancouver and British Columbia

ISU to make forays to the Land of the Strong and Free

Our haughty Missourian friend at the Idaho State Journal, Dan Angell, has just reported today that ISU will be travelling to Vancouver in August to play a few Canadian teams in order to get an idea of what he'll be working with for the 2010-2011 season. The NCAA amended travel rules last spring as to allow teams to let incoming players participate in foreign trips, so OB checked the budget (it's more of a hospital bill than a budget as far as ISU is concerned...heh heh), looked at the freshmen coming in (lots of them) and figured, what's not to lose? ISU will practice for 10 days before taking off and will be in Canada from the 14th of August to the 22nd. This should be a good chance (a VERY good one) to see what the new kids can do and what we can expect this year (hopefully more than 7 wins).