Perspective is like a Sour Patch kid; sour and sweet

With just 41 days left until Boise State takes the Harsin show on the road and faces Ole' Miss. in the Peach State, I can't help but look back at what we experienced during the 2013 college football season.

There were moments of glory (winning at Utah State), but there were plenty of cringe-worthy and agonizing horrors (San Diego State, BYU -- the worst one, in my opinion). The Broncos finished with a disappointing 8-5 record, the season culminating with a loss to Oregon State in the Hawaii Bowl. Oh, and our head coach left. There's that, too.

Let's not forget our starting quarterback jacked up his ankle on the first play of the game against the Wolfpack of Nevada and then he (allegedly) urinated off a balcony in Hawaii and was sent home.

Yeah. I'd take a mulligan on a lot of those moments if I could.

As painful as it was to go through all that, and watch Chris Petersen sneak his way out of town for purple-er (not a word, I know) pastures, it could have been worse. Let us embrace the motto that our blue and orange-clad savior Bryan Harsin has supplied and forget about last season. It's time to attack the future. Seriously. Let's maul, maim, harm, injure, upend, tackle, mangle and otherwise pee on (too early?) the future.

But first, let's take a step back and gain some healthy and important perspective.

After the pineapple-scented dust had settled (in Hawaii, after all), Boise State was 8-5. Looking at the season from a somewhat historical view, take this into account:

- The last time the Broncos lost won eight or less games was in 2001 (8-4)
- There were 17 teams at the FBS level with eight wins in 2013.
- 33 teams had nine wins or more
- 68 teams had seven wins or less
- Idaho has not won eight games in a season since 1998 (finished 9-3)
-Furthermore, the Vandals have had just 12 seasons of eight or more wins since 1954, and that's only because they played seven-game seasons before that

So, relax Bronco Nation. The sky is not falling. Far from it, actually. Time will tell whether or not Harsin can continue the winning tradition at Boise State, and the pieces are there to make it happen.

I added an Urban Dictionary definition of the term "University of Idaho"

Read it straight from the website here. (There was already a really good one posted). Mine is still being reviewed before it will be posted, but I went ahead and pasted it here for your pleasure. Enjoy!

University of Idaho

Forever the little brother of its fellow school on The Palouse and its in-state "rival" down south, the University of Idaho is used to playing second fiddle. So it comes as no surprise that after being passed by that same in-state college in every academic and athletic spectrum, the butt-hurt pouring from the University of Idaho is at an all-time high.

Despite its self-appointed title as "the Harvard of the West," there are zero nationally-ranked graduate programs or nationally-prominent faculty members to be found. Better known for its rampant drinking and alcoholism among its student population, the University of Idaho is more a waste of mommy and daddy's money that it is an actual establishment of higher learning.

The school's location, Moscow, Idaho, is a cold, bitter wasteland where only Neo-Nazi skinheads and right-wing nut jobs are comfortable and welcome (Larry Craig, Sarah Palin are graduates). The only bright spot is leaving.

The University of Idaho football team is only competitive against Division II programs, making its losses to them that much more humiliating. Then again, the school is used to that feeling as it plays in an over-sized bathroom stall known as the Kibbie Dome. Not only is losing as natural as breathing to the Vandals, the football team also gets banned from postseason play (not that they would ever qualify anyway) due to poor academic progress reports. To rub salt in the wound, its in-state rival is ranked in the top 3 nationally for average GPA among its football team.

Despite the Vandals' pathetic attempts to remain athletically relevant, its in-state rival has surpassed it by light years. Instead of admitting the ship has sailed, the University of Idaho leadership persists on "saving face" and whores out its football program for money games and, most recently, the Sun Belt Conference.

Example:

"I used to love Cher, but she's pulling a University of Idaho and just needs to call it quits."

"My friend has everything. I'm so jealous of him, call me University of Idaho."

Dog days of summer got you down? Make sure to keep things Blue

We are smack-dab in the middle of the dog days of summer. I hate it.

Actually, the World Cup has distracted me from the football-less (that's American football, mind you) doldrums of my least favorite time of year. Under normal circumstances, only my Fiesta Bowl DVD collection could get me through it.

Some people have season depression where the cold, dark winter forces them into a sad shell. I'm the opposite. Summer makes me mad because I prefer the cold, and there's no football. Zero. Zip Zilch. None in sight.

I'd rather slit my wrists and do push-ups in salt water than watch baseball.

But, like any good die-hards, I rely on my fellow members of Bronco Nation to keep me and well. This offseason has been the most eventful and exciting in recent memory. Bryan Harsin has injected new life into what had become a complacent fan base. Every time a, "Go Broncos!" tweet from him shows up on my Twitter timeline, the adrenaline starts pumping and the anticipation is high.

It is my sincere hope that this excitement continues into the fall and is amplified on The Blue by a group of pissed off Broncos, upset at how last year unfolded.

So it is desired, so it shall be.

At least I hope so. See, that's the great part about being a fan. The optimism reigns in full force, regardless of how unfounded it is. It's what gives Dallas Cowboys fans undying hope of success as Tony Romo continues to do what Tony Romo does. It's what allows Idaho State Bengal fans to show up at Holt Arena every Saturday, waving their flags in the air and expecting a victory from their team. It may not happen, but the eternal flame of optimism continues to burn, even at the darkest times.

As Boise State embarks on a new era of football -- and we as fans go along with it -- there is more hope than ever before. Images of Jay Ajayi mowing down defenders then cart-wheeling his way past another toward the end zone occupy my mind as I wait for Aug. 28 to roll around.

Then I see incoming recruits like offensive lineman Troy Bacon full embracing what it means to be a Boise State Bronco (check out his Twitter timeline to find out what I'm talking about). There is so much more to The Blue than just great football. This has me excited about the future. This fuels my fire of optimism as much as what will take place on the gridiron.

Let's keep it going, Bronco Nation. We need each other as much as we need football. Can the season start now, please?

My own World (Cup)

There are few, if any, better husbands in existence than yours truly. Why you may ask? Simple.

Four years ago this month my wife and I were on the verge of welcoming our first child into this world. Our son, Sawyer, was born at 11:14 p.m. on June 29, 2010. We checked into the hospital early that morning to begin the process of inducing Meagan.

Being the outstanding spouse that I am, I forced my wife to watch the knockout stage games of the World Cup in South Africa that were taking place that day while she was in labor.

Hey, you can't blame me. It only happens every four years! She understood...

All jokes aside, the month of June every fourth year truly is a special time for me. The memories that come flooding back are sometimes overwhelming and emotional, and I don't want to forget them.

The first morning home from the hospital, Sawyer being just 2 days old at the time, I was up nice and early, snuggling my little bundle of joy on the couch as we watched the World Cup. The event transformed into more than just sports for me. At that moment it became something I would always have with him.

As the World Cup in Brazil kicked off Thursday, I grabbed Sawyer, sat down on the couch and shared a quick snuggle with my now 4-year-old wiggly and energetic boy. He may not understand what those few seconds meant to me -- or what this soccer event signifies -- but I sure did.

My love for soccer began in 2006 while I was serving a Spanish-speaking LDS mission in San Bernardino, Calif. The excitement and emotion from the mainly Mexican people I served with was contagious. I caught on to the nuances and pageantry of the game as I watched match after match and saw Italy win the whole thing, beating France in penalties.

Fast forward four years and I was finally able to share my love for the greatest sporting event in the world, first with my wife and then with my newborn son.

Now in our second World Cup as a family, I love the significance it has for us. Well, at least for me and the wonderful feelings and thoughts it brings back. I can't help but smile.

(Note: I picked Argentina to win the World Cup, beating Germany in the final. Feel free to harass me when my prediction inevitably goes wrong.)

My story: The life and times of a former small-town sports journalist

Stepping out of my car, I quickly tightened my maroon and blue-striped tie up against my neck to the point if almost choking myself, made sure my shirt was tucked in evenly and advanced toward the door.

The brisk, January eastern Idaho wind made me shiver. I looked up and saw Jay Heater for the first time, a man who would become my boss in a matter of weeks.

"Go ahead and leave the tie in the car," Jay said, half joking. "We're pretty casual around here."

That anecdote was my first encounter with the newspaper business. I met Jay Heater in January of 2011. He, then the sports editor for the Idaho State Journal, was looking for a full-time desk person who would have opportunities to write as needed. I applied and Jay contacted me and wanted to do an interview.

I made the drive from Wendell, Idaho, to frigid Pocatello that day in January, with my wife and 8-month-old son in tow. Jay's first comments to me were just what I wanted to hear. What's better than a job that lets you wear shorts and a T-shirt everyday? Oh, and watching sports while doing it?

It wasn't as much of an interview with Jay as it was us discussing the logistics of when I would start and what was expected of me. I was eager to get to work.

I had grandiose plans of taking the world by storm, starting with Pocatello. I wanted to be wined and dined in press boxes and watch football. What I had in mind was taking over Stewart Mandel's job at Sports Illustrated someday. My goals were lofty.

When I finally started at the Journal on February 8, 2011, I was sent out to cover a high school boys basketball game. My "limited writing opportunities" turned into almost daily game coverage and writing.

I was a sports journalist. My dream was coming true.

My first opinion piece was about the Boise State football team getting screwed over by the NCAA because of "Couchgate." I found out later that mentioning the Broncos in Idaho State Bengal territory was a no-no; a jealousy-filled no-no, but a no-no nonetheless.

Six months later -- me being pretty green still -- Jay left for a job in California. I found myself in a great, albeit inexperienced position to take over. I had worked hard to learn the computer system and graphic design program as well as how to be a journalist.

I was ready.

In a matter of days I was named interim sports editor and a few months later the interim tag was removed. I was in hog heaven. Could this really be happening to me? I was eager to dig in.

Reality then set in. My work load doubled and I had to deal with angry readers and the business side of the business. It didn't help that we were down a person for almost a year before we could get a permanent solution on board.

I faced a very steep learning curve, but I adjusted and began to feel better in my new skin many months later.

That casual, wear-shorts-and-T-shirts feeling was gone. It was a grind. I embraced it and pushed forward. I loved a lot of what I did, but that grind wears on you. There's no way to avoid it. Some people manage it differently than others.

Fast forward a couple of years and I am no longer working for a newspaper. But, it was as much my choice as it was that of the business.

Here's why: My family.

You see, we added another child to the fold in October of 2012 and I wanted nothing more than to spend every waking second with my beautiful wife and two incredible, loving kids.

But that cut into my career, a profession that expects more than 40 hours a week. Try 50 or 60 during slow season. Oh, and you generally don't get paid for that extra time.

I tried to find a balance. It was difficult. Every time I would leave the house I could hear my kids crying and yelling, "Daddy!" Try going through that on Christmas Day. Yeah, it sucks.

And I kept having to leave earlier and earlier in the day and staying later and later into the night. A journalist is always on the clock. Your schedule is not set. It's constantly fluctuating and growing. It's like drinking from a hose that's on full blast.

The truth is I loved my daily interactions with the people I got to meet. I loved crafting game stories into living, breathing works of word art. I loved telling people's stories. I loved taking the ISU football beat and making it my own. I loved getting my hands dirty and pissing people off in order to write and create investigative pieces. I won awards for my writing. I was good at it.

But I hated the bureaucratic, red tape-laced politics of navigating a newsroom, especially under a boss looking to save his own butt at the expense of others. But, most of all, I hated not seeing my family. Fifteen-hour Saturdays will do that to you.

The truth is I eventually began sacrificing time at work to be with my family. I made a choice. I had seen too many people lose their families because journalism became their life. It wasn't going to happen to me.

And in the end, it cost me my job. A younger, hungrier person who was willing to work those extra, money-less hours took over.

The truth is I hung on too long. My wife and I wanted to make a change, but we weren't sure where to go or how to get out. The fun-loving days of working with Jay Heater were gone.

The truth is the newspaper business chewed me up and spit me back out. It wasn't for me. My family is for me. That is what's important.

Maybe I wasn't cut out for the newspaper business. On the other hand, maybe the newspaper business wasn't cut out for me.

Fortunately I was able to find a writing gig on the side thanks to
Kevin Hiatt at BroncoCountry.com. It's the fun part of being a sports journalist with none of the politics. It's the shorts-and-T-shirt portion.

I made a choice: My wife and kids mean more to me than reaching a Sports Illustrated-level goal. It might not be as glamorous, but it's certainly more fulfilling.

So there's the truth. My life is a product of the choices I make and the people I choose to be around. My quality of life depends on what I deem as the most crucial parts of it.

And, right now, life is good.

It's not me Pocatello, it's you: A fond farewell to the Gate City

As I sit in my office on my very last night in a building I've spent over three years in, I can't help but let my mind wander.

Tomorrow morning (Saturday) my family and I pack up everything we own to leave Pocatello for good. It's very much bittersweet in that we will leave behind relationships, routines and familiarity behind us. But at the same time, this is what is best for us.

As I have said, my time with the Idaho State Journal abruptly came to an end when I was moved to a different position in the office. It was abundantly clear at that point that it was time to advance to the next phase of my life. My wife and I had been talking about it for a while, but the change forced our hand.

I certainly have bitter feelings toward the situation, but it was exactly what I needed. My anger has been washed away and replaced by excitement and nervousness. There is no room in my heart for bitterness.

Back to the mind wandering thing. I have met so many incredible people and had the opportunity to do some cool things as a sports writer. I think about all the coaches who I became close with — Tony Green at Highland, Vinnie Benavidez at Pocatello and Pauline Thiros at Century, just to name a few — are people I will stay in contact with for years to come.

Then there are the players. I got really close with a lot of them. Some that come to mind immediately are Kyler Manu at Highland (Boise State football commit), Malek Harwell at Century, Mikayla Kanawyer at Highland and Andy Burtenshaw at Pocatello. There are many, many others. The point is these athletes and coaches became a part of my life, people I looked forward to talking to after their games. That experience and those people will be sorely missed.

All good things must come to an end, right? That's something I absolutely believe in. I'm also a believer in new beginnings. Sometimes when God closes a door He opens one the size of a house. That's how I feel now. With a house purchase underway and jobs lined up for my wife and I (I start Monday, actually), life could not be sweeter.

Thanks to all who were part of my journey in Pocatello. I will sincerely miss you. If you're ever in the Twin Falls area, hit me up. I'll buy you a Mountain Dew and we can catch up!

I used to work for Albertsons, that makes me part owner of the stadium, right?

I mean, I practically ran the place while I was there.

As Twitter, Facebook and the Boise media have been all over Wednesday, the Boise State football-playing facility formerly knows as Bronco Stadium will now be known as Albertsons Stadium.

To be honest, I actually like it. Joe Albertson is from Boise and he started a national grocery chain that still has its offices in the City of Trees.

Even more exciting is Albertsons paying $12.5 million over 15 years is a great sign. It wasn't that long ago that the company was struggling financially, even being sold to Cerberus Capital Management in 2006. The 2013 merger with Safeway stabilized the business and Albertsons is thriving.

Hence the hefty cash payment(s) to Boise State to hold naming rights of the stadium with its iconic Blue Turf.

Albertsons now has its name on BSU's library — a place I spent many hours "studying" and "researching" — and the stadium.

I would have been upset if it had been branded by some random, non-local entity. Taco Bell Arena is bad enough. I couldn't handle Carl's Jr. Stadium or Wendy's Coliseum.

Boise State got it right by going with a Boise company that has given so much to the community. From education to football, Albertsons deserves one of the highest spots in Treasure Valley lore. Having the name and logo on the former Bronco Stadium is a great start.

A rendering of Albertsons Stadium, the new name for Boise State's football stadium. The school will add Albertsons signage before the 2014 football season. COURTESY BOISE STATE

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/05/21/3195133/its-albertsons-stadium.html?sp=/99/104/#storylink=cpy