question for napper and other Idahons

[frank ryan]

How come it seems like BYU has given up recruiting Idaho for football talent. They used to take a player or two every year from there. You have to dig deep to find guys on the roster outside of Mangum. Even Bronco admitted they screwed up recruiting Taysom Hill the first time around. Jordan Richardson is in his senior season, his little bro is a walk-on. Shane Hunter started at linebacker for BYU but he was a walk-on juco transfer. We seemed to have just given Idaho to Boise State, Oregon and Washington State. What gives? I want more Gem-Staters on the roster.

[Top Ute]

How come it seems like BYU has given up recruiting Idaho for football talent. They used to take a player or two every year from there. You have to dig deep to find guys on the roster outside of Mangum. Even Bronco admitted they screwed up recruiting Taysom Hill the first time around. Jordan Richardson is in his senior season, his little bro is a walk-on. Shane Hunter started at linebacker for BYU but he was a walk-on juco transfer. We seemed to have just given Idaho to Boise State, Oregon and Washington State. What gives? I want more Gem-Staters on the roster.

Quite simple. 20 years ago, there wasn't a single FBS team in the state.

Now there are two, and one of them is a national power. It doesn't help that one of the non-Idaho schools you mentioned is a national power as well.

I'd say that Leach at WSU doesn't help matters much, but BYU's impact in Idaho has been so reduced by the aforementioned schools that Leach's hiring will impact them much more than it will BYU.

[frank ryan]

That is too bad I'd like to see one to two Idaho kids in every BYU recruiting class. I'd also like to see one to two Snow players.

[Top Ute]

That is too bad I'd like to see one to two Idaho kids in every BYU recruiting class. I'd also like to see one to two Snow players.

I think there is a void to be filled in the Intermountain West by another JUCO football school. Personally, I'd love to see CSI add the sport but there is next to zero desire from the powers-that-be in Twin to add it.

[MarkGrace]

I'm guessing Ricks has to be a factor as well.

[Commando]

The truth is that HS football in Idaho is traditionally not great, due to the very low population- the competition is just not there. Sure you have your freaks like Jason Buck once in a lifetime, and then a handful of fringe players like Spencer Nead, Nate Meikle, etc. but, Boise-area's relative emergence aside, it's still like that. It's just not very fertile territory.

[Blueintheface]

The truth is that HS football in Idaho is traditionally not great, due to the very low population- the competition is just not there. Sure you have your freaks like Jason Buck once in a lifetime, and then a handful of fringe players like Spencer Nead, Nate Meikle, etc. but, Boise-area's relative emergence aside, it's still like that. It's just not very fertile territory.

You are going to get a pm from the president of the Marilyn Chambers fan club. Stay strong.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I'm excited that the Ducks will have an LDS RM starter from the Gem state for the 5th consecutive year this fall.

[pellegrino]

I didn't know we had this many Idahoans on the board.

[Non Sequitur]

I didn't know we had this many Idahoans on the board.

I used to be an Idahoan, back when they were DII then Big Sky, Tony Hilde was the man and the Thundering Herd was the last opponent of the season. I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for those days.

[Goatnapper'96]

How come it seems like BYU has given up recruiting Idaho for football talent. They used to take a player or two every year from there. You have to dig deep to find guys on the roster outside of Mangum. Even Bronco admitted they screwed up recruiting Taysom Hill the first time around. Jordan Richardson is in his senior season, his little bro is a walk-on. Shane Hunter started at linebacker for BYU but he was a walk-on juco transfer. We seemed to have just given Idaho to Boise State, Oregon and Washington State. What gives? I want more Gem-Staters on the roster.

I think others have hit on it. My opinion is that it is a number of different reasons. I think recruiting in general is more open. It is harder to keep a stud from St Anthony hidden. Which I will point out that St Anthony, population 900, just placed its 3rd big time DL prospect into D1 football. Now while Brandon Bair is never likely to run for Congress nor did he win the Outland BYU lost out on his kid brother to Oregon and if BYU had not lost Brandon to Oregon they likely would have the kid brother. 25 years ago nobody would have recruited Brandon from St Anthony and he would have ended up going the Ricks to BYU route. Kid brother likely would have followed. I think the rise of Boise State and even Utah has hurt BYU with LDS kids in Idaho - think Spencer Toone from Snake River High. I also think that the growth of Utah HS football has made it not as neccesary for BYU to venture out looking for OL/DL kids. The Idaho LDS demographic is the same as most of Utah - just not as many Polys.

I do love me "Sons of the 208" though and look forward to yacking it up once Tayson Hill gets his shot!

[Goatnapper'96]

I used to be an Idahoan, back when they were DII then Big Sky, Tony Hilde was the man and the Thundering Herd was the last opponent of the season. I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for those days.

Being an Idahoan is much like being a Marine! Once an Idahoan always an Idahoan, dear Brother!

[byu71]

Being an Idahoan is much like being a Marine! Once an Idahoan always an Idahoan, dear Brother!

How about if you marry an Idahoan. Are you an Idahoan through marriage?

[Goatnapper'96]

How about if you marry an Idahoan. Are you an Idahoan through marriage?

Once one knocks boots with an Idahoan, you become adopted into the House of Gem. You have long been one of us - explains why you hate the elite and feel no remorse for dropping an F-bomb when you slice!

[wally]

As an Active Lds Ute Fan (ALUF) I think that BYU should recruit Africa harder.

The Church is growing there by leaps and bounds and there should be tons of African atheletes that would do anything to get into BYU. You could be virtually 100% sure that there would be no competition for the top athletic talent. Sure, the talent would be pretty raw, but think about the upside if even a few of those recruits pick up football quickly.

Africa could become BYU football's next Idaho.