Monday, July 28, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
After enjoying some time off to eat some tasty vittles such as a crawdad low country boil up in Ririe, I'm finally back in the office....and there's lots of stuff going on. By the way, do any Bengal fans really think ISU football will finish eighth? Neither did I .... onto the links.

...and in other news, Jared's favorite Peanuts character is Linus
Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune goes really in depth in his first big column with former Idaho State great Jared Allen. However, much of the column centers on Jared's blankie that he sleeps with. And I admit, I remember him hanging all of the clothes in the middle of the locker room, but taping the entire freshmen team to the goalpost escapes my memory. He obviously did it outside side we don't have goalposts in Holt Arena on the ground.

See, everyone loves Dave Nielsen
Carson, Nevada's Mike Arnold is really excited to become a Bengal pole vaulter and work with Dave Nielsen and Stacy Dragila.

Imagine What They Do to Find Out if You are Cheating on a Test
Idaho State researchers are trying to figure out which predators are eating sage grouse eggs. While this might seem trivial to some, the researchers are getting all James Bond in trying to find out the culprits. Hopefully, our super-slueths won't run into this guy.

Kellis and Dan's Big Adventure
The Big Sky Conference Football Media Kickoff was last week (I did live/blog/chats from there). Kellis Robinett did an excellent job of gathering up a lot of information, so my suggestion is head over to his newly redesigned blog (again) and check out some of the links. The must read is his Top 10 quotes from the Big Sky Media Kickoff, and not just because I'm number 9....some of those quotes are priceless. Kellis did neglect to mention that yours truly finished in second in the Big Sky Media Kickoff Golf Tournament at -10 (I had good teammates....)

BengalBlog = Trendsetter
In a case of imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the Big Sky Conference has taken ISU's lead and started their very own blog as well. And to think, for years I was not allowed to do this blog. Anyways, the BigSkyBlog has an interesting officials story on there fans would enjoy. Check it out.

Gone but not Forgotten
A legend passed while I was away in Earl Pond. While the ISU website has a terrific article on Earl, everyone forgets one position he held for a few years was de facto sports information director, back when most schools didn't have one. Earl and I both served together on the Hall of Fame committee, and his big smile was always a welcoming presence. Earl will be missed.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... Massage Therapy Rocks...

Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
Back in beautiful Pocatello, Idaho for the latest blog update from your favorite Assistant A.D. (there's only two of us, and I doubt Jim Kramer chats with the fans much). Just an aside, if your back is tight (like mine), or your rhomboid is in a state of shock (like mine), or if you are just getting old (do I have to say it), these guys are absolutely the bomb. Oh my word...just fantastic. OK, OK, to the real stuff.

A Seahawk by any other name
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer (that's a mouthful) has many terrific writers, and one, Clare Farnsworth has an extended piece on the long resume of Seattle receivers coach Keith Gilbertson. Keith got his start as a graduate assistant at Idaho State back in 1971, went I was just one-year old coincidentally.

We Would Hate to Lose Him
Everyone loves ISU assistant track coach and head cross country coach Brian Janssen here at Idaho State, and apparently he is getting some love in Missoula as well.

Oregon Really Isn't That Bad
While Russ Eisenstein and I had fun on our drive to Oregon for the Big Sky Conference Tournament, apparently some people will do anything to go from Oregon into Idaho. This could save the budget big time.

ISU Has Their Own Appleby!
Dr. Karen Appleby is one of the most rewarding and challenging professors in the ISU Physical Education department. If you take her for a class, you are sure to have to work, and you are sure to learn a tremendous amount. And not only is she a great teacher, she won the Master's National Cycling Championship.

I Miss Tampa
In case folks were wondering why I was in Tampa, check out 8 a.m. on Monday of the official CoSIDA Workshop Program
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... This is how we do it on the East Coast baby...

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
Happy new fiscal year to you all! This blog posting is actually coming not from the comfy media relations office in Pocatello but from a very comfy couch in a verry muggy place on the Gulf of Mexico. The annual CoSIDA convention is currently going on, and yours truly actually led an 8:00 am panel entitled "Staying Sane in a Small Shop" ... it was well attended I'm proud to say. Anyways, lots of stuff going on, and that went on that you folks would enjoy, so on with the links...

Camping in the great outdoors
The biggest football camp in Idaho was not in Boise or Moscow, but in beautiful Pocatello, where John Zamberlin and his coaches had approximately 17 Idaho high schools among others for a huge four day football camp that the region's newest TV sports personality Scott Bemis checked out.

Triple debut
When Idaho State takes on Boise State, not only are they debuting a stadium renovation, and new field turf, but a new radio voice as well.

When a tux is not a tux...
Paul Litchfield definitely made some heads turn with his pole vaulting outfit, including the foremost authority on uniforms on the net. Alas, Paul's shot at Olympic glory was just a little short.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... The Journal was busy...

Monday, June 23, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
You go away for a weekend to a wedding, and the Journal gets busy, or at least that's how it looked to me anyways. Today concluded a four-part series on ISU athletics from the folks at the Journal. It started on Friday with a lesson on stability, and it continued with a ginormous piece by Kellis Robinett on Jeff Tingey, replete with quotes from yours truly (and a note...Kellis is dead-on correct, I had no clue about that snow removal thing...that was really weird). Sunday's paper featured new women's basketball coach Seton Sobolewski, and it is proofthat blind dates do in fact work out quite well. Seton apparent, in poker parlance is standing on a pat hand. Today, Kelvin Ang went into the vault to speak with the players of Chad Teichert's past, and it sounds even more like he is the right guy for the job.

Parlez vous francias?
Kellis Robinett caught up with David Schroeder for a very revealing interview. Did you know David welds the ghost of Omar Minaya in his blood?

It Took 15 Years....But I Had it Already
OK, most of you know my favorite band is Chicago. Well the CD they recorded in 1993 just go released last week, and despite the fact that Warner Brothers shelved it 15 years ago because they didn't think it was releasable, and it would never sell, guess what CD is #6 at CD Now? Yep, Stone of Sisyphus.

No Link, but hey, we are in athletics...
While my hockey team lost in the semifinals 5-2 (I gave up four, they tacked an empty netter with :13 left), Katie Zigars, newest member of the the media relations staff, won the Women's Open Singles Championship at the Juniper Hills Open, and she teamed with Valerie Espinosa to win the doubles. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... Lot's of Jared Allen Stuff

Friday, June 13, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
Just a quick note before the weekend hits, but in case you missed it....lots of stuff went on today, with some new hirings and the football time changes for television purposes, but this is about Jared Allen. Remember him? NFL guy....highest paid defensive lineman in history? Ring a bell? Thought so....well, Jared is on the cover of this week's Sporting News. You can click here to get the story, and within that story are several links to a photo slide show and other neat things. There is plenty of pictures of Jared's brother Scot Allen, who is a redshirt defensive lineman for the Bengals. This is required read for all Bengal fans.... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... Where's Wald....er...Eisenstein-o

Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
Are you missing this guy? Well, he's currently in the midwest, but he will be back for football, but if you miss Mr. Golden Throat, you can catch him weekly on Tuesday afternoons with Wayne Dzubak on KTMB 99.1 the man at 5:25 pm, and you can listen to the live stream. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... Burning Up

Monday, June 9, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
The Boise Burn of the AF2 could pretty much be the Boise Bengals West these days. A look at the A target="new" href="http://www.boiseburn.com/team-stats/roster.aspx">Burn roster showcases a lot of former Bengals. Currently, Ernie James, Shadrack Okoebor, Mark Weivoda, and DeRonn Finley are listed, and Josh Robinson is there as well, although he was just traded. Missing, but there, is George Yarno, who signed with the team late last week. However, Yarno alone wasn't enough, as the Burn dropped to 5-5 with a 68-51 loss to league leading Spokane.

OK, but you didn't ask why he spells it with a "y"??
That question wasn't asked, but plenty others were by Kellis Robinett, as he profiles one of the newest Bengals Phyllip Taylor.

Run Ricardi Run
John Ricardi, from Gardiner, Montana, run for the track team here at ISU, and he wore his uniform with pride as he won both the 5k and 10k at the Governor's Cup in Montana last weekend. Not to be outdone, John's sister Lois won the 5k....but no photo evidence of what uniform she wore.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... D-Day Remembered

Friday, June 6, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
Got a few responses from the masses regarding the media guide, so thanks to those...I'll be in touch very, very soon. Also, in something nearly lost on my generation (I'm 38), thanks to the men and women who gave their all on this fateful day back in 1944 ... and for those that don't know what I'm talking about, rent and watch the first 38 minutes of Saving Private Ryan.

...and she's really smart, and she runs well too
Our track fans surely know Pocatello native Trinelle McKinley, who is quite fast on the track. Trinelle has changed her look quite a bit since coming to ISU, looking like this as a freshman in 2005, and just six weeks later many did a double take. Now, she is back to this, and apparently, it's working out quite well for her. Along with being a Big Sky Scholar-Athlete, Trinelle was named Miss Pocatello, playing the cello for her talent, and now she is one of 20 delegates for the crown of 2008 Miss Idaho. The competition is in Boise June 13-14, and all of us wish Trinelle the best of luck. I'm betting she's the only cello player who can run the 200 and get a 3.5 GPA in the mix...

Don't argue with me on this one....
Do you know what the CEDA is? I didn't, but I googled it, and it's the Cross Examination Debate Association. Towson University won the 2008 CEDA Nationals, hosted by Wichita State, and the 2007 nationals were hosted by the University of Oklahoma. Well, the 2009 CEDA Nationals will be hosted by Idaho State University from March 21-24. Dr. Sarah Lefevre-Partlow put together the bid and worked with the visitor's bureau to the hotels to the mayor to get this done. Is this athletics? No, but this is major competition, and I'll tell you what...I think folks should come out and show the country that ISU can put on a first class tournament...basketball, soccer, or debate.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... Winners

Monday, June 2, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
Short blog post today...one little item for the masses. As I'm putting together the last sections of the ISU Football Media Guide for the 2008 season, if there are some volunteers from the crowd that wouldn't mind thumbing through a proof, I would love to have a different set of eyes on the thing. If interested, you know what to do.

Dan Thompson and George Yarno, a perfect pair
If you scroll around through the Idaho Press Club Awards for the 2007 year which were recently announced, you will see that Dan Thompson of the Journal won first place for the Sports Feature category for his football preview story called the Year of Yarno (I can't find a copy of it on the net). I remember reading the rough draft of it thinking that it was an award-winning type piece, and now we have confirmation, so congrats to Dan.

Another Bengal First
When the Bengals travel to play Boise State on August 30, it will be the first game in Bronco Stadium with the new press box (I'm sure it was in my honor, but I digress). Apparently, ISU will also get to break in Boise State's new FieldTurf as well

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... Random Things on a Day Off Waiting for Family

Thursday, May 29, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
OK, I lied, this is the second blog of the week, with a couple of quick items that are too good not to pass along. The Journal blogs have some more opinion on the women's coaching search, but honestly, Kellis' opinion on this one is goofy, so I'm not linking to it. It's sort of funny in that ISU is receiving grief for hiring an assistant with no head coaching experience, yet lauding the hires of Joe O'Brien and John Zamberlin. Well, I remember hearing when we hired O'Brien that he had no NCAA head coaching experience, and when we hired Zamberlin, he had no Division I head coaching experience. The last head coach we hired with head coaching experience at Division I was Mark Salisbury, and that didn't turn out all that well for ISU. Anyways, I think folks in the media will be eating crow here soon. Onto the real two reasons I'm posting on my daughter's graduation day....

Look....Hair!
Former ISU quarterback Matt Gutierrez is not only growing on the field, but his hair has apparently grown off of it, judging by the picture in the latest Providence Journal.

I've never felt more famous
OK, apparently someone saw the ad for my assistant search, but someone sent me an email to this website I've never heard of, and I about died laughing. I think that is one of the coolest things I've ever seen on the web. I'm easily entertained apparently.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... Sobolewski is worth only 19 points in SCRABBLE (TM)

Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
First of all, this is the only blog of the week, as I've been taking some much needed time off at the end of last week and the end of this week (I'd put in a link to why, but I can't link to high schools, and my daughter is graduating from Century on Thursday). So my apologies for that one, but whatcha gonna do?

Seton Sobolewski
As I'm sure you've seen on the homepage, Seton Sobolewski has been named as the 12th head coach in ISU women's basketball history. The guy was thoroughly impressive on his campus visit, and he took the time to get about eight or nine game films from last year and breakdown the team so he had an understanding of what we have...he did that before he got hired. I'm thinking he will be a prepared coach came game day. Lots of stuff around the net on the hiring, including Kelvin Ang's article in the Journal, and smaller things on KIFI's site and on KPVI's site. I would be remiss in pointing out that Paul Shahen actually reported Seton's hiring on the 6 pm MONDAY newscast, before we announced it, as someone apparently close to the situation decided to call him up. That KPVI link also has video.

There also was the requisite stuff in the national sites too, like The Sports Network, and that repository of women's basketball information....the The Kansas City Star.

This Totally Explains the Whole "Superfan" Thing...
Apparently, women are still from Venus, but men may actually be from Idaho instead of Mars

Kick me
Hopefully a soccer schedule will be up later today.

Finally, the 21st Century
My daughter's graduation means I just inherited my first iPod...a 60GB one to boot. All Chicago, Billy Joel and Weird Al....all day long. I'm slightly geeked.

You can officially root for two schools
Most folks know that Luke Butler transferred to Augustana College in South Dakota in order to get two years of playing time as Russel Hill is firmly entrenched right now as the starting quarterback. Dan Thompson of the Journal caught up with the former Bengal in Wednesday's paper. Luke still works a bit over at Holt when he is in town, and we wish him nothing but the best.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... News Gathering

Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
Just thought I'd catch folks up here on some Bengal stuff from around the web. Paul Shahen of KPVI TV 6 had a small piece on Acting Athletic Director Jeff Tingey on the Sunday night 5/18 Sportscast, where Jeff correctly notes that almost every sport saw a budget increase heading into the 2008-09 season. This one is slightly old, but cool nonetheless as KIFI did a great job of getting a story on Clyde Logan making it through mini-camp with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Getting Ready for Soccer?
Not sure who did this on YouTube, but I hope they do another...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... Signs of the Apocolypse

Monday, May 19, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
There are things I always thought I would do before I die...go to Fenway Park (check) ... watch the Marlins win a World Series title or two (check, and double-check). Heck, I even made sure I met the members of my all-time favorite band, Chicago. Well, it's a good thing I knocked all of those out, because Russ Eisenstein has officially sent me proof, with audio, that world will end very, very soon. If you do nothing else today, click that link.....trust me.

Besides the halftime features...
Most folks know Mark Liptak though serving as a studio host on ISU's football and basketball broadcasts, but he is also a writer for a Chicago White Sox blog...in fact, it is sort of THE Chicago White Sox blog. His latest work was just posted ... good informative stuff.

Track and Field Just Misses a repeat
Despite Cassie Merkley getting hurt and missing SIX EVENTS, the Bengal women finished third, and probably would have won without the injury. Katie Zigars has a recap with all the important links. Other than the NCAA Regionals for a few select athletes, the book is closed on team sports for the 2007-08 year at Idaho State.

Apparently you spell Humanitarian without the letters A-C-C ...
Great catch by Tim Flagstad of the Journal, who learned that the ACC loves Boise's hospitality, but apparently not a December 30th outdoor Bowl Game.

My wife got flowers for her birthday
Because quite frankly, I am not pulling in the money that Dwyane Wade is apparently pulling down these days.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... Up, Up, and Away

Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
Just a quick addition to the blog today, because I thought folks might have missed this. Not entirely athletics related, but KPVI's Suzanne Hobbs had special access to a unique part of the Idaho State Campus. I can tell you from experience that it's quite a sight, and slightly harrowing, having gone up there to rescue a couple of Eddie Johnson punts.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bengal Blog ... Summertime

Monday, May 12, 2008 Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations
Ladies and gentlemen, the children have graduated, and yes, it is indeed almost summer time, but things go on here at Chez Holt. While there was lots of stuff on other grads in the news, the Idaho State Journal's newest reporter Kelvin Ang caught up with several graduating senior student-athletes about adjusting to life away from the competition.

Tracking things
The ISU women will look to attempt to defend their outdoor conference title, and Tim Flagstad of the Journal caught up with Lois Ricardi, ISU's top steeplechaser. Sadly the article doesn't include the picture that ran with the article, but this page should for a little while. Ricardi incidentally was ISU's Big Sky Scholar-Athlete winner on the women's side, with a GPA just shy of 3.9 in mass communications. The entire 2008 Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championships schedule is located here.

NFL Rewind
Remember all the problems with Chris Henry and the Cincinnati Bengals? Something tells me this former ISU Bengal won't nearly be as much trouble, and apparently the Bengals think the same, since he just inked a two year deal. Of course, < target="new" href="http://www.panthers.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=32016">Dan Zeidman was the first guy to sign a free agent deal this offseason, with Carolina.

Just Because I Can
Want to care to guess who has the best record in major league baseball?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bengal Blog.....We're Back!!!!

Friday, May 09, 2008
Posted by Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Media Relations.
What better way to end the academic year than with the rebirth of the Bengal Blog! What...no streamers? For a refresher course on this little blog, since apparently everyone has a blog (seriously...EVERYONE) the Bengal Blog is seen by me anyways as a repository for things that might not be press-release newsworthy, but are interesting nonetheless. I also see it as a place to highlight an update on the website, for instance, something new in the Bengal Broadcast Booth, which Russ Eisenstein updates constantly during the season. I also want to use this spot to link around the web alittle bit to various things that are pertinent, such as, oh, say, Tim Flagstad's account of the hiring of Chad Teichert as the new head women's volleyball coach.

Some of you that were around on January 5 or 6, 2006 might remember that this was on the site for about 19 hours before it was pulled ... no comment. However, I'll just say that Acting Director of Athletics Jeff Tingey loved the idea of this, and was all for it. Yea Jeff. Apparently, Jeff doesn't horse around, although that's not to say there won't be any horsing around in Holt Arena pretty soon.

Again, this is something that won't always be updated every day, but hopefully it will be a good spot for folks to visit when they hit the site and see what's up. You never know what you might learn about some of the folks here at Idaho State, even me. I also think it would be cool to check in from sites on the road and such prior to games, and give some of our internet fans that listen to the games on the net the chance to get a little inside feel for the upcoming event.

Remember, if you have a link or a question, feel free to ask me. Oh yeah, GO BENGALS!!!