Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

Murphy: Hey ESPN: It's prime time for a Boise visit

Memo to ESPN: Bring "College GameDay" to Boise for next Saturday's Idaho-Boise State rivalry game.

It's about time the best pre-game show in sports found its way to Idaho, home of the winningest and highest-scoring college football team of the decade and one of the best turnaround stories of this season.

A decision could happen today, and we know you're considering the game, along with Iowa-Ohio State, Florida-South Carolina and Utah-TCU. We know you like the game, having used an option in your television contract with the WAC to grab the Vandals-Broncos for ESPNU.

And we know you've been itching for a chance to get to the blue turf. Kirk Herbstreit put Bronco Stadium at No. 4 in his preseason list of "Sites GameDay Must Get To."

This might be your best chance - a rare combination of a Saturday game against a quality opponent at Bronco Stadium. Boise State is 9-0 and threatening to bust the BCS for the second time in four seasons. Idaho is bowl eligible for the first time in a decade, enjoying a resurgence under coach Robb Akey.

Need more reasons?

You've never been to a WAC site.

And you're so close. No need to pack up the show and bring it back East. Finish out the four-game Western swing that has already brought you to Provo, Utah; Eugene, Ore.; and Colorado Springs, Colo.

I'm sure we can find a quality guest picker, maybe Jake Plummer or Jerry Kramer or Harmon Killebrew will take part in the end-of-show selection-a-thon.

Really, though, we're being selfish. We just want to see Lee Corso in Buster Bronco or Joe Vandal headgear.

Brian Murphy: 377-6444