Let’s get this out of the way right off the top: there is no better potato in the world than the Idaho potato. World class. Dependable quality. The tuber gold standard. And the “brand” is valuable. Years ago some enterprising fellow in New Mexico got the bright idea of importing potato sacks with the “Grown in Idaho” mark and filling them with spuds grown, of all places, in New Mexico. A stop was put to that pronto. You can’t have an Idaho potato grown in New Mexico. It’s like Champagne. You may call it champagne, but if it ain’t made from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France and bottled there, it isn’t “real” Champagne, it is merely sparkling wine. Same with an Idaho spud. So, given the historic Idaho association with the Famous Potato, it’s a natural, I guess, that the once named Humanitarian Bowl football game is now the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl/Marc Johnson, The Johnson Report. More here.

Question: If it wasn't for the almighty potato, what would Idaho be known for?

The digs are beginning to roll in re: the newly named Famous Idaho Potatoes Bowl. Graham Watson of rivals.com offers: “I would be highly disappointed if every meal didn't include some sort of spud and if the players didn't compete in a potato sack race. It's hard to fathom what kind of swag this bowl will be handing out: A sack of potatoes? Mr. Potato Head dolls? Bags of the TGI Friday's potato skins chips? Or maybe, in sticking with the logo theme, normal items made to look like potatoes. Like the limited edition potato Xbox? Or the potato iPod? What about the Bose potato-shaped noise-canceling earphones?” More here.

Question: What will Chris Berman and the sportscasters at ESPN say about this newly named bowl?

Brian Murphy/Idaho Statesman offers this news release from Idaho Potato Commission: “The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl was unveiled today as the new name for the Humanitarian Bowl which features a top selection from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The nation's longest-running outdoor cold-weather Bowl, played since 1997, will take place on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 3:30 p.m. MST at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho and televised on ESPN. The Idaho Potato Commission signed a six-year naming rights deal to sponsor the Bowl, beginning immediately and running through the 2016 game. More here.

Question: Do you like the change in name from Humanitarian Bowl to Idaho Famous Potato Bowl?

The Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl today announced the signing a four-year agreement that will match top teams from the  Mid-American Conference (MAC) against top opponents from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Qualifying teams will be selected according to each conference’s criteria for bowl participation. The MAC is committed to send its third selection of bowl-eligible teams to the Boise bowl game.  The WAC is committed to send one of its top teams/KTVB. More here. And: Brian Murphy’s views on deal here.

• Brian Murphy/Statesman via Twitter: “The H-Bowl will have the No. 3 pick from the MAC. Had the No. 8 pick from the ACC. Tried to land MWC or Pac-10 team, but couldn’t.”

Question: As you recall, UIdaho edged Bowling Green last December in a Humanitarian Bowl thriller. Are you glad to see the WAC and MAC make this deal?

BOISE – Among the cottage industries spawned by college football, the manufacture of hoary bromides is likely the busiest – or surely no worse than second behind the office pool.

A particular golden oldie posits that “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” Author credit should go to Coach Epictetus of the Fightin’ Stoics, but since he couldn’t silk-screen it on a T-shirt in his day, it has been passed off as original thought by every Knute Rockne trying to will his team back from a two-touchdown deficit.

So fixated are the character-builders on trying to shinny up Mount Adversity that they forget the same truism applies during the rosy times. Which brings us to the University of Idaho and the Humanitarian Bowl. More here.

Please tell me I’m not the only one who had to look up “hoary bromides.”

Idaho coach Robb Akey cheers his team against Hawaii during their game at the Kibbie Dome in October.

I have a feeling that this is the Bowl game that most Hucksters are interested in. Tonight Rocky Bleier will give the keynote address at the US Bank Humanitarian Awards Dinner at Boise Center. More here.

Anyone want to venture a guess on the game’s outcome?