Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Boise buzzes over Oregon game

Boise States Kyle Efaw (80) lands on the one-yard line after Oregon's Javes Lewis (14) made the tackle during the first half of the NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Matt Cilley)
 (Mat Cilley / AP Photo)
Boise States Kyle Efaw (80) lands on the one-yard line after Oregon's Javes Lewis (14) made the tackle during the first half of the NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Matt Cilley) (Mat Cilley / AP Photo)

Boise is still buzzing in a big way over the wild BSU-Oregon game last night at Bronco Stadium, which drew a record crowd and ended in a 19-8 win for Boise State. Excitement was running so high about the game that it seemed that business came to a standstill in Boise around mid-day yesterday, as folks poured down to the stadium and its vicinity. There was even a bit of a delay in issuing the governor's press release about the state's latest budget shortfall yesterday afternoon, as staffers scrambled to get their boss's final approval on the press release when he'd already headed out to the stadium.

The game was wild, full of errors and missed opportunities on both sides, but it was BSU's night, culminating in a bizarre moment when, live on national TV (ESPN), Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount, reacting to taunting from BSU player Byron Hout, punched Hout in the face, knocking him to his knees. Several large men had to restrain Blount as he left the field, as he lunged toward BSU fans who again taunted him. Blount apologized the same night; according to AP, he said, "I just apologize to anyone watching that. I just apologize to all of our fans and all of Boise's fans. That's something I shouldn't have done. I lost my head. ... I should have handled that situation a lot better than I did." Click here to read the full AP story as posted this morning on the U of O's Web site.

To top things off, the game started much later than usual - kickoff was at 8:15 p.m. - and went deep into the night, so those who watched, whether at the stadium, at an overflow viewing center set up at BSU's Taco Bell Arena, at gatherings or at home on TV, are generally exhausted this morning. Perhaps it's time for the long weekend to begin...



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

Follow Betsy online: