COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Recognize the good, not just the bad

It isn’t hard to imagine where your mind goes when you talk about elite college football. However, I do not mean BSU.

I am speaking of every high school player who ascends to that next level of sports. They have proven to be the top 1-2 percent of high school athletes and deserve to be recognized as such.

It has been very disappointing to see more article space about the bad behavior of several college football coaches with accompanying pictures than any coverage about what is going right.

It should be noted that the Idaho State football team has increased its academic success dramatically. It should also be noted that this team of young men continues to focus on football, academics and their commitment to a team that believes in them as players and as students.

It would be nice to see pictures and articles acknowledging progress and growth. It would be great to hear about local players who have gone on and are enjoying the game at the next level. They, too, are a part of the college football elite.

Winning is great, but it takes more guts to keep fighting.

CHRIS BECKMAN, Boise

Juggling coveragefor Broncos, Vandals

I would like to comment on a letter from Amanda Howes (Sept. 2) regarding the non-Vandal coverage in the Idaho Statesman.

After going to school at Boise State, staying in Boise for 10 years and becoming a true blue-and-orange Boise State fan, I recently moved to North Idaho. Leaving the area where blue and orange is everywhere, to Vandal Country, was a culture shock to me. It was like Boise State didn’t even exist.

I do not go to local news outlets to get my BSU fix. I go to IdahoStatesman.com and I am perfectly happy with that. Amanda, you can easily go to the CDA Press, Lewiston Tribune or the Spokesman Review. They are the local Vandal papers.

The Statesman covers local news. If you don’t like the coverage of the Vandals, there are plenty of North Idaho newspaper websites you can find.

MICHAEL REYES, Post Falls

Hey McFly: Whyrip on Boise State?

Response to letter from Marty Kopelowitz (“BSU in the BCS? Yeah, keep dreaming,’’ Oct. 28). Dear Marty K., aka McFly: Please be careful going outside today. The weather forecast calls for rain with a chance of lightning here on planet Earth. I would hate to see you get hurt.

DOUG WALKER, Eagle

Note: Letter is being published despite Boise State’s loss Saturday.

STADIUM ISSUE

Valley cities should buy land, wait

Having recently moved to the Treasure Valley from a major population center where sports are as popular as they are here, I suggest the cities of the Valley get together and avoid the problem other large cities have around sports stadiums.

Right now, there is plenty of open space between Boise and Nampa, and very close to the freeway. This will not always be the case.

The cities could get together, buy a hundred acres, and block it out for thefuture stadium the Valley’s growing population will one day demand. Doing so now would avoid the problem of moving countless houses and business buildings at a much higher cost later.

Also, future off-ramps for the stadium could be programmed in.

The need will come. Why not be proactive and lock up the space before it is developed?

Each city in the Valley could contribute a proportionate share of the cost. It would be a fraction of the cost of waiting.

JAMES HENSLEY SR., Boise