BNN LIVE: Max Rice returning to coach in the US - could it be at Boise State?

Added: 2026-05-24

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[00:04:24]>> [music] [music] >> Broadcasting from the Sun Cruiser Studios, here's B.J. Rains with another edition of Bronco Nation News live.

[00:04:44]>> [music] >> Hey, what's up, Bronco Nation? Happy Friday. You made it. The final day of the work week, Memorial Day weekend on tap, 3-day weekend for many of you coming up, and we're happy to help kick off your uh weekend here on Bronco Nation News. My name is B.J. Rains. Our title sponsor, as always, Lithia Ford of Boise. We appreciate Jim Stuken and company for their support. Some great deals uh going on. Make sure you check out Lithia Ford of Boise, and uh they're in the Lithia Ford of Boise studios. In downtown Boise is uh the man, you know him, you love him, Johnny Ballgame, Johnny Mallory.

[00:05:28]Is it Thursday? Is it Friday? No, it's a This is a live show. It's not a repeat.

[00:05:32]2 days in a row. Uh Johnny, I gave him the day off last week. I couldn't do a show for a day, and uh he was nice enough to make it up to make sure he gets that full paycheck uh today. Uh but uh Johnny, uh happy Friday to you. I appreciate you going back-to-back, man.

[00:05:46]How you doing? Happy to fill in. It's Memorial Day weekend, man. And I just found out I thought I had a shift tomorrow on Westwood 1. I just found out no, that's the next week. So, all of a sudden, like, man, I my weekend just blew wide open. I might even go see one of your son's baseball games I will be there. We got to go to Bend. Oh, yeah, you're right. You're going to Bend. So, no, I'll have to watch that one online, but >> Look out, ladies. Look out, ladies. No, no, no. I'll be on the prowl this weekend.

[00:06:17]>> [clears throat] >> Probably not the case there, but a lot of sports will be watched and I love Memorial Day weekend, B.J. It's kind of the real kickoff of summer. It truly is after Memorial weekend. That Monday you come back and and you're fired up and you're thinking the summer's there, but obviously, and we'll talk about this a lot too. Just uh uh paying respects to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and uh lost their lives in battle uh in in in a war. And Memorial Day means a lot to people who have those family members that had lost their lives in in in such respect. And and there's certainly more articulate people out there to be able to convey the meaning of Memorial Day more than I can, but I I do know that it is a day to to remember and to uh uh you know, appreciate what what so many so many Americans did for us to to live in the country we live in. So, thank you for that. Well said. Well said. My uh my grandpa included. I know there's some folks in your uh family as well. So, uh you know, that uh yeah, well said, Johnny. So, not just about the barbecues and the baseball this weekend, but uh that ends up being uh part of it. Uh Billy Bob Johnny says, "Thank you, Ball Game, for that remembrance."

[00:07:33]Uh Josh Fife watching from Twin Falls.

[00:07:37]Uh appreciate you for watching. Uh Billy is always watching in Minnesota. Cottage Cheese, happy Friday. Are we getting Wait, are we getting back-to-back ball games? Yes, yes, you are. So, and your boy Vlad yesterday loved you.

[00:07:50]Says, "Thank you for stating how important my birthday is, Johnny." Maybe the only nice thing Vlad will say today.

[00:07:55]We'll see.

[00:07:56]But, Johnny, a lot to get to today. And yeah, this is the start of the the summer.

[00:08:01]Yesterday was my kids' last day of school. So, now Now, at any point we could have the the the fighting in the background. Dad, you know, muting it to yell at me to shut up or them running in here at any point now. So, we've we've reached that point in the summer now.

[00:08:14]We're working from home for the next 4 months. I'm I'm wishing I had a studio like you to go to. So, we'll see. But, yeah, we get to joke BJ Camps. Get them out.

[00:08:24]I think the the Boise State Science Camp coming up next week already. Yeah, we're >> [laughter] >> That'll be fun. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[00:08:31]Speed No, it's space camp, I think.

[00:08:32]Yeah, we're Even better. Yeah, man. I'm into that stuff big time.

[00:08:37]Maybe the Boise State football camp.

[00:08:38]We'll see about that as well. So, um yeah, um uh yeah. Anyway, yeah, going to Bend this weekend. And then going to be I think from now through 4th of July at least one of my kids has a tournament every weekend. So, there'll be plenty of times, Johnny, if you want to come out and and hang out and watch some baseball. But, lot going on today. We're continuing our countdown. Yesterday we talked about Max Cutforth. Johnny, we have Roman Keywood on the list today, number 21.

[00:09:08]Edge defensive end, pass rusher, however you want to categorize it. And and was looking forward to talking about Roman Keywood today, Johnny, but it was kind of like, you know, how we you know, it's a nice topic for 5 10 minutes, but we got a 45-minute show today and was looking at some other stuff. And then, boy oh boy, I get a text from Nathan Carroll about 8:00 this morning with a screenshot that says good old Max Rice is back in the news.

[00:09:33]And I was wishing Prater was hosting today for that reason, but I said you know what Johnny Ball game is a very very close second when it comes to uh talking about the the news of the day and I will uh What's going on? As I said I already said it took me 3 minutes Johnny to one of my kids came in asking for some he wanted one in the chat how he can solve a Rubik's Cube in less than 2 minutes.

[00:10:00]Maybe at some point we will uh >> I think that's a fake Rubik's Cube your kid has and he's going around showing is is that was that real when he did that? The 3 second thing was kind of fake. That was >> Yeah it totally was man but >> had it set up where he just had to move it like three times but but he can you could Johnny Uncle Johnny could mix up a Rubik's Cube and in less than 2 minutes he could solve it. He is pretty crazy.

[00:10:23]He's taught himself watching YouTube videos whatever but he literally just walked in and said can I show everyone how to solve a Rubik's Cube so that's today but maybe some other day. Uh sorry for losing my train of thought there for a second but we're talking about Max Rice Johnny uh the post I'm going to share the screen and put it up right now. Uh here is the post from Max Rice.

[00:10:43]I will try to zoom in so folks can read it. Actually the post is from the uh his team in Australia and it says with mixed emotions we farewell to uh guard Max Rice this weekend. He's brought elite shooting from beyond the arc incredible versatility and has been an outstanding teammate and club man throughout his time with the Eagles. Max now heads home to the US to take on an NCAA Division 1 college coaching role an amazing opportunity and one we know he'll thrive in. Join us Saturday night at the nest.

[00:11:11]By the way I love that they're the Eagles and they call their place that the nest. Uh but uh a final final farewell. Celebrate Max and watch the Eagles take in a huge match up so uh a post here as I said uh Max Rice it does not specifically mention Boise State Johnny but there's been smoke on this for a couple of weeks. Prater's been all over it. I've heard the same.

[00:11:35]Um I don't think it's crazy to put two and two together. Max Rice leaving in the middle of the season to come back and and coach.

[00:11:43]Um your thoughts?

[00:11:45]It's crazy. I would you look at a basketball team with a roster and you're thinking, you know, how they going to sell this thing? There's just not a lot of storylines and it's tough in the era now because all you do on social media, oh, we got a new player. Look at his post. Oh, he's got a chain around his neck. Oh, he's flexing. What what community college? Well, where is he from? Okay, great. And then 9 months later, he's gone and you got another post. So, you just get lost on and like how deep do I want to commit to these rosters? time of my fandom do I want to invest in this? You know, before I knew I got to watch the guy for 4 years in most cases, man. Now, you if the the best two or three players are going to leave every year, essentially. So, how you how how how you going to sell that?

[00:12:35]Well, I think this is interesting. This is probably the number one point of interest for me. I want to see Max come back, coach. I I love watching Leon coach. I think Leon is wonderful theater if you watch him live and on television.

[00:12:50]He He just plays a a fun part, I think, in the whole entertainment perspective of a game. I like that the coach factors in and Leon certainly does and now you got Max next to him. And how's that interaction going to work? Where's Max going to sit? You know, is he where is he I I I care about nerdy stuff like that. Is Max going to be further down? Is he going to be next to Leon? Is he going to be next to Burns? Like, what's the order going to be? You know, what's it going to be like in, say, Logan Utah or other stuff?

[00:13:21]There will be signs and and the nepotism stuff and but I I people who They're >> happier than anybody. The herd is happier than anybody. They love him.

[00:13:28]They get back on their buddy Max. Yeah, and I just think that um, you know, true, I think real, I mean, I think true, real fans, but people who really understand Boise basketball the last few years and the impact and the importance that Max gave this program, pulling them out of games, winning games, taking over games that had they would have lost, they probably don't get in to the tournament a few of those years. He took all the shade everybody threw at him, and he still became an all-conference player, and I hope that that can translate into coaching. You know, we'll see. You know, I hope Max is a terrific coach. This program needs another terrific coach on the roster, on the sideline, in development. So, hey, Max is probably going to join the staff, like Prater and you have been saying, and for me, that's that's probably my number one point of interest now with this basketball program coming this season is Max is on the staff, okay?

[00:14:32]Uh, Bill says, "Forget Max. I want that Rubik's Cube tutorial." Maybe someday [laughter] we'll get back to that. We'll we'll see. I I know. Yeah. Yeah, we we uh, Boise State does not have any announcements planned today. They do not have any announcements planned next for most of, you know, as of now for next week. Um, no, you know, they're not confirming anything over there at Boise State. I reached out this morning to to folks over there, and they're not confirming anything, but um, I can say with confidence, and I think you can say with confidence, Prater can say with confidence, I mean, there's a ton of smoke around this, and I I would be surprised at this point, based on what I've heard, if if Max Rice doesn't end up ultimately joining the staff at Boise State. Now, he is not replacing Tim Deruyter, you know, he is not going to come in and run the offense, Johnny. He is He's replacing Alexis Williams.

[00:15:20]Um, I'm not minimizing the role, but it is a lower-level coaching staff. In the past, it would have been similar to a GA role, but now they've added two more assistant coaches. You can have five assistant coaches on your staff.

[00:15:33]Um, so he is a assistant coach, but it's a lower-paying, lower-level assistant coach. He is not on the same level as pay, as duties, whatever, as a Burns or Arbutus or Durrell was. And I again, I'm not trying to uh um, lower, you know, the uh importance of Lex Williams' role, lower the importance of Max Rice's role, but um, I I guess as you know, this is a hot topic, Johnny, in terms of him coming in with no prior coaching experience and coming straight uh to to Boise State here.

[00:16:08]Um, I mean, A.J. Feeley, who just came here from from Gonzaga, he was on the Gonzaga staff for 2 years. He had zero experience, and he was a graduate assistant for 2 years at Gonzaga, and then became the video coordinator at Gonzaga. He started right at Gonzaga with no experience. Um, it happens all over the place. I was reading an article this morning, Johnny. I was trying to get some numbers on this. Uh Kyle Whittingham at when he was at Utah, this is a couple years ago. Uh Mark Stoops at Kentucky, Jeff Brohm at Purdue, uh Greg Schiano at Rutgers, Tom Allen at Indiana, Chris Klieman at Kansas State.

[00:16:45]I can go on and on. All have sons that are GAs or lower-level positions on the football team at the you know, that their dad is the head coach for. It's happened in basketball all over the place.

[00:16:57]Um, I don't have a huge problem with it, but a lot of people do. The nepotism thing, the why is he not starting off somewhere else? But I mean, would it really be that different if he went to Gonzaga for 1 year or if he went to Arizona for 1 year and and worked for, you know, one of Leon's buddies and a family friend? Is it really that different? So, I don't have an issue with it. Um, a lot of people do. What do you make of the the controversy I guess that's going to be following this with Max Rice hired being hired by his dad, you know, with no previous coaching experience. I think that um >> [sighs] >> I don't know if this is a bigger deal than it is.

[00:17:34]I haven't talked to a lot of people that absolutely hate this and those can comment. I'd love to hear the comments and the nepotism stuff and and why he should in your opinion start, you know, out emptying trash cans before anything else. Um I I I I know Max is a very well educated basketball person. Playing, studying it's all the dude's done, man.

[00:18:01]You know, growing up in gyms, listening to educated people talk about sports, not sitting at a dinner table with some dad who's a yahoo telling him oh, Max had and a lot people would say Max's dad's a yahoo. No, he knows a lot about basketball. And Max has been in those circles and and it's hard to argue. I don't I mean in my line of work, your line of work, I've battled nepotism many, many times. My dad wasn't famous in this business, so I didn't get to start off at a really big company.

[00:18:35]Even like you, B.J., your first job was it like Fox Sports Midwest. You were going to spring training. You got hooked up. I would think in this business your dad's a Hall of Fame sports writer. What are you? A sports writer. So, yeah, I mean, you were talented though and part of the reason you were really good is because you grew up in the clubhouse.

[00:18:58]You saw how your dad handled stuff. You listened. You observed. It helped you and it sucks, yeah. Not everybody gets that help. So, you have to decipher, but it does give you a leg up. Max, a leg up on basketball acumen I believe. I think Max is going to be a good coach. So, I don't mind this. I think Max is going to help this team. I think Max is tough. I think Max will get after dudes who need to be gotten after. Like, I would love to see how Max, a coach, would have handled last year's team with some of the rumblings and some of the stuff. I wonder what would have happened if Max would have had a voice or an ear of involved in that. Well, now he will.

[00:19:37]Now, Max cares more about Boise State basketball or as much as anybody in that building. You know, all the coaches, players, nobody bleeds blue like Max does, Leon does. Max gives a crap about this program, and I think he's going to give a crap about his coaching career just like he did his basketball career.

[00:19:58]And I think Max is going to be a kick-ass basketball coach. So, I like this for the program, and he's colorful. And Max puts on a show.

[00:20:07]He's a showman. Coaches are like I said, I like watching certain coaches coach. I think Max will be like that if he ever has an opportunity to be a head coach.

[00:20:17]So, and I know everybody will say, "Well, yeah, ball game, your boy's with him. You take pictures with him." And all that stuff. Yeah, I've got to know him outside of both of what we do, and we have those similar interests. I don't hang out with Max, but you know, I I I do like him as a person. But, I also do think he's going to be a terrific basketball coach eventually. I would put I would bet on Max Rice making it in this business. And yeah, did he have a little leg up? Yeah, he did. His first gig as a D1 Pac-12 assistant job, probably not everybody who wants to be a coach gets that opportunity that Max that Max received. It is what it is. I don't know if you just not want to hire people because of that, but that wasn't the case here, and I think Max is going to be a good coach, B.J. I have no problem with it.

[00:21:06]Uh, let's see. Don't care about legacy, care about coaching ability.

[00:21:11]Uh, hope you're right, Johnny. Uh, Jareen says, I think Max would be a great and much needed addition to the coaching staff. Uh, I don't care if Max is a son, if he can actually coach, we need him.

[00:21:22]Um, Antonio Spaghettio agreeing with you, by far the most interesting angle of uh, BSU hoops.

[00:21:29]Um, so, um, yeah, I I Again, me me and Max were I mean, we're we're fine. We're cool. We had our moments. He didn't want to He didn't want to come on my show that one time after the New Mexico game because of the uh, you know, didn't like some stats that we me and Jay Tust pointed out about his shooting and all that. I mean, it's it's the ups and downs of college kids and media and all that, but um, you know, and I know people will say, "Oh, you're always a, you know, an apologist for Leon or whatever. You're never going to criticize him, whatever." But like, I'm I'm cool with Max, but I wouldn't say I wouldn't say I'm nearly as close with Max as you are. So, I'm not like defending Max to defend the family or whatever cuz I don't have anything for or against Max. Like, he's just guy that I covered and good I'm, you know, he's a you know, appreciate the the time that he has always given me. But like I said, I don't I don't have any like beef with him still. We're cool. We're past that.

[00:22:17]He's come on the show since then. He was a part of our broadcast we did.

[00:22:20]Um, but I don't I'm not I don't have that close relationship like you do. But with that just being thrown out there, I I got no problem with it, man. Again, Lexis Williams came in and he was working uh, in the cubicle doing financial planning or something, whatever he was doing when he got hired.

[00:22:35]He had he had hadn't even been around the game for a couple years. Max has been playing uh, he's playing a game tomorrow night and learning uh, the Australian, you know, style of basketball and doing all this stuff and then coming right into a coaching role.

[00:22:46]I um, you know, I I I got no problem with it, Johnny. I know some people will. You want to call it nepotism, whatever. And by the way, I know there is this nepotism law in the state board where you can't directly report to, you know, a spouse or if I mean, Okay, I heard that. He'll direct he'll he'll be your whoever the next sporting administrator is to replace Cody Guggler or he'll report straight to to Jeremiah Dickey or he'll report to Mike Burns.

[00:23:12]Like it's not that going to be and maybe not Matt I think he might be his Godfather so maybe not Mike Burns but I mean they'll just find another person that he'll report to. I don't think that part is anything at all what people are all how are they going to get around that? Here it is Bronco 130. How do they sidestep the law on nepotil this will not create any issues with the state Board of Education in my opinion.

[00:23:34]Um your direct supervisor typically would be the head coach but you just find somebody else and you say he reports straight to Jeremiah Dickey or straight to Nathan Burke or somebody.

[00:23:44]I don't I don't think that law do you do you see that law being any issue with the state board?

[00:23:50]>> that's probably out of my wheelhouse to have an educated opinion on. I'll be honest I don't study the state Board of Education nearly as well as my partner Prater does. So That'll be a that'll be a Prater opinion for me BJ but I I imagine if no I think Max is going to be on the staff like you're saying. I think what you're saying probably makes sense.

[00:24:10]Yeah I don't I don't they're they they can easily work around that and yeah Max was peak BNN. Loved having Max on BNN.

[00:24:16]We're going to love he'll be the guy we're getting on now if we go to Cayman Island tournaments or Maui or wherever when they go to on another foreign trip to Canada and we're getting all the staff and stuff on or during pregame or I mean Max will be a regular guest on a lot of shows I would assume Johnny.

[00:24:32]Great he's got a he's good on camera he's funny and he knows basketball Johnny like we plenty of stories you know this but like there's times where he sees something in a timeout and like he's told a coach hey we should do this and it leads to a layup or we should do this or or and there's players on the roster I don't remember the exact names off top my head but like Max would be like helping his dad scout players when they're like at home watching on TV like you know game film and he's like all I like that kid.

[00:24:58]We got to get him here like like he's been essentially a behind the scene and he hasn't been coaching but like he's he he's had that coaching mindset and that coaching >> He knows the game.

[00:25:09]He knows He knows the game. He'll be a good coach. He'll be a good He's tough.

[00:25:13]He's clever. He's committed. He's driven. He's been you know, he's had shade thrown on him every which way since he was probably a freshman in high school. He was just Leon's son and so he's had to He's been through the ringer a little bit, I think. I don't think much phases Max Rice.

[00:25:34]>> think Leon cares either. I mean Leon obviously knows that Johnny Leon's got to win this year. He knows that, right?

[00:25:39]Leon has to win this year. Yeah, and that's what I'm saying like there's a little pressure on Leon like They they They gave him a redo this year but like You got to have some results this year.

[00:25:48]There's some folks that are upset in a lot of ways and they're adding a lot of new players and it's going to be a new look team and some new coaches but like it's it's it's got to happen this year, Johnny and they've got to probably with the 76 team field like they probably got to get back to the tournament this year, Johnny. I don't know.

[00:26:03]>> you're right. That does add more pressure. There's more spots now. Even though though most will go to the power but some will trickle down to the mid-majors if that's what you think and the Pac-12's going to be a good league. You should think there's going to be a lot of bubble teams in the Pac-12 there because it's probably not going to be a five-bid league but there might be five teams that are tournament-worthy. It'll certainly in my opinion be a three-bid league and then it'll teeter year in year out to depend if it gets that fourth team in for my money. Now David Moats is watching the the show here, Johnny. Our boy Moats.

[00:26:38]>> Is he really? Yes.

[00:26:40]If Max is hired, home run hire, do not care what his name is, gets it, knows the game, can get on the court, would be awesome.

[00:26:50]David Moats knows basketball like Max Rice does as well. So, there's a basketball geek, love you David, who's who's, you know, saying, "Hey, I this Max has the force. I see it, too." And Moats sees it in Max, and I trust David Moats' opinion on basketball. If he tells me something here or there, I'm I believe it. I know the type of work that that guy put in.

[00:27:11]And I I return a text, Red. Return a text.

[00:27:17]You know he's got a new number, right?

[00:27:19]Does he really? When he left Boise State, he got a new number. I GOT TO GO.

[00:27:23]>> [laughter] >> YOU'VE HAD LIKE 14 TEXTS GO UNRETURNED, and you thought he just didn't like you anymore, OR WHAT? YES. YES, I thought that was exactly it.

[00:27:33]Oh, that's hilarious.

[00:27:34]>> staffer in the Boise State Athletics Department is reading all your texts to Max to >> [laughter] >> David Moats.

[00:27:42]Yeah, that phone went to a Justin Schultz, his new assistant [laughter] softball coach, and you're you're getting all the uh That's so me, man. I'm such an idiot.

[00:27:51]Okay. Yeah.

[00:27:51]>> Oh, I'll give it to you after the show.

[00:27:53]That's funny.

[00:27:53]>> Thank you.

[00:27:54]>> [laughter] >> All right, let's let's go, B.J. We we got to go.

[00:27:58]>> so that will not be announced probably Well, it won't be announced today.

[00:28:01]Probably won't be announced this week, but I think it's fair to put two and two together.

[00:28:06]Max Rice probably coming back to join the coaching staff, and and we'll deal with that for sure when it happens. But, Johnny, the uh the Tim Duryea position, offensive coordinator of this team, you know basketball as well as anybody in the the ever-changing game, and that was some of the criticism at times with Tim Duryea, and maybe David Moats can chime back in with a thought on Duryea or what the the the the current offensive, you know, game is. But, um what do you want to see, and not necessarily maybe a name, but what do you want to see from the Tim Duryea position in terms of uh the offense? Do you want to see the offensive style change? Do you want somebody that's heavily more heavily focused on recruiting or a younger younger guy that can connect better with the players. What What do you want to see? Well, I would imagine the the philo- the the philosophy down there is still going to be defense. We rebound better than anybody in the league. We defend the three better than anybody in the league. That's been the Leon recipe, man. So, I think they're going to want to go back to that. Now, what offense Okay, what what offense best fits that?

[00:29:16]That's what I would be into and it's probably over my head there. I don't know if if you know up-tempo fits that more, slowing it down, being better in the half court. Maybe, you know, you you you're have a a chameleon offense if you will. You're going to play differently depending on the team you're playing. If a team plays a certain way, we're going to run this. We're going to you know, so that's what I would want. And I don't care about age or experience. Like I know what happened, I wouldn't care if Max was the OC. I'd be like okay. You know, I want somebody young. I want somebody clever. I want that vision. You know, Sean McVay didn't have any coaching head coaching experience when the Rams hired him when he was like 31. It's one of the best hires I've ever seen in my life.

[00:29:57]Mike Macdonald, thank you. My Seahawks have no coaching experience. He was the youngest coach in the league last year when they hired him. So, I don't I don't need the experience. I need the vision.

[00:30:09]I need the creativity. Um I need Goodwill Hunting, man. I need a guy who's just going to hop in a community college, walk down the hallway, see a little math problem, get there and solve that son of a gun, man. That is kind of what >> [laughter] >> So, I don't know, man. I want something that's going to fit what they want to do defensively. I think that's the best way they can go, but uh and and I'll throw this in. Shoot the three well.

[00:30:32]You know, I mean teams that shoot the three well usually survive in the regular season, but don't live on it.

[00:30:38]But but but shoot the three well.

[00:30:40]Linda just said hopefully we can find an offensive coach that can teach how to make a layup. It's harder than you think, Linda. I mean, I heard Bill Walton talk about that once about right under the basket, in the pit, if you will. All the heat, all the action that's going on. And Bill Walton and and I trust Bill Walton, too. And he's like, "Do you know how hard it is to make a bunny down in the in the NBA? Hands, body, strength, sweat, everything's there. It is really hard." And I'd never thought of it like that. Yeah, probably it is. Well, again, we'll wait for news on Max Rice to become official. We fully expect him to join the Boise State coaching staff at some point in the next few weeks. We'll wait for the hiring of the second assistant coach. Johnny, we did find out yesterday the Wichita State game Saturday, December 5th. I did look for folks, if you're curious, mostly for myself, uh but Southwest Airlines does go to Wichita. Uh if Boise State is in the championship game of the Pac-12 tournament, that would be the night before, Friday night. So, assuming that game is anytime after about 3:00 on that day in Wichita, if it's a 7:00 game or a night game, there is a uh Boise to Denver to Wichita Southwest option to get to Wichita in time by about 1:30 on that Saturday. So, hoping to be able to make it to Wichita for the Wichita State game. They have the Butler game. And then uh Johnny, I don't know if I've talked to you about this, but they added the game against uh Nebraska, Sweet 16 team last year, Fred Hoiberg, at the famed uh Sanford Pentagon there in Sioux Falls. Uh those are the only three games announced so far, but three pretty good games so far.

[00:32:18]>> Yeah, really good games so far, B.J.

[00:32:20]Really good. And maybe is this I was thinking about this.

[00:32:26]Does Leon Burns, whoever makes the schedules, do they have a little more street cred now that they got a Pac-12 patch, they play in the same league as Gonzaga. Does that maybe make these teams we're talking about, Nebraska, willing to say, "Yeah, if we lose to Boise State, it's not going to kill us.

[00:32:47]It's not going to be embarrassing."

[00:32:49]That's the biggest thing why the big teams don't want to play them good mid-majors. Same thing in football. We don't want to get embarrassed. You know, we don't want your law a loss to you to really take us off the rail. And maybe Fred Hoiberg's thinking, "Yeah, they're on the Pac-12. Same league as Gonzaga.

[00:33:06]This and this and that. No, that loss isn't going to kill us if we have it.

[00:33:09]And we got a really good chance to beat them." Maybe that's part of the reason.

[00:33:13]We'll see if the dividends or the, you know, the dominoes keep falling in that regard. But I I was curious about that.

[00:33:19]Can they up their non-con game now because they're in the Pac-12? We'll see. And uh I've heard Johnny, the Idaho Falls have done a game over there in the past in Idaho Falls. I'm hearing that could maybe end up being a multi multi-game thing or multi-team thing, I should say. They call it officially a multi-team event. I don't know if it would officially be a tournament or if it's just two games with three or four teams over there. Uh I don't know, but it does sound like the Idaho Falls thing uh could be more than just one game uh this year. Uh and then also um you know, the big thing nowadays, Johnny, is neutral site game. So, I'm hearing there could be a neutral site game uh another neutral site game in addition to Nebraska, maybe down in Southern California somewhere. So, um don't forget they got to fill 16 non-conference games, Johnny. They added a game this year to the schedule. They went from 31 to 32 games in college basketball. And Boise State went from 20 conference games in the Mountain West down to 16 conference games in the Pac-12. So, they've got to add four plus one five extra games this year. So, you go from 11 to 16 non-conference games that you've got to add this year. So, um they got three. They'll have something over in Idaho Falls, maybe another neutral or two, and then all the buy games they're going to have. And then we'll see if they can start a home and home maybe get a a a home game another nice quality home game. Right now Butler is the only kind of quality home game that you have in the non-con, but I guess when you have Gonzaga, San Diego State, Utah State already, you know, coming for conference, maybe you don't need to have the the sexiest non-con if you're not able to get it, but we'll see. I know the emails went out on the receding policy. That's all happening.

[00:34:55]Um that was a big thing Cody Guggler was involved with that he's now no longer a part of, but a lot of changes coming.

[00:35:01]You had uh Mike Mertaugh on, I believe, as well talking about the student section changing and they're trying to add paid positions there. So, they're they're uh really trying and we'll see how that continues without Cody Guggler, but it's going to be a throw in Max Rice to the mix, man. Just another layer to all this, but it's going to be a new look a lot of a lot of new new look things down there at the X this year. Yeah, Pac-12 logo on ExtraMile Arena floor, too. How cool will that be? All right. Uh want to get to football for a few minutes. And again, uh we're going to continue our countdown of the 26 most important players to the Boise State football team in 2026, but first want to thank a couple sponsors that make this show free of charge for you guys to watch here on social media. We hope uh you appreciate this uh free service that you guys are getting on YouTube and that comes because of our sponsors including our title sponsor Lithia Ford of Boise. Jim Stirk, Lithia Ford of Boise online lithiafordofboise.com. They got their 72-hour sale coming up. Be on the lookout for that. Check their full inventory of vehicles at lithiafordofboise.com.

[00:36:01]Hey, Sun Cruiser.

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[00:36:13]They got the iced tea vodkas, the lemonade vodkas, so many different flavors. It's no carbonation, low calorie, low carb. Check it out. Sun Cruiser. Get one at your local gas station or grocery store today. Uh Johnny going to be up in Pearson Carmichael's neck of the woods this weekend, Bend, Oregon, for a uh baseball tournament, as I said. But, uh Pearson Carmichael, he's with Idaho Central Credit Union, iccu.com, one of the many NIL deals and things that ICCU has going on now. They're an official sponsor. You see their logo all over the ExtraMile Arena uh and uh Albertsons Stadium. So, we appreciate ICCU. They're stepping up in a big way. You're looking for the easiest, best mobile e-branch online banking, that is Idaho Central Credit Union.

[00:36:57]Check them out, iccu.com.

[00:37:00]Roaring Springs will be popping this weekend, I'm sure, as well. And you can save $32 on tickets from our friends at Jackson's and ExtraMile by Jackson's.

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[00:37:29]The official in-venue merchandise provider of Boise State Athletics. The best selection, the best prices, the Blue and Orange Store, where you can get this new 40th anniversary of the blue, fully customizable jacket. Lot of other great jerseys, hats, bumper stickers.

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[00:37:51]Johnny, we talk about Taco Bell, their ever-changing menu. Uh what's the uh what you know, what's the the the food that's on your top of your mind right now? Cantina chicken crispy taco.

[00:38:03]Cantina chicken crispy taco. Get two, because once you eat one, you'll be like, "Dang, I could totally eat another." And Naismith would back you up on that. He had it the other day.

[00:38:14]Tremendous uh and uh the whole Cantina line, really, with the bowls and things.

[00:38:18]Some For real.

[00:38:20]great options there at Taco Bell. You go in there and you look at the menu, Johnny, and you're like And if you haven't especially if you haven't been there in a while, you're like, "Wow, is this Is this your Taco Bell?" Like, they got some great items, great menu, changes daily, delicious, cheap. And I'd tell you what, I said I've said this before, but literally the Eagle Gold location, Johnny, one out of every three or four times I go in there, I literally see Stan Nikoleysen and his family eating at the Taco Bell. Like, if the owner thinks the food's good enough for him to take his whole family to go and eat, like, it is worth it, folks. Taco Bell, check out a Treasure Valley Taco Bell location today. And they've they've for decades, starting with Carl Nikoleysen, been owning and operating Taco Bells in the Treasure Valley. And so, when you're looking for that delicious, cheap, quick meal, um head to Taco Bell, visit a Treasure Valley at Taco Bell location today. All right, Johnny, we're continuing our countdown, the 26 most important players. Trying to just get fans familiar with some names, familiar with some players. The list is not perfect. I said this earlier in the week, somebody was already complaining about it, but we we do shuffle it around a little bit based on what host is on that day. Like, we pretty much have offensive linemen every Monday on the list, so Brad Bedell can talk about them. So, maybe you know, Daylon Metoyer wouldn't be number 15, he would have been 18, but it works better to shift them up so Brad Bedell can talk about him. So, it's not necessarily the number, it's just getting 26 guys and kind of generally get more important players as we go and get to to number one. We want fans uh you know, the casual fans to get to know some of these players, learn some names and kind of have a little idea about the players as we go forward. And then, we'll do the same kind of thing with some bigger picture questions and topics in the months of uh you know, uh July and and getting you ready for fall camp as well. So, we're down to 21, Johnny. This is the uh the sit We started with 26 and we've worked our way all the way down to uh number 21 on the list. We started with Oscar Doyle, the punter, at number 26. We had Jake Ripp on the list. We had Jason Steel, the left guard. Colton Boomer, the kicker, was number 23. And then yesterday, we had Max Cutforth, number 22. And today, we're going up to the front of that defensive line, Roman Keywood. Now, there's going to be two Romans you're going to learn about on the Boise State defense this year, but we're going Roman Keywood, Corner Canyon High School in Utah.

[00:40:45]Uh came in last year later in the season, started to have a a bigger impact, had four tackles in that Utah State game at the end of the regular season, had half a sack, two tackles for loss.

[00:40:57]If you remember, Johnny, he had one of the biggest plays in that game. He had a huge fourth-and-two stop, changed that game, and and Boise State ended up winning that game and got into the championship game.

[00:41:10]Um listed as an edge, can play edge and defensive end. Not even sure he's actually going to be a starter because you have Jade N Virgin Morgan, you have Max Stege, but he's a guy that's going to get some playing time and has some pretty good pass rush numbers that we can get into. But what do you make of the emergence of Roman Keywood? He was one of the several players of spring ball that that got my attention, saying, "Okay, he can play." Okay, that's a that's a Boise State kid. He's not the biggest, not the fastest, not the strongest, but he's there, and he makes the play. Yeah, he's probably highly intelligent. Um and it is weird with the Romans cuz he'll be playing he'll be playing defensive end, Roman Keywood, and Roman Tillman, the nickel, will be lined up like right behind him. You know, where the when on certain formations, you know, like, "Oh, there's Roman and Roman." That's might be confusing.

[00:42:02]Roman Keywood showed me as much last year in this much time as Max Stege showed me last year in this much time. And you could probably put the tape on and prove me wrong on that.

[00:42:16]They both have the same amount of sacks on the year, point five. Um I think Max Steep has a lot of pressure on him and good in in fall camp. He needs to be pushed.

[00:42:26]You know, last year there wasn't anybody behind him. And Max Steep you're probably the first guy to tell you I I need to play better. And and I think JVM will benefit on a being having a a better player on the end. Maybe that's going to be Steep. Maybe it's going to be Roman Keywood. I like Bull Bull as well. Not going to be shocked if Bull Bull can play. Sterling Lane looks the part. That dude is a big dude. So, that's what we're talking about. The the edge/D-end.

[00:42:55]Are they going to try to just get the best two on the field and not try to be Well, he's more of an edge and he's more of a D-end. I don't want to play the D-end at edge. And I don't think Jabrill's going to do that. But if they if if they don't, then I think Roman Keywood has a a shot to be the starter defensive end opposite JVM.

[00:43:15]He just makes plays, man. Go back and watch that Utah State game like PJ's talking about. All the very few opportunities he did have, he was there.

[00:43:24]Like he probably he did his homework. He he You know, he had the answers to the test. A lot of times that's where it is.

[00:43:30]That's where you gain that advantage if you're not, you know, a super freak athletically and he's not. Came from a really good program at in Utah, Salt Lake City, big school. I think was it in it was Draper Corner Canyon. It was the same high school as the the uh what's his name? Was it Was it Jackson Dart? No, the quarterback that was played for BYU and was like the high draft pick that I can't think of his name. Oh, Zach Wilson. I'm sorry. Yeah, Zach Wilson, that one. Yeah, I mean, that that program does a pretty good job of putting people at the next level. And he was a three-year starter, I think, at that program.

[00:44:06]Regardless if he starts or not, Roman Tillman's going to be a person that this fan base needs to play well to make this defense better, and he had a really good spring. I'll just let everybody know that. He did. And good for him, and I expect to see a lot of him this year. If he's starting, I will not be surprised.

[00:44:24]If he's not starting, I will not be surprised. But I I I will be surprised if he doesn't factor in somehow. Roman Keywood, you guys, is a good football player.

[00:44:36]That was evident in spring.

[00:44:39]And you mentioned kind of making plays, Johnny. That that fourth-and-two stop, as I said, changed that game against Utah State late in the season. I know it didn't matter in the big picture, but he also forced a fumble in the bowl game against Washington as well. Uh, forced >> Yeah.

[00:44:52]made a made a play there. Uh, finished um with 11 tackles on the season, three tackles for loss, half a sack. Um, and then as you said, forced that fumble.

[00:45:02]But if you look at some of the Pro Football Focus numbers, and again, Chris Van Sickle, our guy at BNN, has written the story on Roman Keywood, and it's up right now for subscribers at Bronco Nation News. You can dive into this.

[00:45:13]There's some quotes from Roman, and we talked to him in the spring. So, it's a really nice article online right now if you want to go read it by Chris Van Sickle. But he looks at some of the numbers. Believe it or not, Johnny, the second highest pass-rushing grade on the entire team. Uh, it was limited accounts, but I I believe it. Pro Football Focus gives the second highest pass-rushing grade on the team, had 10 pressures, and then he accounted for pressures on 12.8% of his defensive snaps. He was the uh you know, one of the most efficient pass-rushers as well. And um finished, believe it or not, Jenny Johnny, uh again, limited snaps, but he finished as Boise State's highest-rated defensive player overall. All the numbers they put in >> Per snap value, yeah, I get that. Yeah.

[00:45:59]>> different, I get it. But in terms of what he does when he's on the field and getting the most out of it, his snaps and the percentage he got, nobody was more efficient, nobody was was frankly better um at the analytics than Roman Keywood when he was on the field. So, there is a lot of uh a lot to like there. And you've talked a lot about Matt Steeg, and he's going to be on our list, Johnny, like half a sack last year. He's got to get it going. I agree. Agree. I don't even care if you can say, "Well, sacks aren't that important if you're getting pressures or if you're getting hurries or if you're there." I don't know, man. It feels like you you you you need to have three or four at least. I know that every sack you look at the percentages, if you get a sack on a drive, it, you know, by a large margin decreases that offense's ability to score a touchdown. Uh so, yeah, and it's not like I mean, for Roman Keywood to have those numbers and that pressure number, I mean, yeah, that's good for him, but that's bad for the defense, man. They should have more They they need to have other players rather than a situational guy like Roman Keywood last year coming in and having higher percentages than the guys that are supposed to be the guys. So, a lot of pressure there. And Matt Steeg, he didn't play in spring. He was hurt. He was recovering. And so, Roman was able to get a leg up, no pun intended, on Steeg, B.J. Good stuff today. Hey, uh Matt Bauscher, Bauscher Real Estate, number one ranked realtor in the Treasure Valley is Matt Bauscher. Check him out online at bauscherrealestate.com. If you're looking to buy or sell a home, we did that. Great uh customer service every step of the way. Highly recommend Matt Bauscher and Bauscher Real Estate.

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[00:48:49]Johnny, it's a Friday edition of Idaho Sports Talk today, 3:00 to 6:00. I'll be uh joining you guys, I believe at 4:15.

[00:48:56]Uh signal permitting as I'll be somewhere probably in Eastern Oregon making the drive over to uh to Bend. Uh but uh what what else we got on a Friday edition of IST? Okay, man. Baseball with Bob every Friday on IST, so we love that and I'm sure we'll be, you know, peeking in on this uh Perth Eagles situation in the Australian League one, the Max Rice's, according to the Instagram post, playing in his final professional game tomorrow. And then he's going to take up apparently a Division I coaching opportunity somewhere, B.J. Uh so we'll be diving into that and looking forward to talking to you and like you and everybody else watching.

[00:49:37]Safe travels this weekend, guys, and hopefully on Monday you can spend a few minutes in reflection about the folks that aren't here today because they gave the ultimate sacrifice, which is the reason behind this holiday of Memorial Day. Uh spending time. Yep. Well said, Johnny, but on the way out the door, by the way, did you see our friend Brad Madel appears in the Circa commercial?

[00:49:59]Yeah, he's awesome. He's a fun guy.

[00:50:02]>> Brad Madel, there he is right there.

[00:50:04]There There it is zoomed in. Brad Madel appears in the new Circa commercial. $30 is the up the ante for the guarantee, and I want to give a quick shout-out. If you're interested, we're going down week zero, watch some college football. You can enter the Circa contest. We'll have more information on that, but make plans for week zero, hang out with Brad, hang out with the BNN crew, and I think Riddles is going down this year and a lot of stuff. So, um 99 days from week zero.

[00:50:31]99 days from today, there's going to be college football. Wow, how about that?

[00:50:38]Awesome. Well, we'll be listening 3:00 to 6:00. Hope everybody has a great weekend, like Johnny said, and we'll be talking to you guys real soon on on Tuesday. No show Monday. We'll have a great show Tuesday with Jay Tust, but enjoy your weekend. Be safe, as Johnny said. Johnny, thanks to you for jumping on for the extra day. Hope everybody has a great couple days, and I'll talk to you at 4:15. We'll be listening 3:00 to 6:00. Idaho Sports Talk, go subscribe.

[00:51:02]Bronco Nation News online. Bronco Nation News.com. Take care, everybody. The biggest contest we've ever seen. Seriously, what's the guarantee? They're still talking about it. I think it's time to put the rumors to rest.

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