Boise State of venom

BOISE STATE isn't only making money as it climbs up the college football food chain. The school is also making enemies.

At a meeting with the Idaho Statesman editorial board, Boise State president Bob Kustra got all fired up when asked about the University of Idaho, whose fans apparently don't get all warm and fuzzy when Boise State shows up to play.

"[University of Idaho has] a culture that is nasty, inebriated and civilly doesn't give our fans the respect that any fan should expect when visiting an away game," the prez said. He backpedaled a bit later with a prepared statement that his comments were a bit too salty and questions about the rivalry hit a sore spot. (C'mon, dude. If that's how you feel, stand by it.)

Anyway, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is hoping his office could get involved, though he's not sure he has any authority in the matter. Next year, Boise State is moving to the Mountain West Conference from the Western Athletic Conference and leaving U of I, among others, in the dust.

The Cubs have promoted Villanova star football player Matt Szczur to its low-A farm team in Peoria of the Midwest League.

Szczur, a recent fifth-round pick, was chewing up the Northwest League with the Cubs affiliate at Boise (today's H&I just set a record for Idaho references). He hit .397 scored 17 runs and had at least one hit in all 18 games he played with the Hawks.

A senior wide receiver/ running back/return specialist, he will play football for 'Nova in the fall. In fact, yesterday he was voted the Colonial Athletic Association's preseason offensive player of the year.

On this date in 1915, 41-year-old Honus Wagner became the oldest player to hit a grand slam. The record stood until Tony Perez hit one in 1985, a day before turning 43. But the best part of Wagner's salami was that it was an inside-the-park job. *

- Ed Barkowitz

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