The beat goes on; Air Force angry

Air Force, the little engine that could, keeps moving forward in the NIT, edging DePaul, 52-51 to advance to the semifinals in New York where it will meet ACC afterthought but South Region top seed Clemson.

Falcons' coach Jeff Bzdelik is now an outrageous 50-15 at the academy.

It would be difficult to imagine many coaches being able to accomplish what he has at a military school. That record would be astonishing at almost any place in the country but Air Force?

Almost unbelievable.

No matter what happens against Clemson.

Oh, please

Seems Air Force athletic director Dr. Hans Mueh is furious at CU athletic director Mike Bohn for contacting Bzdelik before the season is over.

Yes, maybe that is official protocol to wait but come on now -- you, reading this, might have a contract with your company but if another organization hears of your stellar work (it is stellar, right?), then they are going to inquire if you might be interested in working for them. Even a stiff like me has had that happen on a couple of occasions. I didn't seek alternative employment -- they came to me. And like Mueh at Air Force, one of my employers hit the roof.

He got over himself.

After I left.

Point being this -- it is up to Bzdelik, not Bohn, to say something akin to "hey, I'm interested, but can we not talk until after my season is over. I don't want distractions or to disrespect my boss or the Air Force Academy."

Bohn is doing, it says here, what he should be doing, which is being aggressive, serving CU and trying to find the right coach, the right fit, in a highly-competitive environment. Many think Bohn has lusted for Bzdelik for some time, put all his eggs in one basket, so to speak, so if he lets the Falcons' leader get off the hook then Bohn's got nothin' and looks the part of the fool.

He realizes what's at stake and he's doing what he thinks is best for the Buffs without being immoral or even, it says here, unethical.

Mueh is like a jealous girlfriend -- insecure. He fears he just isn't good enough to keep his man.

On the field

Patrick Ridgell's report on CU football in the Daily Times-Call had some interesting nuggets. Here's what the BGT extracted from Ridgell's work.

1. Dusty Sprague -- is poised for a rebound season. The guy has size, works hard, wants to be good and if he can stay healthy, a better marriage with the quarterback is sure to equal 40-50 catches this season. Watch him.
2. Bernard Jackson -- CU coaches love his athleticism but have no clue where to put him now. B-Jack could see his career end being that appliance that no longer excites and ends up jammed in the back of a cupboard or out in the garage. Dan Hawkins, Mark Helfrich and Eric Kiesau might bluster differently but is Jackson all of a sudden going to learn how to run pass routes effectively as a senior? Is he going to spell Hugh Charles, Demetrius Sumler and possibly Thomas Perez and P.T. Gates? Riiiiiiiiiiiight. Jackson will be the trick-play specialist, not Slash, for the Buffs in 2007. Not saying he won't have an impact but am sharing he won't be a heavy-use guy.
3. Anyone noticing from reports just how often former CU quarterback Bobby Pesavento is hanging out at practice? I'd watch him. He might be asking for a jersey soon. He has told me one of his desires is coaching so getting a look at how things are going down at Camp Hawkins is likely educational and he doesn't have to pay for the credits.

Natalie Meiser looks at Hugh Charles in a Denver Post story. Read it and see that running backs coach Darian Hagan sounds like former coach Eric Bieniemy, all fire. He is pushing, pushing, pushing Charles to be more aggressive, physical and determined. He knows Charles brings big-play capability but that the little one needs to balance his game out to stay on the field. Hagan also foreshadows the future for Sumler.

Bill Williamson of the Denver Post reports that CU's Jashon Sykes is going pro, as in internship with the Denver Broncos. Just rounding out his impressive resume.

Local Side Roads

O.K., now Tom Davis retires! If he would have done this after last season, CU athletic director Mike Bohn would have had an interim coach to consider to step in for one season, on the cheap likely, after the Ricardo Patton fast-one resignation.

At one time, former Metro State College coach and current Denver Nuggets' assistant Mike Dunlap was said to be a strong candidate for openings at Colorado and possibly, New Mexico. Now, it appears Bzdelik is the only candidate in Boulder and Indiana legend and current Iowa top dog, Steve Alford, is in as the Lobo's man. Dunlap might truly be staying in the NBA, as Nuggets coach George Karl speculated.

Was reading Peter King of CNNSI.com and there was a mention of former CU All-American Daniel Graham. Seems Mr. King believes what he saw in New England and that Graham is a one-trick pony. The BGT believes the ex-Buffs' tight end has more skills than he was allowed to show as a Patriot. Maybe not All-Pro but definitely more than an afterthought in the passing game. While he's not going to bench second-year pro Tony Scheffler, he is going to be a factor in the running game while also making plays down the field.

Colorado State gets points for being bold and hiring some cat named Tim Miles from North Dakota State. Who? He does have some achievements but seems like a reach to me. Not saying he won't be successful but makes you wonder if anyone replied to the Rams' help-wanted ad.

Todd Helton gets interviewed by Bernie Lincicome of the Rocky Mountain News and gotta say that Mr. Rocky sounds aggravated and ready to prove people wrong -- he's not done. I don't believe for a moment that Helton has "lost it" and can't hit for power. If he's truly healthy, he'll hit 30 homers and drive in 100 + runs. Especially with Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe/Jeff Baker in the lineup. If he falls short of those numbers, it's because his body, like most of us, ain't what it used to be and if so, then I'd part Helton out to some other team for peanuts, a Dan O'Dowd specialty.
Side Roads

According to a story written by Gary Parrish of CBSSportsline.com, Virginia Commonwealth coach Anthony Grant, a hot young property, is not going to take just another job -- he wants the Miami Hurricanes' post, which might be available in a year.

It says here that the talk of Michigan landing UNLV's Lon Kruger or Oregon's Ernie Kent is drunken lunacy. Kruger can get a better job than Ann Arbor and Kent, while under pressure in Eugene until this season, would be in even hotter water at Michigan at the first sign of trouble.