2008 Austrian legislative election, Reactions, Haider's death
Carinthian BZÖ MP Josef Bucher, the BZÖ's finance speaker, was selected to become leader of the parliamentary group on 22 October 2008; Petzner stated he himself had proposed this alternative and lauded Bucher's credentials. Doubts over whether Petzner would even stand for party leadership at the next party convention grew in the following days amid rumours that Petzner was becoming increasingly isolated within the BZÖ.


2008 Austrian legislative election, Reactions, Haider's death
Petzner personally stated on 30 October 2008 that it was not yet set in stone that he would stand for party leadership at the next party convention, which would be held after the Carinthian state election on 1 March 2009. The date for the convention was later set for 26 April 2009.


2008 Austrian legislative election, Reactions, Haider's death
Petzner resigned as interim BZÖ leader on 19 November 2008; there were rumours that the party considered him unfit for the office due to his emotional interviews, but Petzner rejected these claims. Former defence minister Herbert Scheibner took over as interim BZÖ leader, but stated that he would not stand for the post at the party conference in April 2009. Carinthian BZÖ leader Uwe Scheuch and leader of the parliamentary group Josef Bucher were seen as the most likely candidates.


2008 Austrian legislative election, Reactions, Haider's death
Petzner provoked further controversy on 20 November 2008 when he criticised the BZÖ's election campaign and talked about internal campaign details. Scheibner later stated that he would prefer to unite the offices of party leader and leader of the parliamentary group again and suggested Bucher as a candidate; Bucher, on the other hand, preferred to keep the offices separate and proposed that Scheibner remain party leader.


2008 Austrian legislative election, Reactions, Haider's death
On 9 January 2009, disgraced former FPÖ official Reinhart Gaugg (infamous both for his driving under the influence incident and for explaining "NAZI" to be an acronym of positive adjectives) became the first politician to announce his intention to run for BZÖ leader, even though he is not a BZÖ member.


2008 Austrian legislative election, Reactions, Haider's death
In the week before the party congress, it was rumoured that Styrian party leader Gerald Grosz was also interested in becoming party leader; Scheuch was seen as the most likely candidate, assuming he would run. Scheibner and Gaugg were not seen as likely to even stand for the post. On 16 April 2009, it was announced that Bucher would become party leader, after Scheuch declined to take the position and proposed Bucher instead. As expected, Bucher was elected with 99.4% of the vote.


2008 Austrian legislative election, Reactions, Government formation
President Heinz Fischer gave Werner Faymann the mandate to form a government on 8 October 2008.


2008 Austrian legislative election, Reactions, Government formation
The government of Werner Faymann was sworn in on 2 December 2008. Following the resignation of Vice Chancellor and ÖVP party chairman Josef Pröll from all political functions, a cabinet reshuffle took place, the new government members sworn in by the President of Austria on 21 April 2011.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters
The political parties used numerous campaign posters in the 2008 Austrian legislative election.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria
The SPÖ announced on 30 July 2008 that it would put up the first election posters on 3 August 2008; they featured a picture of Faymann, his name and the words "Enough bickering." (Genug gestritten. ), thus criticising the grand coalition's lack of agreement on fundamental issues, which the SPÖ attributes to the ÖVP's refusal to accept that the ÖVP lost the 2006 election.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria
The poster was attacked by ÖVP, who claimed that the SPÖ was responsible for the disputes in the coalition, and the smaller parties, who feared a costly election campaign due to the early start of the campaign. A second poster was presented at the federal party conference on 8 August 2008, which also prominently featured Faymann, but had no thematic content. A third poster was presented on 29 August 2008, when the SPÖ officially started its election campaign in the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna; it emphasised Faymann's personal qualities.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria
On 22 August 2008, the day of the TV debate between Strache and Haider, the SPÖ put up online advertisements pointing to the time of the TV debate and calling it "two good reasons to vote for Faymann: today, 21:15 ORF2". Furthermore, the SPÖ's youth wing, the Socialist Youth of Austria (Sozialistische Jugend Österreich), on 27 August 2008 presented an election campaign (, gegen Rechts meaning "against the right") calling for an end to the majority of the right in parliament and for preventing an ÖVP–FPÖ–BZÖ coalition.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Austrian People's Party
The ÖVP presented its first wave of election posters on 5 August 2008. Unlike the SPÖ's posters, they didn't feature Molterer; what the three subjects have in common are the words Molterer used to break up the grand coalition, "That's enough!" (Es reicht!) and the words "A new start instead of stalemate" (Neustart statt Stillstand). The different posters call for doubling home care subsidies, stricter immigration controls and doubling family subsidies in September to help families with children in education.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Austrian People's Party
The SPÖ refused to comment on these posters, the Greens were horrified that it was neither the FPÖ nor the BZÖ but the ÖVP which first brought an anti-immigrant tone into the election campaign and both FPÖ and BZÖ considered it proof that the ÖVP did not consider Molterer to be charismatic enough to win the election.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Austrian People's Party
A second wave of election posters with new thematic priorities was officially presented on 26 August 2008; one of the posters (previewed in Österreich on 24 August 2008) called for harsher punishments for child abusers and showed two judges about to hand down a judgment, in a change from the nonpictorial earlier election posters. SPÖ justice minister Maria Berger strongly criticised the ÖVP for trying to influence decisions in the court room through the election campaign, and the judges' association (Richtervereinigung) also strongly criticised the election poster's intent.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Austrian People's Party
The ÖVP officially started its election campaign on 5 September 2008 in the Helmut-List-Halle in Graz. The third and last wave of two election posters prominently featuring Molterer and the slogan "The better choice." (Die bessere Wahl.) was presented on 10 September 2008; furthermore, the ÖVP in September 2008 employed  criticising the SPÖ for the cost of its campaign promises and for not keeping them after the 2006 election.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Austrian People's Party
The Viennese ÖVP put up election posters on 6 August 2008 which consisted only of white text before a red background criticising Faymann for "just smiling, as always" while the SPÖ Vienna "prevented free of charge kindergartens" and "cashed up without hesitation: in housing costs, parking fees, waste disposal fees ...". The Young People's Party (Junge Volkspartei) presented a website attacking Faymann (, roter Stillstand meaning "red stalemate") on 28 August 2008.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, The Greens – The Green Alternative
The Greens' first slogan was "Not on my watch" (Nicht mit mir). The first wave of posters was presented on 13 August 2008; they prominently feature Van der Bellen (four different close-ups) and slogans which criticise the other parties (the SPÖ for not trying hard enough to fulfill its election promises, the ÖVP for blocking decisions in government, both parties for their bickering, and the FPÖ and the BZÖ for agitating against immigrants), as well as a circular logo containing "vdb 08" (for Van der Bellen).


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, The Greens – The Green Alternative
In addition, a second wave of posters was put up starting with 3 September 2008; the second wave featured positive slogans highlighting four demands of the Greens regarding taxes, human rights, measures against the rising prices and equal opportunities. Half the posters featured the Greens' deputy leader Eva Glawischnig instead of Van der Bellen; the common slogan was "when, if not now!" (wann, wenn nicht jetzt!). The Greens officially started their election campaign on 10 September 2008 in the Architekturzentrum Wien in Vienna. The Greens also held a contest for proposed election posters from the internet community; the four winning designs (as there were two equal third places) were put up as actual election posters on triangle stands from 8 September 2008 onwards.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Freedom Party of Austria
The FPÖ presented its first wave of election posters on 7 August 2008; they consisted of one big election poster and four to be put on triangle stands (Dreiecksständer); two of them (including the big one) prominently featured FPÖ leader Strache, and all of them depicted an eagle (from the coat of arms of Austria) giving a thumbs up. The main slogan was "They are against HIM. Because HE is for YOU." (Sie sind gegen IHN. Weil ER für EUCH ist.)


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Freedom Party of Austria
(which had been Haider's election slogan in the 1994 election campaign), and the slogan on the three other posters was "WE for YOU – Therefore ⊗ FPÖ HC Strache" (WIR für EUCH – Deshalb ⊗ FPÖ HC Strache). The other slogans were rhymed and endeavoured to be witty, similar to the 2006 election campaign; one of them featured a prominent spelling mistake ("heisst" instead of "heißt"), which was corrected later in the day. The FPÖ officially started its election campaign on 29 August 2008 on the Hauptplatz in Linz; a second wave of posters was put up in early September, which consisted of one poster featuring Strache before an Austrian flag and two smaller triangle stand posters.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Alliance for the Future of Austria
The BZÖ presented its election posters on 27 August 2008; the three posters prominently featured party leader Haider in different postures which are meant to emphasise his image as a man of the people, the claim that he was "the original" and a stylised Austrian flag at the bottom of the posters. The posters will be put up on 1 September 2008. The BZÖ officially started its election campaign on 30 August 2008 in the Stadthalle Graz.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Liberal Forum
The LIF presented its first election poster on 22 August 2008, which featured Schmidt and called for a three-party coalition as the next government; the LIF stated it would prefer an SPÖ–Greens–LIF or ÖVP–Greens–LIF coalition and that it would not work together with the FPÖ and the BZÖ. Further waves of election posters are planned. The LIF officially started its election campaign on 4 September 2008 in the Palmenhaus in the Viennese Burggarten.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Liberal Forum
On 11 September 2008, the LIF presented a second wave of four election posters only to be put up on triangle stands; they shared a common design and image (a portrait of Heide Schmidt) and the text "for fairness" and differed only in what the LIF stated it was against (populism, scare tactics, exclusion, stalemate and taking people for fools).


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Citizens' Forum Austria
The FRITZ started its election campaign on 5 September 2008 on the Freiheitsplatz in Graz. On 15 September 2008, it presented an election poster (featuring Dinkhauser) which was put up in Vienna only.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Other parties
The KPÖ started its election campaign on 5 September 2008. Its posters had two different subjects, both of which were only presented on triangle stands:


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Other parties
Save Austria's slogan was "We citizens now vote for ourselves!" (Wir Bürger wählen uns jetzt selber!). They had an election budget of €100,000.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Other parties
The Christians started their election campaign on 5 September 2008. They stated they could not afford election posters and widespread advertisements and that they would employ less costly ways of advertising for the election. Their slogan was "Strong families. Strong country." (Starke Familien. Starkes Land.). They refused to announce their election budgets and stated they considered employing newspaper advertisements and election posters in the final phase of the campaign.


2008 Austrian legislative election campaign posters, Social Democratic Party of Austria, Other parties
The Christians had a triangle stand poster (which was only used online and not put up on actual triangle stands, however):


2008 Austrian legislative election issue questionnaires
Three different organisations sent questionnaires to the parties competing in the 2008 legislative elections in Austria, seeking answers to various policy questions; the questions and answers are set out in this article.


2008 Austrian legislative election issue questionnaires, Wahlkabine
The internet platform  (Wahlkabine means "voting booth"), which has offered a decision support for state elections, national elections and European Parliament elections in Austria since 2002, sent a questionnaire consisting of twenty-six questions on political positions to the SPÖ, the ÖVP, the Greens, the FPÖ, the BZÖ, the LIF, the FRITZ and the KPÖ; all parties except for the FRITZ replied with their answers (shown in the following table).


2008 Austrian legislative election issue questionnaires, Politikkabine
The internet platform  (Politikkabine means "politics booth") offered a similar questionnaire of twenty-six questions, to which nine of the lists contesting the election nationwide (all parties except Save Austria) replied.


2008 Austrian legislative election issue questionnaires, Wiener Zeitung
The Wiener Zeitung had a similar service called  ("election machine"); all parties replied with their answers to the thirty questions.


2008 Auto Club 500
The 2008 Auto Club 500 was the second race of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and started on February 24, 2008, at Auto Club Speedway of Southern California in Fontana, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. The race was telecast on Fox starting at 3:30 PM US EST/12:30 PM PST, with MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio's broadcast starting at 2:45 PM EST/11:45 AM PST. Rain stopped the race on Lap 87 and the race would continue  on Monday, February 25 at 1 PM US EST/10 AM PDT.


2008 Auto Club 500
This race was the first time that the Car of Tomorrow raced at Fontana, as many people (since the shift from the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina following the Ferko lawsuit in 2004) claim that it is the first "real race" of the season, following the running of the Daytona 500 with its restrictor plates in use.


2008 Auto Club 500, Qualifying
For the first time in the Sprint Cup Series, a new qualifying system was to have been introduced for this race and the rest of the 2008 season.


2008 Auto Club 500, Qualifying
The new qualifying format is being divided into two groups, that has been called by many as "The Boris Said Rule" after what happened prior to the 2007 Pepsi 400, when Said was on the provisional pole when qualifying was canceled, and the field was set by the rulebook. The format debuted in the Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series at Daytona.


2008 Auto Club 500, Qualifying
In the first group, the Top 35 Exempt teams will go onto the track first and set their positions in the time trials. The second group will involve those outside said Top 35, and will fill the remaining eight spots. However, rain canceled the scheduled qualifying session, and the field was set by the NASCAR rulebook. The first time that the new qualifying session format was used was at the UAW-Dodge 400 the following week in Las Vegas, Nevada.


2008 Auto Club 500, Race
The outset of the race was plagued with rain, which was an ongoing theme throughout the weekend, delaying the start by 2½ hours, but weeping in the banked turns from all the inclement weather that fell throughout the weekend because of poor drainage caused the first two cautions. On Lap 14, Denny Hamlin hit the wall in Turn 3, causing the first caution of the day.


2008 Auto Club 500, Race
After just two more laps of green, Casey Mears crashed into Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Sam Hornish Jr., who was blinded from the upraised hood who then hit Reed Sorenson and then turned Mears' car 270 degrees, setting Hornish's car ablaze and causing the first red flag of the race on Lap 21. Track dryers were brought out to clear the track, and concrete saws were used to create pathways for the water to flow off Turns 1 and 2, which was not draining properly.


2008 Auto Club 500, Race
After hour and seven minute delay, racing continued on Lap 25 before a caution was called on Lap 39 due to rain in Turn 4. After drying finished, racing began again onLap 47 before a yellow flag was shown on Lap 56 due to Jeremy Mayfield's flat tire. Another yellow flag was shown when Joe Nemechek spins out due to a flat tire on Lap 62. Eight laps afterward, the sixth caution flag was shown when Elliott Sadler hit the wall after attempting to avoid Robby Gordon. The seventh caution flag was displayed on Lap 81 when rain began to fall, and was finally called off officially on Lap 87 with a red flag, over five hours after the scheduled start of the race.


2008 Auto Club 500, Race
NASCAR continued to dry the track and scheduled a night restart at 9 PM PST. That time was postponed twice by an hour to 11 PM local time, when they felt that track drying was inadequate. Ultimately at the time the race was to have restarted, NASCAR officials suspended activities for the evening. When action resumed on Monday morning, Jimmie Johnson led the race when on Lap 132, Jeff Burton brushed the wall on Turn 3 to force the eighth caution period. Three more cautions would follow, ultimately letting Carl Edwards win the race under caution when Dale Jarrett spun in Turn 3 on the last lap. Mark Martin made his 800th career Winston/NEXTEL/Sprint Cup start in this race.


2008 Auto Club 500, Race, Timeline
Failed to make the race as a result of qualifying being canceled due to rain: A. J. Allmendinger (#84), Ken Schrader (#49), Mike Skinner (#27), Burney Lamar (#08), Patrick Carpentier (#10).


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general elections was held in the ARMM for the regional governor, vice-governor posts and election of members of the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly on August 11, 2008. The electronic voting used is the first in Philippines election history. The P 500 million COMELEC's "ARMM balloting" is a pilot program for the 2010 national polling.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background
Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9333 in which elections for the posts of Regional Governor and Regional Vice-Governor and members of the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly must be held on the second Monday of August for every three years.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, Failed tests
ARMM had been used as a testing ground for computerized elections. On September 9, 1996, 42 optical scanners ($15,000 each), from Nebraska-based American Information System (AIS) were subject of the Senate Committee experiment led by Miriam Santiago. It found the machines defective. Again in the  May 11, 1998 ARMM elections, the same machines were tested and were found defective, resulting to manual counting next day.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, Failed tests
On July 22, 2008, however, the COMELEC, using the present machines, conducted a successful “mock poll" and simulated the actual processes and procedure for the August 11 ARMM election.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, COMELEC preparations
The Philippines' first-ever Electronic voting (automated) polls had some 1.6 million Filipino-Muslims registered voters, who will elect a governor, vice governor and regional legislators for the ARMM. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that it will be using 3,300 electronic voting machines in Maguindanao and 156 "automated counting machines" (Electronic voting) in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Shariff Kabunsuan, and Lanao del Sur. It will using 2 technologies, namely Smartmatic-Sahi Direct Recording Electronic (DRE voting machine), while Optical scan voting system (Optical Mark Readers)(AVANTE International Technology, Inc.) will be used in the 5 other provinces of the ARMM.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, COMELEC preparations
These include the 17 automated counting machines brought by Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, head of the COMELEC's team in Basilan, to Lamitan and Isabela cities. 11,000 military personnel and 7,000 policemen or a total of 18,000-strong security force were placed to secure the polls. The historical first "fully" automation elections will not be disrupted by power outage, since each machine has a battery packs reserve power good for 16 hours.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, COMELEC preparations
DRE or “touch screen electronic voting,” allows voters to "simply touch the pictures of candidates they wish to elect," and were especially for disabled and illiterate voters.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, COMELEC preparations
"No writing of names" is the principal feature of OMR machines. Voters have to simply shade the circles beside the candidates’ names. COMELEC has 9 counting machines in 5 precincts. Each can count 100 ballots in a minute. A 24-digit randomly generated bar code identifies the ballot as emanating from a specific precinct, and the OMR is programmed to count only ballots from designated precincts. The laptop’s keyboard is also locked.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, COMELEC preparations
The COMELEC, further, provided: AVANTE OMR SYSTEM CONTINUITY (CONTIGENCY) PLAN  08.08.2008 and SMARTMATIC-SAHI CONTIGENCY PLAN 08.08.2008   With these, the COMELEC predicted it would be able to proclaim the winning candidates in less than 36 hours.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, COMELEC preparations
The COMELEC, mowever, identified election "hotspots," consisting of 668 barangays (election areas of concern) and 49 (areas of immediate concern).


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, COMELEC preparations
GMA Network's Reporter's Notebook, on August 12, 2008, aired a documentary on the Comelec 2008 "Election Automation."


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, COMELEC preparations, Limitations
Comelec automation may reduce human intervention in votes counts, but the twin technologies used do not necessarily prevent vote-buying, intimidation, disenfranchisement, and other dirty tricks. Ballots cast cannot be traced by political operators. PPCRV chair Henrietta De Villa said: “In the final analysis, the integrity of the elections depends on the board of election inspectors, the voters, and the politicians, but they can’t easily change the results on the election returns. I would say that the space for cheating has narrowed.”


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, Accreditation
The COMELEC, in its July 29, 2008 promulgated Resolution, SPP-08-006, 08.06.2008, accredited the Citizens Coalition For ARMM Electoral Reforms, Inc. (Citizens CARE) as Citizens' Arm of the Commission on Elections in the provinces of Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, in the ARMM and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan, pursuant to Sec. 2(5), Art. IX (c) of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines and Sec. 52(k) of the Omnibus Election Code. Also, volunteers from the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), one of Comelec’s accredited citizens’ arms, were deployed in  Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, Foreign observers
Meanwhile, foreign observers led by Somsri Hananuntasuk, executive director of the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), and composed of the 22-man foreign delegation from Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Thailand, arrived for their election observation mission.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, Fears, tensions
The historical first, however, had been overshadowed by fears of violence due to the failed GRP-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Panel Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain” of the “Bangsamoro Juridical Entity” or territory deal amid the Supreme Court of the Philippines' temporary brake (TRO). On August 4, the High Tribunal issued a Temporary Restraining Order directing representatives of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front “to cease and desist from formally signing the MOA. In the consolidated petitions of officials from the province of North Cotabato represented by Governor Jesus Sacadalan and Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol (GR


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, Fears, tensions
No. 183591), as well as that of city officials of Zamboanga represented by Mayor Celso L. Lobregat, Rep. Ma. Isabelle G. Climaco, and Rep. Erico Basilio A. Fabian (GR No. 183752), the Court ordered the Office of the Solicitor General to submit to the Court and to the petitioners copies of the final draft of the MOA not later than August 8, 2008, and scheduled an Oral Argument on August 15, 9 a.m.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, Fears, tensions
Under the failed deal, ARMM would include 700 barangays in North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga, causing vehement objections from officials and residents. Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat, however, pointed that the expanded MILF homeland deal will cover 1,459 villages, and not just 700 barangays in the agreement’s (Annex A) that would establish the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE). He said Annex B areas were described as “special intervention areas": 40 villages in Zamboanga City, as well as several villages in the provinces of Sarangani, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Lanao del Norte.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, Fears, tensions
Accordingly, tensions amid fears erupted just days before the election, when hundreds of MILF rebels sequestered villages in North Cotabato's 3 towns, burning homes, seizing farm animals and forcing evacuation of 1,500 families. The government gave the rebels ultimatum to clear the villages, and the rebels backed off, in due course.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, Fears, tensions, GRP-MILF MOA
Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas opined that: "The main objective of the MOA is to amend the Organic Act which established the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The amendment envisions expansion of the geographical area of the ARMM and of its autonomous character. These objectives cannot be achieved by a mere memorandum of agreement. It will involve amending the Organic Act for the ARMM and the Constitution. The current Organic Act for ARMM is not any ordinary law.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, Fears, tensions, GRP-MILF MOA
It is the product of a 3-step process prescribed by the Constitution: the formation of a regional consultative commission whose task was to enlighten the legislators who were to draft the law; drafting of the Organic Act itself by Congress; and the plebiscite conducted among the areas concerned. The original 1989 Organic Act was replaced by the Organic Act of 2001 which incorporated the salient features of the 1996 Peace Agreement entered into between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Background, Fears, tensions, GRP-MILF MOA
A 2002 decision of the Supreme Court would later make it clear that provisions of the Organic Act can be amended only through the legislative-cum-plebiscite process. The controversial MOA, product of innumerable GRP-MILF dialogues, did not go through a broad consultation. The lack of consultation is now being defended by government as a matter of “executive privilege.” The Organic Act is similar in nature to a Constitution. It is an embodiment of the will of the sovereign people of Mindanao. In the end, those who are pushing for the achievement of the goals of the MOA will have no choice but to feed it into the legislative process. Indeed, when the document begins to be subjected to scrutiny, there will be a lot to debate about."


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, The candidates
Exactly 1,516,775 registered voters were officially declared eligible to vote in 1,903 polling centers of the August 11 balloting for a regional governor, vice governor and 24 members of the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly. Incumbent Gov. Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, 41, (Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party) is seeking reelection, the first governor to do so since ARMM creation in 1990. Ampatuan is challenged by Guimid Panalangin Matalam (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino) and Jupakar Pindah-Asia Arabani, Ismain Berto Ibrahim, Alvarez Silal Isnaji, Ahmad Darping Nooh and Ali Jumadil Omar—all running as independents. Isnaji is detained in connection the Ces Drilon case. 5 candidates joined the vice gubernatorial race while 78 aspire to become regional lawmakers.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Aftermath
The Comelec accredited Asian Network for Free Elections (Anfrel), through executive director, Thai Somsri Hananuntasuk, reported that in spite of automation, old problems of cheating and vote-buying still persisted. Minors were allowed to vote, poll officials influenced the voters or voted for them, and there were several instances of vote-buying. 22 of its foreign observers from 7countries in Southeast Asia—visited 443 precincts in the ARMM.


2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election, Aftermath
The machines only prevented cheating in the counting and the canvassing, as it stopped "dagdag-bawas" or the vote padding and shaving of votes, but the machines failed to prevent the way voters are individually influenced—or even forced—to vote for particular candidates. The secrecy of the ballot was also violated since board of election inspectors often assisted voters, indicating their support for particular candidates, and vote-buying was rampant.


2008 Azerbaijani presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Azerbaijan on 15 October 2008. Ilham Aliyev of the New Azerbaijan Party was re-elected with 89% of the vote. Several major political parties, including Musavat, the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Azerbaijan Liberal Party, and the Azerbaijan Democratic Party boycotted the vote because of alleged poll-fixing and oppression of political opponents.


2008 Azerbaijani presidential election, Background
The incumbent, Ilham Aliyev, was nominated by the New Azerbaijan Party for a second term on 3 August 2008. Musavat, the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, the Azerbaijan Liberal Party, the Citizen and Progress Party, and the Azerbaijan Democratic Party announced their boycott of the election due to unfair conditions. In response, an aide to Aliyev claimed that the opposition withdrew because it "knew that President Aliyev would win the elections with a majority." A total of seven candidates filed to run in the election. Each of the candidates had to collect 40,000 support signatures.


2008 Azerbaijani presidential election, Background
Campaigning officially began in mid-September. The candidates were limited to a four-week campaigning period by law. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, IRFS and RSF, the media (state-owned and private) showed bias in favor of Aliyev's candidacy.


2008 Azerbaijani presidential election, Conduct
The election was observed by more than 500 international observers, mostly from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The OSCE said that there was progress in the elections compared to past ones, however it did not meet international standards, because of the lack of competition to incumbent Ilham Aliyev. The NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, declared "He welcomes reports from the international election observers from OSCE, Council of Europe and the European Parliament indicating progress in the conduct of Azerbaijan’s presidential elections on 15 October 2008. Azerbaijan should build on this achievement and address the remaining shortcomings that were noted."


2008 Azerbaijani presidential election, Conduct
Avez Temirhan of the election-boycotting Azerbaijan Liberal Party said, "This leadership is not legitimate and its election does not reflect the will of the people."


2008 Azerbaijani presidential election, Results
A total of seven candidates registered with the Central Election Commission.


2008 Azerbaijani presidential election, Results
The incumbent, Ilham Aliyev, won the election with over 88% of the vote, and Igbal Aghazade came in second with 2.86%. Voter turnout was 75.1%. Fuad Aliyev and Hafiz Hajiev, as in 2003, received fewer votes than supporting signatures. Eight polling places' votes were invalidated.


2008 Azorean regional election
The Azores Regional Election (2008) (Portuguese: Eleições Regionais dos Açores, 2008) was an election held on 10 October 2008 for the legislative assembly and government of the Portuguese autonomous region of the Azores. in which the Socialist party, under the leadership of Carlos César won a third mandate with 46.7% of the turnout, while their rivals, under the Social Democratic Party leader Carlos Costa Neves, received 30.27% of the vote: the result would result Neves' resignation in the following days.


2008 Azorean regional election
The official electoral race occurred from 5 October to 17 October 2008, marked by a 53.34% abstention rate of the 192,943 registered voters (102,735 did not cast a vote); only 90,030 people voted in this election.


2008 Azorean regional election, Background
Following their absence from the regional assembly between 2004 and 2008, the Communist Party (PCP), under their leader Aníbal C. Pires returned to campaign in a new coalition, with the Ecologist Party "The Greens". Emboldened by minor successes in the Autonomous Region of Madeira during the 2007 election, the coalition was seen as new way of reviving the party. In his speech to the national PCP assembly in 2007 he pushed for an intense campaign to support maritime natural resources exploitation and workers' rights, especially in the "disequal social and economic" centre of São Miguel.


2008 Azorean regional election, Issues
The leader of the PSD, Carlos Costa Neves, promised to "move the attitude" in the party, with the objective of recuperating Azorean confidence in the party, after their defeat in the 2000 elections. Following his election to the party, Neves had defended a reorganization of the party, the mobilization and dialogue with militants, in addition to the development of innovative proposals, and noted his direct election as an affirmation of the new party politics. He warned that politics was in danger of permanent stagnation, where the discourse "in the Azores was created within the pink walls of the Palace of Santana", that the PSD was needed "a combative opposition and alternative politics".


2008 Azorean regional election, Issues
During the campaign Aníbal Pires continued to drive a rift between national politics and the Azorean electorate, noting the divergent policies and rhetoric of Prime Minister Jóse Socrates as it dealt with the Azores: "The PS has two discourses: one on the continent and another in the Azores". The communist candidate recorded that the Prime Minister, during his election support of PS leader Carlos César, especially on milk quotes and expansion of the Azorean portion EEZ was mute.


2008 Azorean regional election, Issues
Meanwhile, the CDS, with their new slogan "Sempre ao favor dos Açorianos" (Always at the favour of Azoreans) tried to promote a more issues-oriented campaign that presented their initiatives and successes in the lead-up to the election; these included a comparative listing of the initiatives in committee, bills presented for review/debate, inter-parliamentary interventions in the assembly, projects brought to resolution through their influence and political statements.


2008 Azorean regional election, Issues
On 21 March 2008, the CDU candidate defended a new plan to subsidize the football teams of the region, after a visit to Terceira and Graciosa, suggesting that many of the supports reach the teams late, requiring them to request loans to support inter-island travel. At the same time, Pires questioned the financing of the new hospital in Angra do Heroísmo, which he considered "obscure and unnecessary because the public sector is losing money to the private sector". He indicated that European Union financing could pay 85% of the cost, and that present accounts had enough funds to support its construction, citing the 30 year concession of lands, installations and maintenance responsibilities to the construction firm.


2008 Azorean regional election, Issues
Aníbal Pires attacked Carlos César's "silence" on the Labour Accord for Portuguese civilians working at the Lajes Base, using it as a justification for sending CDU candidates to Horta: he alleged that the Communists were a "different voice", that placed issues of regional cohesion and worker's rights in the forefront. Cesar shrugged off the commentary, noting his defense that the new African Command (AFRICOM) should remain at Lakes, and requesting a quick response from the national government supporting the suggestion.


2008 Azorean regional election, Political parties
The political parties presented candidates lists for the campaign, where 225,211 electors could elect 57 deputies to the Legislative Assembly. Os partidos e coligações que concorreram às eleições para a Assembleia legislativa da Região Autónoma dos Açores em 2008 foram os seguintes, listados por ordem alfabética:


2008 Azorean regional election, Results
The Regional Assembly fractured during this election, with a multi-political representation replacing the three traditional parties in parliament: the traditional parties (PS, PSD and CDS-PP) were replaced by six parties (PS, PSD, CDS-PP, BE, CDU and PPM) in the regional assembly.


2008 Azorean regional election, Results
Part of these changes were due to the constituency compensation (Portuguese: círculo eleitoral de compensação) where several of the smallest parties were able to obtain representation: the BE elected two parliamentarians through this method, while each of the remaining parties obtained one (the exception being the PPM, which was seen as a reactionary vote for the politics that isolated the small island).


2008 Azorean regional election, Results
The Socialist Party under the direction of Carlos César obtained a plurality of the votes (49.96%), a reduced mandate since the 2004 elections, when his team won 57% of the total. Although the Socialists won seats in all the islands of the archipelago, they declined in the number of votes and mandates elected to the Regional Legislative Assembly: in 2004, the Socialists had 60140 votes and 31 mandates (of 52 possible) while in the most recent run they obtained 45,070 votes and 30 of 75 seats. The abstention rate continued to rise in the last elections, reaching 53.24% during these elections. Of the over 193000 registered voters, less than 90000 exercised their electoral right.


2008 Azorean regional election, Results
The Social Democratic Party obtained the second largest support during the elections, but obtained 20% less than the Socialists during the election (30.27% of the popular vote and electing 18 deputies). This poor result resulted in the election of 18 deputies, even when in the last round of elections, the party along with the coalition partner (the Democratic Social Centre) elected 21 parliamentarians. This result forced the PSD leader, Carlos Costa Neves, to resign his leadership of the party.


2008 Azorean regional election, Results
The remaining parties each obtained just over 10% of the popular vote. Constituent compensation was introduced in the new electoral law in 2006, in order to improve the proportionality of the electoral system, allowing representation for those votes cast that did not elect any deputy in the assembly.


2008 Azorean regional election, Results
The Democratic Social Centre (CDS-PP) under Artur Lima elected five representatives to the regional Parliament, with 8.7% of the total votes, an increase in relation to the 2004 election (when they elected two deputies, one of which later almost ran as an independent in the middle of his mandate). Speaking on election night the centrist leader, exhorted his members: "We are a Party renovated; a new CDS with representation in all the groups of islands and making one unique promise: much work as has happened until now."


2008 Azorean regional election, Results
Thanking his candidates and militants in the party he indicated his belief that a "clean campaign and without critics" was promoted by his party, "It was a campaign of ideas, with young people, which indicates a renovation of the Party that was likely to present new ideas and proposals for the positive, that will convince the electorate that the best opposition is us."


2008 Azorean regional election, Results
The Left Bloc also rose in the elections, becoming the fourth political force in the Azores, with 3.3% of the votes. In comparison to the 2004 elections, when the Bloc obtained only 0.97% the vote, this election was seen as the Bloc's premiere in the Azorean Parliament, with two elected deputies.


2008 Azorean regional election, Results
The coalition CDU (Communists and "Greens") returned to the assembly with one deputy and 3.14% of the popular vote, an increase in the last four years (2.97%). Following the results, Aníbel Pires congratulated his forces by noting their increase in six electoral circles, and success in returning to Parliament, through the constituency compensation formula. Their results (one seat) were less than their rivals the BE, which he noted was "not relevant at the moment", but that the "voice of the Azorean people, the workers and the questions of cohesion" had returned to Parliament. Reaffirming that the "compromise that [they] made with the Azorean people will finally be completed", he added that the Socialists were unable to obtain an absolute majority, that they should "come off their pedestal and retake the capacity to hear the Azorean people".


2008 Azorean regional election, Results
For the first time, the PPM Partido Popular Monárquico (Popular Monarchist Party) was able to obtain representation in parliament, with its lone seat for Corvo.


2008 Azorean regional election, Results
Meanwhile, the PDA, the only locally based and autonomy-oriented party, fell below its expectations with only 619 votes (roughly equivalent to 0.69%) of the popular vote. These results would fracture the party leadership.


2008 Azorean regional election, Results
Ultimately, as Eduardo Correia indicated, the true victor in the Azores elections was the growth in the abstention rate, which achieved its highest level in the 2008 elections since the Carnation Revolution instituted free democratic elections. With 53.24% abstaining, little more than 90000 resident exercised their democratic rights, of the 193.000 registered voters.


2008 Aéreo Ruta Maya crash
On August 24, 2008, an Aéreo Ruta Maya Cessna Caravan 208 carrying 10 American aid workers, two Guatemalan aid agency representatives, pilot and copilot en route from La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City to El Estor, crashed 45 minutes after take off. The crash killed all occupants but three aid workers. One of the survivors was Dan Liljenquist, an American businessman and politician. The aircraft went down in a field 60 miles east of Guatemala City after the pilot reported an engine failure and was attempting an emergency landing. The aid workers were members of Choice Humanitarian, a West Jordan, Utah based humanitarian group on their way to the village of Sepamac.


2008 BAFL season
The 2008 BAFL Season is the British American Football League. BritBowl XXII, the league's championship game, was scheduled to be played at Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster on September 21, 2008. The regular season began on May 4 with the BritBowl champions London Blitz defeating the Gateshead Senators 48-0.


2008 BAFL season, Schedule, Regular season, Formula
Based on the British American Football League, setup for the 2008 season there will be a 3 tier structure consisting of:


2008 BAFL season, Final regular season standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT = Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against


2008 BAFL season, Final regular season standings
Clinched playoff seeds are marked in parentheses and shaded in green, for BAFL 2 divisions the colours have been changed to indicate Northern and Southern sides of the Playoffs.


2008 BAFL season, Playoffs
The playoffs are scheduled to start on August 24, 2008. BritBowl XXII will then be played on September 21, 2008 at Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster.


2008 BAFL season, Playoffs, BAFL 2 Playoff
The BAFL 2 Playoffs are split geographically between the North and the South. The Southern half of the draw includes the top two teams from each of the East, South East and South West. With the top two from the Northern and Central conferences making up the Northern half.


2008 BBL Champions Cup
The 2008 BBL Champions Cup was the third edition of the super cup game in German basketball, and was played on September 19, 2007. The game was played at the Artland-Arena in Quakenbrück.


2008 BC Lions season
The 2008 BC Lions season was the 51st season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 55th overall. The Lions finished the season in third place in the West Division with an 11–7 record and appeared in the West Final, losing to the eventual Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders.


2008 BC Lions season, Offseason, CFL Draft
In the 2008 CFL Draft, 48 players were chosen from among 752 eligible players from Canadian universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA. The first two rounds were broadcast on TSN.ca with host Rod Black.


2008 BC Lions season, Regular season, Roster
Italics indicate Import players updated 2008-10-11 • 46 Active, 2 Inactive, 7 PS


2008 BC Lions season, Playoffs, West Semi-Final
Date and time: Saturday, November 8, 3:30 PM Central Standard TimeVenue: Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field, Regina, Saskatchewan


2008 BC Lions season, Playoffs, West Final
Date and time: Saturday, November 15, 2:30 PM Mountain Standard TimeVenue: McMahon Stadium, Calgary, Alberta


2008 BCI Irish music crisis
The 2008 BCI "Irish" music crisis erupted in Ireland in March 2008 when it emerged that certain bands and musicians who had recorded material in Ireland were classified by the BCI as "Irish" music for radio airplay. Independent radio stations regulated by the BCI have an obligation to play agreed levels – in most cases 30% – of Irish music. Concern mounted that genuine Irish music recorded in Ireland by Irish musicians was being overlooked in favour of mainstream international trends.


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Background
On Thursday March 13, hotpress.com published an article that revealed R.E.M.’s new album Accelerate will be accepted as "Irish music" by the BCI. The album was recorded in Grouse Lodge Studios and it is this factor that qualifies it as "Irish".


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Background
The position, which alarmed many musicians and independent record companies, emerged during a question and answer session on Airplay For Irish Music, chaired by Hot Press editor Niall Stokes at the IBI conference in Dublin the previous week, which followed a series of presentations made on Airplay for Irish Music by Niall Stokes, BCI chief executive Michael O'Keeffe, Colm O'Sullivan of Red FM, Dave Pennefather of Universal Music Ireland, Dave Kelly of FM104, Feilim Byrne of Music Control and musician and songwriter Steve Wall of The Walls.


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Background
Asked by Niall Stokes about definitions of Irish music, members of the panel reported that tracks recorded in Dublin by Kylie Minogue were counted as Irish music by certain stations. Pennyfeather had initially revealed, to the surprise of the audience, that Kelly's stations consider a Kylie Minogue song "Irish". "It was recorded in Windmill Lane" was the excuse Kelly offered, finding support in the surprising quarter of O'Keeffe who said Kelly's position was "absolutely" in line with the BCI's policies. Asked if this was acceptable to the BCI, Michael O’Keeffe confirmed that it was. "It’s supporting the Irish music industry," he said. Minogue recorded a number of tracks for her album Fever in Dublin's Windmill Lane, including the title track and the hit single "Love at First Sight".


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Background
O'Keeffe told Phantom News that this has been policy for some time and that there is a legal basis for it:


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Background
"...one of the reasons that we have a number of definitions that qualify as Irish is because when the European Commission were considering this matter about ten years ago, they were very clear that we couldn't discriminate in favour of Irish music, other than Irish language. I suppose it was a pragmatic solution for us to look at ways that would support the industry in some way...."


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Background
He also said some of the suggestions made for change are simply not feasible, blaming the European Commission for rules surrounding anti-competitiveness:


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Background
"....we couldn't bring in a smaller radio quota and have it strictly for Irish artists. That's where we would run into trouble. If we were to bring in a definition of that nature that only applied to Irish artists, then we run into trouble with the European Commission because you cannot favour your own country..."


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Steve Wall
Steve Wall's reaction at the time was characteristic of the reaction of musicians generally. "I’m speechless", he said. "That’s the first time I heard that."


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Gavin Fox
"It sounds ridiculous. Shame on them", was the view of Concerto For Constantine bassist, Gavin Fox. "It sounds to me like just another excuse for stations not to get behind Irish music. I reckon R.E.M. and Kylie Minogue would agree with me. There's a huge amount of great Irish music out there. They might say there's no demand for it, but if you play it people will come around."


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Colm Ó Snodaigh
Kíla's Colm Ó Snodaigh quoted Bob Dylan, who wrote that radio was "gutless and flabby". "There's a load of great Irish music around right now that radio just doesn't seem to cater for." He went on to exemplify the Choice Music Prize. Ó Snodaigh added: "I wouldn’t like to be the one coming up with the hard and fast rules about what’s Irish and what’s not," he continued. "Sure didn’t we used to have Def Leppard and Lisa Stansfield living here as tax exiles, does that mean they’d count as Irish too? With all due respect to R.E.M., it's great that they’re supporting the Irish music industry and all, but they certainly don't need the extra airplay."


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Julie Feeney
Choice Music Prize winning singer-songwriter Julie Feeney repeated the assertions of the quantity and quality of contemporary Irish music. "They shouldn’t need to rely on a technicality like this – it’s going too far," she said. "All it takes is a bit of imagination and persistence from a DJ who’s willing to take the jump and play Irish artists."


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Louis Walsh
Pop mogul Louis Walsh reacted to the news that Kylie Minogue and R.E.M. records qualify as "Irish" music for radio airplay. "This is crazy," he told Hot Press. "No wonder the music biz in Ireland is the way it is. No wonder Irish record companies are signing nobody. It's because we can't get airplay in our own fucking country for our own home grown talent. It's frustrating and unfair that we are being treated like this. Kylie Minogue is Australian – it's as simple as that.


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Louis Walsh
No wonder The Thrills, Ash, Declan O'Rourke, Bell X1 etc. are struggling – because they don't get enough airplay in their own country and their record deals are in the balance because of this. The big Irish radio stations all copy US radio. They're playing Timbaland, Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna and similar acts 24/7. Would Snow Patrol have gotten airplay in Ireland for "Chasing Cars"? No, it happened on a US TV show. What would U2 do, if they were starting again in Ireland? They'd struggle because of radio formats copying the US and the UK. And who suffers? The talent – and ultimately the public." The absence of radio play directly affects sales, Walsh argued. "Look at the Irish charts," he said. "They now look like the USA or UK charts. We need to sort this out."


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Music directors
Meanwhile music directors at two local radio stations have said they would not include international artists who’ve recorded here as part of their required Irish music output. Colm O’Sullivan of Cork's Red FM said that under no circumstances would his station consider acts who have recorded their album in Ireland, such as R.E.M. and Kylie Minogue, as counting towards the quota of 30% Irish music that all independent stations must adhere to. "We would always aim to promote new, home-grown Irish stuff first and foremost," O'Sullivan told Hotpress.com.


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Music directors
"We’re constantly cultivating new bands from the Cork area to get them on our playlist." John Cadell, director of music at Dublin's Phantom 105.2, echoed O’Sullivan's comments. "We would never consider Irish-recorded albums as Irish. We don’t need to," Cadell told Hotpress.com. He confirmed that Phantom plays 20% Irish artists between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm, and 30% Irish over its full 24-hour schedule. The station also commits to playing 6% Irish unsigned bands between 7 am and 7 pm. "If the music is good enough to hold its own, we see no reason why it shouldn’t be played," said Cadell. "We regularly put new Irish bands on our a-list alongside top international acts like the Foo Fighters."


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Music directors
In July, Jon Richards of Galway Bay FM told Hot Press that his station would be giving daytime airplay to emerging Irish music. Richards declared:


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Music directors
“I am introducing five dedicated slots, from 3 to 5, for promoting Irish artists and in these five slots, literally any Irish artist whose song or whose track is good enough can get played… This is aimed at promoting new Irish artists.”


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Music directors
An important aspect of the initiative is that artists have to play their part, recording a Galway Bay ident to introduce tracks of theirs that are being supported by the station. Richards commented:


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Music directors
"A personal touch is needed if you want to communicate. That's what radio is all about."


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Music directors
Richards said the Galway Bay FM management team, with MD Keith Finnegan and Music Controller Padraig Flaherty, were fully supportive of the new initiative. Richards said:


2008 BCI Irish music crisis, Reaction, Music directors
“We’re taking the plunge. What I’m hoping is that other presenters across the country, especially in big urban areas, will say ‘well, if they’re doing that, why can’t we do it?’ and create an effect that Irish radio gets the kick up the arse that it needs.”


2008 BCR Open Romania
The 2008 BCR Open Romania was a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 16th edition of the event known that year as the BCR Open Romania, and was part of the International Series of the 2008 ATP Tour. It took place at the Arenele BNR in Bucharest, Romania, from 8 September through 14 September 2008.


2008 BCR Open Romania
The singles field was led by ATP No. 12, Stuttgart runner-up, Canada Masters quarterfinalist Richard Gasquet, Casablanca and Indianapolis titlist, and Bucharest defending champion Gilles Simon, and Costa do Sauípe and Acapulco winner, Valencia finalist Nicolás Almagro. Other seeded players were Marseille and Munich semifinalist Paul-Henri Mathieu, French Open quarterfinalist Ernests Gulbis, Carlos Moyá, Marcel Granollers and José Acasuso.


2008 BCR Open Romania
Second-seeded and defending champion Gilles Simon won the singles title.


2008 BCR Open Romania, Finals, Doubles
Nicolas Devilder /  Paul-Henri Mathieu defeated  Mariusz Fyrstenberg /  Marcin Matkowski,   7–6(7–4), 6–7(9–11), [22–20]


2008 BCR Open Romania – Doubles
Oliver Marach and Michal Mertiňák were the defending champions, but Marach chose not to participate, and only Mertinak competed that year. Mertinak partnered with Filip Polášek, but lost in the first round to Nicolas Devilder and Paul-Henri Mathieu.


2008 BCR Open Romania – Doubles
Nicolas Devilder and Paul-Henri Mathieu won in the final 7–6(7–4), 6–7(9–11), [22–20], against Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski.


2008 BCR Open Romania – Singles
Gilles Simon was the defending champion, and won in the final 6–3, 6–4, against Carlos Moyá.


2008 BCS National Championship Game
The 2008 BCS National Championship Game (branded as the 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game for sponsorship reasons) was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 7, 2008, and featured the No. 1 and No. 2 college football teams in the United States as determined by the BCS Poll (a combination of polls and computer formulas) to decide the BCS National Championship for the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season.


2008 BCS National Championship Game
The game featured No. 1 Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes hosting No. 2 SEC champion LSU Tigers. It also featured the second postseason matchup between head coaches Jim Tressel and Les Miles in five years. The first occurrence was the 2004 Alamo Bowl, when Tressel's Buckeyes defeated Miles' Oklahoma State Cowboys, 33–7.


2008 BCS National Championship Game, Team selection
Prior to the last weekend of the regular season, it looked like the national championship game would be played between Missouri and West Virginia. However, Missouri lost to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game and West Virginia was shocked by their arch-rival Pitt in the Backyard Brawl. This threw the BCS and college football world into upheaval. By virtue of winning the Big Ten and having only one loss, Ohio State looked to be guaranteed a berth in the BCS championship game. After much speculation, LSU was revealed to be the number two team in the ratings, and therefore the Buckeyes' opponent in the title game.


2008 BCS National Championship Game, Pre-game buildup
After intense media speculation, including a report on ESPN which indicated that he was on the verge of taking the Michigan job, LSU head coach Les Miles announced just before the SEC championship game on December 1 that he was staying. Shortly thereafter, he agreed to a contract extension at LSU. Additionally, LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini accepted the head coaching job at Nebraska the day after the SEC title game. With the blessing of Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne, Pelini returned to Baton Rouge to prepare for the BCS championship game.


2008 BCS National Championship Game, Pre-game buildup
As for the Buckeyes, two cornerbacks, Donald Washington and Eugene Clifford, were reported to be suspended for this game for violating team rules. However, Ohio State's athletic director said on December 27 that the reported suspension of Washington was erroneous.


2008 BCS National Championship Game, Game summary, First quarter
LSU won the          coin toss and deferred to the second half. After receiving the opening kickoff, Ohio State started slowly on offense before Chris Wells broke off a 65-yard touchdown run for the first score of the game. LSU went three-and-out deep in their own territory and punted on their first possession. Ohio State quickly added a field goal by Ryan Pretorius to go up 10-0. LSU then marched efficiently down field, but their 14-play/65-yard drive stalled in the red zone and Colt David kicked a 32-yard field goal. The first quarter ended with LSU on offense and trailing, 10-3.


2008 BCS National Championship Game, Game summary, Second quarter
LSU scored early in the period with a 13-yard Matt Flynn touchdown pass to Tight End Richard Dickson, tying the score at 10. The drive was aided by two penalties totaling 28 yards by Ohio State's defense. LSU's Ricky Jean-Francois then blocked a 38-yard Pretorius field goal attempt on Ohio State's next possession. Momentum appeared to be shifting to LSU's sideline. LSU began the ensuing drive from their 34. The Tigers marched 66 yards in 3:28; a 10-yard Brandon LaFell touchdown reception from Flynn culminated the drive.


2008 BCS National Championship Game, Game summary, Second quarter
On the next Buckeye possession, quarterback Todd Boeckman was intercepted by cornerback Chevis Jackson who returned the ball 34 yards into Ohio State territory. LSU moved down to the goal line and running back Jacob Hester punched the ball in to give the Tigers a 14-point lead. A short Buckeye drive led to a punt and LSU was content to go into halftime having scored 24 unanswered points.


2008 BCS National Championship Game, Game summary, Third quarter
LSU started the second half with the ball and a 24-10 lead. The Ohio State defense appeared to have forced a punt on LSU's first drive, but a roughing the punter penalty by Buckeye linebacker Austin Spitler gave LSU a first down. The Tigers parlayed the personal foul into a touchdown, as Early Doucet later received a short pass from Flynn and broke a series of tackles at the five-yard line and walked into the endzone.


2008 BCS National Championship Game, Game summary, Third quarter
Ohio State seemed to be fading but with 3:50 left in the quarter, Flynn was intercepted by cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, who returned the ball 21 yards to the LSU 11. Three "Beanie" Wells runs brought the Buckeye offense down to the five and Boeckman proceeded to throw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Brian Robiskie on fourth down, pulling the Buckeyes to within 31-17.


2008 BCS National Championship Game, Game summary, Fourth quarter
After LSU punted early in the quarter Ohio State put together a solid drive, reaching the LSU 34. However, the offense stalled and the Buckeyes were forced to go for it on fourth-and-seven. Boeckman dropped back to pass and was hit on his throwing arm just before the arm could start to come forward. The hit—made by LSU linebacker Ali Highsmith—caused a fumble and LSU recovered in Ohio State territory.


2008 BCS National Championship Game, Game summary, Fourth quarter
The play was reviewed to determine if it was a forward pass but the ruling on the field was upheld and LSU got the ball with 10:37 left in the game. The Tigers then went three-and-out, but on Ohio State's next possession Boeckman was intercepted by safety Curtis Taylor. With 5:37 remaining, LSU's fate as National Champions was essentially sealed.


2008 BCS National Championship Game, Game summary, Fourth quarter
The Tigers added another touchdown, a five-yard strike from Flynn to LaFell (his second touchdown reception of the game). Ohio State then scored on a late touchdown pass from Boeckman to wide receiver Brian Hartline before failing to convert an onside kick. LSU ran out the clock and celebrated their 38-24 BCS National Championship Game win.


2008 BCS National Championship Game, Historical implications
This was the first national championship game in the BCS era to feature two teams that had previously won a BCS national championship. Louisiana State became the first school ever to win two BCS championships. The Tigers had previously defeated Oklahoma, 21-14, in the 2004 Sugar Bowl, which served as the 2003 season's BCS championship game.


2008 BCS National Championship Game, Historical implications
LSU was the first team since 1960 to be national champion with two losses.


2008 BDO World Darts Championship
The 2008 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championship was the 31st World Championship staged by the British Darts Organisation and was held between 5–13 January 2008 at the Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, Surrey.


2008 BDO World Darts Championship
Martin Adams attempted to defend the title that he won at the 14th attempt in 2007 but he lost in the Semi-Finals to Mark Webster. Webster won the World Championship, beating Simon Whitlock 7–5 in the final.


2008 BDO World Darts Championship
Anastasia Dobromyslova won the Women's World Championship, becoming the first player to beat Trina Gulliver in the World Championship. Gulliver had won all of the previous seven titles.


2008 BDO World Darts Championship, Television coverage
The tournament was covered by the BBC in the UK, SBS6 in the Netherlands and Eurosport across continental Europe.


2008 BFL season
The 2008 season of the Belgian Football League (BFL) was the regular season played in the Belgium. The West Flanders Tribes had a perfect season with 8 wins and no losses and won Belgian Bowl XXI against the Brussels Black Angels by a score of 25-20. The Belgian Bowl victory was the Tribes 3rd in a row.


2008 BFL season, Regular season, Regular Season standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT = Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against


2008 BMW Open
The 2008 BMW Open was a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 93rd edition of the BMW Open, and was part of the International Series of the 2008 ATP Tour. It took place in Munich, Germany, from 28 April through 4 May 2008.


2008 BMW Open
The announced draw was led by Marseille semifinalist Paul-Henri Mathieu, Viña del Mar champion Fernando González, Auckland winner and BMW Open defending champion Philipp Kohlschreiber. Other top seeds were Miami and Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinalist Igor Andreev, Indian Wells Masters quarterfinalist Tommy Haas, Andreas Seppi, Steve Darcis and Marin Čilić.


2008 BMW Open, Finals, Doubles
Michael Berrer /  Rainer Schüttler defeated  Scott Lipsky /  David Martin, 7–5, 3–6, [10–8]


2008 BMW Open – Doubles
Philipp Kohlschreiber and Mikhail Youzhny were the defending champions, but chose not to participate that year.


2008 BMW Open – Doubles
Michael Berrer and Rainer Schüttler won in the final 7–5, 3–6, [10–8], against Scott Lipsky and David Martin.


2008 BMW Open – Singles
Philipp Kohlschreiber was the defending champion, but was forced to withdrew due to illness.


2008 BMW Open – Singles
Fernando González won in the final 7–6(7–4), 6–7(4–7), 6–3, against Simone Bolelli.


2008 BMW PGA Championship
The 2008 BMW PGA Championship was the 54th edition of the BMW PGA Championship, an annual professional golf tournament on the European Tour. It was held 22–25 May at the West Course of Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England, a suburb southwest of London.


2008 BMW PGA Championship
Spaniard Miguel Ángel Jiménez defeated Englishman Oliver Wilson in a playoff to capture his first BMW PGA Championship title.


2008 BMW PGA Championship, Round summaries, Playoff
The playoff began on the par five 18th; both players went for the green in two. Wilson ended up in the greenside bunker; Jiménez at the back of the green. Jiménez three-putted for a par 5 which was matched by Wilson.


2008 BMW PGA Championship, Round summaries, Playoff
The players headed once again for the 18th tee, this time Jiménez was able to get home in two after a superb drive; Wilson, on the other hand could only manage a lay up after he missed his tee shot to the right. Wilson managed to play his approach shot to 12 feet (3.6m), but his putt slipped by. Jiménez managed to two-putt for a birdie 4 and the title.


2008 BNP Paribas Masters
The 2008 Paris Masters (also known as the BNP Paribas Masters for sponsorship reasons) was a men's tennis tournament played on indoor hard courts. It was the 36th edition of the Paris Masters, and was part of the ATP Masters Series of the 2008 ATP Tour. It took place at the Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris, France, from 25 October through 2 November 2008.


2008 BNP Paribas Masters
The singles draw was headlined by year-end World No. 1, Beijing Olympics singles gold medalist, French Open and Wimbledon, Monte Carlo, Hamburg, Toronto Masters champion Rafael Nadal, ATP No. 2, US Open, Estoril, Halle and Basel titlist, Olympic doubles gold medalist Roger Federer, and Australian Open, Indian Wells, Rome Masters winner Novak Djokovic. Also announced were US Open runner-up, Cincinnati, Madrid Masters and recent St. Petersburg titlist Andy Murray, Valencia and 's-Hertogenbosch champion David Ferrer, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick and David Nalbandian.


2008 BNP Paribas Masters, Notable stories, Race to the championships
As the final tournament of the season before the Tennis Masters Cup, several players battled for the remaining spots at the year-end singles event, which plays host to the world's top eight players. Coming into the tournament, twelve players were vying for the final three spots (in descending order of race ranking): Andy Roddick, Juan Martín del Potro, Gilles Simon, David Ferrer, James Blake, Stanislas Wawrinka, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, David Nalbandian, Fernando Verdasco, Gaël Monfils, and Robin Söderling. Roddick was the first to qualify, when he defeated Madrid Masters runner-up Gilles Simon in the third round.


2008 BNP Paribas Masters, Notable stories, Race to the championships
The semifinals wins of Nalbandian over Nikolay Davydenko and Tsonga over Blake assured del Potro of a place, with the championship match set to decide the final qualifier. Home favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga eventually defeated defending champion David Nalbandian in three sets, to move to the eight place in the ATP Race, and qualify for the year-end championships.


2008 BNP Paribas Masters, Notable stories, Race to the championships
The doubles event also included a pursuit between Poles Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski, South Africans Jeff Coetzee and Wesley Moodie, and Brazilians Marcelo Melo and André Sá for the last spot of the year-end doubles championships. Melo and Sa lost their chance to qualify when they were defeated by Jonas Björkman and Kevin Ullyett in the quarterfinals, while the two other teams advanced to meet in the semis, in a match to decide of the last qualifiers. Coetzee and Moodie eventually came out on top in straight sets to clinch their first Tennis Masters Cup ticket together, the first ever for Coetzee, and the second for Moodie, who had already participated to the 2005 edition with Stephen Huss.


2008 BNP Paribas Masters, Finals, Doubles
Jonas Björkman /  Kevin Ullyett defeated  Jeff Coetzee /  Wesley Moodie 6–2, 6–2


2008 BNP Paribas Masters – Doubles
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan were the defending champions, but lost in the second round to Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski.


2008 BNP Paribas Masters – Doubles
Jonas Björkman and Kevin Ullyett won in the final 6–2, 6–2, against Jeff Coetzee and Wesley Moodie.


2008 BNP Paribas Masters – Singles
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated the defending champion David Nalbandian in the final, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 to win the Singles title at the 2008 Paris Masters.


2008 BWF Grand Prix Gold and Grand Prix
The 2008 BWF Grand Prix Gold and Grand Prix is the second season of BWF Grand Prix Gold and Grand Prix with fourteen tournaments in contested. The season started with German Open in February and ended with Vietnam Open in December.


2008 BWF Grand Prix Gold and Grand Prix, Results, Performance by country
Tabulated below are the Grand Prix performances based on countries. Only countries who have won a title are listed:


2008 BWF Super Series
The 2008 BWF Super Series is the second season of the BWF Super Series. The season spanned between the continental of Asia and Europe and was starting with Malaysia Open from January 15 and ended with Hong Kong Open on November 30, 2008. The top eight ranked players competed in the Masters Finals in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia from December 18 to December 21, 2008.


2008 BWF Super Series, Results, Performances by countries
Tabulated below are the Super Series performances based on countries. Only countries who have won a title are listed:


2008 BWF Super Series, Super Series Rankings
All the progress and points below are carry forward from the tournament for past 52 weeks as state by BWF's world ranking system.


2008 BWF Super Series, Super Series Rankings, Leader progress
Tabulated below are the leader progress in Super Series ranking towards the Super Series Final:


2008 BWF Super Series Masters Finals
The 2008 BWF Super Series Masters Finals is the season ending tournament for 2008 BWF Super Series in badminton. It is held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia from December 18 to December 21, 2008.


2008 BWF Super Series Masters Finals
The tournament was marred with the withdrawal of China, citing tiredness and injuries to their players.


2008 BWF Super Series Masters Finals, Representatives by nation
§: Robert Blair from England was the only player who played in two categories (men's doubles and mixed doubles), while Kamilla Rytter Juhl from Denmark, Wong Pei Tty from Malaysia, Kunchala Voravichitchaikul from Thailand, Lilyana Natsir and Vita Marissa from Indonesia were the players who played in two categories (women's doubles and mixed doubles).


2008 BWF World Junior Championships
The 2008 BWF World Junior Championships took place in Pune, India, from 29 October to 2 November 2008.


2008 BWF World Junior Championships, Team competition
A total of 21 countries competed at the team competition in 2008 BWF World Junior Championships.


2008 BWF season
The 2008 BWF Season was the overall badminton circuit organized by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for the 2008 badminton season to publish and promote the sport. Besides the BWF World Championships, BWF promotes the sport of Badminton through an extensive worldwide program of events. These events have various purposes according to their level and territory in which they are held but those events owned by BWF seek to showcase the Sport via the widest possible quality television broadcast and build the fanbase of the Sport throughout the World.


2008 BWF season
The world badminton tournament structure has four levels: Level 1 (BWF Major Events: Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, Sudirman Cup, Suhadinata Cup, World Championships, Bimantara Cup, and World Senior Championships), Level 2 (BWF Superseries: Superseries and Superseries Masters Finals), Level 3 (BWF Grand Prix: Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold), and Level 4 (BWF Continental Tournament: International Challenge, International Series, and Future Series). The Thomas Cup & Uber Cup, Sudirman Cup and Suhandinata Cup are Teams Events. The others – Superseries, Grand Prix Events, International Challenge, International Series, Future Series and Bimantara Cup are all individual tournaments. The higher the level of tournament, the larger the prize money and the more ranking points available.


2008 BWF season
The 2008 BWF Season calendar comprised the Olympic Games, World Championships tournaments, the Thomas & Uber Cup, the BWF Super Series (Super Series and Super Series Masters Finals), the Grand Prix (Grand Prix Gold and Grand Prix), the International Series (International Series and International Challenge), and Future Series.


2008 BWF season, Schedule
This is the complete schedule of events on the 2008 calendar, with the Champions and Runners-up documented.


2008 BYU Cougars football team
The 2008 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season.


2008 BYU Cougars football team
Prior to the 2008 season, BYU had won consecutive Mountain West Conference (MWC) championship titles without losing a conference game. It had also finished with an 11-2 overall record for consecutive seasons. The Cougars have won four MWC championships since the league began in 1999 (Co-Champions with CSU and Utah in 1999, and sole Champions in 2001, 2006 and 2007), and 23 conference titles overall. BYU ended last season ranked 14th in the nation in the major polls, one of its best finishes in the last two decades.


2008 BYU Cougars football team
BYU was selected to win the MWC according to the conference's annual media poll.


2008 BYU Cougars football team
The Cougars made their fourth consecutive post-season appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, losing to the Arizona Wildcats Football 31-21. BYU beat the Oregon Ducks in 2006 and the UCLA Bruins in 2007. BYU lost to the California Golden Bears in the 2005 game.


2008 BYU Cougars football team
BYU played its home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium, named after its former coach, LaVell Edwards.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Pre-season
Spring Practice started March 17 and ended April 12 with the annual Blue/White game.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Pre-season
Fall camp began on August 1 with actual practices starting on August 4. Camp ended August 20 with a final scrimmage. Preparation for the first game began on August 22.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Pre-season
BYU begins the season ranked #17 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and #16 in the AP Poll.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Pre-season
David Nixon and Jan Jorgensen for the defense and Max Hall and Travis Bright for the offense were chosen by their teammates as captains for the 2008 season.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Rankings, Preseason rankings
In the pre-season, the Cougars were ranked #19 and then later #14 by ESPN's Mark Schlabach, #12 by Rivals.com David Fox and Steve Megargee, #22 by College Football News, #17 by Stewart Mandel of CNN's SI.com (Sports Illustrated), #12 by Lindy's, #14 by CBS Sportsline, #13 by Tony Barnhart (a.k.a. "Mr. College Football") of the Atlanta Constitution-Journal, #14 by Athlon Sports, #17 by Phil Steele, #16 by CBS College Sport's Adam Caparell, and #10 by New York Times' Paul Myerberg. They started the season ranked 17th in the Coaches Poll (with 547 votes), and ranked 16th in the AP Poll (with 590 votes).


2008 BYU Cougars football team, MountainWest Sports Network
Early in 2008, DirecTV agreed to distribute the MountainWest Sports Network (The mtn.) nationally on its satellite system beginning August 27, 2008 on channel 616. National satellite distribution was the MWC's primary media goal for the previous two years. The mtn. was the first regional sports network dedicated solely to a college conference's sports. In 2004, CSTV (now called CBS Sports Network) was originally designated as the channel for carrying MWC sports, but it was later announced that The mtn., would carry primarily coverage of the MWC. Over time The mtn. was rolled out in various cable markets.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, MountainWest Sports Network
On February 21, 2008, San Diego State University Athletic Director, Jeff Schemmel, stated in a media conference that a deal had been struck to broadcast the mtn on DirecTV beginning in August. Spokesmen for the MWC, the mtn. and DirecTV confirmed this the following day. The mtn. will be available on DirecTV as a regular channel in each market in the MWC footprint. In other areas, it will be available on DirecTV's Sports Pack package. Although the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex is within the Mountain West Conference footprint with TCU's presence in Fort-Worth, Charter Communications and Time Warner Cable companies are the only cable companies in the Mountain West Conference footprint who have failed to pick up The mtn on their channel line-up.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Northern Iowa
This was BYU's first-ever game against the University of Northern Iowa Panthers from the Division I FCS. In recent years the Panthers have proven to be a perennial top program in FCS football. Last year Northern Iowa (UNI) was ranked No. 1 in the FCS until a loss to Delaware in the FCS playoffs. UNI was ranked #3 in the 2008 FCS preseason poll. The Panthers agreed to play BYU at the last minute after Nevada backed out of its agreement to play BYU in 2008. Northern Iowa ended the 2007 season with a considerably stronger Sagarin rating than Nevada and finished #4 in the FCS.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Northern Iowa
In a very physical game from both teams, the Cougars jumped out to a wide early lead of 27-3 at the half. The Panthers could not stop the Cougar offense from driving the field. Despite an ugly, scoreless, third quarter for BYU, which included four fumbles, the Cougars pulled away again in the fourth quarter to defeat the Panthers 41-17 in front of a sold-out crowd in Provo. BYU's Dennis Pitta caught eleven passes for 213 yards and Max Hall threw with an 83% completion for 486 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Northern Iowa
Pitta lead the nation in receiving yards and Max was second in the nation for passing yards with a 198.6 rating. On the defensive end, junior college transfer Coleby Clawson made his hard hitting debut, knocking out UNI's quarterback Pat Grace three times. Justin Sorensen put all seven kickoffs into the end zone.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Northern Iowa
With the exception of three big plays, UNI's offense struggled against BYU's defense, but UNI capitalized on the turnovers in the third quarter to earn both of its touchdowns. UNI quarterback, Pat Grace, broke through for a 69-yard gain that resulted in a field goal. The play after recovering a BYU fumble, UNI ran a reverse with wide receiver, Victor Williams, making a 76-yard touchdown pass. UNI's final score came on a blind-side, forced fumble against Max Hall in the end zone.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Northern Iowa
David Tafuna carried the team flag onto the field, and LaVell Edwards carried the alumni flag on to the field.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Washington
BYU and Washington met for the seventh time. This was BYU's first win in a non-conference road game since 2002. The last meeting with the Huskies was in 1999, when BYU won in Provo 35-28. Washington marred what would have been a perfect season for BYU in 1996. BYU went on to finish #5 in the country with a 14-1 record, winning 13 regular season games, an NCAA record that still stands.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Washington
The Cougars had to contain the Huskies' athletic quarterback, Jake Locker, who ran for nearly 1,000 yards last season. BYU held Locker below his rushing average to 62 yards on 18 attempts. Locker completed only 17 of his 32 passes for 204 yards. Washington had 337 yards of total offense to BYU's 475.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Washington
BYU only punted twice in the game. After driving the length of the field again, BYU looked to take the lead early in the fourth quarter when Harvey Unga, who rushed for 136 yards in the game, fumbled the ball at the goal line which was recovered by Washington.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Washington
The Cougars won the game by blocking a Washington PAT attempt in the fourth quarter. With 2 seconds left in regulation, the 35-yard extra-point kick by Huskies' Ryan Perkins was blocked by Jan Jorgensen. The PAT was moved back 15 yards on an unsportsmanlike penalty on Locker when he tossed the ball in the air after running the ball in for a touchdown. Two of the last three games BYU has played, they won the game by blocking a last second kick.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Washington
Max Hall was named Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Hall hit 31 of 40 pass attempts for 338 yards passing and three touchdowns, including a 15-yarder to tight end Dennis Pitta with 3:31 left.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Washington
Jan Jorgensen's game winning block was the ESPN Pontiac Game Changing Performance for the week.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, UCLA
UCLA offensive coordinator, Norm Chow (former OC at BYU), and UCLA quarterback, Ben Olson (former BYU player) came back to Provo for the 10th meeting between the Bruins and BYU. The teams faced off twice during the 2007 season. The Cougars defeated UCLA in the 2007 Las Vegas Bowl after the Bruins won a close regular-season meeting. Ben Olson did not play due to injuries.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, UCLA
Kellen Fowler carried the team flag onto the field, and Vai Sikahema carried the alumni flag on to the field.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, UCLA
BYU scored first on a Max Hall pass to Dennis Pitta for 10 yards for a touchdown; Hall then passed to Austin Collie for another score (2 yards). The Cougars recovered a fumble and scored on the next play to take a 21-0 lead. After another Bruins fumble, Hall passed to Michael Reed for another touchdown. Another Bruins fumble gave Hall his 5th pass touchdown in the first half. Hall's 6th touchdown pass was thrown to Pitta.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, UCLA
In the second half, Max Hall passed to Harvey Unga for a 6-yard touchdown, Mitch Payne kicked a 24-yard field goal and Wayne Latu rushed for a 13-yard touchdown to give BYU the 59-0 win. UCLA's worst loss in nearly 80 years.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, UCLA
Given the injuries to BYU's linebackers since fall camp through the first two games, BYU added a nickel package to its defense that proved to be effective.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, UCLA
So far BYU is 16-18 for scoring in the "Blue Zone" including 15 for touchdowns and its first field goal attempt for the season in the UCLA game. BYU's 2 failures were both fumbles, one at the goal line against Washington that rolled in for a touchback.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, UCLA
BYU has no 100-yard rushers against it, and leads the nation in third down conversions to this point.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, UCLA
For the second week in a row, Max Hall was named the MWC Offensive Player of the Week and the Walter Camp Football Foundation's Offensive Player of the Week. Hall broke the BYU record of passing touchdowns during a half with 6 and tied the BYU record for passing touchdowns at 7.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, UCLA
This was the worst loss the Bruins endured since a 76-0 defeat in the very first UCLA–USC rivalry football game in 1929.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Wyoming
This was the 73rd game between Wyoming and BYU. The Cougars have won their last five games against Wyoming by an average of almost 24 points.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Wyoming
BYU allowed Wyoming's offense to move early, but on the Cowboys' first drive the Cougar defense picked up a dropped lateral pass, returning it for six points. BYU's offense started slow, but ended up scoring frequently in the second quarter. The Cougar defense stepped up and held Wyoming to zero points in all four quarters, leading to the second straight shutout, the first consecutive shutout in twenty three years.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Wyoming
David Oswald carried the team flag onto the field, and Ty Detmer carried the alumni flag on to the field. David Nixon, who returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown, was honored as the MWC Defensive Player of the Week. C.J. Santiago was named as the MWC Special Teams Player of the Week. Santiago had seven punts for an average of 46.7 yards per kick, including a season high punt for 61 yards. His first three punts were all downed inside the Wyoming 20-yard line: the first at the 11, the second at the 5 and the third at the 4-yard line.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Utah State
This was the 78th game between the Utah State Aggies and BYU. The annual winner of this interstate contest is awarded The Old Wagon Wheel. The Aggies have not beaten BYU since 1993. BYU defeated Utah State 38-0 in their last meeting in 2006.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Utah State
The Cougars started fast in the first quarter with a 76-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 35-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, a field goal, and then an interception resulting in another touchdown. Hall completed 23 of 47 passes for 303 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Unga rushed 21 times for 86 yards and a touchdown. Collie added 8 receptions for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Utah State
BYU was plagued with penalties particularly in the last quarter. They had 12 penalties for 123 yards with several personal fouls including an unnecessary roughness penalty by Max Hall.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Utah State
The Aggie's mobile quarterback, Diondre Borel, and speedy running back, Robert Turbin, gave the Cougars some trouble rushing for a combined 117 yards including a 40-yard break-away run for a touchdown by Turbin early in the fourth quarter.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, New Mexico
This was the 58th game between New Mexico and BYU. The Cougars have won four games in a row against the Lobos.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, TCU
This was the 8th game between TCU and BYU, played on a Thursday night for the third straight year.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, TCU
This was the first loss for the BYU Football program since the 2007 setback against Tulsa. TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson had said this was a game his program was pointing towards since January of that year. BYU trails the series 5-6


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Colorado State
This was the 67th game between Colorado State and BYU.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, San Diego State
This was the 33rd game between San Diego State and BYU. It was "Senior Day" for BYU, and in honor of the occasion, the field had a different look then usual. The endzones were painted in blue, along with the 50-yard line logo. That too, was filled in with blue.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Air Force
This was the 29th game between Air Force and BYU. BYU has won the last 5 games against the Falcons.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Utah
This is an annual rivalry game unofficially dubbed "Holy War." Along with Utah State, these teams also compete annually for the "Beehive Boot." This game is typically the most anticipated of the season for BYU and its fans. In November 2005, The Wall Street Journal ranked the BYU–Utah football rivalry as the fourth-best college football rivalry game in the country. This will be the 84th game between the teams dating back to 1922. Utah dominated the series 34-2-4 through 1964. Since that time BYU has led the series 28-16. The Cougars were throttled in a 48-24 defeat against the Utes.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Utah
It was the largest margin of victory since 2004 when the Cougars lost to the Utes 52-21. The rivalry is known for close, exciting finishes. Since 1993, the margin of victory has been seven points or less in all but three games. At stake is the MWC championship, Utah's winning streak (longest in the nation), and a BCS Bowl berth.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Game summaries, Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona
BYU became bowl eligible by finishing the season with a strong 10-2 record. On December 7, the Cougars were officially invited to the Las Vegas Bowl for the fourth consecutive year. On December 20, 2008, BYU played the Arizona Wildcats who finished fifth in the Pac-10 conference with a 7-5 record. The Cougars lost the game, 31-21, to finish the season with a 10-3 record.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Coaching and player changes
Jaime Hill was promoted to defensive coordinator on January 10. Prior to this, Bronco Mendenhall was acting as both head coach and defensive coordinator. Mendenhall has retained responsibility for play-calling during games.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Coaching and player changes
Vic So'oto moved from tight end to outside linebacker as a starter. Daniel Sorensen, a safety, also moved to outside linebacker.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Players
The 14 returning starters from last season are Max Hall (quarterback), Harvey Unga (tail back), Austin Collie and Michael Reed (wide receivers), Dennis Pitta (tight end), Travis Bright and Ray Feinga (offensive guards), Dallas Reynolds and David Oswald (offensive tackles), Jan Jorgensen and Ian Dulan (defensive ends), Russell Tialavea (nose tackle), David Nixon (linebacker), and Kellen Fowler (free safety). Bryce Mahuika also returns as a slot back and kick holder. Experienced lettermen starting this year include: Fui Vakapuna (fullback), Matt Bauman, Shawn Doman, and Coleby Clawson (linebackers), Brandon Howard (field corner), and David Tafuna (strong safety).


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Players, Injuries and Suspensions
Russell Tialavea (nose tackle) and David Tafuna (strong safety) are recovered from their injuries suffered during the 2007 preseason. Both Travis Bright (right guard) and Garret Reden (reserve left guard) have recovered from their broken leg injuries. Bright holds the title of the team's strongest man aka Strong Man On Campus (SMOC): he holds the football team's school record for bench press (540 pounds) from his workout this summer, and the team record for the hang clean lift (434 pounds).


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Players, Injuries and Suspensions
Terrance Hooks, a reserve inside linebacker, tore his patella tendon during Spring practice and underwent surgery the following day. He has missed most of the 2008 season.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Players, Injuries and Suspensions
In late spring, senior fullback Manase Tonga was ruled to be academically ineligible for the 2008 season, and was suspended from school. Tonga may re-apply for admission in October for the 2009 Winter Semester.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Players, Injuries and Suspensions
Just prior to Fall Camp Grant Nelson, a backup for outside linebacker behind Vic So'oto, had two surgeries related to kidney problems and will miss the 2008 season. Austin Collie, starting wide receiver, had limited participation in Fall Camp while recovering from a stress facture in his lower leg. Matt Bauman, starting inside linebacker, missed the beginning of camp while he recovered from a foot injury suffered in a scooter accident.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Players, Injuries and Suspensions
Projected starting center, Tom Sorensen, had limited participation in camp with a shoulder problem. After attempting a moderate treatment, he opted for surgery and will miss 4 to 6 weeks to recover.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Players, Injuries and Suspensions
Dan Van Sweden, reserve inside linebacker, broke his leg during camp and will be out 8 to 10 weeks.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Players, Injuries and Suspensions
In the third week of camp, Kelly Bills, reserve fullback, quit as a player after suffering his fourth concussion, but was enthused to stay on as a graduate assistant for the team.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Players, Injuries and Suspensions
Starting fullback, Fui Vakapuna, missed the first game against Northern Iowa due to an academic issue which he resolved that week.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Players, Injuries and Suspensions
Vic So'oto, starting outside linebacker, broke his foot in the first half in the game against Washington and is expected to be out for about 5 to 8 weeks.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Players, Injuries and Suspensions
Michael Reed, starting wide receiver, injured his knee in the Wyoming game and was out for 3 weeks before returning for the New Mexico game.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Players, Injuries and Suspensions
G. Pittman became academically ineligible under team rules about mid-season and chose to transfer to Washington State.


2008 BYU Cougars football team, Players, Injuries and Suspensions
Scott Johnson suffered an unlikely double groin tear in the Colorado State game and was out for the rest of the season.