Hawaii Bowl Thoughts

I really haven't been avoiding posting here... I promise. I was just real busy at Christmas time (what with a family gathering and the Bowl at our house, followed by other family events pre- and post-Christmas, and then a couple days with an apparent stomach flu). Now that things have slowed down a bit, I'm back.

So, what worried me the most leading up to the game came true. The boys did not take care of the "rock" in Hawaii. East Carolina, on the other hand, was turnover-free for most of the year, but turnover-greedy when it came to their competition. So, the tale of the tape is - the Broncos lost a squeaker.

Now, I'm not one to belittle the team or competition. Fact is, the Pirates did what pirates do - pillage and plunder. The Broncos were just not ready for East Carolina's speed and athleticism (that Chris Johnson is phenomenal), and the Pirates were all-to-ready to prove themselves. We saw the "real" Broncos start to emerge in the second half, but one half of football just doesn't cut it.

I don't think the coaches are to blame. Knowing this coaching staff, I'm sure how dangerous East Carolina could be was drummed into the players' heads for an entire week. I'm just not sure how much the players really bought into it.

So, on to next year. The positives about this year are many. The team, as a whole, was fairly young, and many of them learned a heck of a lot this year. A loss in the final game of the season will leave the kind of taste in their mouths that should lead to extra hard work in the months to come. The last time it happened - 2005 - it lead to a far greater team effort in 2006 and eventually a big win in the Fiesta Bowl. Hopefully, history does repeat itself.

Stay tuned for more interesting tidbits during the approaching off season.

+14?

That's East Carolina's turnover margin for the 2007 season (so far). +14! Man, that number is just mind-boggling.

While statistically the Boise State vs. East Carolina is a complete mismatch in the Bronco's favor (somewhat skewed because of strength of schedule), the number +14(!) in the turnover margin column has me a bit worried. That number, more than anything else, can be the "great equalizer".

For instance, in the past four seasons Boise State has had a single "less than stellar" season (if you call an 8-4 record less than stellar). In 2005. That particular year we lost the turnover battle for the season (with six of those turnovers coming in the first half of the Georgia game - ugh). Every other year we have been in the plus category - and in every one of those years our season performance has been somewhat more than stellar.

I just hope the team is really, really concentrating on holding onto the rock!

Game plan, game plan, game plan

One observation regarding the Broncos loss in Hawaii revolves around their offensive plan for that game. It seems like the "run it up the gut" philosophy can, when other things are fairly equal, backfire terribly. Looking back on this season it seems the Broncos attained their greatest successes when they game-planned "pass first, then run". Put defenses back on their heels a bit, and then the running backs can run rough-shod over them.

Of course, our coaching staff is notorious for finding and exploiting an opponent's weakness - I have faith they will do the same against East Carolina (a fairly good defensive team though not the best we've faced this season).

Coaching Rumors

Well, it seems someone in L.A. really wants a coach from the WAC. First, the target was Coach Petersen. After he made it clear in public he was NOT interested, the rumors started about June Jones. Since both Coach Pete and JJ say they have never talked to anyone about the UCLA job, you have to really wonder what's up in LA LA land.

One apparently confirmed rumor says that Bobby Petrino will leave the Atlanta Falcons and take over the reigns vacated by ex-BSU coach Houston Nutt (boy) who is now at Ole Miss. I guess Bobby decided the NFL is not what he thought it would be - a sentiment apparently shared by former BSU coach Dirk Koetter (no plans announced yet). Ah, this coaching carousel is fun!

2007 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl

Well, the bowl selections are in, and the Broncos are headed back to the Islands to play the East Carolina University Pirates. It's not the first time we've played a Carolina team, but I do believe it's the first time we will play any "Pirates". My first choice would have been the Las Vegas Bowl against BYU (even though I shudder when thinking about putting up with some of those Zoobie fans for a month), but the Pac-10 miraculously provided a bowl eligible UCLA team.

Hawaii got their wish, and are matched up against a tough Georgia team in the BCS Sugar Bowl. I wish them well.

Fresno is returning to the Blue to play a so-so Georgia Tech team in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl. That game (which I will be attending - Go Bulldogs!) could prove interesting. I'm not dissing GT (much), but going into a bowl with an interim coach against a team that almost all of the crowd will be cheering for might be a bit much. If Fresno brings the team that dismantled Kansas State, then GT will have a long day. If Fresno brings the team that barely beat Utah State, then it might go the other way. In the end, though, I think Fresno will win.

Nevada, being just barely bowl eligible (by creaming LaTech last weekend - go figure) is relegated to the New Mexico Bowl again New Mexico. If you go strictly by their performances against common opponents, you have to give a slight edge to New Mexico. Nevada, however, is an enigma. You just never know which Wolf Pack team is showing up to play.

Spoiled brats?

Since this is my blog (my forum), I can express any opinion I want. And my current opinion is that many Bronco fans have become spoiled brats. The dismay and bitching I've read in numerous posts today is absolutely mind-boggling.

Look, people. Facing a decent ECU team at a neutral site vs. facing a so-so BCS team at home is pretty much a wash. I figure we would have been heavy favorites against GT in the H-Bowl, and all we'd hear about for the next several weeks is how we can only beat BCS teams at home. At least beating ECU at a neutral site will not have those negative connotations, even though we will be favored there as well. Beating GT at home would, for the most part, just be considered "par for the course".

Plus, the Hawaii Bowl should provide better overall national exposure.

So, quit whining.

Congrats (Again) Hawaii Warriors! Suger Bowl Bound!!

Whew, I was a bit worried during the first quarter of the Warriors game with the Huskies. I was afraid that the old "let down" syndrome set in after they defeated Boise State. It happened to Fresno in 2005, and it looked like it would happen to Hawaii in 2007. Fortunately, the players dug down deep and got it done.

So, as of right now, it looks like it will be Hawaii vs. Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. As far as Boise State going bowling, the team has requested a return to the islands (Hawaii Bowl), where I'm sure they want to get the bitter taste out of their mouths. Their opponent would be East Carolina of Conference USA, a team that might be a lot better than their record indicates.

Still possible - the Las Vegas Bowl vs. ranked BYU, and the Humanitarian Bowl vs. Georgia Tech or Maryland. We will know for sure this evening. But, at this point, it looks 99% certain it's the Hawaii Bowl.

So, is that the best bowl for BSU to play in? Hard to say. The best, of course, would be a BCS bowl, but that's out of the picture. Next best, I think, would be a BCS team away from home, like the Independence bowl. A ranked BYU away from home would be good too. Personally, I don't think playing a 6-6 BCS team at home in the H-Bowl is any better, as far as perceptions go, than playing a non-AQ (mid-major) team on the road.

Selfishly, as a die-hard season ticket holder, I would like to see the team play at home again. But, it's NOT up to me - it should be up to the team. And, I can sympathize with them. They would like to take another trip, and I'm sure they badly want to win in Hawaii. It would not erase the loss to Hawaii, but it would help get rifd ot that bitter taste.