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!