Illini Football: Where was LeShoure on the final series ...

Last post by Dan 13 minutes ago. What is going on with Alex Legion? Last post by OrangeFever 13 minutes ago. An appropriate ending for Illinois football. Last post by OrangeFever 27 minutes ago. What Recruits Attended Boise State game? ...

Open Choke: College Football!

Boise State whooping up on the 1357th ranked team to land undefeated. Of course they did beat a then 16th ranked Oregon (now 6th ranked) in the first game of the season. Their closest spread? 7 points against Tulsa. ...

My AP top-25 football poll: Week 14 | College Hotline

Iowa broken up, and TCU v. Boise State as well: with Georgia Tech v. Boise State and TCU v. Iowa. Best scene of the entire college season: Tebow crying. So sick of all his hype â€" the most over-rated player in college football history. ...

Nate in Nashville: 2009 College Football Playoff Scenarios

Alabama vs. West Virginia Ohio State vs. Georgia Tech Florida vs. Virginia Tech Cincinnati vs. Penn State Texas vs. BYU Oregon vs. Iowa TCU vs. Oregon State Boise State vs. LSU. Posted by Nate Rau at 8:52 AM. Labels: college football ...

Memphis Lagniappe: Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football ...

(11) Penn State at (6) Boise State (14) Central Michigan at (3) TCU (10) Iowa at (7) Ohio State (15) East Carolina at (2) Texas Round 2 (8) Oregon vs (1) Alabama (5) Florida vs (4) Cincinnati (6) Boise State vs (3) TCU ...

First game jitters?

Or, perhaps a bit of inexperience on both offensive and defensive line?

Against Idaho State the Broncos were inconsistent, but at times did show some of the promise we heard about with the pre-season hype. From the veteran-like play of the red-shirt freshman quarterback Kellen Moore, to the goal-line stand by the defense after giving up way too many rushing yards to a lesser team, some of the worry has been abated. But, not all of it.

Who knows? We may find out that Idaho State's running back will lead the nation in FCS rushing yards by the end of the season. Or, if not, hopefully the Bronco 'D' will iron out a few bugs prior to playing a really good rushing team.

It's very difficult to do any kind of definitive analysis after an initial so-so outing against a team that is really not in your league. If the potential blowout of 70-0 had occurred, it could be argued that the team looks really, really good. A 49-7 outing, against an unknown team, knowing that coach Chris Peterson cares not about the score - well, it's nearly impossible to judge.

High points

Quarterback Kellen Moore, Kellen Moore, Kellen Moore
Receiver Titus Young (but he desperately needs to STOP fumbling)
The no-huddle offense (looks fun, but needs more oiling)
The goal line stand by the defense
Jeron Johnson's sledgehammer-like hits
My nephew's buddy, tight-end Tyler Shoemaker
The 32,000+ crowd (woo-hoo, a new, but soon to be broken, record)
Watching the new Skyclub crowd squinting to see the field :)
Did I mention... quarterback Kellen Moore?

More later...

Wow...

First, let me say congratulations West Virginia. After losing to Boise State last year, I figured there would be no way Oklahoma loses this year. So -- just wow...

Well, the WAC pretty much sucked in the Bowls this year. Nevada started out by getting blown out by middle-of-the-pack MWC team. Then BSU loses a close one to a middle-of-the-pack CUSA team. Fresno State brightened things up a bit by beating a middle-of-the-pack ACC team (way to go Bulldogs!). Finally, Hawaii embarrased us all by never really showing up against a very, very good Georgia team. Last year we went 3-1 in Bowls (with the 1 loss hinging on a pretty crappy call). This year; 1-3. Yucko.

On the Blue Turf Board a former, yet familiar Georgia poster made some comparisons between the 2007 Hawaii team vs. the 2005 Boise State team. In his opinion, the '05 Broncos were much further ahead than the '07 Warriors. Can't say I disagree with him. Still can't figure out why the '07 Broncos couldn't beat the Warriors - it still seems somewhat surreal.

Ryan Clady's leaving for the NFL a year early. Which leaves Boise State with only 1 offensive line starter next year returning from this year's team. Not the greatest situation, especially when we yet again have to break in a new quarterback while playing Oregon on the road early in the season. But, in Ryan's defense, why take a chance on injury next year when he is projected to go fairly early in the first round of the draft? Seems pretty much like a no-brainer to me.

Others exploring the NFL option - running back Ian Johnson and defensive back Orlando Scandrick. I doubt either are ready and would not go very high in the draft - if at all. So, at this point I'm not too concerned about them.

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.