Paper Broncos? Sure seems that way.
It's recently become a rite of fall. Every year it happens. You can count on it. Somebody from the mainstream media is going to say that Boise State can compete with the other top teams in the country.
This time it is Mark Beech of Sports Illustrated. He thinks the Broncos have a chance to beat Oklahoma in Fiesta Bowl Jr. this January.
Don't bet on it. Every time Boise State steps out of the weak Western Athletic Conference it is reminded that it is still a guppy on the college football food chain.
In 2002, the Broncos lost one game and finished 12-1 and ranked 15th in the Associated Press poll. But their sole defeat — a 41-14 blowout at the hands of Arkansas — came against an average team from a power conference. Still, everybody bought into the fact that Boise State should be mentioned in the same breath as some of the best programs in the nation. Flash forward to 2005 and the Broncos were once again being touted as a legitimate contender before the season began. They were coming off an 11-1 season and were ranked No. 18 before they took a little trip to Georgia.
In Athens, the Bulldogs not only blasted the Broncos 48-13; they also destroyed the foundation for the argument that Boise State could hold its own against elite competition. Of course, that had been proven long ago.
Boise State has only lost seven times in the last four years. But here's the funny thing: until this year, the Broncos had defeated only two teams affiliated with a Bowl Championship Series conference — Iowa State and Oregon State. This year, the Broncos blew out the Beavers again, dominating a 9-4 Oregon State team ranked 24th in the nation that world defeat Southern California later in the year. Not bad, but it should also be noted that they barely outlasted San Jose State 23-20.
Boise State may be fun to watch with its high-flying offense moving up and down a blue field. Certainly, college football's favorite outpost makes for a good story. But the Broncos have yet to prove they can compete with the heavyweights. It's time the so-called pundits stop believing that they can. In the end, there is an old saying from Tennessee that sums up the situation pretty well: Fool Mark Beech once...shame on Boise State. Fool Mark Beech twice...shame on Mark Beech.
Photo Source: Boise State University athletics
This time it is Mark Beech of Sports Illustrated. He thinks the Broncos have a chance to beat Oklahoma in Fiesta Bowl Jr. this January.
Don't bet on it. Every time Boise State steps out of the weak Western Athletic Conference it is reminded that it is still a guppy on the college football food chain.
In 2002, the Broncos lost one game and finished 12-1 and ranked 15th in the Associated Press poll. But their sole defeat — a 41-14 blowout at the hands of Arkansas — came against an average team from a power conference. Still, everybody bought into the fact that Boise State should be mentioned in the same breath as some of the best programs in the nation. Flash forward to 2005 and the Broncos were once again being touted as a legitimate contender before the season began. They were coming off an 11-1 season and were ranked No. 18 before they took a little trip to Georgia.
In Athens, the Bulldogs not only blasted the Broncos 48-13; they also destroyed the foundation for the argument that Boise State could hold its own against elite competition. Of course, that had been proven long ago.
Boise State has only lost seven times in the last four years. But here's the funny thing: until this year, the Broncos had defeated only two teams affiliated with a Bowl Championship Series conference — Iowa State and Oregon State. This year, the Broncos blew out the Beavers again, dominating a 9-4 Oregon State team ranked 24th in the nation that world defeat Southern California later in the year. Not bad, but it should also be noted that they barely outlasted San Jose State 23-20.
Boise State may be fun to watch with its high-flying offense moving up and down a blue field. Certainly, college football's favorite outpost makes for a good story. But the Broncos have yet to prove they can compete with the heavyweights. It's time the so-called pundits stop believing that they can. In the end, there is an old saying from Tennessee that sums up the situation pretty well: Fool Mark Beech once...shame on Boise State. Fool Mark Beech twice...shame on Mark Beech.
Photo Source: Boise State University athletics
posted by Rainer Sabin @ 1:26 AM
4 Comments:
At 3:11 PM EST,
Anonymous said…
If the Broncos can't play and hang with big teams, but blow out the little guys, how is their program supposed to grow and prosper? They're expanding their stadium, and getting ready to try to step up a tier in Division 1A. Who would you rather they play? They went 12-0, who would you have them play? Some other mid-major? I think it's good that they're going to play Oklahoma, because they have to start somewhere.
No hate, just curious.
At 4:25 PM EST,
Steve Bernard said…
I'll take a stab at your question to help add to the conversation, though I encourage Rainer to respond as well.
I think Boise State is stuck betwen the proverbial rock and hard place. In D-IA football there aren't many "mid-majors" to use the term thrown around everywhere by college hoops experts. Boise State is like those mid-majors in college hoops. No top-tier program is willing to go to their house to play because they fear a loss.
With only a 12-game season, each game is magnified compared to college basketball so once loss can really kill you (especially a top-25 team). That makes top teams even less likely to consider a Boise State at home or on the road.
So what does Boise State do? They have to try and schedule two games against BCS teams each year, even if it means going on the road for more games than they'd like. Even on the road, they are going to probably end up playing mid-level BCS squads, like Kansas, Indiana or Arizona. Maybe they can get teams return the favor once in a while as well - a 2-for-1 deal or something like that.
Wins over mediocre teams from the BCS will count more in the minds of voters and probably help them in the computer polls.
I know this isn't ideal for a team that has a great home-field advantage, but if they want to be similar to say a Gonzaga is in college hoops, they need to start with a couple of road games against middling BCS-conference teams.
At 5:06 PM EST,
Rainer Sabin said…
All good points Steve. In an effort to answer Jimmy's question, I don't begrudge the fact the Broncos are playing in a BCS game. I just want them to beat a big-time opponent or two before the media proclaim that they have, in fact, arrived.
Boise State finds itself in an unenviable position as a mid-major that has received a lot of attention. Like Steve said, big programs are not going to idaho to play the Broncos. There is too much risk. But Boise State does have a chance to prove the doubters wrong when it plays Oklahoma on a neutral field.
We'll soon found out if it is worthy of all this praise.
At 1:11 AM EST,
Anonymous said…
hahaha... any predictions for this year?
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