Andy Staples is way off base (for the most part)

It seems that recently my posts have been reactions to different articles or pieces I see on si.com. Today will be no different. After coming across THIS MESS OF A STORY on the previously mentioned website, I was rubbed the wrong way. I bristled a little bit when I read what Andy Staples is inferring. Just read it before we go one here. I'll wait...

Ready? OK. I agree with some of what he says. Well, I guess not really what he says but the notion that indeed the attitude around Boise State football has changed, I just not to the degree that he says, is my argument. It is not a night and day change that just magically took place with one comment from the University president. It seems like BSU skipped a step or missed something along the way. It took so incredibly long and a billion dollar effort over years of successful football seasons for the Broncos to get any sort of respect from the national media (ESPN), and even when they did it was very little and laced with hints of skepticism and dislike. Just read most of the pieces after the Fiesta Bowl win over TCU last January. But now all of the sudden Boise State goes from no/little respect to being one of the pompous, stuck up big boys of college football? No, Mr. Staples, you are mistaken. Here is his quote that I really disagree with and illustrates my point in this paragraph;

"Could it be that you Broncos, who now have one of the nation's best programs, have turned into the same kind of snobs you used to despise? It's quite a bit different when the cleat is on the other foot, isn't it?" (bold added by me to emphasize the important part of the quote)

Again, a step or two (or more) were missed in Boise State's progression in the college football world. Hey Staples, it's either one way or the other, not both. Boise State is either one of the football powerhouses to be feared and respected across the nation, with some cockiness and swagger thrown in there, or it is a cute, little program that can rally the troops enough to knock off a big boy every now and then. Which is it?

Are they not allowed to feel good about their accomplishments and at the same time move on to bigger and better things? That is called a double standard that you are employing, Mr. Staples. At the same time, how can you base an article that calls out and belittles an entire program and fan base because of a quote from one man? Could it be that Bob Kustra really feels like that and that the rest of the Bronco Nation may not agree? Heck, as far as I've heard most people want the rivalry to continue as is. So Andy Staples, let's not jump the gun so hastily and paint with such a broad stroke.

Let's get to the comments from Bob Kustra that led up to this article from Staples. I have already mentioned them in a previous post, but let me sum it up simply; Idaho's fan base is a bunch of inebriated children that don't respect Boise State. Why should the Broncos have to go up there and play the Vandals ever again, or even at Bronco Stadium for that matter? That is the gist of what Kustra said and Andy Staples took it and ran with it. Here is his main point;

"You Broncos claim to want to play big-time opponents. Then use the Vandals to practice for the inebriated, less-than-civil fans you'll see at better stadiums across the country."

There are two points to handle in this quote. The first one is this: It is true that Boise State has had a hard time finding opponents to play that are of a decent caliber to boost their strength of schedule. Now he claims that the Broncos are doing to the Vandals the same thing that big time BCS schools have been doing to the Broncos for years; not playing them because of the smaller market and dollar amount involved in making the trip. There is a difference, Mr. Staples. Let me lay it out to you; Boise State has no reason or purpose to go and play up in Moscow after they join the Mountain West. The Kibbie Dome is tiny, Idaho offers no competitive value, and their fans are ridiculously violent and out of control. When big schools don't want to come and play Boise State, it is because they are scared of losing and messing up their record for the season. See the difference? Why go up there every other year only to leave with another 63 to 25 smash-job under their belts? What does that prove? What is there to gain? The second point is that there is heckling and drunk fans at every stadium in the nation, so why did Kustra call out Idaho fans? To quote Derek Zoolander, let me answer your question with another question; Andy Staples, have you ever been to a BSU/Idaho game? It gets really bad and out of control from both sides. It's called an in state rivalry, maybe you've heard of one of those. It is not the same as Boise State going to play Nebraska. It could develop into a similar loathing and distaste for one another if the Broncos and Cornhuskers played each other for 40 years in a row, which is as long as the Gem State rivalry has been going on. Big difference there.

Staples tries to make the claim that the Broncos just might be afraid of what the Vandals are brewing up there after a successful season. He bases that off of a quote that Idaho coach Robb Akey said in humor. You know, like as a joke. While Idaho may establish some sort of consistency football-wise (other than sucking really bad every year), they will never be even close to what Boise State has become and still will become. There are two main reasons for that; The city of Moscow is in the middle of nowhere in northern Idaho and is incredibly difficult to get to. For years Idaho's claim was that they were the Harvard of the west academically. That is not the case anymore. Between BSU and Idaho, which school has lost scholarships from the NCAA for not meeting academic standards on the football team? I'll give you a clue, it's not Boise State. So they can't attract big time recruits, or students for that matter, due to these facts. So the fear factor of playing Idaho does not exist in the Broncos' minds.

Again, I agree that there has been a change in attitude in Boise State football and yes, that does include some cockiness and swagger. It is well deserved after two BCS Bowl wins in 4 years and a consistent top 25 or even top 15 ranking to boot. The Broncos, however, have not become the thing that they despise, as Andy Staples claims. The chip on the shoulder will remain as the Broncos continue to climb the ladder towards college football glory and prestige, and they will keep that swagger and pride as well. They deserve it. Even you can admit that, Andy Staples.