Short, but Awesome

Citizen McClure

Scene:

Vista, California. Stefan McClure stands behind a microphone, ready to raise his voice to the heavens and announce which school and therefore which football program will be graced with his presence and immense talent. As the moment of truth nears, McClure reflects on everything he has been through to get to this point...

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"At the ripe age of 5...months, my father would toss me a Nerf football as I laid in my crib. I had never felt something come to me so naturally as did my skills at catching the ball. The sport was in my blood."

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"While playing Pop Warner football, I was the quarterback. Why? Because at that age the best athlete is the quarterback. I was the best athlete, so naturally I played quarterback. Watch me juke the jock-strap off of this 6-year-old!" (Takes off and humiliates 6-year-old.)

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"Growing up in Vista has been great for me. I get to show everyone how awesome at football I am. There are so many people around here to see me. Maybe I should think about what college I will go to. After all, there will be so many of them that will offer me a scholarship!"

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"Holy crap! I'm back-peddling faster than this fool can run! Damn I'm good at football!"
(Snatches an interception from the arms of a would-be receiver and races down the sideline for a touchdown.)

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One year later...

(Continues intercepting passes from far inferior receivers and quarterbacks and racing down sidelines for touchdowns.)

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(Reads recruiting ranking on rivals.com.)
"Oh man! Only four stars! I got jipped!"

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"I was right. There are a lot of colleges that want me to come play for them. There have been hundreds of coaches in my living room, pleading for me to join their team. There would have been more, but I got screwed out of my fifth star by those recruiting rankings! Haters..."

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"Alright! At the US Army All-American Bowl!"
(Snatches an interception and races down the sideline for an almost touchdown.)
"Damn! We still lost!"

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(Visits schools that are recruiting him. On trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan, his left eyelid freezes shut.)
"Holy crap it's cold here! -5 degrees and snow flurries just aren't for me! Sorry Brady Hoke!"
(Bolts for airport as soon as he can, scratching Michigan off of list while in transit.)

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"I need to make a decision. My self-serving press conference/announcement is tomorrow morning. I didn't get a normal 'in-home' visit with Cal coaches. Heck, I didn't even take an official visit to Berkeley. That Coach Petersen from Boise State is the nicest guy I have ever met, but just being on campus at Cal, getting that feel in my heart where I know that could be the place, that's mainly why I feel that it is the place for me. I feel like I can go help contribute to what they're doing the next couple years. I would really like to get a really expensive California education for free! Who cares that I could start as a true freshman at Boise State, play in BCS Bowl Games, and get a great education at the same time. What about UCLA? Rick Neuheisel is kinda' creepy up there (shutters). It's settled then. To Berkeley I go. Besides, I like hemp-smoking hippies who live in trees!"

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(Mind snaps back to the present, the microphone is ready.)
"I'm going to be a California Golden Bear! I have something to offer and that was one of the main reasons I picked them. Plus, you can't pass up the education. It's really the depth chart, the schooling, it's a good conference with tough games every week and it's far away from home, but still close enough that my parents will be able to make some home games."

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(Snatches an interception from the arms of a would-be Oregon receiver and races down the sideline for a touchdown.)

"Too bad our offense sucks."

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The not-so-distant future...
(McClure and the rest of the Golden Bears finish yet another 5-7 season in the most underwhelming, underachieving fashion.)
"Hey, at least we almost beat Oregon..."
(Goes home and watches Boise State beat Texas in the 2013 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.)

Stefan McClure Chooses Cal, Decides Winning isn't That Much Fun

Four-Star cornerback Stefan McClure (Vista, CA/Vista High School) has decided that he will take his talents to Berkeley and play for Jeff Tedford and the Golden Bears. He had narrowed his choices down to Cal, UCLA, and Boise State. You all may remember McClure from the Under Armour All-American game two weeks ago where he intercepted a pass and took it deep into East territory. It was a play that had Bronco fans everywhere salivating in the most covetous and hopeful way. Yet it wasn't meant to be.

I'm actually surprised that he didn't pick UCLA. It was reported that McClure had been in almost constant contact with Bruin coach Rick Neuheisel. But the school up North stole him away from the under-achieving graps of "that other team in Los Angeles." It is a great pick up for Cal. McClure will join an already loaded defense that looks to return to Pac-12 title contention (remember, they were the only team to take it to Oregon during the regular season).

Now where does this leave Boise State? It is certain that Coach Pete and his staff will be working overtime to try and get a cornerback. Bakersfield High School product Mercy Maston has to be number one on their list. If that doesn't work out, Rahmel Dockery is still around, along with Justice Sarcedo. However, if Maston doesn't work out, don't be surprised if they go away from that position and pick up local product (and middle linebacker) Cody McCarthy from Bishop Kelly High School.

Let's sit on the edges of our seats in anticipation of what the Bronco coaching staff will come up with. Who knows, there may be a surprise recruit from out of nowhere that joins the team.

Mountain West Motives

As the Boise State Broncos get ready to make the switch to the (used to be better than the WAC) Mountain West Conference, the state of college football in the West remains in flux. MWC commissioner Craig Thompson and school representatives met in Las Vegas to make a decision on two things; if the conference will expand from 8 members to 10 and if TCU should visit The Blue for the lone conference match up between two of the nation's top non-AQ teams instead of the other way around, as was originally scheduled. Here's the catch; the Horned Frogs don't have a vote on either matter because they are leaving the conference in 2012.

It was decided that the league will stay at eight teams (sorry Utah State, San Jose State. You're welcome Idaho). Here's the deal; it doesn't mean very much. Remember last year around this time when Thompson announced that they would not be inviting Boise State and then two days later they back-peddled and extended their needy hand to the Broncos? All it signifies is that the MWC won't expand right now. Don't be surprised if that changes sometime in the next two days or next year.

The other item on the docket went the way of the Broncos. The representatives decided that TCU will visit Boise State in Boise next season. You have to feel bad for Horned Frog athletic director Chris del Conte. He was sitting there the whole time while the votes were cast and he could do absolutely nothing about it. Sucks to be him. Naturally, he was overly upset about it.

"I'm disappointed. We were told that they were going to be here at TCU and I'm disappointed for our fans, our community and I'm disappointed in the conference. We made an agreement that this was what it was going to be, and to switch it this late in the game leaves a bitter taste in your mouth."

You really can't blame him. Here is how the Mountain West explained their decision;

"The Board felt the change was in the best interest of the Mountain West Conference and would help address current and future scheduling concerns created by the new set of circumstances which stemmed from another change in membership."

In other words, any win that the Broncos get over ranked teams bolsters the Mountain West's status in their quest to gain automatic qualifying status in the BCS so let's give them the advantage over a departing TCU team. In other, other words, "TCU is kinda' screwing us so let's kinda' screw them back!"

It is of the upmost importance that an athletic conference do every thing it can to survive and strengthen itself in this unstable and constantly shifting college football world. The Mountain West is doing just that. The motives behind the schedule change decision may not be the most upright or ethical, but who can blame them?

Both del Conte and Thompson have valid points in this situation. So where does that leave us? In pretty much the same situation we were before. Call it a draw. As a Bronco fan, I am incredibly excited to have the Horned Frogs on The Blue next fall. Even with my move to Pocatello, you better believe that I will be at the game. TCU is renovating their stadium this year anyway, rendering a large portion of it useless during the football season. Bring on the Frogs and let the battle ensue. You know they will have a huge chip on their shoulder and they are going to have a better than average chance of winning, even with Boise State's incredible home winning streak on the line. Can it be football season yet, please!?!?

The Senior Bowl-Come Get the Best before it's Gone!

In this day and age of money-grubbing and excessive greed in sports, it is a breath of fresh air to see a group of athletes who understand the importance of an education and completing their college degrees. Such is the case when you look at what is going on down in Mobile, Alabama. The Senior Bowl showcases the graduating players who are attempting to work their way into the eyes and hearts of NFL scouts and onto a professional roster. This year's exposition will feature the two most productive and exciting wide receivers in Boise State history. "Faster than a lightning bolt" Titus Young and Austin "Sticky Hands" Pettis take to the field to try and impress.

According to reports, many people have become enamored with Titus;

"Boise State's Titus Young was great in and out of his breaks. He can drop his weight without having to gear down and is a savvy route runner. In fact, he's a confident route runner -- he knows what he's doing. He was very streaky catching the ball today, but we are going to keep a close eye on him on how he handles adversity and how he carries himself. There are times when he looks like he's the most confident player on the field and has a swagger, but then the second he dropped one pass, it seemed like he went into a shell."

On the other hand, Pettis has some work to do;

"Pettis does a good job of getting his head around when a pass is coming in, but his greatest liability Monday was his route running in drills. The receiver coach repeatedly corrected Pettis’s mistakes with his breaks, pointing out his tendency to round off his routes or tip off his break with his shoulder at the top of his routes. Pettis eventually showed improvement in this area, but a few minutes later he was getting repeated coaching on his run blocking. Pettis needs to work on his hand placement, his initial punch and using his legs to sustain blocks. Although known for his ability to adjust to the errant throw, he had a pass thrown somewhat low and behind him bounce off his hands. This was not a standout day for Pettis."

That is great to hear about Young, and at the same time a little disappointing about Pettis. There is no arguing that the Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game are important for scouts to see many of these players in person, and some for the first time. However, the decision to draft someone should involve more than just dissecting an athlete's every move over a period of 6 days. This phrase breeds contempt and loathing in the minds of many people (when said in the same breath as BCS), but it is important to look at their "body of work."

Pettis and Young have done nothing but tear up opposing defenses since they were freshman. It even got to the point during their senior season that they were literally unstoppable. Game film and pure stats should be something that is taken into account by these scouts, possibly even more than how the kids perform during that one pressure-filled week in humid Alabama.

We all know that the Senior Bowl Weigh In and the Combine is the definition of a meat market. Seriously. Every single player is weighed, measured, tested (for body fat, etc) and picked over with a fine-tooth comb for any imperfections or "fudging" that may have taken place on college rosters. Their height is measured to the 1/8th of an inch and their weight to a fraction of a pound. If you don't have the "NFL Body," you are automatically looked at and thought of differently, regardless of skill level. Think about it, the scouts will poke, prod, touch, weigh, measure, and run any other test available on these players over and over again. It's like picking out a choice specimen. If that's not the definition of a meat market, I don't know what is.

It is extremely tough to make an NFL roster and even more difficult to keep your spot on one. With as productive as Titus and Austin have been at Boise State, as well as many other players from different schools, they should be able to make the cut and be playing on Sundays next season. It's just too bad they have to go through the physical and mental gauntlet of NFL scouts to prove their worth.

Good News, Relocation Edition

Well it has happened. Bronco Chase is moving up in the world. As of today, Monday, January 24, 2011, I have been hired by the Idaho State Journal in Pocatello to be the sports page designer and eventually a writer. I am really excited to begin a career doing exactly what I want to be doing. The sports editor, Jay Heater, has plenty of experience both in writing and reporting. There is a lot that I can learn from him, which is something that I am really looking forward to accomplishing.


A lot of times in the journalism industry it is hard to get your foot in the door. But once you do, if you are talented and ambitious, there are plenty of opportunities to move up. I hope to be able to do just that.



As I move my family to Eastern Idaho (with my extensive Boise State Bronco wardrobe in tow), I will ponder and appreciate the blessing that this new opportunity is in my life. At the same time, I will be covering and reporting everything Idaho State Bengal-related. We will see what that does for me. I am excited to spend many evenings roaming the sidelines of football and basketball games, both high school and college. Let's go Bengals?!


This is the stadium where the games are played. It is called Holt Arena. At least it's better than that barn up in Moscow!


In terms of the blog and what that will mean for posts, I am not sure what it means. It is still up in the air. Bronco Chase may have to shut down entirely for the time being, or I will produce fewer posts that come out only when things are most important. It will all be figured out in no time. Until then, enjoy this very, very, crude/poorly done head shot of me that will appear in the Idaho State Journal next to a column of mine at one point or another (well, a better, more professional head shot will be printed).


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In other news, the East-West Shrine Game took place on Saturday and four Boise State players were involved; Ryan Winterswyk, Winston Venable, Jeron Johnson, and Brandyn Thompson. Venable stole the show and impressed many people. I would love to see him blowing someone up on the NFL level. Oh, and some fool from Idaho played.

Anyway, make sure you check back in and see what else Bronco Chase has in store.

Jadeveon Clowney is One Scary Dude

Check out this highlight video of South Pointe High School (Rock Hill, South Carolina) product Jadeveon Clowney terrorizing anybody and everybody. This kid is ridiculous. I have never seen someone dominate in such a way that has the quarterback peeing his pants before the ball is even snapped to him.

Do you understand why he is the number one rated recruit this year? Clowney has yet to decide where he is going to school, but he has narrowed the list down to Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami (FL), North Carolina, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas Tech, and USC. In other words, all of the huge, storied programs that only get blue chip recruits year after year. Is it too late for him to add Boise State to the list? Send Coach Pete to South Carolina!

The most impressive thing is how fast he gets off the line. The tackle is sitting there watching his quarterback is getting a face mask buried in his rib cage before he even has the chance to fully come out of his stance and block Clowney. Basically, he looks like a once in a generation man/beast/yeti/monster/terror/player that anybody would be happy to have. It will be interesting to see where he decides to "further his education."

Bill Hancock Craps the Bed, Again

As if we, the oppressed college football fans of the United States of America, weren't sick enough of the heinous BCS system and its atrocities, Bill Hancock (the chosen "protector" of the BCS) has opened up a HUGE can of worms and fueled the anti-BCS fire into a blaze of brimstone-like hate for his recent comments. Go ahead and read it for yourself here and draw your own conclusions and ideas from the pile of garbage that it is.

Before I read this, what I perceived as the pageantry and excitement of a bowl game was what made me not want to give up the BCS system. In fact, I absolutely loved it more than any normal person should (read this post and see for yourself). Now I find myself back-peddling faster than a cornerback trying to cover Titus Young. This has made me realize that being able to travel to Mobile, Alabama to see your team play the Ohio Bobcats in the papajohns.com bowl does not make up for them missing out on the chance to prove themselves on the field. Call me a flip-flopper if you want, but a guy is allowed to change his mind when new evidence finds its way to the forefront.

The thing that upsets me the most and is beyond ridiculous is Hancock's tone. "TCU is lucky that they were even able to play in the Rose Bowl" is what he is saying.

If a playoff was in college football, who would be the George Mason? What 12 seed would upset a 5 and find themselves face to face with an Oklahoma or an Auburn? The athletes would tell stories for years and glory in the sack they got on Cam Newton, the interception of a Darron Thomas pass, scoring a TD on LSU, or almost upsetting Ohio State. That is what makes college sports so great. We see it every year in basketball, but not in football. It's not even an arguable point that the BCS is screwing us out of the chance to find a true national champion. But beyond that, it's screwing these players out of chance to make memories and stories that will last in their family lore forever. Miami (OH) vs. Middle Tennessee State does not do it for them like Miami (OH) vs. MIami (FL) would.

The main reason why I like college football better than the NFL is the fact that most of these kids play for the love of the game, for the chance to make the big play, pull the upset, have a chance to compete for something of value and worth, and to have something to enjoy during the stressful college years. Unfortunately, Bill Hancock makes them play his way because he loves money.

The fact that he has to justify himself over and over again in such adamant, condescending ways clearly proves that the system is broken. Our complaints make for a good start, but it's not enough. Eventually the uprising will be too much that not even a few out-of-context and possibly fake quotes from coaches and players that Bill Hancock throws at us will save his money-grubbing system.

It makes me think of Family Guy when during role call at the signing of the Declaration of Independence we learn that John Hancock's name used to be John Footpenis. Thus we see that in fact, Bill Hancock is a giant dick, regardless of the term for male anatomy that is used in his name.

Bacon is Back!

As many of you may have already heard, Michael "Canadian Bacon" Atkinson is back on the football team! That is great news for those of you who enjoy seeing 6 foot tall, 327 pound defensive lineman getting down in a three-point stance in the offensive backfield, ready to blow up whatever fool decides to cross his path as he lead-blocks for Doug Martin. But really, it's just great to have him back on the team. Remember when Titus Young was suspended for violating team rules, but was graciously allowed back into the fold by Coach Pete later on? What came next was a final two years of record-shattering play from the fastest guy to ever grace Bronco Stadium with his presence. Here's to hoping that Bacon has had his "Titus" moment and never looks back. Also, let's pray that he gets to carry the ball next year. He will be needed on the line, clogging up the middle and inflicting copious amounts of pain on opposing running backs.


The concept of satire is one that eludes many people. Those that are good writers can craft a piece full of satire without being "self aware," or pointing out the fact that it is a satire. Andy Staples of si.com, whom I attempted to tear apart a few months back, has released an article that trumps just about every other satirical work in the history of that style. It's titled "Unique monikers add spice to college football recruiting trail" and it is hysterical! It makes you think of what other kind of great names in sports there are...


Finally, let's check in on Boise State's former offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin as he is now going full speed down in Austin. There is a lot of work to be done to resurrect a stagnant, ugly offense. Here is an article from "Barking Carnival" that goes into great detail to analyze what Harsin will bring to the Longhorns. It was written by Nickel Rover, which is probably a pen name. Either that or his parents really wanted him to write about football. Anyway, Harsin will do great at Texas. He will be missed in Boise, but it will work out perfectly for both sides.


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Update: KT Tuumalo, a linebacker recruit mentioned on yesterday's post, has decommitted from the Broncos and will be heading to Colorado. Good luck to him.

2011 Recruiting Class

Every year at this time there are countless high school seniors that make their final decision as to which college they will attend in the fall. Those who are unrelated to these seniors do not care where they go. That is unless the senior is a football recruit. In that case fans go crazy and over-analyze the mental happenings and workings of the kids' mind. We are all guilty. Not that there is anything wrong with rooting for your team, but these athletes are still children. With that said, let's take a look at who has committed to the Broncos and who still can (they will if they are smart!), all thanks to scout.com.

COMMITS:

Dillon Lukehart
Eagle High School, Eagle, ID
Running Back-6'0" 201 lbs

Jake Van Ginkel
Upland High School, Upland, CA
Kicker-6'0" 175 lbs

Adam Sheffield
Branham High School, San Jose, CA
Offensive Tackle-6'5" 300 lbs

Jamie Byrd
Pasco High School, Dade City, FL
Safety-6'0" 180 lbs

KT Tuumalo
Punahou School,Honolulu, HI
Outside Linebacker-6'2" 210 lbs

Hayden Plinke
Glencoe High School, Hillsboro, OR
Tight End-6'4" 220 lbs

Dextrell Simmons
Blinn College, Brenham, TX
Safety/Nickel-6'0" 210 lbs

Darian Thompson
Paraclete High School, Lancaster, CA
Safety-6'2" 175 lbs

Corey Bell
Capital High School, Boise, ID
Safety-5'11" 195 lbs

Marcus Henry
Bellevue High School, Bellevue, WA
Offensive Guard-6'3" 275 lbs

Eric Agbaroji
Midlothian High School, Midlothian, TX
Cornerback-6'0" 185 lbs

Blake Renaud
De La Salle High School, Concord, CA
Middle Linebacker-6'2" 230 lbs

Jay Ajayi
Liberty High School, Frisco, TX
Running Back-5'11" 175 lbs

Rees Odhiambo
Mansfield Legacy High School, Mansfield, TX
Offensive Guard-6'4" 298 lbs

Taylor Loffler
Kelowna Secondary, Kelowna, BC
Safety-6'4" 200 lbs

Jeff Worthy
Whittier Christian High School, La Habra, CA
Defensive Tackle-6'4" 270 lbs

Robert Ash
Cosumnes Oaks High School, Elk Grove, CA
Defensive End-6'3" 245 lbs

Dallas Burroughs
Rocky Mountain High School, Meridian, ID
Wide Receiver-5'10" 175 lbs

Samuel Ukwuachu
Pearland High School, Pearland, TX
Defensive End-6'5" 200 lbs

Jimmy Laughrea
Rocklin High School, Rocklin, CA
Quarterback-6'2" 180 lbs

Prospects:

Stefan McClure
Vista High School, Vista, CA
Cornerback-5'11" 175 lbs

Junior Pomee
Rancho Verde High School, Moreno Valley, CA
Tight End-6'3" 215 lbs

Paulay Asiata
St. Louis School, Honolulu, HI
Offensive Tackle-6'5" 290 lbs

Cody McCarthy
Bishop Kelly High School, Boise, ID
Middle Linebacker-6'0" 230 lbs

There are others on the prospect list (you can see for yourself here), but these four are the highest rated and most coveted. Boise State fans really want to see cornerback Stefan McClure playing on The Blue next year. He was in the High School All-American Game where he grabbed an interception and returned it deep into the East's territory. He is really talented and could take Brandyn Thompson's spot from day one. He is one of the "play now" guys. Let's hope the coaches can convince him of that and get him to Boise. As far as the committeds go, there are 20 of them so far, and it looks like a great class. There is a lot of talent making it's way to Boise State University. The one that has many people excited is Jay Ajayi. He has been tearing up record books down in Texas and will do the same on The Blue. The Broncos have their kicker in Jake Van Ginkel. This kid has a cannon for a leg. His presence and abilities will be much needed with the departure of Kyle Brotzman.

What are some of your opinions about these recruits? Who do you think will make an impact?

And Now for Something to Brighten the Day

I realized something yesterday. I was going over my last few posts and realized how negative they were. Whether it was dissecting a cheating and unfair college football system or putting parents who yell at referees in their place, there has not been a lot of "happy" coming from Bronco Chase lately. So, in honor of that, I wish to brighten things up a little bit and attempt to make myself as well as all of you feel really good.
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Victory in Silence

As Ken Anderson walked off the court, he knew that he had been part of a magical ride where him and his teammates had made history, accomplishing something that had never been done before. His United States basketball team had won the gold medal at the Olympic games held in Christchurch, New Zealand. Standing at 6'10", 250 pounds, Anderson was the clear vocal and physical leader of his squad. Yet, even with all that they had achieved, he knew that their victory would not get as much recognition as would those done by other, more famous teams. You see, Ken Anderson and the rest of his 1989 squad, were all deaf.

Anderson grew up in the small, sleepy town of Gooding, Idaho. The year was 1965 and there was not much to be excited about in that part of Southern Idaho. In fact, there hadn't been for a while. But as the boy grew up, there were two things about him that had his parents and the rest of the community very curious. One, he was incredibly tall for his age. As a freshman in high school, he was 6'7". Two, he was unable to hear out of either ear, something that caused a great deal of strife and frustration for himself and his family.

Parenting a deaf child is something that no one is prepared for. It is unexpected. Fortunately for the Anderson's, aide was close by. As strange as it sounds, in Gooding, the State of Idaho had opened an expansive school designed specifically for deaf and blind children. It had been in service since 1906 (with many upgrades and new buildings since then, of course), and Anderson enrolled. At ISDB (Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind), he fit in and was able to catch up to the academic level of the other students very quickly. He, in fact, was a very smart kid and had learned American Sign Language at a young age. This specialized school allowed him to be taught in sign language. All was well for him and his family.

Being intelligent was not the only thing that he had going for him. By his freshman year Anderson had found that when he was out on the basketball court, he was head and shoulders above everybody, both in terms of his stature and his ability to play. People started noticing as well. All eyes were on him while in his first two years he guided his high school team (known as the ISDB Raptors) to a level off success that the academy had never seen before. People from all over Idaho were discussing Anderson's greatness.

When his junior year rolled around, he felt comfortable enough with his academics to transfer to a standard school. Now at a staggering 6'10", Anderson enrolled as a Gooding Senator where he not only continued to raise his level of academia, but excelled even higher in the sport that he loved. His team rose to become the top ranked squad, undefeated, until the first game of the state tournament when he unfortunately broke his ankle. During his senior year, the Senators were number one in the state yet again. He scored an average of over 30 points a game as his team dominated all competition. Anderson earned a scholarship from Ricks College in nearby Rexburg, Idaho. The boy who at one point, seemed like he had nothing going for him, was now a touted college basketball recruit.

While at Ricks, Anderson led the Vikings to the Junior College National Championships in Hutchison, Kansas. Along the way, they beat the College of Southern Idaho Eagles, stopping their run of 18 straight junior college titles. They finished in 6th place out of 16 teams that year. At the height of his amateur career, he decided to serve a full-time, two year mission for his church.

in 1989, a while after Anderson returned, he enrolled at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. To quote their mission statement, "Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English." It was the perfect place for him to be. He led the Bison to two championships in the Metropolitan Washington Conference. At that time his amazing college career was over, but his journey was still in its prime.

Both during and after school, Anderson played basketball for the American Athletic Association of the Deaf (AAAD), where he was a perennial league all star. He averaged 12 rebounds per game with the AAAD, finishing with 443 of them in just 37 games. When the Americans won the gold medal at the 1989 Deaflympics in New Zealand, he became the first player from ISDB to accomplish such a feet.

For a man who has had so much success, coming from such humble, meager, and even difficult circumstances, Ken Anderson has achieved "legend" status in the Northwest. His name can be found in record books, halls of fame, rosters of championship teams, and in the hearts and minds of all people who have had the privilege and pleasure to meet him and work with him. Anderson now resides in the place where it all started for him; Gooding, Idaho. He is currently the head boys basketball coach for the ISDB Raptors, where it is clear that he is giving back to the community and people that gave him so much, at exactly the precise time that he needed it.

Blame the Guys in the Striped Shirts!

In a small town in rural Southern Idaho, two basketball teams prepare to battle it out on the court for conference bragging rights and supremacy. The stands are filled with nervous parents like you as you watch your children play, cheering and urging them to make a shot, grab a rebound, or get a steal. It is every parents' desire to see their offspring have success in sports and with every other endeavor that they may pursue. The sport is not played at the highest, most athletic level in Idaho, but that does not demean the support that the community provides to their local high school teams.

As with any athletic event where the stakes are high, the atmosphere is electric, exciting, and ready to erupt as soon as the first great play is made. A whistle blows and the ball is tossed into the air, signaling the beginning of the contest. As the teams go back and forth, giving everything they have, there is only one nuisance that always finds its way onto the court - the referees. Everybody hates them! It is clear that they are missing obvious fouls and making terrible calls in a clear attempt to ruin your child's team's chances of winning the game. They are even worse when your team is losing. You let them hear it, screaming at them and berating them every chance you get, all while a purple vain pops out of your forehead. You make sure that you say "Come on ref! Call it both ways!" as they run by the area where you are sitting. Don't forget to throw in a "Travel!" or "That's a foul! How could you miss that?!" whenever you get the opportunity. "Three seconds! Come on, make the call!" is also a good one to scream incessantly. If you think your child was fouled or impeded upon in anyway during the game, you really explode. "Get him off! He's pushing him all over the court! Are you blind?!" They have to be the worse refs you have ever seen in your life.


And of course, if your team loses, it is clearly the referee's fault. They were out there to make sure the victory went the other way. You let everybody around you know how unfair and terrible the referees were that night. Your wife and children hear it all the way home, including some choice language usually reserved for Martin Scorsese films. It's all you think about as you lay in bed and it finds its way to work with you the next day. You make sure all your coworkers are aware, even to the point of repeating yourself multiple times to a few of them. Eventually the atrocities of the night before work their way out of your mind as other matters require your attention and focus. That is, until a few days later when your child's team takes it to the court again and there is another pair of morons wearing stripes out there.

Never mind the fact that you have never refereed anything in your life other than an impromptu living room floor wrestling match between two of your children. Who cares if the game looks completely different from on the court than it does from in the stands? You are easily able to see fouls, travels, and all violations from your seat clear across the court a lot better than the refs can, who are right in front of everything when it happens. Even if the other team is more talented and better coached than your child's team, it's always someone else's fault. This is high school basketball, where kids play for fun, but you go ahead and treat it like the NBA finals. You go ahead and forget the fact that those two referees are people and might have children too. They aren't any different than you.

By the way, you look like this guy

All Bowl Team

There isn’t much criteria for picking who gets the nod here other than performing really well in a bowl game. I didn’t take whether or not their team won or lost into consideration unless it was really close between two players. The winner always trumps the loser. Let me know if there is anybody that you feel I have left off the list or how you feel about those that are on it.

Offense:
*QB* - Landry Jones, Oklahoma Sooners: 34-49, 429 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT in win over UConn in the Fiesta Bowl
*RB* - Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State Aztecs: 28 carries, 228 yards, 3 TD in win over Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl
*RB* - Mikel Leshoure, Illinois Fighting Illini: 29 carries, 184 yards, 3 TD in win over Baylor in the Texas Bowl
*WR* - Marcus Sales, Syracuse Orange: 5 catches, 172 yards, 3 TD in win over Kansas State in the Pinstripe Bowl
*WR* - Austin Pettis, Boise State Broncos: 12 catches, 147 yards, 1 TD in win over Utah in Las Vegas Bowl
*TE* - Coby Fleener, Stanford Cardinal: 6 catches, 173 yards, 3 TD in win over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl
*OL* - Mike Pouncey, Florida Gators: Win over Penn State in the Outback Bowl
*OL* - Marcus Cannon, TCU Horned Frogs: Win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl
*OL* - Nate Potter, Boise State Broncos: Win over Utah in Las Vegas Bowl
*OL* - Michael Brewster, Ohio State Buckeyes: Win over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl
*OL* - Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin Badgers: Loss to TCU in the Rose Bowl

Defense:
*DL* - Nick Fairley, Auburn Tigers: Win over Oregon in the National Championship Game
*DL* - Billy Winn, Boise State Broncos: Win over Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl
*DL* – Antoine Carter, Auburn Tigers: Win over Oregon in the National Championship Game
*DL* - Brandon Jenkins, Florida State Seminoles: Win over South Carolina in the Chik-fil-A Bowl
*LB* - Casey Matthews, Oregon Ducks: Loss to Auburn in the National Championship Game
*LB* - Tank Carder, TCU Horned Frogs: Win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl
*LB* - Owen Marecic, Stanford Cardinal: Win over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl
*DB* - Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech Hokies: Loss to Stanford in the Orange Bowl
*DB* - Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma Sooners: Win over UConn in the Fiesta Bowl
*DB* - Winston Venable, Boise State Broncos: Win over Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl
*DB* - Greg Reid, Florida State Seminoles: Win over South Carolina in the Chik-fil-A Bowl

Special Teams:
*PK* - Wes Byrum, Auburn Tigers: Win over Oregon in the National Championship Game
*P* – Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State Cowboys: Win over Arizona in the Alamo Bowl
*KR* - Rishard Matthews, Nevada Wolfpack: Win over Boston College in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

There you are. It gets pretty difficult to pick offensive lineman because they don't produce stats. I just had to think about the elite defensive players that they went up against and whether or not they shut them down. Again, let me know if there was anybody I missed or if you think someone does not deserve to be on the list.

Gene Chizik Thanks God for National Championship, Humiliates Third Commandment

"First of all, I can't be more blessed to be part of a whole team like this. Man, God was with us."
-Gene Chizik, head coach at Auburn

Such blasphemy must have had over-zealous Christians all over the country gawking in disbelief and anger. Religion is always a touchy subject outside of church or any other spiritual location, community, or event. Yet it always seems to find its way into the mouths, thoughts, and writings of individuals outside of said holy situations, oftentimes at the strangest and most inappropriate moments. Obviously, this was the case for Auburn's head coach Gene Chizik moments after his team dispatched of the Oregon Ducks in the National Title Game.

Is it possible that a higher being did indeed determine the outcome of the National Championship, giving the Tigers the win? It could be. Maybe God, along with the rest of the world, was visually offended by the uniform atrocity that the Ducks were wearing, especially those Day-Glo colored cleats on their webbed feet. Maybe it was transcendent karma for the legal infractions committed by current and past members of the Oregon team. But that can't be the case. Auburn has had it's own share of problems in regards to its student athletes, namely one Cameron Jerrell Newton. His heavily documented pay-for-play scheme, for which father Cecil took the fall, is enough to level out an alleged deity-aided playing field. If not, then let's go ahead and throw in the academic cheating scandal back in Gainesville to turn the table a little more.

Or maybe God had absolutely nothing to do with football, including this game. After all, there was a tragic shooting down the I-17 just two days before. It is guaranteed that there are plenty of reasons why His aid and comfort would be needed in Tucson. How selfish and self-absorbed of Chizik to infer that God had helped his team win when there are other more pressing, more imperative matters going on so close to the stadium. Sure, he may be thankful that the Diety gave him the ability and talent to coach and his players the skill and athleticism that they have to play, but that's as far as it goes.

Vain:
–adjective, -er, -est.
1. excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.; conceited: a vain dandy.
2. proceeding from or showing personal vanity: vain remarks.
3. ineffectual or unsuccessful; futile: a vain effort.
4. without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless: vain pageantry; vain display.
5. Archaic . senseless or foolish.
Oh, so kind of like claiming that God made your team win while ignoring the guys on the other side of the field. Really, why did Oregon even show up and try and play this one?

How about this: Auburn won because Chip Kelley made some very poor coaching decisions and his players made a few mental errors that cost them the game. How about kicking a field goal on fourth-and-goal with 2:26 left in the third quarter? How about using your time out at the end to assure that your Ducks would get the ball back with time left on the clock late in the fourth quarter? How about Cliff Harris finish the tackle on Michael Dyer and not let him scamper off for 30 more yards? As Coach Petersen of Boise State said, "One play can't lose a game, but one play can win a game." Agreed, but a number of poor plays (and decisions) can add up and eventually become too much for your team to overcome. Such was the case in Glendale, Arizona on Monday night.

There are many motives and causes for which humans strive to reach their full potential, regardless of their chosen path or direction. Division 1 football coaches are no different. A belief in God or being a faithful member of a certain religion can indeed guide someone in their preferred quest. But when it comes to individual athletic events and competitions, you are on your own. A higher entity does not choose sides or tilt the advantage one way or the other, even if you are BYU...or Gene Chizik.

Auburn Beats Oregon, Completes Purchase of BCS Championship

The Tigers of the University of Auburn outlasted the Ducks of the University of Oregon to win the BCS Championship last night in Glendale, Arizona. The final score was a measly 22-19, considering the ridiculous productivity of both offenses during the regular season. All in all, the game was a defensive battle and for those who are not football junkies like Bronco Chase, the only exciting part was at the end. Indeed, the last 3 minutes or so were as much fun to watch as anything that has happened this season. There was a beautiful two point conversion, an almost tackle that led to a 37 yard back-breaking run, and a game winning field goal. Yet again the SEC wins the title. This is their 5th in a row and as we found out yesterday, we will never hear the end of it from SEC d-bag elitist Mark May.

As I mentioned, both of these teams had been lighting up the scoreboard all season long. Yet last night, we had a TCU/Wisconsin like final score. What happened? Auburn had a rough-ish night and Oregon's offense was stifled by Nick Fairley and company. Check out the yardage totals, they seem highly unlikely:

Auburn: 519 (265 passing, 254 rushing)
Oregon: 449 (374 passing, 75 rushing)

LaMichael James got stoned repeatedly. The Tigers did a great job shutting him down. Darron Thomas had a career night for yards and completions (27). As you can see, the yards didn't mean much. It did seem like Auburn's were at least a little more important. The biggest part was trying to keep the other team's offense off the field, and that meant eating up the clock and methodically moving down the field. Auburn just happened to do a better job at it than Oregon.

The best play of the night came from Auburn's freshman running back Michael Dyer. With 2 minutes to go, he broke through the line for what appeared to be a casual 6 or 7 yard gain. But Duck tackler Eddie Pleasant didn't finish the play. Dyer rolled over the top of Pleasant and raced down the sideline deep into Oregon territory and ended up with a 37 yard gain. Dyer's run set up the game winning field goal that sent the Tigers back to Alabama victorious.

The Ducks were held to under 100 yards rushing for the first time since September 4, 2009. Guess who they played that night. I'll give you a clue, the field that they played on was blue turf...

Here's the deal. I did not have a dog in the fight. I stated adamantly that I would be reluctantly cheering for the Ducks because anybody who plays the SEC is going to get that courtesy from me. Yet, during the course of the game, I found myself pulling for Auburn. I guess my hate for the Oregon Ducks is seeded even deeper than I had originally presumed. That's not a bad thing. I was just surprised and a little bit upset with myself. Sometimes you can't explain emotions that come out in the heat of the moment, but they are indeed your true feelings. Still, I got sick to my stomach every time ESPN showed a close up of Cam Newton's cheating face. I felt similar when Chip Kelley's arrogant crater-marked face was on my TV screen.

That leads me to this; Congratulations to the Oregon Ducks who will be named the National Champions retroactively after Auburn gets the title taken away from them due to NCAA violations. It sucks to be a cheater. But of course, the excuses are plentiful from Oregon. Read this article on ESPN. I will quote my favorite part.

'(Darron) Thomas felt it was Ducks miscues that hurt them more than what Auburn did: "I don't think Auburn stopped us from winning the game. We stopped ourselves."'

You keep telling yourself that. So here we are, everybody outside of a portion of the state of Alabama feeling let down, cheated, and unhappy with the results of the college football season. Life goes on, but not in the South when football is involved. Let's let si.com's Stewart Mandel take care of this one for us. The title is "SEC's run of titles obscures its dark side." That speaks for itself. I'm done talking about this for now.

With the victory last night, I went 5-0 in picking the BCS Bowl Games. Here are the final numbers for year:

Bowl totals: 23-12
Season total: 88-29

A great season, if I do say so myself. As far as I know, what I started this football season will continue next year. For now, it's Bronco Basketball season. I will have plenty on that. I am also preparing my all-bowl team. It will included the best players from each position that participated in the bowl season. Check back in for that. Until then, go Broncos!

Bronco Chase's Bowl Picks, 7th Edition

Now that's more like it! As you already know, I started off this bowl season going about .500. That was before I reeled off and took home the "W" in 13 of the last 14 match ups. I had won eleven in a row before LSU snapped my streak much like Boise State did to Utah. All good things must come to an end. The most important and impressive thing is that I am 4-0 in BCS games.

Anyway, I come to you today with a heavy heart, reminiscing of days past. As soon as I click "Publish Post" today, I am done with actual games to write about on my blog. The season will be over. But do not fret my friends, Leon Rice has the Bronco mens basketball team cooking up something special in Taco Bell Arena. Let us go over the recap of my last batch of picks, and then I will unveil the winner of the National Championship game tonight.

Discover Orange Bowl
My prediction was Stanford wins 24 to 21
Final score: Cardinal 40, Hokies 12






AllState Sugar Bowl
My prediction was Ohio State wins 31 to 24
Final score: Buckeyes 31, Razorbacks 26






GoDaddy.com Bowl
My prediction was Miami (OH) wins 28 to 24
Final score: Redhawks 35, Blue Raiders 21






AT&T Cotton Bowl
My prediction was Texas A & M wins 24 to 21
Final score: Tigers 41, Aggies 24






BBVA Compass Bowl
My prediction was Pittsburgh wins 31 to 21
Final score: Panthers 27, Wildcats 10






Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
My prediction was Nevada wins 28 to 21
Final score: Wolfpack 20, Eagles 13






Batch total: 5-1
Bowl totals: 22-12
Season total: 87-29
_____________________________________

As a reminder: if the word "prediction" has stars, then it is an upset. It will look like this:

*Prediction*:

Also, I have analyzed some of the games with a write up, but not all of them. I wrote on all the bowls were WAC teams are involved and the BCS Bowls. The others just have when, where, the bowl name, who's playing, and a score prediction. Finally, I am including these bowls in my season long record.

January 10th at 6:30 PM
Tostitos BCS National Championship Game
Glendale, Arizona

(12-0, 9-0 Pac 10)
vs.

(13-0, 8-0 SEC)




Line: Auburn favored by 3
This one is for all the marbles. Two of the most prolific offenses in the history of the NCAA and two of the worst defenses ever will face off with the National Title on the line. Cam Newton, is fresh off of buying, er winning the Heisman and is playing extremely well. Oregon is led by perma-lisped, and convicted criminal running back LaMichael James. The Tigers score an average of 42.7 point per game and the Ducks put up 49.3. Defensively, Oregon gives up 18.4 and Auburn allows 24.5. On paper, this looks like a fairly easy win for the Ducks. However, Oregon’s schedule has been JV compared to what Auburn has had to go through. Cal showed the world how to beat the Ducks. It involves an athletic, powerful defensive line that can get pressure on quarterback Darron Thomas and limit James in his yards per carry. Fortunately for the Tigers, they have just that, led by the man-yetti known as Nick Fairley.

It’s too bad we couldn’t see one of these great offenses versus a great defense in TCU or Boise State. Instead we will see a fast paced, high scoring affair in which many people will wish that there was a way for both teams to lose, blow up, die, or cease to exist in some crazy way. If you can’t tell, I don’t like either of these teams. If Auburn wins, Newton will feel even more entitled than he already does and it will teach our children that cheating, lying, and being dishonest pays off as long as you are a freak athlete and can will a team to win all by yourself. Also, we’ll have to hear for another year how amazing the SEC is. That fire will be fueled for a long time. If the Ducks win, we’ll have to sit here and hear it from their ridiculous, cocky, blow-hard fans about how awesome the Ducks are. Eugene will finally be known for something else besides being the place where “Animal House” was filmed. I don’t know if I want to live in a world where Oregon fan has free reign to talk as much junk as they will if their team wins. They easily forget that this is basically the same squad that lost to Boise State two years in a row, and it is basically the same Bronco team that beat/destroyed them.

In other words, the college football landscape will either be populated with SEC elitists, jumping on their soap boxes, throwing their Bibles to the side, brandishing their red necks and farmer tans in their overalls, and through missing teeth and gingivitis infected gums proclaim the flawed gospel that is football in the South. “We live, breathe, eat, and dream this stuff year round! Nobody can stop us!” Only to make things worse, Mark May will have a fit of pleasure in his pants just as he has the last 4 years when other SEC teams have won it all. I just can’t take his seeing ugly, elitist face on my TV screen building up that conference any more than he already has. Or we will see hemp bracelet-wearing, lucha libre mask-donning, unfounded cockiness-weilding Duck honk tooting his own horn and in the most condescending way imaginable talk smack to any other team that even looks at them, all in between lengthy bong hits and making the “O” with their hands (that looks strangely similar to another sign that symbolizes a part of the female anatomy…). It will be like the d-bag boyfriend who picks fights with another dude for thinking about looking at his girl. That is Oregon in a nutshell. This is the world we live in and unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. So here’s to hoping that a sniper perches himself in the rafters or press box of University of Phoenix Stadium and does us all a favor.

Anyway, the game will be high scoring. I think Auburn’s defense is better than it shows on paper and what was seen against some pretty good offenses in the regular season. Nick Fairley owns LaMichael James for most of the game. The lesser of two evils here is Oregon, I guess. I will be reluctantly rooting for the Ducks in Glendale tonight. I still do not like their chances. The main reason for my decision is my complete and utter loathing for all things SEC and Mark May related. I don't know if it will be this close.
Prediction: Tigers 45, Ducks 38

Bowl totals: 22-12
Season total: 87-29

Well there we have it. Make sure you are tuned into ESPN tonight to catch this one. It should be a high-scoring affair. Sit back and relax. But make sure you check back in tomorrow to get my take on the whole shebang.

Season End Awards

It's over. Boise State football has moved from the dawn of a new season to the dusk of imminent darkness that now surrounds us and signifies the end of the 2010-2011 Broncos. That means no more games on The Blue, Kellen to Pettis or Kellen to Young, and Muscle Hamsters trucking Vandals on their way into the end zone. The good part is that we can bid farewell to images of "missed" field goals sailing at or near the shorter-than-standard Reno goal posts. All in all, Bronco football has upped the ante and, naturally, the expectations for future athletes that will play for one of the best, most exciting teams in the nation.

A 12-1 season is something that teams all around the country would kill to have. Bronco Nation has become accustomed to undefeated teams, but expecting that yearly is unwise and as was seen in some fans after the loss to Nevada, unhealthy. With that said, there is plenty to be excited about in Bronco Nation with new players getting ready to make a name for themselves, the move to a new conference, and of course, the all-important annual quest for a BCS bid.

The proper thing to do is give out (fake) awards to Boise State players who exemplified out-of-this-world heart, drive, competitiveness, will, strength, intensity, and excitement all in the face of sheer adversity and conflict. It is important to recognize these athletes, the outstanding plays they made, and the excitement and joy that they provided for their fans. It's Bronco Chase's way of saying "thank you," even if they have no idea who Bronco Chase is... Without further delay:




Biggest Story
Boise State in the National Championship Game.
This was all the rage and debate for the entire season. It even found it's way to the front page of Sports Illustrated.

Best Coaching Job
Pete Kwiatkowski.
He went from a question mark (after Justin Wilcox left for Tennessee) to one of the most important cogs in the Boise State clock. The defense was ferocious and improved from last year, which is really saying something.

Best Freshman
Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe.
Hailing from the Netherlands by way of Boise High School, not only does he have the best name on the team, but he contributed a lot as part of the Bronco defensive line that shut down opponents. He was a key back-up and enjoyed sacking quarterbacks.

Best Catch of the Year
Tommy Gallarda vs. Virginia Tech.
The catch in itself was sweet, but that wouldn't have been enough to push it to the top of a list that includes some amazing grabs by Austin "Sticky-Hands" Pettis and Titus Young. The stage on which it was made and what was at stake make it the best catch of the year. Check it out for yourself on YouTube right here.



Break out Star of the Year
Shea McClellin.
He went from a solid contributor on the D-line to a candidate for WAC Defensive Player of the Year. Whether he was sacking the quarterback, running a beautiful interception in for a touchdown, or stealing Ryan Winterswyk's fumble recovery in the end zone, he was amazing this year. It seemed to have come out of nowhere. McClellin's athleticism, heart, and intelligence make him this season's break out star.

Best Play of the Year
Moore to Pettis for the win.
Again, could it have been anything else? The big stage came for Kellen again and he was more than ready. The catch set up the win and set the table for the rest of a dominating year for the Broncos. Tears of joy are still shed when this play is shown on ESPN.

Biggest Hit of the Year
Jamar Taylor sack vs. Oregon State.
A lot of fans do not remember this one, but it was gorgeous. Taylor came in from the blind side and rocked Ryan Katz' world! The fool didn't know what hit him. It was comparable to the Kyle Wilson sack on Andy Dalton in the Fiesta Bowl.

Game of the Year
Labor Day vs. Virginia Tech
For so many reasons this was the game of the year. The stage, the stakes, the atmosphere, and what transpired on the field were a perfect storm of awesomeness. Bronco Chase still likes to watch replays of the masterful 2-minute drill by Kellen Moore.

Special Teams MVP
Cedric Febis
Febis is another import from the Netherlands. A cornerback by trade, he was out there for every special teams snap, knocking people out and making plays. Bronco fans hope to see him doing much of the same next year.

Defensive MVP
Byron Hout
This was a hard one to pick as there were many qualified candidates. The reason why beautiful neck-roll wearing Hout gets the nod is because of what was missed when he went down with a foot fracture. The defense really needed him and his ferocious, man-devouring self for the Nevada game. He will be back, ready to clean house and light up some more chumps.

Offensive MVP
Kellen Moore
This was easier than hardcore fans would have thought. As the orchestrator of a fluid, seamless, high scoring offense, you get a lot of credit. Kellen continued to improve after a stellar sophomore season and found himself sitting in the front row for the Heisman Trophy presentation in December. While he did not win and finished 4th, the fact that he was there was a milestone for the Boise State program and the culmination of an outstanding 3 years at the helm for Kellen. The only thing that didn't go well for Moore this year was having to share the WAC Player of the Year award with Colin Kaepernick, of which the league copped out. How could a Heisman Trophy finalist not win the conference award outright? Anyway, Kellen will be back next year. Opposing defenses, watch out!

That's it! Bronco Chase has handed out imaginary trophies and trinkets to those deserving of much more credit than he can give them. The seniors on this list will be missed. But Boise State fans everywhere are ecstatic for the years of football that will follow. Go Broncos!

How is Boise State's Football Cupboard Looking?

I apologize for yesterday's rant on the hypocrisy of the NCAA. I get really worked up sometimes. Wait a second, I don't apologize at all. I am not sorry for what I said. I mean it and will forever feel like that. I am fully aware that there is not much a 25 year-old guy from Twin Falls can do to bring about an enormous change in college football, but that still won't stop me from trying! Let's get back to familiar territory and talk Bronco football! As I mentioned a couple of days ago, there are a few questions regarding Boise State football that need to be answered. I took care of one before the Sugar Bowl-induced interruption of yesterday, so let's hit another one now.

Who will replace Boise State's departing seniors and how effective will they be?

I tend to get a little bit anxious about these types of thoughts. It was the same way when Legedu Nanee, Drisan James, Ryan Clady, Jerard Rabb, Jeremy Childs, and Ian Johnson all left. I retain comfort knowing that all of those players were replaced by the likes of Austin Pettis, Titus Young, Nate Potter, and Doug Martin. In other words, Boise State knows how to recruit and will get the job done.

There are a lot of great players on the departing list, as you already know. I understand that it will be impossible to find someone with hands like Austin Pettis. Titus Young's speed is unparalleled. Nobody scares the pants off of Fresno State quarterbacks like Winston Venable. Yes, this was a fantastic class, one of the best to play on The Blue. Remember, Coach Petersen is one of the hottest, most coveted coaches in the nation for a reason. Also, football is amazing because great minds who teach and train these players (like Coach Pete!) can twist, change, mold, form, tweak, cater, and alter an offensive or defensive scheme to fit the players that are currently on the roster. Petersen and his staff are experts at doing just that. Example: Vinny Perretta was a triple threat. He could catch, throw, and run, and he did all three on a consistent basis. There were plays and variations of plays based on his unique skill set. With Kellen at the helm, the offense is tailored to fit his pocket-passing strengths. Do you ever see him running the option (I think I remember seeing it once, but only once)? Joe Southwick, on the other hand, will run the option consistently when he gets a hold of the reigns of the offense.

Next year, you will see a lot more of Doug Martin and (hopefully) a healthy DJ Harper. They will be the feature of the offense because they are both really talented and the absence of Young and Pettis will make it so. I wouldn't even be surprised to see a lot more use of the pass-catching tight ends and Chris Potter running the wildcat as a run/pass option (much like Vinny Perretta did). With that said, let's go over who will possibly replace the above mentioned seniors.

~Austin Pettis - Aaron Burks - Let's hope he can learn how to catch like Mr. Pettis. Maybe we can even surgically attach Austin's sticky hand to Burks' arms. Come on science! Help us out here! Tyler Shoemaker is also an option to move from the third option receiver to prime time as number 1 or 2.

~Brandyn Thompson - Ebo Makinde - Not only does he have a sweet name (his real one is Ebeneezer), but he was a good recruit for the Broncos. It's time to step up.
Jerrell Gavins, Antwon Murray, and Quaylon Ewing are also options. There is a four-star CB recruit named Stefan McClure that is still considering Boise State. It's a long shot that he will come here, but if he did he would get a good look at starting as a freshman.

~Daron Mackey - JC Percy was already starting due to the fact that Mackey was constantly injured. Percy will stay there. Look for freshman Blake Renaud to make some noise in spring ball.

~Darrell Acrey - Byron Hout was already the starter before he got injured. He should re-assume that role next season. The primary backups will be Tommy Smith and Allen Mooney.

~Jarvis Hodge - Matt Kaiserman, Jay Ajayi - the question here is who will be the third string, garbage time running back. Ajayi is really good, but I don't know if the coaches will want to burn his red shirt.

~Jason Robinson - Cedric Febis - Robinson was the back up and Febis, a special teams stand out, will replace him in that role.

~Jeremy Avery - DJ Harper - He will be back and I sure hope he stays healthy. He is a great running back. Raphiel Lambert is an option as well. It's too bad that Malcolm Johnson crapped out. He was a great recruit for the Broncos.

~Jeron Johnson - Jeremy Ioane - I am really excited about this kid. He chose Boise State over Washington and Notre Dame. There is a lot expected from him and I think he will deliver.

~Kevin Sapien - ? - Sapien called it quits after the Fiesta Bowl last year due to some serious nagging injuries. He helped coach on the sidelines. His presence and personality might be missed, but that's about it.

~Kyle Brotzman - Jimmy Pavel or Jake Van Ginkel - The Van Ginkel kid has not committed yet, but is seriously considering the Broncos. Trevor Harman is also a legitimate option.

~Matt Slater - Brenel Meyers - Meyers started at the Fiesta Bowl. The Broncos have a pretty deep offensive line rotation. Other names that will be considered are Charles Leno and Faraji Wright.

~Mike Coughlin - Joe Southwick - Coughlin and Southwick were already co-back ups. Grant Hedrick will get a look as well.

~Ryan Winterswyk - Tyrone Crawford - As a back up this last season, Crawford was named a third-team all American. He is an absolute beast and will wreak plenty of havoc next year. Don't overlood Sam Ukwuachu or Robert Ash either. Boise State's D-Line is really deep.

~Sean King - ? - King never even saw the field. There is not much to replace here.

~Titus Young - Geraldo Hiwat - He has the speed. Let's see if he can hold on to the ball. Also, if Matt Miller can recover from his ruptured achilles, he could see some action as well.

~Tommy Gallarda - Gabe Linehan - When Gallarda got hurt, Boise State's run game took a hit. He was a great blocker and good at catching touchdowns in the red zone. Linehan played well this year when he saw the field. If he can work on his blocking, he will get the nod. Don't forget Chandler Koch or Kyle Sosnowski.

~Will Lawrence - Faraji Wright - This one is a toss up. There are any number of players that could take this spot.

~Winston Venable - Dextrell Simmons - Simmons is a JuCo transfer from Blinn College in Texas. He was a great pick up for Boise State. Don't overlook hard-hitting Jonathan Brown either.

So there you have it. I am not too worried about the replacements. Boise State's recruiting has improved considerably since they started winning Fiesta Bowls. The team is in good hands and I look forward to another great year. The offense will change, of course, but it is nothing to lose sleep over. Go Broncos!

The Sugar Bowl Wasn't all that Sweet

Don't get me wrong, it was a great game to watch, filled with pendulum-like momentum changes, sorrow, heartbreak, joy, anxiety, cocky, privileged athletes, and of course a sweater vest. I had absolutely no problem with what happened on the field last night in New Orleans. It was the off-field shenanigans and hypocrisy that I am upset about. Let's go back to the beginning, Quentin Tarantino-like, and set the stage for my grievance(s).

In June 2010, the NCAA lowered the boom on the University of Southern California for "lack of institutional control" stemming from the Reggie Bush improper benefit saga. You all know the story; the Trojans were penalized big time for their egregious infraction. They were banned from post season play for 2 years, gave up 30 scholarships, and had to forfeit their 2004 National Championship. Bush voluntarily forfeited his Heisman Trophy so as to prevent the huge mess and headache that would ensue if the trust were to try and take it from him. A precedent was set.

We all thought the governing college sports body was setting an example. Yet here we are two-plus years later and the NCAA is allowing players and schools to get away with murder. Cam Newton played the "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" card and let his dad take the fall for a pay-to-play scheme. I cannot stand to see that huge grin on Newton's smug face, knowing that there was an obvious violation from his camp and yet he is still allowed to play. I have already stated my case for the utter ridiculousness of the situation, so there is no need to rehash it here. The point is there was a huge loophole that was found through the Cam and Cecil Newton case that shouldn't have been there in the first place. All of the sudden the serious, sheriff-like, punishment-dealing NCAA that ate USC's lunch became the soft, docile, lenient person who wants to be cool with their friends and therefore gives them what they want, even at their own expense. The NCAA ruled that because Cameron was not aware of the transgressions of his father, then he was not in violation and therefore was allowed to play (even though initially they ruled him ineligible). Think about it this way-Any cash or sustenance that his dad received would directly benefit Cameron, i.e. purchasing needed school supplies, books, food, clothes, helping pay rent, spending money, and/or transportation. Therefore, they are improper benefits, regardless of who is directly receiving them.

Next came tattoo gate. Five of Ohio State's top players were getting free or cheap tattoos in exchange for autographs and memorabilia. Not just that, but quarterback Terrelle Pryor and a few others had sold their Big 10 championship rings and some gold pants (that they receive for beating Michigan). Read all about it here. Remember, Georgia's star wide receiver A.J. Green was suspended for the first four games of this season for selling a game-worn jersey. Here's where things get tricky. To stay consistent, the NCAA suspended Pryor, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams, and Solomon Thomas for five games. Great. The problem is they were still allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl last night. In other words, the suspension was suspended until the beginning of the season next year. What? There were obvious violations that these Buckeyes were involved in and yet they were still allowed to play in the biggest game of the season? Asinine. The reasoning behind the delay in suspension is "the acknowledgment the student-athletes did not receive adequate rules education during the time period the violations occurred." Right...

Here's the deal-Had the Buckeyes not been in a BCS Bowl and had Auburn not been in contention for the National Championship, the NCAA would have dropped the hammer on both of those teams much like they did the USC Trojans in 2008. There is a clear double standard here. Kevin Lennon, the NCAA's vice president of academic and membership affairs, has no problem penalizing players and teams for violations that took place a long time ago, when those players are no longer at the university in question. But if it's a current situation where him and his college governing entity are at risk of losing money, they go easy or delay the consequences. Everything is done in a way that will benefit them and their cash-cow sport. That is what has me so upset.

I know that had Arkansas won last night, they would have wanted to do it against a prepared and full strength Ohio State team. The Razorbacks would have rolled easily if their opponent had been missing those 5 key players. Then the NCAA would have had another Fiesta or Orange Bowl snoozer on hand with a lopsided score and the audience tuning out by halftime. There go the ratings. The NCAA can't afford that, nor did they want to even risk it. The game was very entertaining and for that I am happy, but knowing the sketchy NCAA-allowed condition of some of the players involved taints the overall feeling and joy of such a contest. I don't have an answer for this, but how do the Arkansas players feel about it? If the anti-playoff BCS system is already robbing fans of a true college football championship experience, then the NCAA and their double standards are polluting the best part of the sport. The only thing that we have left to call our own are those glorious fall and winter Saturdays, sitting on the edge of our seats, living and dying by the on-field, in-game successes and failures of our favorite team, letting the amateur kids decide the winner, all for the love of the game. I don't know about you, but I have no desire to let the NCAA take that away from us.