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?
Showing posts with label Kyle Brotzman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kyle Brotzman. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Which is a Better BroncoTeam, 2009 or 2010?
This is the hot topic now that the football season is officially over for Boise State. I know, it's sad, but life goes on. Look on the bright side, there are only 2 months until spring ball starts! We are left with a few questions that I intend to answer to the best of my abilities. I will tackle one today and go from there.
Was this the best (most talented team) in Boise State history?
This is a loaded question. Such an inquiry deems it necessary to look at numbers, but at the same time to follow your heart. The final record of this year's team was 12-1, with a close overtime loss at Nevada. Last year the team won the Fiesta Bowl over TCU and finished 14-0. The 2006 team ended 13-0 with the now famous thrilling OT win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. If you go by just the records then no, 2010 was not the best Bronco team. Luckily for me I don't look at just the record.
There is a difference between most successful and most talented. Consider this-the 2010 Boise State Broncos averaged 521 yards gained per game (beating the 517 record mark set 36 years ago), set the record for pass efficiency at 180, and averaged 45.1 points per game (which is in 3rd place behind the 2002 and 2004 teams). That's just the offense's numbers. On defense, the Broncos registered a record 49 sacks, held opposing offenses to a pass efficiency rating of 95.2, gave up only 255 yards per game (the best total in 40 years), and allowed an average of 13.6 points per game. All that totals up to a school record 32.3 average margin of victory. That is impressive. That alone will prove that 2010 was the most talented Boise State group yet.
But wait there's more. With the Las Vegas Bowl trophy sitting in Coach Pete's office (or wherever it is) we say good bye to the seniors. Who are they and what did they do? Well, Titus Young holds the record for most career receiving yards with 3,063. Austin Pettis has 39 career touchdowns (number 1 in the record book), and the most receiving touchdowns in a single season (14). He also sits second behind Titus for career receiving yards. Kyle Brotzman is the highest scoring kicker in NCAA history and the highest scoring player (not just kicker) in Boise State history with 439 points. Don't forget the man-beast that is Ryan Winterswyk who was named as a junior to the WAC all-decade team. He sacked a lot of quarterbacks in his college career. There is also Jeron Johnson, Brandyn Thompson, Darrell Acrey, Matt Slater, Tommy Gallarda, and Will Lawrence amongst other Bronco name mainstays. It's too bad Winston Venable doesn't have any more eligibility left. His time with us was so short.
In other words, the success and talent in this senior class in incredible. That is why I think 2010 was the most talented in Boise State history. Don't let a bad second half against Nevada tarnish your memory or view of this team. Think about it, they were 30 minutes, a defended pass, a made tackle, a made field goal, a completed pass, a quarterback sack, or a blocked field goal away from a date with Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. Had they made it to Pasadena and won, this debate wouldn't even be happening. Like I said, they were the most talented, but unfortunately not the most successful. Those are two different arguments. As for me, I love this team, this group of guys, and I will be sad to see them go.
What is exciting is what is ahead of us. There is plenty of talent on the roster. This article from the Idaho Statesman explains more. I will go into more detail on that tomorrow. Until then, check out the Sugar Bowl tonight!
Was this the best (most talented team) in Boise State history?
This is a loaded question. Such an inquiry deems it necessary to look at numbers, but at the same time to follow your heart. The final record of this year's team was 12-1, with a close overtime loss at Nevada. Last year the team won the Fiesta Bowl over TCU and finished 14-0. The 2006 team ended 13-0 with the now famous thrilling OT win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. If you go by just the records then no, 2010 was not the best Bronco team. Luckily for me I don't look at just the record.
There is a difference between most successful and most talented. Consider this-the 2010 Boise State Broncos averaged 521 yards gained per game (beating the 517 record mark set 36 years ago), set the record for pass efficiency at 180, and averaged 45.1 points per game (which is in 3rd place behind the 2002 and 2004 teams). That's just the offense's numbers. On defense, the Broncos registered a record 49 sacks, held opposing offenses to a pass efficiency rating of 95.2, gave up only 255 yards per game (the best total in 40 years), and allowed an average of 13.6 points per game. All that totals up to a school record 32.3 average margin of victory. That is impressive. That alone will prove that 2010 was the most talented Boise State group yet.
But wait there's more. With the Las Vegas Bowl trophy sitting in Coach Pete's office (or wherever it is) we say good bye to the seniors. Who are they and what did they do? Well, Titus Young holds the record for most career receiving yards with 3,063. Austin Pettis has 39 career touchdowns (number 1 in the record book), and the most receiving touchdowns in a single season (14). He also sits second behind Titus for career receiving yards. Kyle Brotzman is the highest scoring kicker in NCAA history and the highest scoring player (not just kicker) in Boise State history with 439 points. Don't forget the man-beast that is Ryan Winterswyk who was named as a junior to the WAC all-decade team. He sacked a lot of quarterbacks in his college career. There is also Jeron Johnson, Brandyn Thompson, Darrell Acrey, Matt Slater, Tommy Gallarda, and Will Lawrence amongst other Bronco name mainstays. It's too bad Winston Venable doesn't have any more eligibility left. His time with us was so short.
In other words, the success and talent in this senior class in incredible. That is why I think 2010 was the most talented in Boise State history. Don't let a bad second half against Nevada tarnish your memory or view of this team. Think about it, they were 30 minutes, a defended pass, a made tackle, a made field goal, a completed pass, a quarterback sack, or a blocked field goal away from a date with Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. Had they made it to Pasadena and won, this debate wouldn't even be happening. Like I said, they were the most talented, but unfortunately not the most successful. Those are two different arguments. As for me, I love this team, this group of guys, and I will be sad to see them go.
What is exciting is what is ahead of us. There is plenty of talent on the roster. This article from the Idaho Statesman explains more. I will go into more detail on that tomorrow. Until then, check out the Sugar Bowl tonight!
Monday, December 13, 2010
'Twas Three Nights Before Christmas
'Twas three nights before Christmas, we're yelling, no shame,
blue and orange clad friends sat watching the game.
The Broncos were playing the Utes at Sam Boyd
But "playing" means the Utes are getting destroyed.
Despite the late start no children are in bed
with visions of Kellen "scrambling" in their head.
And mamma in her most favorite BSU shirt
Just finished saying how much a loss would hurt.
When out on the grass there arose such a clatter.
I sprang from my snuggie to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like Titus Young,
Tore down the blinds from the window where they hung.
The moon reflected on my new Bronco flag,
Like Avery, dodging defenders that lag.
What do my wondering eyes suddenly meet
It's Doug, Pettis, Kellen, Titus, and Coach Pete!
With a little old driver, lively, with wits
I knew in a moment it must be Lyle Smith.
More rapid than eagles on blue turf they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
Now 'Swyk, now Titus, now Austin and Efaw
On Kellen, on Coach Pete, on Brotzman and Hiwat!
To the Bronco car flag, to the Bronco night-light!
Now punt, now pass, kick, run and score touchdowns all night!
As dry leaves that before the blue hurricane fly,
When Moore meets an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to window the players they flew,
With the Kyle Wilson RV, and Byron Hout, too!
And then, in a jiffy, I heard in my room
The hitting and scoring; "Boise State!" I presume!
As I drew in my head, and was shouting with joy,
Coach Pete tapped my shoulder and said; "Hey there my boy!"
He was dressed in a jacket, a cap on his head
"Is that thing surgically attached?" To him I said.
His mouth smiled, in the Coach Pete kind of way,
And he opened his playbook, ready to call a play.
With a twinkle in his eye, hand on his left knee,
Into his microphone; "Statue of Liberty!"
We ran to the TV, in unison "hurrah!"
Just as Kellen and the rest embarrassed Utah.
"How can you be here and there at the same time?"
I asked with my hands, still short of words like a mime.
"It's part of the magic, the perks of Boise State.
Would you like to try? Call a play, see how you rate."
My life had led up to this, I knew what to do.
And I laughed when I said it; "Give the ball to 'Shoe.'"
The Utes were so focused on Pettis and Young,
Shoemaker was left wide open, the ball was flung.
With not a defender around, the ball flew
Into the arms of Tyler, AKA "Shoe."
The game went on with plenty of Bronco scoring
If I wasn't a fan I'd say it was boring.
I heard Pete yell as the team left and went out of sight,
"Happy Las Vegas Bowl to all, and to all a victorious night!"
blue and orange clad friends sat watching the game.
The Broncos were playing the Utes at Sam Boyd
But "playing" means the Utes are getting destroyed.
Despite the late start no children are in bed
with visions of Kellen "scrambling" in their head.
And mamma in her most favorite BSU shirt
Just finished saying how much a loss would hurt.
When out on the grass there arose such a clatter.
I sprang from my snuggie to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like Titus Young,
Tore down the blinds from the window where they hung.
The moon reflected on my new Bronco flag,
Like Avery, dodging defenders that lag.
What do my wondering eyes suddenly meet
It's Doug, Pettis, Kellen, Titus, and Coach Pete!
With a little old driver, lively, with wits
I knew in a moment it must be Lyle Smith.
More rapid than eagles on blue turf they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
Now 'Swyk, now Titus, now Austin and Efaw
On Kellen, on Coach Pete, on Brotzman and Hiwat!
To the Bronco car flag, to the Bronco night-light!
Now punt, now pass, kick, run and score touchdowns all night!
As dry leaves that before the blue hurricane fly,
When Moore meets an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to window the players they flew,
With the Kyle Wilson RV, and Byron Hout, too!
And then, in a jiffy, I heard in my room
The hitting and scoring; "Boise State!" I presume!
As I drew in my head, and was shouting with joy,
Coach Pete tapped my shoulder and said; "Hey there my boy!"
He was dressed in a jacket, a cap on his head
"Is that thing surgically attached?" To him I said.
His mouth smiled, in the Coach Pete kind of way,
And he opened his playbook, ready to call a play.
With a twinkle in his eye, hand on his left knee,
Into his microphone; "Statue of Liberty!"
We ran to the TV, in unison "hurrah!"
Just as Kellen and the rest embarrassed Utah.
"How can you be here and there at the same time?"
I asked with my hands, still short of words like a mime.
"It's part of the magic, the perks of Boise State.
Would you like to try? Call a play, see how you rate."
My life had led up to this, I knew what to do.
And I laughed when I said it; "Give the ball to 'Shoe.'"
The Utes were so focused on Pettis and Young,
Shoemaker was left wide open, the ball was flung.
With not a defender around, the ball flew
Into the arms of Tyler, AKA "Shoe."
The game went on with plenty of Bronco scoring
If I wasn't a fan I'd say it was boring.
I heard Pete yell as the team left and went out of sight,
"Happy Las Vegas Bowl to all, and to all a victorious night!"
Friday, December 3, 2010
Weekly Player to Watch, 11th Edition
I cannot believe that we have already reached the regular season finale. I get so excited when college football starts and then it pains me deeply when it ends. Despite the setback last week at Nevada, Boise State has a lot going for them for the remainder of this season, including the bowl game, and for years to come. The final game of the season pits the erratic Utah State Aggies against our beloved Boise State Broncos on The Blue. According to reports, the Broncos are focused, having fun, and ready to play this game. That is good to hear. Tomorrow will be extra special because it is senior day. We will say farewell to 18 student-athletes who have been part of the most productive and winning classes in Boise State history. Tom Scott on ktvb.com has a great tribute to the seniors as well as staggering numbers and statistics for what they have accomplished in their 4-5 years on The Blue.
Today's Weekly PTW will be different. I am going to honor this great group of seniors individually. I will mention each one by name and share a fun fact about them. They are in alphabetical order. Please enjoy!
Austin Pettis
Boise State record holder for most career catches and most touchdowns in a season. Enough said. He will be sorely missed.
Brandyn Thompson
Named Defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl after nabbing 2 interceptions (one of them was a pic-six) and tipping another pass that Winston Venable intercepted to seal the victory. Also, he's my little sister's favorite player.
Daron Mackey
His career has been hampered by knee injuries, but Mackey has contributed when he is on the field. He is aggressive and ferocious out there.
Derrell Acrey
Acrey is a vocal team leader, pumping up his teammates before each game. This includes when he was a redshirt freshman at the first Fiesta Bowl. "The Preacher" is a fitting nickname for him.
Jarvis Hodge
Has a really good time mowing down defenders in mop up time. I enjoy watching him as well!
Jason Robinson
Was the key factor/player in calling the fake punt against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.
Jeremy Avery
This little guy runs tough and has the moves to fake out defenders. Even when he was relegated to a back-up, he kept his head up and returned to the backfield as happy as he could be. Jeremy is a great player and is very underrated in Boise State history.
Jeron Johnson
Jeron hits really hard. I mean really hard. He is ferocious out there. Just ask Russell Hill.
Kevin Sapien
Also part of the offensive line last season that yielded a mere 5 sacks. His shoulder injuries sidelined him for good, but is used as a coach and mental leader.
Kyle Brotzman
Kyle has scored 425 career points. That is most in Boise State and WAC history. He is also closing in on the record books for most in NCAA history. Just remember the fake punt against TCU. It was beautiful!
Matt Slater
Another anchor in the Boise State offensive line that gives up very few sacks. He is also on the all-WAC academic team, so he's a smart kid as well.
Mike Coughlin
Mike was named Scout Team Offensive Player of the year for Boise State in 2006. He has been a huge leadership factor and model for Kellen Moore and the whole team.
Ryan Winterswyk
Transformed from a walk-on safety to a multiple-year first team all-WAC selection and all-WAC-Decade selection. That is amazing. He is one of the true leaders on defense.
Sean King
Sean is a local kid from Timberline High School, living the dream with the Broncos.
Titus Young
Boise State record holder for most receiving yards. Second for most receptions (behind fellow senior Austin Pettis). He is also the fastest freaker I have ever seen on a football field. Welcome to the NFL Mr. Young!
Tommy Gallarda
Tommy's one-handed catch for a touchdown against Virginia Tech was the sickest thing I have seen in a really long time.
Will Lawrence
Will started all 13 games last year. You know, the offensive line that only gave up 5 sacks, which was the lowest total in the nation!
Winston Venable
Basically, he's a beast. He plays very physical and even finds time to intercept the ball on occasion. I like him a lot!
Let's send off our seniors with a loud round of applause on Saturday and wish them the best as they move on. I hope that all of them get to start as well. Make sure you check back in on Sunday for my take on the game against Utah State. Let's go Broncos!
Today's Weekly PTW will be different. I am going to honor this great group of seniors individually. I will mention each one by name and share a fun fact about them. They are in alphabetical order. Please enjoy!
Austin Pettis
Boise State record holder for most career catches and most touchdowns in a season. Enough said. He will be sorely missed.
Brandyn Thompson
Named Defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl after nabbing 2 interceptions (one of them was a pic-six) and tipping another pass that Winston Venable intercepted to seal the victory. Also, he's my little sister's favorite player.
Daron Mackey
His career has been hampered by knee injuries, but Mackey has contributed when he is on the field. He is aggressive and ferocious out there.
Derrell Acrey
Acrey is a vocal team leader, pumping up his teammates before each game. This includes when he was a redshirt freshman at the first Fiesta Bowl. "The Preacher" is a fitting nickname for him.
Jarvis Hodge
Has a really good time mowing down defenders in mop up time. I enjoy watching him as well!
Jason Robinson
Was the key factor/player in calling the fake punt against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.
Jeremy Avery
This little guy runs tough and has the moves to fake out defenders. Even when he was relegated to a back-up, he kept his head up and returned to the backfield as happy as he could be. Jeremy is a great player and is very underrated in Boise State history.
Jeron Johnson
Jeron hits really hard. I mean really hard. He is ferocious out there. Just ask Russell Hill.
Kevin Sapien
Also part of the offensive line last season that yielded a mere 5 sacks. His shoulder injuries sidelined him for good, but is used as a coach and mental leader.
Kyle Brotzman
Kyle has scored 425 career points. That is most in Boise State and WAC history. He is also closing in on the record books for most in NCAA history. Just remember the fake punt against TCU. It was beautiful!
Matt Slater
Another anchor in the Boise State offensive line that gives up very few sacks. He is also on the all-WAC academic team, so he's a smart kid as well.
Mike Coughlin
Mike was named Scout Team Offensive Player of the year for Boise State in 2006. He has been a huge leadership factor and model for Kellen Moore and the whole team.
Ryan Winterswyk
Transformed from a walk-on safety to a multiple-year first team all-WAC selection and all-WAC-Decade selection. That is amazing. He is one of the true leaders on defense.
Sean King
Sean is a local kid from Timberline High School, living the dream with the Broncos.
Titus Young
Boise State record holder for most receiving yards. Second for most receptions (behind fellow senior Austin Pettis). He is also the fastest freaker I have ever seen on a football field. Welcome to the NFL Mr. Young!
Tommy Gallarda
Tommy's one-handed catch for a touchdown against Virginia Tech was the sickest thing I have seen in a really long time.
Will Lawrence
Will started all 13 games last year. You know, the offensive line that only gave up 5 sacks, which was the lowest total in the nation!
Winston Venable
Basically, he's a beast. He plays very physical and even finds time to intercept the ball on occasion. I like him a lot!
Let's send off our seniors with a loud round of applause on Saturday and wish them the best as they move on. I hope that all of them get to start as well. Make sure you check back in on Sunday for my take on the game against Utah State. Let's go Broncos!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Broncos Fall Short at Nevada, Pretty Much Give it Away in the Second Half
Ouch, that really hurts. As upset and dejected as I felt last night watching Boise State's BCS Bowl and title hunt go sailing wide right and then wide left of the upright, it is important that we as Bronco fans and supporters look at the big picture of this season and what is to come. The result of the game was unexpected yes, but kudos to Nevada for being up to the task, not backing down, and pulling it out in the end. Life goes on and this football team is only going to get better as the years go by, there is no doubt about that. Let's look at some numbers and see just how bad it was.
Yardage:
......Broncos......Wolfpack
Rushing-145...........269
Passing-348...........259
..Total-493...........528
First Downs:
......Broncos......Wolfpack
........21............28
There really isn't that much more to look at. These stats tell the entire story. Uncharacteristically, Boise State gave up a lot of yards. I mean a lot. That is just ridiculous. The worst part is I can't quite put my finger on what happened. The Broncos had the Wolfpack stuffed the entire first half and were also firing on all cylinders offensively. The second half started and it looked like the teams had switched jerseys. Hats off to Nevada for making adjustments and earning the victory. I still can't believe that the Wolfpack was able to move the ball that easily against what has been a more than stellar Bronco defensive front. It was shocking. What was even more incredible was the fact that Boise State's offense sputtered against the Nevada defense. They were able to get pressure on Moore and make him uncomfortable in the pocket. The offensive line was disappointing in that regard. All of these things make up why Nevada had more yards and more first downs than the Broncos. It's baffling.
What We Learned:
Nevada was confident and it showed. They were not scared to play the Broncos. Credit to Chris Ault for preparing his guys and making the adjustments at half time. Maybe he is a good coach after all. The Wolfpack never flinched as Boise State got out to an early lead but they remained focused. A few hours before the game I told my wife that this game felt a lot like the one at Hawai'i in 2007 when they earned a trip to the Sugar Bowl. It felt like a trap and it sure was.
That was the worst officiated game I have seen in a really long time. By no means is that the reason that Boise State lost, but it made it just that much harder to watch. The punt catch interference call was one of the worst referring decisions I can recall. It was a great play by Boise State. The pass interference against Jamar Taylor was ludicrous, and completely gave the momentum to the Wolfpack. Plus they missed an obvious one against Nevada the next drive where the defender grabbed Titus Young's facemask. Ridiculous. Like I said, the refs didn't lose the game for the Broncos, but it sure made me mad.
Coach Pete and the team are classy as always. Just listen to the post game press conferences. I am seriously glad that he is the coach.
Kyle Brotzman is still the man. How anyone has the audacity to threaten his life is ludicrous. There were reports that his family's house in Meridian was getting phone calls threatening to kill him. I am completely ashamed as a Bronco fan for that. I love Kyle Brotzman. He has been a great player for Boise State since he was a freshman and that does not change now. Blaming the loss on him is ridiculous. He wasn't out there missing tackles and letting Nevada's defense get in Moore's grill all night. Yes, his job is to make field goals and those two were pretty easy ones to make, but the defense and offense shouldn't have put him in that position. Death threats are asinine. How quickly we forget. Remember at the Fiesta Bowl when he did this and everybody fell in love with him?
Areas of Concern:
There are so many. Run defense. It was good all season up until this point. Protecting our quarterback. Special teams. You name it. Mainly in the second half, this was not a good performance for Boise State.
Favorite Play:
It has to be either the Doug Martin screen for an 80-something yard touchdown or the bomb to Titus Young that put the Broncos in field goal range to win the game. Too bad neither mattered in the end.
Thoughts and Tidbits:
This loss was completely deflating for fans. We go from national title contenders to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against a crappy 6-6 team probably from the Pac-10 in just one game. Such is the life of college football fans. Kellen is still the man and will be in New York for the Heisman ceremony.
Weekly Player to Watch Recap:
Doug Martin was a complete beast last night. He scored three touchdowns and accounted for 230 total yards, both rushing and receiving. It was beautiful. The Muscle Hamster strikes again!
Perception:
The whole "style points" thing is now over as is the importance of national perception. Still, I think most voters and non-biased mature college football fans will recognize how good of a team Nevada is and that Boise State losing to them is not the biggest shock in the history of the sport. I will be cheering for the Horned Frogs in the Rose Bowl come January 1st! We as Bronco fans need to see the bigger picture. We have been spoiled with a great team and most schools in the nation would be more than happy with a 10-1 (possibly 11-1 or 12-1) season. We can't win all of them. Boise State has established itself as a premier program in the country and nothing will change that. The team will be good for years to come. I see many more BCS Bowls in Boise State's future. I am very proud to be a Bronco fan for the way that our team fought in a tough environment against a good team. The loss is disappointing and sad yes, but it is important to take it for what it is. If you say anything different than you might not be a true fan as it is. I love Boise State and everything the coaches and players stand for. Remember Stephen Kinsey at the Hawai'i game. We still have Utah State and then the bowl game to cheer for. Let's go Broncos!
Photos:
Click here!
Make sure you check back in on Monday for the Weekend Recap!
Yardage:
......Broncos......Wolfpack
Rushing-145...........269
Passing-348...........259
..Total-493...........528
First Downs:
......Broncos......Wolfpack
........21............28
There really isn't that much more to look at. These stats tell the entire story. Uncharacteristically, Boise State gave up a lot of yards. I mean a lot. That is just ridiculous. The worst part is I can't quite put my finger on what happened. The Broncos had the Wolfpack stuffed the entire first half and were also firing on all cylinders offensively. The second half started and it looked like the teams had switched jerseys. Hats off to Nevada for making adjustments and earning the victory. I still can't believe that the Wolfpack was able to move the ball that easily against what has been a more than stellar Bronco defensive front. It was shocking. What was even more incredible was the fact that Boise State's offense sputtered against the Nevada defense. They were able to get pressure on Moore and make him uncomfortable in the pocket. The offensive line was disappointing in that regard. All of these things make up why Nevada had more yards and more first downs than the Broncos. It's baffling.
What We Learned:
Nevada was confident and it showed. They were not scared to play the Broncos. Credit to Chris Ault for preparing his guys and making the adjustments at half time. Maybe he is a good coach after all. The Wolfpack never flinched as Boise State got out to an early lead but they remained focused. A few hours before the game I told my wife that this game felt a lot like the one at Hawai'i in 2007 when they earned a trip to the Sugar Bowl. It felt like a trap and it sure was.
That was the worst officiated game I have seen in a really long time. By no means is that the reason that Boise State lost, but it made it just that much harder to watch. The punt catch interference call was one of the worst referring decisions I can recall. It was a great play by Boise State. The pass interference against Jamar Taylor was ludicrous, and completely gave the momentum to the Wolfpack. Plus they missed an obvious one against Nevada the next drive where the defender grabbed Titus Young's facemask. Ridiculous. Like I said, the refs didn't lose the game for the Broncos, but it sure made me mad.
Coach Pete and the team are classy as always. Just listen to the post game press conferences. I am seriously glad that he is the coach.
Kyle Brotzman is still the man. How anyone has the audacity to threaten his life is ludicrous. There were reports that his family's house in Meridian was getting phone calls threatening to kill him. I am completely ashamed as a Bronco fan for that. I love Kyle Brotzman. He has been a great player for Boise State since he was a freshman and that does not change now. Blaming the loss on him is ridiculous. He wasn't out there missing tackles and letting Nevada's defense get in Moore's grill all night. Yes, his job is to make field goals and those two were pretty easy ones to make, but the defense and offense shouldn't have put him in that position. Death threats are asinine. How quickly we forget. Remember at the Fiesta Bowl when he did this and everybody fell in love with him?
Areas of Concern:
There are so many. Run defense. It was good all season up until this point. Protecting our quarterback. Special teams. You name it. Mainly in the second half, this was not a good performance for Boise State.
Favorite Play:
It has to be either the Doug Martin screen for an 80-something yard touchdown or the bomb to Titus Young that put the Broncos in field goal range to win the game. Too bad neither mattered in the end.
Thoughts and Tidbits:
This loss was completely deflating for fans. We go from national title contenders to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against a crappy 6-6 team probably from the Pac-10 in just one game. Such is the life of college football fans. Kellen is still the man and will be in New York for the Heisman ceremony.
Weekly Player to Watch Recap:
Doug Martin was a complete beast last night. He scored three touchdowns and accounted for 230 total yards, both rushing and receiving. It was beautiful. The Muscle Hamster strikes again!
Perception:
The whole "style points" thing is now over as is the importance of national perception. Still, I think most voters and non-biased mature college football fans will recognize how good of a team Nevada is and that Boise State losing to them is not the biggest shock in the history of the sport. I will be cheering for the Horned Frogs in the Rose Bowl come January 1st! We as Bronco fans need to see the bigger picture. We have been spoiled with a great team and most schools in the nation would be more than happy with a 10-1 (possibly 11-1 or 12-1) season. We can't win all of them. Boise State has established itself as a premier program in the country and nothing will change that. The team will be good for years to come. I see many more BCS Bowls in Boise State's future. I am very proud to be a Bronco fan for the way that our team fought in a tough environment against a good team. The loss is disappointing and sad yes, but it is important to take it for what it is. If you say anything different than you might not be a true fan as it is. I love Boise State and everything the coaches and players stand for. Remember Stephen Kinsey at the Hawai'i game. We still have Utah State and then the bowl game to cheer for. Let's go Broncos!
Photos:
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