WAC Weekend Recap, Week 11

Things went very well for the Broncos when it comes to poll watching and impressing voters. At the same time, the opposite is true for the pesky Horned Frogs. Narrowly beating San Diego State by 5 at home (when 27.5 point favorites), giving up 35 points, and seeing Utah (their signature win) go down in holy flames at the hands of Notre Dame was exactly what TCU did not want to happen. The Broncos jumped back in front of them in the coaches' and AP Polls, and narrowing the gap considerably in the BCS Standings. At the same time, the Cal Golden Bears gave us the blueprint on how to beat the Oregon Ducks. If only they had an offense to go along with the defense that they played, Oregon may have lost as well (they only scored one offensive touchdown the entire game. That is unheard of). Arizona and Oregon State, I hope you took notes. Thank you Cal. Also, Virginia Tech keeps winning and that is good for Boise State. Too bad they are only ranked in 3 of the 6 computers. If they win the ACC, the Broncos will be in great position to pass the Horned Frogs in the BCS Rankings. According to BCS analyst Jerry Palm and ESPN writer Mark Schlabach, that may happen anyway. With all that said, let's get recapping the weekend action, including my inspired upset special pick!

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at New Mexico State Aggies
My prediction was LA Tech wins 35 to 21
Final score: Bulldogs 41, Aggies 20
The Aggies still suck and even when playing a decent WAC team, they get blown out at home. Honestly, this was a pretty easy game to pick. The Bulldogs now need to win their next two games two become bowl eligible. I don't think that is going to happen as they have to face Nevada at home. The Aggies have no shot at a bowl, so they are playing for absolutely nothing. But they can always play the spoiler against the Wolfpack and the Rainbow Warriors.

Utah State Aggies at San Jose State Spartans
My prediction was Aggies win 31 to 17
Final score: Aggies 38, Spartans 34
I said that Utah State should be able to win this game even if they decided not to show up. Well, that exact thing happened. It was a close game, but the Aggies pulled it out in the end. There really isn't that much more that I need to say about this game because no one cares about either team. Let's move on.

Nevada Wolfpack at Fresno State Bulldogs
My prediction was Nevada wins 45 to 35
Final score: Wolfpack 35, Bulldogs 34
This was by far the best game of the weekend. The Bulldogs outplayed and out gained the Wolfpack, but somehow found a way to lose. Running back Robbie Rouse was yet again a beast and ate up 217 yards on the ground. (He will be tough to stop this Friday in Boise.) In fact, Fresno State had the rushing yard advantage with a total of 250 to 245. They did lose two fumbles, which the Wolfpack cashed in and ended up winning the game. These are the next two teams that Boise State plays, and they better be ready. I will be there this Friday when Fresno State comes rolling into town.

Virginia Tech Hokies at North Carolina Tar Heels
My prediction was Virginia Tech wins 31 to 27
Final score: Hokies 26, Tar Heels 10
The Hokies continue their tear through the ACC, having now won 8 straight games. This is great for Boise State, as I have mentioned. Tyrod Taylor was a complete monster yet again, tossing the ball for 13 completions, 249 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Nobody (except Boise State) can stop him. North Carolina made it interesting and actually had a 10-9 lead at halftime. But Virginia Tech came out after the half like gang busters and completely stifled anything the Tar Heels through at them. The Hokies have one more road test on Saturday at Miami. North Carolina will host in state rival North Carolina State as well.

Utah Utes at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
UPSET SPECIAL FULFILLED!!!!
My prediction was Notre Dame wins 31 to 28
Final score: Fighting Irish 28, Utes 3
I cannot stand anything Notre Dame. I frankly hate everything about them. Yet I found myself rooting for them to beat the highly overrated Utah Utes. It worked. The Irish completely exposed them for the absolute frauds that they are, and at the same time diminished TCU's win over them last week. The worst part for the Utes, they couldn't stop a Notre Dame team that was quarterbacked by an inexperienced freshman. Yikes. This was huge in that voters are now finally realizing that Utah sucks, TCU's win over them is not that spectacular, and they quickly vaulted the Broncos back in front of the Horned Frogs. There are now rumors that Utes Coach Kyle Whittingham is going to bench starting quarterback Jordan Wynn for back up Terrence Cain. Utah plays next week at San Diego State (who nearly upset TCU, by the way), and we sure hope that they can continue their slide. How Utah is still ranked is beyond me. Notre Dame hosts Army on Saturday, in a game that I hope they lose. It's time to get back to hating the Irish, but still being thankful that they beat Utah!

Record coming in: 43-12
This week (including Boise State's win over Idaho): 6-0
Total: 49-12

Make sure you keep checking back in for more info. on Boise State and their upcoming opponents. Go Broncos!

Broncos Destroy Overmatched Vandals-The Streak Hits 12

The game turned out just about the way everyone expected it to. It was blow out city from the start! Chris Potter's 76 yard punt return set the tone for a first quarter that yielded 28 points for Boise State, and they never looked back. The Vandals' points came in the second half. One touchdown was a pass from Nathan Enderle to Eric Greenwood, and the second a garbage time fumble by Bronco back up Joe Southwick that was pounced on in the end zone by Idaho. Most things went really well for the Broncos, and very little went well for the Vandals. Let's take a look at some stats and then analyze the game from my perspective.

Yardage:
......Broncos......Vandals
Rushing-199..........101
Passing-225..........215
..Total-424..........316

Passing, Completions-Attempts:
......Broncos......Vandals
.......22-33........28-54

First Downs:
......Broncos......Vandals
........23...........15

Penalties-Yardage:
......Broncos......Vandals
........4-46........7-80


Turnovers:
......Broncos......Vandals
........1.............3

Number of sacks on opposing quarterback:
......Broncos......Vandals
.........4............2

As you can see, Boise State outgained Idaho in total yards, but not by as much as you would have expected, especially in the rushing game. It's a little deceiving because Kellen Moore and most of the starters did not play past 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, and the second and third team did not play all that well (note: Idaho kept their starters in long after that). So basically, the Vandals were able to gain pointless yards against Boise State's back ups that netted no points for them. That skews the amount of total yards that Idaho racked up. Also, the Vandals ran two fake punts that accounted for 93 of their rushing yards. Give them credit for executing them, but besides that they had 8 yards on the ground. As for the passing game, Moore had a good night in his 2 1/2 quarters of play. Enderle (who was intercepted twice) and Brian Reader (intercepted once) combined for 54 pass attempts, only completing 28 of them, on their way to gaining 215 yards. That is a lot of passes to get that small amount of yardage. It was not an efficient night for the Vandal quarterbacks to say the least. it was nice to see Boise State keep their penalties to a minimum, while Idaho committed nearly twice as many. The turnovers were important for Boise State. Brandyn Thompson grabbed two picks last night, one from each quarterback. Finally, the Broncos only got 4 sacks, as opposed to the seven they had against Hawai'i last week. It was still a great showing. Idaho's sacks both came late in the game against the Broncos' back ups.

What We Learned:

Coach Pete does not waiver from his stance. He will not run up the score no matter who the opponent is. It was great to see him stick to his guns even though the rest of us wanted him to allow Kellen to throw 3 or 4 more touchdown passes against our hated (crappy) rival. I guess it was a good thing that Pete pulled Moore, as Shiloh Keo was just waiting to get a cheap shot in, which he did against Michael Coughlin. Speaking of that;

Shiloh Keo is a complete douche bag. Did you see that idiot blatantly head hunt the quarterback when Coughlin scrambled towards the sideline? I was pissed and so were many (all) Bronco players and fans. The worst part was Keo got up and looked at the ref like he had done nothing wrong. I hope someone goes Jojo Dickson on Keo next game and knocks that loser out for good.


The Vandal starters can score on Boise State's second and third team. Congratulations. But don't get confused, their offense couldn't do anything last night. It was a fumble in the end zone that got them their score. Nice work Idaho, have fun next year and the year after in the gutted WAC. I am not sad to see us go.

Chris Potter is a great punt returner. I'm starting to like this kid more and more. He reminds me a lot of Vinny Perretta. I hope the coaches keep using him in the wildcat formations and letting him pass every now and then. Also, it was great to see a punt returned for a touchdown. That hasn't happened for the Broncos since Kyle Wilson did it in 2008.

Idaho's defense played really hard, as Rod Gilmore and Rob Tessitore pointed out about 5 times during the game. That was getting really annoying. Plus, as hard as they played, they looked ridiculous out there getting burned by Titus and dissected by Kellen. I know you have to find things to talk about during a blowout, but building up a team that is getting taken to the woodshed is not the best way to go.

It turns out, Boise State's secondary can catch passes! Doesn't it feel like it has been forever since we had an interception? Well we had three last night. Idaho's quarterbacks sucking + Brandyn Thompson lurking in the secondary = INT! Good times...

Areas of Concern:

Second and third team. I know, they are the back ups. But I have seen them play a lot better than that in other games. Joe Southwick needs to hang onto the freaking football! He has fumbled 2 or 3 times this year. That is something that he will work on more as he gets ready to be the starter after next season. Special teams. That is a little too general, but they HAVE to stop those fake punts. Letting it happen once is one thing, but twice?

Favorite Play:

Doug Martin was at it again, lighting up chumps and knocking out fools! His first touchdown run was finished by trucking d-bag Shiloh Keo right in the freaking mouth and bull-dozing him into the end zone. It was beautiful! No videos of it have been posted, but I will keep searching for one to post. I am getting all giddy just thinking about it!

Thoughts and Tidbits:

The Vandals' quarterback Nathan Enderle is supposed to be an NFL prospect. He may be tall, but that tool cannot throw a decent ball. It doesn't help when this is happening to him on a consistent basis;


All I am saying is I am not sold on him. Idaho fans spelled out "nasty and inebriated" on their chests. It was hilarious. I was watching Sportscenter the other day and they were talking about the Miami Heat. They showed a video of their head coach, and right behind him was a lady wearing a Boise State T-shirt! You have to see it! Here is the video, fast forward to the 20 second mark. Remember, this is in Miami, Florida at an NBA basketball game! Amazing!


Anyway, I wonder if Mr. Enderle remembers seeing some blue and orange last night? He did not look like he was having very much fun.


Weekly Player to Watch Recap:

Billy Winn was his normal self last night, which is a complete beast. I counted 2 sacks from him. But it wasn't just that; he and his defensive line buddies were harassing Enderle all game, making his life absolutely miserable. It looks like I picked a good one for my Weekly PTW! Let's hope I can continue that next week when the Broncos take on Fresno State at home.

Perception:

I have mentioned that the yards and stats are a little deceiving for this game. It is a good thing that it was broadcasted on ESPN2 so that voters, fans, and the general public were all able to see how dominant Boise State truly was. There is a lot of ground to make up between the Broncos and TCU. But three consecutive Friday night prime time games will help a lot. Boise State cannot afford to be hidden when they play. Fresno State and Nevada are big games and will go a long way in proving to the voters (who in a ridiculous knee-jerk reaction) pegged the Horned Frogs above Boise State after they beat Utah last week. I don't know if it is possible to jump back over the Frogs, but it is worth trying. With all the controversy surrounding Cam Newton, the Broncos could benefit greatly. Plus I think Auburn will lose before the season is over. If it's not today against Georgia, then Alabama will take care of them in the Iron Bowl. Overall, Boise State's win over Idaho will not hurt the Broncos, and hopefully it will help when coupled with the next few games.

Photos:

You should just regularly read idahostatesman.com. For the most part they have some pretty good articles and pictures.

Weekly Player to Watch, 8th Edition

As the eve of the final rivalry game descends upon us, we are left with a few questions that must be answered. How many sacks will the Broncos get on Enderle? Can Boise State finally force a turnover, and hopefully an interception? Why does the Kibbie Dome smell like urine? The point is, this game is going to be a blow out. The Vandals may get a few small jabs in during the fight, but Boise State is going to overpower them in every way possible and make it a 3 hour nightmare for them. If Idaho had a decent team last year and lost 63-25, what do you think is going to happen when they bring this bad team into the contest? What is your prediction? To quote the immortal words of Clubber Lang in Rocky III, "My prediction...PAIN!" Bronco Chase's Weekly PTW will be the proprietor of pain and wreak God-like vengeance upon the hapless Vandals for thinking they have a shot at winning.

90% of Idaho's problems this year can be attributed to the poor play of their offensive line. A bulk of Enderle's interceptions are from having to get rid of the ball too early because defenders are shoving their helmets into his gut. This does not look good for the Vandal's, as the clear strength of the Boise State defense has been their lineman. Uh oh...Enderle will be bleeding by the time the game's over. With that said, there is one man who is going to bring it hot and heavy right at the Vandal quarterback. This week's PTW is...Billy Winn!


Did you know that Idaho ranks 116th out of 120 teams in the nation in rushing the ball? If you thought Hawai'i was one dimensional, wait until you get a look at the Vandals. Part of that is they don't have any good running backs, and the other part is that their offensive line blows (as we have already mentioned). Although his production is very low, has clearly been a massive disappointment after a decent freshman year, and will probably get held to negative rushing yards today, Vandal/loser Deonte Jackson decided to stir the pot, calling BSU president Bob Kustra a "blue and orange snot." Well there we have even more motivation for Billy Winn and co. to violently stuff Jackson every time he touches the ball. My point is Idaho is going to pass the ball a lot, especially since they are going to be down by a lot of points. Winn is going to hammer Enderle to the smelly turf in the Kibbie Dome time after time. In fact, I would not be surprised to see him in the backfield quick enough to be able to grab a hand off and force a fumble or two. Enderle will be screaming in terror. Wouldn't you? FIST!!!!!


Before his days of sporting the meanest, most terrifying mohawk in the history of mankind, Billy Winn was lighting up fools on a football in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a senior, Winn was named the Sunrise League Defensive Player of the Year as well as being named first team All-State and All-League after registering 18 sacks and 3 forced fumbles from the defensive end position. At Boise State, he plays nose tackle and has yet to meet an offensive lineman that can contain him. He was the most sought after player in Nevada during the 2007 recruiting season. Billy Winn had offers from Oregon, Oregon State, Washington State, Arizona State, UNLV, and Texas Tech. That's pretty amazing in itself, number one, and even more so that Coach Pete and his assistants were able to get him onto The Blue. He has been paying dividends ever since. On a related note, Winn is a big man and is not afraid to show you.


Billy had 8.5 in his two years at Boise State coming into this season. His stats have not been updated to tell us how many he has this year, but I would assume that there are a few. My favorite play of his so far happened against Oregon last year at Bronco Stadium. Masoli handed off to loser/criminal LeGarrette Blount when the Ducks were pinned back deep in their own territory. At roughly the same same time the ball was handed off, Winn was there to drive Blount into the orange turf in the end zone, registering a safety and establishing the Broncos' defensive dominance that would hover over Oregon throughout the entire game.


Needless to say that anybody wearing anything close to Idaho colors tonight better have their head on a swivel, because mean Billy Winn will be coming for you. That may or may not include the losers in the stands who support that dumpster fire of a football team. Just ask this poor fool how it feels to be leveled by Mr. Winn, who is this week's (terrifying) PTW!


I wish I knew what it feels like to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Billy Winn does. In fact, he is the only one in this shot to have his helmet off. Good lookin' out Billy!


Check back in tomorrow for my take on the game and everything that goes down tonight in Moscow. Let's go Broncos!

Weekend Picks, 8th Edition (11th Week of the Season)

Saturday, November 13th at 4 PM

(3-6, 2-3 WAC)
at

(2-7, 1-4 WAC)

Louisiana Tech choked at home last weekend in a loss to Fresno State. They allowed the Bulldogs to score 23 points in the 4th quarter. Coming in, their strength was supposed to be their rush defense, but Fresno’s Robbie Rouse ran all over them, totaling 286 yards on 43 carries. They will need to shore that up with Seth Smith ready to go for the Aggies. Smith is NMSU’s only legitimate weapon and I would expect that he will be given the ball frequently. Louisiana Tech needs to win their next 3 games in order to become bowl eligible. That shouldn’t be a problem against New Mexico State and San Jose State, but Nevada is their final game and that will be a tall order for the Bulldogs. The Aggies have no shot at a bowl game, so they are playing the role of the spoiler, and for pride. Those two things can be quite the motivation, especially at home. But, I think Louisiana Tech has enough to take care of business.
Prediction: Bulldogs 35, Aggies 21

Saturday, November 13th at 6 PM

(3-6, 1-4 WAC)
at

(1-8, 0-4 WAC)

The Aggies find themselves in the same position as Louisiana Tech. They must win their last three to become bowl eligible, but must face a daunting task at the end of the season. They have to play Boise State on The Blue. But Utah State has found some momentum, having come from behind to beat New Mexico State last week. Quarterback Diondre Borel will need to play well and they have to keep feeding Derrvin Speight the rock. San Jose State still can’t find a win and is amongst the worst teams in the nation. The Spartan offense is anemic, and their defense is not any better. Quarterback Jordan La Secla is playing better, but is not getting any help from his teammates. Utah State has been up and down this year, and San Jose State has been just down.
Prediction: Aggies 31, Spartans 17

Saturday, November 13th at 8:30 PM

(8-1, 3-1 WAC)
at

(6-2, 4-1 WAC)

The Wolfpack is feeling a lot better after last week’s complete annihilation of the Idaho Vandals. “Bird Leg” and co. racked up 844 total yards in a 63-17 beat down. They have their rushing game back, which will be important against Fresno State. They will need to be firing on all cylinders offensively and playing good enough defense to earn their third straight victory. The Bulldogs will unleash Robbie Rouse and hope that he runs wild against Nevada like he did against Louisiana Tech last Saturday. Quarterback Ryan Colburn has become the second option in their offense, but can still make plenty of plays with his arm and his legs. Fresno State is going to have to outscore the Wolfpack in order to win. I don’t know if they are going to be able to do that, but they can sure make a game out of it. This has all the makings of a great contest. Let’s hope it lives up to the hype!
Prediction: Wolfpack 45, Bulldogs 35

Friday, November 12th at 7 PM

(8-0, 4-0 WAC)
at

(4-5, 3-1 WAC)

The rivalry game against the Idaho Vandals happens in the Kibbie Dome tomorrow night. The Friday game on ESPN2 will give Boise State more of the exposure they need so as to get noticed by voters and whoever else needs more convincing of their worthiness. That said, with as good of a game as they played against Hawai'i, I would expect a few more mistakes from the Broncos this time around. But that won't matter much when they play a terrible team like Idaho. The item that is discussed most is whether or not this will be the last game that these two teams play. I feel that it should only continue in Boise, as there is no need or reason for the Broncos to travel up to Moscow. So in honor of the final rivalry game for the foreseeable future, I wrote a poem.

The streets will run thick with silver and gold .23 BAC blood
The curb stomp in Moscow goes down with a sickening thud
The rivalry ends on Friday with the Broncos clearly on top
When the snot bubblers fly, not even "uncle" makes it stop

What do you think? Basically what I am saying is this game is not even going to be close. Did you see how dominant Boise State was against the Rainbow Warriors last Saturday? Even with a couple of mistakes, they owned them and there is no reason that tomorrow should be any different. Bryant Moniz was a rag doll being thrown around time after time. With as terrible as the Vandal offensive line has been, Enderle has to be shaking. In fact, he may preemptively injure himself so as to not have to take the field on Friday. I guarantee the players are sitting in their dirty, cramped, moldy offices in Moscow right now gawking at Bronco game film, drooling all over themselves out of fear and remorse for even thinking they had a chance. The pee puddle on the floor is under Nathan Enderle’s chair as he runs from the room in terror. Deer in the headlights already. If Hawaii destroys the Vandals by 35, and Boise State annihilates Hawaii 35, what do you think is going to happen in that bathroom stall they call a football stadium? Sounds like a 70 point victory to me! It will get ugly real fast. Do not expect Coach Pete to go all lovey-dovey on Idaho this time around. While he might not run up the score, there will be flea-flickers, statues of liberty, double-reverse passes, and some late throws so as to send a message. This is a rivalry game right? Sure the fans enjoy it a lot. But aren't rivalries supposed to be competitive? Vandals complain that Boise State doesn't want to continue this game, and that when they were on their streak, they never thought about ending it due to a lack of competition. What a joke! When Idaho won 12 in a row, were they ranked 4th nationally with a chance to move up into a better conference (although the merits of said new conference are now somewhat debatable)? The point is if a rivalry is lopsided and there are bigger fish to fry, then we certainly find ourselves in a different situation than we were when the Vandals won their 12 in a row. I would love to see the Broncos continue to play Idaho, but it will have to wait at least two years. Going back to this particular contest, Idaho is in huge trouble and this could be the final straw for Akey; He’ll bolt for the border and be wearing Washington State maroon and white next year at this time. 12 in a row, here we come! The Vandals might have a chance at a conference championship next year in the severely depleted WAC. Good luck then. Broncos roll big!
Prediction: Broncos 58, Vandals 13

How about this. It's funny because it's true!


Saturday, November 13th at 1:30 PM

(7-2, 5-0 ACC)
at

(6-3, 3-2 ACC)

The Hokies are playing incredibly well and are coming off of a thrilling victory over Georgia Tech last Thursday. They will have had 9 days to prepare for the Tar Heels. At the beginning of the season, this game appeared like it was going to be for all the marbles. But a few NCAA investigations and a couple of people kicked off the team later and North Carolina is pretty well depleted. Still, they have managed to win 6 games thus far and are playing great most weeks. Virginia Tech will be tested in Raleigh for sure. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor will need to play well (he has every game so far this season) and help his team avoid the let down effect from the thrills of defeating the Yellowjackets last week. The hero of the game David Wilson, who returned a kickoff for a touchdown, will not play with an injury. That is unfortunate, but with Ryan Williams and Darren Evans, they should be just fine. With a defense that is now finally playing up to its hype and a scoring threat at quarterback, the Hokies will be too much for the Tar Heels to handle.
Prediction: Hokies 31, Tar Heels 27

Saturday, November 13th at 12:30 PM

(8-1, 5-1 MWC)
at

(4-5)

The Utes were completely humiliated at home last week by the TCU Horned Frogs. It also exposed them for the overrated over-achievers that they are. Now they must try and regroup on the road in South Bend, Indiana. Utah didn’t even crack 200 yards last Saturday and didn’t score until garbage time in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame usually plays pretty tough at home (excluding the inexplicable loss to Tulsa), and this should be a pretty tough game for the Utes. At the same time, I would assume that despite their anger over the loss, they are drained emotionally and physically. This may be a letdown game for them. I am looking into the future and I see the Virginia Tech Hokies ranked higher than the Utah Utes by the end of the season. That starts on Saturday.
UPSET SPECIAL!
Prediction: Fighting Irish 31, Utes 28

Record coming into this week: 43-12

Make sure you come back tomorrow to see who I pick for my Weekly PTW. I am incredibly excited for this game, in case you can't tell! Let's go Broncos!

The Western Athletic Conference as Films

Today's post is going to be a lot of fun. Besides Boise State football, my other passion in life is film. I love movies and I own over 700 of them. In honor of my love for all things Bronco and my love for films, I am going to combine the two today. That's right; using the current teams in the Western Athletic Conference (I know it will change next year), I will share with you a movie that exemplifies a WAC team. I will do it for each team in the WAC, according to where they currently are in the standings. Please leave as many comments as you would like and let me know if I got one wrong or if you have a different idea for a team. Let's get started!

San Jose State Spartans = Kazaam!


The last place team in the WAC is one of the worst in the nation. For years they had Dick Tomey as their head coach. Tomey is a future hall of famer that never really did anything with his teams in San Jose. He is like Shaquille O'neal; A big name that completely bombed. Shaq never should have even thought about making a movie. "Kazaam" was such a terrible film and likewise, San Jose State has had a bunch of terrible teams. Tomey was only able to take one group to a bowl game. It's not just that. California is filled with talented football players, and the Spartans couldn't get any of them. The putrid stench coming from Northern California is only rivaled by that of Shaquille O'neal and his hideous stint as an actor. Thank goodness it only lasted for a short time! The San Jose State Spartans are the "Kazaam" of the WAC. They aren't even fun to watch.

New Mexico State Aggies = Disaster Movie


The Aggies are exactly what the name of this movie tells us. They are really bad, but they did beat San Jose State this year. The losers who keep making these "movies" (date movie, etc.) need to stop. At the same time, New Mexico State should probably stop fielding a football team. Save your money. If the Aggies go up against a good team (Boise State), they get murdered. If somehow "Disaster Movie" was to get entered in a competition with good movies, it would also get murdered. They are terrible to watch and just like the film, they leave you pissed off for having wasted your time on such a dumpster fire of a film/football team. The New Mexico State Aggies are to the WAC what "Disaster Movie" is to the film industry; a complete and utter travesty.

Utah State Aggies = Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace


Let's be honest here, the first three films made back in the seventies were nothing short of fantastic. Maybe it was because too much time passed before they made the three prequels, but this movie sucked. It had so much promise before it started, just like Utah State. Many people had them picked to be in a bowl game and to be competitive, but that has not been the case. All they hype of the film and the Aggies has been wasted breath. "The Phantom Menace" has its moments of flashiness (mainly the special effects), and the Aggies have shown up for some games and have even won a few. But the successes that both have are overshadowed by their extreme and complete crappiness. Some people may like them, but they are only lying to themselves. Don't waste your time watching the train wreck of a movie nor the JV-like squad of the Utah State Aggie football team. You are the "Phantom Menace" of the Western Athletic Conference, literally and figuratively.

Idaho Vandals = Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd


This one is funny for more than one reason. The obvious one involves the word "dumb." Moving on...Applying this movie to the Idaho Vandals makes perfect sense. Remember back in the day when Idaho was a good football, at one point even beating Boise State 12 years in a row? That was like "Dumb and Dumber." It was great, everybody loved them, and they both have developed extensive followings that extend into the current day. But what about the sequel? Right now, the Vandals follow up the glory days by sucking terribly and embarrassing their alumni. Don't you think Jim Carey is embarrassed by the horrible sequel to his classic film? In other words, the Vandals of today are a shell of what they used to be, and they are terrible. "Dumb and Dumberer" is a crap fest compared to its predecessor. Oh yes, the good ol' glory days when Idaho and "Dumb and Dumberer" still had their dignity. They are gone, forever. Idaho, you are to college football and the great history of your football program, what "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd" is to the "Dumb and Dumber" franchise. I cringe just thinking about it. Ewww...

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs = Vanilla Sky


After you watch "Vanilla Sky," you ask yourself "what the freak was that?" After you see the Bulldogs play, you ponder something similar. Whether it is their starting quarterback Ross Jenkins cutting of the sleeves of his jersey,

or Sonny Dykes belligerently screaming at an official over an blatantly obvious offsides call to the point of getting a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct flag, it is just a mysterious, ugly mess. "Vanilla Sky" tries to be smart, to outwit its viewers, but it fails miserably. It's like the people who wrote it tried way too hard with a crappy plot and less than desirable acting, and ended up with a steaming pile of a film. That is how the Bulldogs are. They try so hard to run a no-huddle, fast-paced, quick strike offense, but they don't have the talent or intelligence to pull it off. You are left with jumbled disorder. Sometimes they play well and score some points, just as the movie has scenes and portions that are decent, but the end does not justify the means. Both would have more success by trying less. How is this for next year's campaign slogan: "Louisiana Tech-putting "vanilla" into the WAC." I am not sad to see them not in our conference next year.

Nevada Wolfpack = 17 Again


This was actually a pretty good movie. Don't get me wrong, it wouldn't be my first choice of films to watch, but it was entertaining nonetheless. Just like Nevada, "17 Again" gets the job done and entertains those who watch. But in no way would you rank either as top-tier or best in their conference/genre. Think about it; the lead role in the film is played by Zac Efron. The Wolfpack's leader is Colin "Bird Leg" Kaepernick. Both are preppy, handsome, pretty-boy "studs" (I use that term loosely) that are completely overrated. Which is better, being the star of "High School Musical" and parlaying that fame and success into other teen-flick roles, or being the starting quarterback for a one-dimensional middle to high-tier team in the WAC? Both are fine, but not what I want to be doing. "17 Again" and the Nevada Wolfpack, like two pees in an under-performing pod.

Fresno State Bulldogs = G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra


I actually enjoyed this film. I like action and special effects, and it was fine once I looked past the cliché, lame, and unthoughtful dialogue and plot line. In fact, I remember seeing "G.I. Joe" advertised during the Super Bowl more than a year before it was released. It promised so much. Hey that sounds like Fresno State! They show so much promise each preseason and proceed to go below expectations year in and year out. But understand, they are indeed a good team with great players and a fearless coach, but they are constantly a let down, just like the film. Look at the stars in the movie; Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid, Marlon Wayans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sienna Miller, and Brendan Fraser. That is not a complete A-list, but enough to create a sparkling action-flick worthy of high praise. But it did not live up to the hype. The Bulldogs recruit plenty of talent every year, but are underwhelming in their accomplishment. This comparison was just too perfect; "G.I. Pat Hill: The Rise of Underachieving Bulldogs."

Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors = Juno


"Juno" was so wrong in so many ways. The exploitation of pregnant teenagers is only comparable to one thing; the exploitation of an alleged dangerous offense that refuses to utilize the run, therefore making it not dangerous to decent defenses. I cannot stress to you how overrated and annoying this movie was. Hawai'i is about as overrated of a team as there has been in college football this year and in the past few. "Juno" had it's moment to shine when it picked up an Academy Award for best original screenplay (how it did that is beyond me), just as the Rainbow Warriors had their time to shine in the 2007 season. They promptly threw it away (as well as any respect that non-AQ schools may have had at the time) with their (lack of) performance in the Sugar Bowl. The point is while a lot of people may like this film and see a fictitious deeper meaning in it, it's still erroneously glorified and finds itself completely off the mark when it comes to film making. Hawai'i has its fans, but it remains an overrated farce of a good team that wants you to think it's cooler than it actually is (but hey, they're from Hawai'i!). The Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors: the annoying over-hyped, exploited, and pregnant teenage girl of the Western Athletic Conference.

Boise State Broncos = Gladiator


That's right, and it's completely true! Now some of you may say "wait a minute! These movie is so far ahead of those on the list, it's not even fair!" To that I say; exactly! You get it! Congratulations! The Broncos are leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the conference that it isn't fair. Hence the exit to the Mountain West! But let's think about it, "Gladiator" is deep, complex, violent, glorious, successful, and a lot of fun to watch. In the previous sentence, replace the word "Gladiator" with "the Boise State Broncos" and all of it is still true. Their offense is so complex, it confuses opposing defenses play after play. Their talent is so deep that 3rd string defensive lineman are throwing Bryant Moniz to the turf like a rag doll. Their defense plays so physical and violent that the starting quarterbacks of their opponents are scared to face them. Their glory rests in the number of wins they have had in the past few years and can be summed up in 5 words; "Two Time Fiesta Bowl Champions." That is all I need to stay about that. True gladiators are forged on the battle field and come out victorious, having destroyed their foes against all odds. Boise State is Maximus, plain and simple.

So what did you think? I had a lot of fun creating this post and the comparisons. Check back in tomorrow for my Weekend Picks and some insight. Let's go Broncos!

A Smorgasbord of Info. for Bronco Fans

Just as the title suggests, today's post is going to be a whole mix of things. I figured it was only appropriate because there is a lot to discuss and only so many days in which I can post. I will itemize each subject and go from there. I know for a fact that I am going to contradict myself, but you will understand why.

Item #1: I feel obliged to start with the scene that went down in Bronco Stadium Saturday afternoon. I already mentioned it in my take on the beat down of the Rainbow Warriors here, but I wanted to go into more detail on it. I was thinking about this over the weekend and these are my thoughts: I am so proud of the team and coaching staff for what they did on Saturday. I mean that sincerely. Stephen Kinsey is a little hero and deserves everything he got and more. When he and Shea McClellin walked out onto the field holding hands, carrying their hammers, it was like everybody in the stadium was watching a Nicholas Sparks movie. Waterworks galore. My eyes were sweating…At least that’s what I told my wife…The performance of the team coupled with Coach Pete’s treatment of the Kinsey family made me so proud to be a Bronco. At some point I may get back to my proactive BCS-hating ways, but right now I do not care. If you could tell me of a coach or a team that would do what Petersen and the Broncos did, you would be making it up. Bronco Nation is amazing, and it all starts with the coach. The BCS can have their fun this year, we all know who the real winners are. Take a look at Bronco-loved Pat Forde's perspective on Coach Pete and the team. It is really touching in so many ways. Pete is known for not trying to make a statement or earn "style points" when his team plays. Forde explains why it makes sense that he is how he is. Seriously, I was crying when I saw Kinsey and McClellin come onto the field, and then again when I read about it the next day. For a moment in time, I was able to see what is important in life, forget this garbage about the BCS, and enjoy myself on a surprisingly sunny Saturday in Boise. I am a big baby sometimes, and this was one of those times. If we could strive to be like Chris Petersen, not just with our actions but in our thoughts as well, we would be better fans and enjoy the game more. It was indeed a needed break from the BCS madness.

Item #2: With that said, I now wish to harp on the BCS (I told you I was going to contradict myself. But hey, the Stephen Kinsey-induced euphoria can only last so long, right?). Start by reading Brian Murphy's take on TCU jumping BSU in the polls and BCS Rankings. It is a really good article. These two teams are so close in talent, coaching, offensive and defensive production, and skill, that it is so hard to determine who should be ranked higher. All that you have to help you make a decision is who they played against, common opponents, and strength of schedule. Boise State's is ranked 78th and TCU's is 85th. Boise State's marquee win was over Virginia Tech, who currently sits 20th in the BCS Standings. TCU's signature win was against an extremely overrated Utah team (strength of schedule; 99th), who now sits at 14th. As long as the Hokies keep winning, they will be in the top 10 and at BCS Bowl by the end of the season. Utah will lose at Notre Dame. Boise State also beat a red hot Hawaii team, and will still face a tough Fresno State squad as well as a ranked Nevada unit. TCU plays nobody for their last two games. With that said, there is still plenty of time and the possibility for the Broncos to pass the Horned Frogs in the Rankings. Time will tell. My main gripe is the voters. With as close as these teams are, how in the world can the Frogs be getting that much more love than Boise State? The difference in respect is astounding and ridiculous at the same time. Boise State beat them last year. You can and have to use last year's results. Everything that happens this year is based on it. Boise State has a lot of ground to make up on TCU, biased voters are not going to help. In the bitter end, the Broncos could be left out of a BCS Bowl Game, which would be ridiculous. Come on voters! Get over yourselves! As far as common opponents, there are two; Oregon State and Wyoming. Boise State was more dominant over the Beavers than TCU was, beating them by a larger margin. They also dismantled Wyoming on the road, not allowing a point to be scored and held the Cowboys to negative rushing yards. The Horned Frogs beat them at home by the same margin, but allowed Wyoming to score. It is important to point out that the Cowboys were without their starting quarterback against TCU. Without this, how else could you compare the teams? Boise State was more impressive against them, but yet again the voters do not care. Insanity.

Item #3: I received a comment on "Boise State's Nice List" from Raul. He was wondering why Andrea Adleson wasn't on there. In all honesty, I had never heard of her before then. But as a blogger aspiring to be a journalist, I did my due diligence and researched everything I could about Mrs. Adelson. I found that she is very supportive of the non-AQ schools, including Boise State. The most interesting piece I found from her is actually a conversation she had with Mark Schlabach. In it they debate the merits of these schools. Check it out here and see for yourself. She definitely belongs on the Nice List, so thank you very much Raul. I would put her at number three, bumping the former numbers 4 through 8 back one spot. She is that high because of how enthusiastic she is with her non-AQ supporting position. I will now pay plenty of attention to what Andrea Adelson does. It feels good to have another one on our side.

That is all I have for today. Thanks again to Raul for commenting and contributing to this blog. I hope there is a lot more from him as well as everyone else that reads. As a farewell and in honor of the rivalry game that will go down on Friday, enjoy this picture! I saw it in person at Bronco Stadium three years ago! Check back in tomorrow for more!