I wanted to start a new feature on the blog side of things regarding Boise State’s Weekly Match Up.  My hope is to provide a take on the weeks game and provide relevant links to Boise State’s opponent for that weeks game.

So the way I see it, Boise State by all accounts should dismantle its Football Championship Subdivision opponent Idaho State come August 30th at the newly revamped Bronco Stadium. Coming off a 3-8 season under first year head coach John Zamberlin, the Bengals of Idaho State only hopes of beating the Broncos may lie in resurrecting the 1981 1-AA Champions, cloning NFL star DE Jared Allen 4 times and some how zap each player with a piece of Merril Hoge’s drive and determination.

The Facts:

Boise State is 23-6 all time versus Idaho State, suffering its last loss to Idaho State in 1994, 32-31. Oh and there was the globe of death thing that happened a few years earlier.  The last time the two teams met was in 2003, with Ryan Dinwiddie and company wiping Idaho State of the Blue Turf 62-0. That was Jared Allen’s Senior year with ISU and he was a non-factor (see earlier comment on ISU’s chances).

The Bottom Line:

Idaho State Coach Zamberlin hopes that his Bengals can at least reach the .500 mark this season, which simply put the game against Boise State will not help Coach Zamberlin get any closer to making that wish a reality. When asked in a recent interview if he liked having Boise State on the schedule, Idaho State’s head coach responded,

“We’ve got to establish ourselves. Yeah, we have a tough schedule, but lots of teams have hard schedules. It is what it is. We can’t do anything about that other than play well. We’ve got to just keep improving. But it is a tough schedule. Boise State, which is one of the more consistent winning programs in the country, is up first. They’ve got things rolling right now. Then we turn right around and go to Moscow to play another tough team in Idaho. We’re going to have to make sure we’re staying covered. Then we have to play a tough North Dakota game. Throw in Cal Poly, and there’s not an out of conference game that is easy. They’re all going to be tough. I think our players will be excited to play those games, but we’re going to have to go out and perform well. It’s a great opportunity for our guys. That’s the way you’ve got to approach it and do some good things in those games.”

Coach I can speak for all of Bronco Nation, those other teams you mentioned in ducking the question aren’t anywhere near Boise State tough.

For Boise State, newly appointed Quarterback Kellen Moore gets a trial run against live bodies that actually don’t care if he gets hit and run a different, yet less formidable defense (see link below). Boise State will make mistakes, but then again isn’t this game really just practice, not a real game, but practice?

All kidding aside, I am glad to see Idaho State come to town, it is good for fans of Idaho State see their team play up and have the ability to see the game live in person or on local television. If Boise State has to schedule FCS teams, I hope that it is always Idaho State. This is a good way for Boise State to start the season and Kellen Moore will be able to get College Game experience, before the season really gets going. Go Broncos!!

Here are some links related to Idaho State:

• 2008 Idaho State Media Guide
• Offense Dazzles in Final Scrimmage
• The Interview with Coach Zamberlin
• Idaho State Football
• ISU Fan Forum
• Jerry Miller’s 1992 Call of the Globe of Death Play