Oh how you have disappointed Bronco Nation with another senseless WAC loss to the University of Hawai’i. A game that saw you turn the ball over 6 times, have a kickoff return for a touchdown and a missed field goal in overtime. We are obviously disappointed because we saw November 28th as a truly historic game for the WAC. The possibility of 2 highly ranked WAC opponents going head to head for a chance at a BCS Bowl game is now gone. However, we are no longer surprised by your lack of focus.
When our beloved Broncos joined the WAC in 2001, we saw you as the class of the Western Athletic Conference. Always striving to live up to the standards you have set. However, after last night I think that you need to live up to the standards Boise State has set. Boise State has 5 WAC Championships in 7 years to your 0 WAC Championships.
I believe it starts with your lack of proper goal setting. Boise State sets a specific goal each year to win the WAC, while your goal is anyone, anytime, anywhere. Your goal seems to be a bit broad. While on the surface it seems that it means you will play anyone, anytime, anywhere, but my interpretation is you are stating you can lose to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Boise State has a conservative schedule, which may include two non-conference BCS games. Granted over the last 7 years Boise State has a .286 winning percentage in those types of games, but a win over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl still feels so sweet. On the other hand Fresno State we applaud your non conference BCS winning percentage of .462 over the last 7 years. You have played 26 BCS teams winning 12 of those games. However, it is the WAC winning percentage that causes Bronco Nation concern. You see, while Boise State has a .930 winning percentage against WAC opponents over the last 7 years, Fresno State you have amassed .684 winning percentage. Though a respectable percentage for most middle of road WAC teams, it is undoubtedly a disappointment to Bronco Nation and your very own Redwave fans.
What’s more, is that typically after losing games like you have this past Saturday you usually tank the rest of the season. Take 2001 for example, after cracking the top 10 you faced first year WAC team, Boise State. Led by David Carr, you lost to us that year and followed it up with loss to Hawai’i a week later. You then ended the season with a loss to Michigan State in the Silicon Valley Bowl. You went from BCS buster to non-BCS loser. In 2005, off to an 8-1 record, beating BSU that year, you narrowly lost to USC. After which you finished the season losing to 3 games in a row to Nevada, La Tech, and Tulsa. Also what is up losing to Utah State in 2006? Finally after starting the 2008 season off with a win over Rutgers you lose to Wisconsin 13-10 at home, escape Toledo with a 1 point double overtime win, out last UCLA and now lose to Hawai’i.
So Fresno State as you struggle to make it through another disappointing season please set a goal to win the rest of your games so November 28th can have some meaning to Boise State and Bronco Nation. Doing so will curtail a some of our disappointment in you.
