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The Way I See It – Week 2 Boise State vs. Bowling Green
Sep 8th
The Broncos (1-0) are coming off a 49-7 win versus Idaho State to take on the Bowling Green Falcons (1-1) from the Mid American Conference. The way I see it, this game will be a huge test for the Broncos, as Bowling Green is coming off a 1-1 non conference start against BCS opponents, Pittsburgh and Minnesota. Many questions surround this game. Could Bowling Green hand the Broncos their first regular season home loss since 2001? Will the Jumbo Tron be working? Will game time programs be given away or will Boise State Athletics try to squeeze every dollar it can out of Bronco Nation? Can Bowling Green Head Coach Greg Brandon become Urban Meyer?
The Facts:
On September 21st, 2008, the only meeting between Boise State and Bowling Green, the Broncos won 48-20. The dominate win was the first of the season for the 2005 Broncos and it could not have come at a more critical time. Bronco Fans got a taste of things to come as Ian Johnson, a Freshman, ran for 85 yards. The Falcons are led by 2007 third-team All-MAC performer, Junior QB Tyler Sheehan, who passed for 23 touchdowns, to go along with 3,264 yards, three rushing touchdowns, and two receiving scores (the only QB in the Country to do so). The Falcons were 8-5 last year starting the season off with a 32-31 upset win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers and then ending the season by suffering a GMAC Bowl loss to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane 63-7, proving taking on teams with Golden in their names is harder then one would think.
The Bottom Line:
Bowling Green is seeking its first MAC Conference Title since 1992, going 10-2 that season. The Falcons come into this week’s game a bit down after its home loss to Minnesota, but will likely still be thinking upset. QB Tyler Sheehan will provide tougher competition for the Bronco Defense, as early in the 08′ campaign he is 53 of 83 with 424 yards passing. More information on the Falcons can be found here.
Boise State was very pass-happy in week one, as Bronco QB’s threw for 352 yards. That trend will likely continue as suspended Junior WR Jeremy Childs, who accounted for 82 receptions, 1085 Yards and 9 touchdowns in 2007 despite being suspended for the Hawai’i Bowl, makes his return to the Blue. Boise State will look to clean up some mistakes from the opening week, as Titus Young had some trouble keeping a hold of the ball, accounting for both Bronco turnovers in the ISU game. Questions remain on both sides of the line with Defensive End, Ryan Winterswyk and Offensive Lineman, Nate Potter unlikely to return for this week’s game. Did Derrell Acrey, accounting for 14 of the Broncos tackles in week one, secure the spot at Middle Linebacker or is Kyle Gingg at full strength to make the start? Finally, Kellen Moore will undoubtedly face his toughest test in his young College Football career.
With the Broncos virtually unstoppable at home since join the WAC, having had a week to rest up and key players returning for this game, I predict that Boise State will face a tough test, but will rise to the competition pulling out a convincing win. Go Broncos!!
Here are some links related to Bowling Green:
- The Peace Pipe is a trophy awarded annually to the winner of the game between the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University.
- Bowling Green Football Website.
- Bowling Green Fan Forum.
- Bowling Green 2008 Media Guide (PDF).
- Falcons Coach Greg Brandon’s MAC Media Days Interview.
- Coach Brandon hands out 400 Sandwiches to students in an effort to persuade them to attend the Minnesota home game.
The Way I See It Week 1 – Boise State vs. Idaho State
Aug 21st
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
My Boise State Quarterback Question
Jul 27th
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (1.8MB)
With another post out on Bronco Country and Ryan Murphy’s question from Coach Petersen’s WAC news conference about who should start at quarter back I am reminded of days past. I am not sure when the obsession over who is starting at quarterback for Boise State was brought into question by the local news media and fans. 
I do recall the whole Mike Stanford or Jared Zabransky thing back in 2004. In 2007 Boise State fans and media were yet again obsessed over who should man the offense. Now in 2008 Boise State, from a fan and media perspective is embroiled in the Bush Hamdan and Kellen Moore quarterback stand off. It should be noted that any of the four quarterbacks on the current roster could lead this team, maybe not as well as the next, but quite capable of running the offense. For all the insight, media driven controversy and obsession, my Boise State quarterback question is not who will be the Boise State quarterback, but rather who will be the Boise State quarterback with enough talent to man a National Football League team.
Over the past weeks Bronco Fans have learned their hero to zero to hero Jared Zabransky was cut yet again, this time by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Taylor Tharp, by all accounts may have had a shot to catch on in Carolina was cut this month. Past quarterback Bart Hendricks had his moments in NFL Europe and most recently the AFL 2. Ryan Dinwiddie, arguably the best Boise State quarterback in recent memory is having the best career thus far. Ryan’s services are being employed up north in the CFL, getting the chance to lead his Winnipeg team in the 2007 Grey Cup and now after Winnipeg’s 0-4 he replaced the season starter and led his team to victory this past week. However, even with those successes Ryan was also cut by the NFL’s Chicago Bears.
Most would agree a great College Football quarterback may not be NFL material. 
There are countless examples, Andre Ware, Tommy Frazier, Tim Couch and most University of Florida products. With that said, most if not all NFL quarterbacks started in the college ranks somewhere. In addition, I think most college quarterbacks desire to become NFL quarterbacks. The bottom line is I would like to see a Boise State quarterback shine in the NFL.
It is possible for non BCS teams to produce such a talent; Steve Young, Jim McMahon and Trent Dilfer were all Super Bowl starters and winners. Imagine if Boise State landed a talented enough quarterback that NFL scouts would consider him a first round choice after his college career. Imagine a quarterback with that type of talent leading a Chris Petersen coached team. I say forget asking who will start at quarterback in 2008 for Boise State, but rather do we now or are capable in the future of having an future NFL talent at the helm of the Boise State offense.
