The Way I See It – Week 3 Boise State vs. Oregon

Posted on September 17, 2008 by JT Ray

The Broncos come into this game 2-0 with a so, so win over the Bowling Green Falcons. The Oregon Ducks are 3-0 on the young season with wins over Washington, Utah State and Purdue. The way I see it, this game is a put up or shut up game for this version of the Boise State Broncos. Coming off a season where the Broncos lost 3 (Washington, Hawai’i and East Carolina) of its 4 biggest games, the Broncos desperately need this win. As a win on the road against a ranked BCS team will provide the respect the Broncos desperately need.

The Bottom Line:

It is hard to believe, but Boise State travels to Eugene, in front of a sell out crowd at Autzen Stadium, to play its first game against the Ducks of the Pac-Ten. Why does this game mean so much to Boise State and its fans? It is a simple case of so close yet so far away. Unless you have been living under a rock the Boise State Broncos have yet to beat a BCS team on the road. The Broncos have come close before. In 2000, led by Bart Hendricks, the Broncos came up short, losing 38-31 to Arkansas of the SEC. Ryan Dinwiddie and company nearly pulled off a win in Corvallis, but the Broncos came up short losing 26-24 to the Oregon State Beavers. Finally, in 2005, coming off a huge loss to Georgia, with Jared Zabransky at the helm, the Broncos came up short yet again, as the Oregon State Beavers scored the final 10 of the game to win 30-27.

The Facts:

The Ducks are ranked number 12 in the USA Today Coaches poll. As Oregon’s Head Coach, Mike Belloti is a career 17-0 against the Western Athletic Conference, including a win against Utah State this year. Oregon is fourth the nation in total offense (562.33 ypg) and rushing offense (323.33 ypg), and ninth in scoring offense (47.33 ppg). The Ducks have seven players with 50 or more rushing yards through three games this season. The Ducks are coming off a double overtime victory against the Purdue Boilermakers; however the Ducks lost QB Justin Roper to a knee injury. In the game Junior CB Jairus Byrd’s 87-yard punt return for a TD and was nominated as one of ESPN’s Game Changing Performances presented by Pontiac for Week 3 of the college football season. Keep in mind the Ducks were a mere knee injury away from National Title hopes last year. Needless to say, despite the awful uniforms the Ducks are good team.

The Broncos head into this week’s match up with questions. Will Sophomore WR Titus Young return to action after being suspended for last Saturday’s game for violating team rules (word on the street is, fumbling the ball twice in one game is against Boise State team rules)? Will Middle Linebacker Derrell Ackery, who has a 50/50 chance of playing in this week, be ready for this game? Will Bronco Fans make it out of Eugene with their lives? On the positive side of things, Jeron Johnson was named WAC Player of the Week, recovering 2 fumbles and had 13 tackles in last weeks win. Freshman QB Kellen Moore ranks 10th in the nation in passing efficiency (182.7) proving he can get people the ball. Ian Johnson was close to breaking for 100 yards last week, but I think Bronco Fans hope for a 2006 Oregon State like performance this week. Chris Petersen returns home to Oregon where he previously served as WR Coach under Mike Belotti (not sure if this means much of anything, but interesting none the less).

The Broncos face a tough task in beating the Oregon Ducks. Boise State will need to be virtually mistake free throughout the game. This will require the Bronco to have no turnovers, no big play reversing penalties and no playing not to lose attitude. The Ducks will not give this one away as they too have goals of BCS glory on their minds. It will be loud, as nearly all of the 54,000 plus in attendance will be cheering for the Ducks (just think Bronco Stadium only 10 times louder). I am smelling upset, Go Broncos!!

Oregon Ducks related links:

Autzen Stadium
Oregon Ducks’ Football Official Website.
Oregon Ducks’ 2008 Media guide
Visiting Football Team Guide, useful info for those heading to the game.
Oregon Live, provides blog posts and podcast.
Oregon Ducks’ Fan Forum.

Four Questions For Mike Bellotti

Posted on September 16, 2008 by JT Ray

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 4:25 — 12.0MB)

Bronco Nation Fans, as I gave it an effort to track down an Oregon Duck interview, I was unable to work things out. So as a consolation I present to you a video of Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti talking about Boise State and a podcast interview with Coach Bellotti. Credit Oregon Live for both.

The Bronco Nation Podcast – Seven Feet is Too High

Posted on September 9, 2008 by JT Ray

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (14.8MB)

In this Episode:

JT, Buck and Drew talk about the unsportsmanlike penalty against Jake Locker of the University of Washington, is 7 feet the cut off line for the ball going too high in the air?
Is Boise State Senior WR Vinny Perretta blogging a good thing for Boise State?
Our Take on the new ESPN deal with the WAC
WAC Players of the week and this weeks WAC Schedule
Bowling Green Game Predictions

Please Email questions or comments to questions@bronconationnow.com

This episode brought to you by theBlueAndOrangeStore.com where listeners can save 10%, listen to the show for details.

The Way I See It – Week 2 Boise State vs. Bowling Green

Posted on September 8, 2008 by JT Ray

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.

broncos 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 Bronco Nation Podcast – Interview with Bowling Green Radio Play by Play Announcer

Posted on September 7, 2008 by JT Ray

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (2.0MB)

In this Episode:

Todd Walker, Bowling Green Play by Play Radio Announcer stops by to educate Bronco Nation about the Bowling Green Falcons.