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The Way I See It – Week 3 Boise State vs. Oregon
Sep 17th
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.
The Bronco Nation Podcast – Seven Feet is Too High
Sep 9th
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.
BNN Boise State Week 1 review and a look ahead.
Sep 1st
The Broncos Hit the field Saturday night a little shaky, ask Titus Young, who fumbled the ball on the Broncos first possession, but in the end they out manned the Idaho State Bengals winning 49-7. I have to hand it to the Bengals, they played hard and at times without regard for their own safety, as during a one play Idaho State’s QB Russel Hill, decided rather then going out of bounds he would take on Jeron Johnson, a mistake that will haunt him the rest of his College career. 
The Stueckle Sky Box debuted majestically providing shade for most of the field and providing sun block for the East Side about an hour earlier then normal. Bronco Stadium wasn’t without some glitches as the Jumbo Tron was malfunctioning most of the first half and can someone please fix the bulbs in the score board on the West side of the stadium? All and all a good tune up for the Broncos as Kellen Moore was impressive in his first college game. Check our Fight, Fight BSU’s review here.
The Broncos are off this week and it could not have been a better time. There are some injuries needing to heal as the Broncos head into undoubtedly the toughest part of their schedule. Up next for the Broncos are the Bowling Green Falcons who upset the Number 25 Ranked Pitt Panthers, on the road. The loss may prove to be one that haunts Pitt Coach Dave Wannstedt the rest of the season, as many predicted the Panthers in the top 25 all season long. Before heading to Boise on the 13th of September the Bowling Green Falcons play host to the Big Ten foe, the University of Minnesota at Doyt Stadium. If this team is 2-0 heading into Boise, it could prove to be a type of game many of Bronco Nation were not expecting.
Here is a look at how some upcoming Boise State opponents fared in week one:
Oregon defeated the University of Washington 44-10. Jake Locker proved inefficient yet again; going 12 for 28 with 103 yards passing while Oregon displayed two quarterbacks going a combined 16 for 28 with 240 yards. Next week they take on WAC member Utah State followed by a road game against Purdue, which will be televised on ABC.
La Tech outlasted SEC foe Mississippi State 22-14. This marks a big step for the Bulldogs and gives them a huge shot of momentum heading into next weeks road game against the 14th Ranked Kansas Jayhawks. After taking on the Jayhawks, La Tech plays FCS opponent Southeastern Louisiana at home and then visit the big island to take on Hawai’i. The Bulldogs could easily be 3-1 heading into September 24th ESPN Wednesday Night Game at Bronco Stadium.
Southern Mississippi beat Louisiana-Lafayette 51-21. The Golden Eagles head into SEC territory this week to take on Auburn, then take on Arkansas State who upset Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. They then take on fellow Conference USA members Marshall and UTEP before welcoming Boise State to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This game could prove to be the toughest test for the Broncos during the season.
Hawai’i lost to 56-10 to Florida. Hawai’i held the Gators to 0 points in the First and Fourth quarter. Too bad for Hawai’i rules stipulate a complete game consist of 4 quarters. The Warriors return home to take on FCS team Weber State, then come back to main land to take on Oregon State, then back to the island for San Jose State, then back to the mainland for Fresno State, back to the island for La Tech, then back to the mainland for Boise State. It would seam Hawai’i will be on the plane most of the season.
Overall upcoming opponents for the Broncos were combined 7-3 in the first week of the season. Yes regular WAC football bottom feeders Utah State and Idaho both lost, but at least Utah State decided to try. San Jose and Nevada both won their warm up games. Fresno State got their season off the right foot with a win over Rutgers. Meanwhile New Mexico State’s Thursday game was canceled due to Huriccane Gustov, too bad Nicholes State would have given Hal and the gang a run for its Mumme.
