College Football

[Kopfjager]

So what? They're a better team now. My point was for several years now people have been saying they can't hang with the established programs. They continue to prove they can. If the BCS people weren't such asshats, scheduling BSU to play TCU this year then they would have had their chance to prove themselves against someone like Florida.

It's funny how people just can't fathom that a school new to the scene might actaully be good...despite their results.  

They barely beat TCU. You think they could touch Florida?    I know they would get embarrased against Texas or ALABAMA.

[Mike_D]

They barely beat TCU.

By one point or a hundred, a win is a win.  Face it, Boise's defense rose to the occasion and finessed TCU's offensive line and pressured Dalton for much of the night, leading to 3 interceptions.  Having said that, I don't think BSU could handle Texas or Alabama--they are just too big.  But when THIS season is over BSU deserves to be ranked #2--end of story. 

[nicrosato]

Fact is that Boise's win over Oklahoma '07 helped them recruit. They are a high-visibility program now and must be in the discussion of the top teams. I believe they lose only 4 seniors from the first and 2nd offensive and defensive teams. Beginning next season with a top 5 ranking will give them a better chance at the championship.

Whether they would have beaten Florida is not the question; they would have been much more competitive than Cincinnati. They have speed on defense and that's what keeps you in games. Look at Nebraska, great D, poor O, or even Ohio State, who was inconsistent on offense until the Rose Bowl.

[metallimonster]

I put it this way,  would I want Ohio State to play TCU in a BCS game- Hell Yeah, would I want them to play Boise State- Probably Not.  They've shown by beating two conference champions this year and having two Fiesta Bowl wins that they can hang with anyone.  Petterson getting a five year contract is a good thing for BSU.  Though 5 years puts him right in line for when Tress will be gone and Ohio State will be looking for a new coach.

The key factor in this game was that it was a big cop out by the BCS.  TCU and Boise should have played Cinnci (make the beast with two backsing fraud) and Florida.

At some point they will have to get their chance just like Florida State.  Shoot how about get rid of a Pac-10 Team and but BSU in there.  That way they could play for it all every year. How many of you Pac-10 fans want that?

[Triple J]

They barely beat TCU. You think they could touch Florida?    I know they would get embarrased against Texas or ALABAMA.

Yes. I think they would give Florida or Texas a very tough game. Any of the top tier teams can beat any other one, so I said "give them a tough game" instead of "beat". Alabama seems to be the best in the land, so that would be tougher...although my opinion about that may change after Thursday (if Texas wins).

I used to say BSU was a good team, but couldn't hang with the big guys due to size and speed. I no longer think that is the case. Keep in mind, they beat TCU without their main receiver Austin Pettis. I think he caught one ball because he's recovering from a broken leg. If he would have been 100% the score likely wouldn't have been as close.

BSU could be extremely good next year. Their QB is only a sophomore!

The key factor in this game was that it was a big cop out by the BCS.  TCU and Boise should have played Cinnci (make the beast with two backsing fraud) and Florida.

For sure!!

At some point they will have to get their chance just like Florida State.  Shoot how about get rid of a Pac-10 Team and but BSU in there.  That way they could play for it all every year. How many of you Pac-10 fans want that?

I'm a PAC-10 fan (Cal), and I'd love to see BSU admitted! Dump Washington State and replace with BSU...or just expand the conference. I think a big problem though is BSU's satdium. It seats around 32,000...after an expansion so they could join the WAC. I'm sure the PAC-10 requires their teams to have stadiums capable of seating 50,000+ at least.

[Triple J]

Petterson getting a five year contract is a good thing for BSU.  Though 5 years puts him right in line for when Tress will be gone and Ohio State will be looking for a new coach.

I don't really see Peterson leaving BSU. He already would have if he was going to IMO. If he doesn't leave after this season (we all know contract extensions mean nothing  ) I think he's a fixture there. He makes good money...especially in Boise, and seems content. I also think he looks at other coaches who have gone to the "big time" and been out of a job in 3 years and had to deal with immense pressure the entire time there.

Best example is Dan Hawkins at Colorado. Left a very good BSU program a few years back, and still hasn't done anything at Colorado that I'm aware of. Colorado is probably pissed though! They hired Hawkins away from BSU...when Peterson (offensive coordinator at the time) is clearly the guy they should have hired!  

[JEFF_H]

<disclaimer- Boise resident>

what a great game to watch last night.
closely matched, hard fought and good play by both sides.
(isnt kyle wilson fun to watch?)

I like that Peterson doesnt get involved with rankings discussions with the press.
play the game and let the results speak for themselves.

if youre gonna base rankings and championships on stats...might as well plug the numbers into the computer they use on Spike Ultimate Warrior to determine who would win, and let the players stay home.

If you want to see if BSU could beat one of the 'real teams' schedule the game. 

[Triple J]

...also, for the strength of schedule folks have a look at Texas', Forida's, and Alabama's schedules. Texas' probably wasn't much tougher (if at all) than BSU's...and Florida's was probably only slightly tougher. Alabama is the only one whose schedule was noticeably tougher IMO.

[Mike_D]

While moving BSU into the Pac-10 may seem like a good idea, the underlying message would then be that the WAC doesn't really measure up, and that would diminish the remaining teams in the conference.  The only way to end all the speculation is to develop an NCAA playoff system and let the best team from each conference battle it out.

[Triple J]

The only way to end all the speculation is to develop an NCAA playoff system and let the best team from each conference battle it out.

100% agree

[metallimonster]

By the way,

Go Hawkeyes!!!!!  Lets get another win for the Big Ten.

[teddy037.2]

The only way to end all the speculation is to develop an NCAA playoff system and let the best team from each conference battle it out.

+11TB, but I'm not holding my breath on this happening


and, re:WAC... we can't be diminished much more than we already are 

[Kopfjager]

Good game tonight. 

[metallimonster]

People like to rag on the Big Ten because it is not full of flashy offenses but this year they showed that defense wins games.

GT, Miami, Oregon, and LSU all lost becuase they couldn't move the ball.  Sure they'll get some big plays but no sustained drives.

I find it funny how Ohio State fans and haters talked shit about them not having a great offense but they scored more than GT, Miami, and LSU against the same Big Ten teams.

Now I'm routing for Texas to beat down a SEC team!

[swampduc]

Hey, I was glad to see the Big 10 take several games this year, but let's not go overboard. A conference full of one dimensional teams did well against some other one dimensional teams. They were very enjoyable games to watch, though. These were good matchups for Big 10 teams.

Triple J, so BSU could give the top 3 a game. So what? Tennessee "gave Bama a game." Does that make them nationally elite? BSU is a good squad, and is a far better team than the sum of its parts, but I still don't think they could touch UF, Bama, or Texas. If a playoff happens in the future, great, but I don't see how anyone can complain that the true national champion won't be crowned tomorrow, whichever team wins. There's a path to true national competitiveness open to BSU, and it shouldn't involve hiding out in the WAC. Upgrade the facilities and play more than 2 good teams a year (or in most years, none). And as far as the BCS "screwing" BSU and TCU, the Fiesta Bowl chose those 2 teams aiming for high ratings. It got high ratings, so how can anyone blame a bowl game for looking out for its own interests?

I've heard lots of complaints re: Texas' strength of schedule. This year, the schedule was admittedly weak, but there's a difference between planning your schedule that way, as BSU does every year, and having a conference that gets decimated by injuries and suspensions, plus having good teams pull out of scheduled matchups, as happened to Texas this year.