Why Idaho Features much more than just the Potato

It has Kellen Moore

                The most efficient Quarterback college football has seen in a decade.  I hate to compare Kellen Moore to Cameron Newton today because each of these signal callers is perfect for their style of offense. Boise would take Kellen over Cam 100 out of 100 times, and Auburn would take Cam over Kellen 100 out of 100 times, which is why it is ultimately hard to justify which one is the “better” quarterback. But pay attention to number 11, because whatever “it” is, Kellen Moore has “it”. I understand he doesn’t face college football’s cream of the crop week in and week out, but statistically this guy just isn’t human.  Over the last two seasons, the brain behind the bronco has thrown 58 touchdowns to just 8 interceptions.  And he’s not just putting up these video game like statistics in the first 3 quarters, Moore has 3 game winning drives to his credit, including a vigorous and passionate fourth quarter comeback against ACC leader and most likely eventual champ, Virginia Tech, in a game where Kellen went 23-38, throwing 3 TD’s and you guessed it . .no interceptions.  Give me my choice of any quarterback in the country to lead my team on a crucial 4^th quarter drive, with apologies to Mr. Newton at Auburn, and Stanford’s #12, give me the gentleman sporting blue and orange every time.  And in case you were wondering, he’s 36-1, which is almost equivalent to his Touchdown-Interception ratio.

It has Chris Peterson

                Why this man’s name is not mentioned with the Nick Saban’s, or Urban Meyer’s in college football is honestly beyond me.  No matter how many times I hear the WAC conference is just that, no matter how you slice it In Chris Petersen's first five SEASONS, he's yet to lose five games (57-4), and he has three undefeated regular seasons, two undefeated campaigns including bowl results, and has put together winning streaks of 14, nine, 12, and 22. Convinced yet? And he’s done this with two completely different teams. I just told you why I may take Kellen Moore over any other QB in the NCAA, but let’s be realistic he does not necessarily project well as an NFL QB. And neither did Jared Zabranksy, Peterson’s first quarterback as he failed several NFL tryouts. What this speaks to is Peterson’s genius, in his ability to coach his players, as well as recruit. Neither of these QB’s have all of physical tools, they aren’t one man armies (see Cameron Newton), but they have an exact understanding of how to orchestrate Boise’s spread offense to a tee. And the simple fact that Boise didn’t miss a beat when transitioning from one QB to another is extraordinary, given the troubles Meyer’s program has had this year after losing Tim Tebow. He's the only two-time winner of the Bear Bryant Award, honoring the best head coach in the nation, and he was twice nominated for the Broyles Award, given to the best assistant coach, during his time as Boise's offensive-coordinator.  Fact: no one has accomplished as much as Coach Peterson has in this short a time period, in college football history. Time for Chris Peterson to become a household name. 

It has a team that features the best win in college football this season

                  I cannot tell you the countless times I have heard the following sentence uttered. “ Boise State doesn’t have enough quality wins to deserve to play for a National Championship”.  Well, like always, I’m here to tell you why I don’t buy in to that one bit. They just may have THE best win in College Football ALL SEASON.

                Monday, September 6, @ #10 Virginia Tech. A Virginia Tech team that has recently rolled through the ACC, cruising to an 8-0 record. If they did not have a major slip up vs. James Madison in week 2, the Hokies would be 10-1, and currently in the BCS top 7 (projected).  The James Madison loss for Virginia Tech, when it’s all said and done, may have Boise State on the outside looking in. Fair or Foul? You tell me. But back to this classic game. It was technically played at a neutral site in Landover, Maryland. BUT when comparing the distance Boise had to travel versus the distance Va Tech did, also taking into account Virginia Tech’s fan-base outnumbering Boise’s 10-1, this was essentially a home game for Virginia Tech. If you disagree with that statement, quit reading now. The Broncos defeat Virginia Tech, 33-30, doing it through the air, as well as in the trenches, manufacturing an early season statement against a top-10 major contender.

Let’s take a look at how many teams this year have accomplished what Boise did that night.

CRITERIA: Teams this season have won on the road, against a Top- 10 ranked team in the Polls.

#2, as well as #3 both came in week 4. Where number 1. Alabama went into Arkansas and defeated the Razorbacks 24-20. Also, UCLA went into Texas and defeated what was a #7 ranked (YIKES) Longhorns team decisively.

In week 8 the inconsistent fighting Mack Browns’ went into Nebraska and beat the Huskers by a TD. But who cares, nobody is contemplating Texas for a Title berth, or a BCS Bowl for that matter.

The next, in week 6, where an unranked Oregon State team stunned #9 Arizona, at Arizona. Incidentally, Boise State defeated Oregon State earlier in the season, by two touchdowns.

Here’s where it gets interesting, the 6^th time it happened, and ironically the last. In week 12 third ranked TCU went into #5 Utah, and stomped the Utes 47-7.  A terrific, significant blowout for the Horned Frogs. Or so it seemed, until Utah fell the next week, by 25, to a 4-6 Notre Dame team. I understand they won by 40, on the road, against what was a top 5 team, but when breaking down Virginia Tech – Utah, it seems like apples to oranges, they're a far ways apart.

So, in terms of most significant wins in 2010, taking into account how difficult it is to win on the road in college football, my rankings go as follows.

1.       Boise State winning @ #10 Virginia Tech

2.       Texas winning @ #5 Nebraska

3.       TCU winning @ #5 Utah

4.       Alabama winning @ #10 Arkansas

5.       Oregon State winning @ #9 Arizona

6.       UCLA winning @ #7 Texas

(in terms of significance of victory, #19 South Carolina's win at home over #1 Alabama would place #2 on this list, but it does not meet criteria)

That’s right ladies and gentlemen, in summation, it's only happened 6 times so far this season. Boise is 1 of 6, defeating Virginia Tech going away, and the aforementioned Oregon State, two very solid wins if you ask me.


If Auburn can win @ Alabama this Friday, certainly I will have to re-think my standing.

But this is now, and according to my research, and my valued opinion, Boise State has the best quality WIN in college football this season.

It may just have the best team in College Football

             Highlight the word team. These guys play for each other, are never outspoken in the media regarding how poorly they are consistently treated by the BCS, pollsters, and skeptics, the squad continues to face adversity week in and week out, and continues to dominate every challenge that presents itself. They have passed every test this season, including the one that the BCS needs to take into their consideration: the eye test. Boise State has a Heisman contender at QB, two wide receivers in Titus Young and Austin Pettis that will be playing on Sunday, a defense that shut down respected and dynamic college football players in Tyrod Taylor and Jacquizz Rodgers, a coach with 4 losses in 5 seasons, and a 24 game winning streak. Yes, I understand that they play so to speak "cupcakes", but what you should understand is that every time one of these “cupcakes” plays Boise State, they are essentially vying for a Championship of their own. When they play Boise, it's the equivalent of their Super Bowl. They want to be the team that halts this extraordinary win streak, they want to be the team that takes Kellen Moore out of Heisman contention, and they want to be the team that denies Boise a chance to play for a championship. And yet since the Virginia Tech game, Boise State has outscored it’s opponents 446-85, appearing more dominant, and quite frankly superior, to the team that went 11-0 last season and defeated TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. 

IF Auburn were to lose to Alabama this Friday, in no way shape or form could you even try to convince me that Boise St. does not deserve a chance to play for a National Championship. The argument that a non qualifier can’t compete with an automatic qualifier, can’t buy it. Check some results. Boise State defeats #4 Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl in 2005. Utah beats #4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl in 2008. If the Broncos were to make it to the National Championship, and lose convincingly, then all of the BCS’s problems in the future concerning Mid-Majors are squashed, as they would have conceded and finally gave the non-automatic qualifier their chance, and wouldn’t have to think twice about giving in once more.  But after everything I just told you, is it unrealistic to think Boise St. isn’t the best team in the country in any case?

Inside a country filled with spuds, the Boise St. Broncos may just be the sweetest potato of them all . . . 

Brought to you by - Mike Nicastro - "Take that BCS."