Boise State Football: Boise's 5 Best Years in the WAC

The Boise State Broncos joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2001. It was an exciting time for the school, as they had only entered Division-IA football in 1996, jumping from the Division-IAA Big Sky Conference to the then Big West Conference.

In the 10 years that Boise State competed in the WAC, they won an incredible eight championships. To say they dominated the competition would be a bit of an understatement.

The WAC now seems to be going away—as a football conference anyway—but the fond memories the Broncos and their fans have as members of the troubled conference will never dissolve.

Along the way BSU had some incredible seasons. However, five of them stand out. Let's take a look at the five best years for the Broncos in the WAC.

No. 5 Season: 2008

The 2008 season was an incredible campaign. It ended on a heart breaking loss in San Diego in the Poinsettia Bowl against TCU by one point.

However, that loss can't put a damper on the what the Broncos accomplished in the regular season and the premier of a historic figure in BSU history.

Boise State went on to another WAC title in 2008. They started the year with wins over Idaho State and Bowling Green. However, history was made during the third game of the season.

As Boise State entered Autzen Stadium with a freshman quarterback no one had ever heard of, most people didn't give the Broncos a chance in such a hostile environment in Oregon.

Kellen Moore made his first road start as quarterback. What he did in that debut is the stuff of legends. Moore went 24 of 36 for 386 yards and three touchdowns, as the Broncos rolled past the Oregon Ducks 37-32.

The Broncos gained confidence and momentum as the year rolled on. They demolished Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, Hawaii, San Jose State, New Mexico State, Utah State and Idaho.

The Broncos then traveled to Reno for a shot at the outright WAC title. It was a great game, and Boise State proved too much for the Wolf Pack. The Broncos pulled off a 41-34 win and took home the title. They then finished the season with a 66-10 thrashing of the Fresno State Bulldogs.

Again, it ended with a disappointing 17-16 loss in San Diego to TCU. However, that game nearly went the Broncos way, and the entire season was a profound statement for the Broncos and their freshmen quarterback Kellen Moore.

No. 4 Season: 2004

The 2004 season was an incredible season for the Broncos under the leadership of then head coach Dan Hawkins.

Boise State went undefeated in the regular season. They started the year off right, defeating their in-state rival Idaho 65-7 and then went on to win convincingly over Oregon State. It was that convincing win that propelled the Broncos into the top 25.

BSU went on to victory over UTEP, BYU, SMU, Tulsa, Fresno State and Hawaii before nearly losing in San Jose.

The Broncos pulled off a very exciting double overtime 56-49 victory against the Spartans in a game in which they drew criticism for not winning more handily. However, they still remained at No.12 in the rankings after the narrow escape.

Boise State handled Louisiana Tech and Nevada in its last two games and took home another outright WAC title.

The Broncos went on to face No. 8 Louisville in the Liberty Bowl, a game that many thought the Broncos would lose in a big way. It was a 44-40 loss for the Broncos, but it was this game that convinced many people—especially back east—that Boise State might not be "overrated," as some were suggesting.

The 2004 season will always be remembered as the year Boise State began receiving the recognition and respect they deserved.

No. 3 Season: 2002

The 2002 season is probably forgotten by most fans. However, it was crucial to the history of school and its football program.

The Broncos lost one game that year, a horrible 41-14 defeat to Arkansas in Fayetteville. However, Boise State rebounded to win the next 11 games rather convincingly.

Wyoming, Utah State, Hawaii, Tulsa, Fresno State, San Jose State, UTEP, Rice, Louisiana Tech and Nevada all found themselves losing by rather large margins to a very hot BSU team.

The Broncos earned their way into the Humanitarian Bowl to face an opponent from the Big 12. Iowa State was the biggest bowl game opponent  for the Broncos since they entered the FBS in 1996.

There were many who were skeptical that the Broncos could play with the Cyclones, who were lead by impressive quarterback Seneca Wallace. Even after a nearly perfect regular season, the Broncos were given very little respect nationally going into the contest.

It was an odd rainy day in the dead of winter when the Cyclones came to town for the Humanitarian Bowl. For Iowa State, the day probably felt even colder as the Broncos rolled to a 34-16 win on New Year's Eve day, 2002.

The 2002 season was a huge boost in confidence for the Broncos and their football program.

No. 2 Season: 2009

A perfect season is hard to come by. However, that is exactly what the Broncos accomplished in 2009. The WAC title was only one of the major accomplishments that season.

Boise State went a perfect 14-0 in 2009. The trip to Hawaii gave the Broncos an additional home game, and they became one of only two teams to ever go 14-0 in a single FBS season.

Of course, the year started with a great win over Oregon in the home opener. However, that game was overshadowed by Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount and his famous punch to the face of Boise State linebacker Byron Hout.

Boise State then blanked Miami University of Ohio 48-0 in game two. Fresno put up a challenge in the third game of the season, but in the end, BSU was too much for the Bulldogs to handle. That win was followed up by wins over Bowling Green, UC Davis, Tulsa, Hawaii, San Jose State, Louisiana Tech, Idaho, Utah State, Nevada and New Mexico State.

The Broncos then went on to appear in their second Fiesta Bowl in three years, but this time they would face the TCU Horned Frogs.

It was a close game, but the "Riddler" was the difference. The "Riddler" is the name of a fake punt that was executed by then punter and kicker Kyle Brotzman. It was fourth and nine at the Broncos own 33 when coach Petersen made the gutsy call. Brotzman hit Kyle Efaw for a 30-yard gain, giving the Broncos a first down and much needed momentum.

On that drive, BSU scored a touchdown that proved to be the difference. It was an incredible year capped off with an incredible win.

The 2009 season will always be remembered as one of the greatest in school history.

No.1 Season: 2006

Most Boise State fans recognize that the greatest year the Broncos ever had as a member of the WAC conference was 2006. It was a perfect year on the field, and it elevated the BSU football program and the school itself to unimaginable levels.

The perfect season began with wins over Sacramento State, Oregon State, Wyoming and Hawaii. The Broncos then traveled to Salt Lake City to take on Utah. It was a game that many said the Broncos would have trouble with. In the end, they left Salt Lake with a very convincing 36-3 win.

Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State and Idaho proved no competition for the Broncos in the next three games. Fresno State put up a bit of a fight, but BSU was too much, beating the Bulldogs 45-21.

It was San Jose State that would once again be a thorn in the side of the Broncos. This was a game that shouldn't have been close, but ended up being a 23-20 win by Boise State.

Many criticized the Broncos for their close call in San Jose, but after defeating Utah State 49-10 and Nevada 38-7, Boise State had the record to make its way to the first ever BCS Bowl in school history.

Of course, we all know that the Broncos made the best of their Fiesta Bowl invite. It was one for the ages, as the Broncos and the Sooners of Oklahoma combined to create one of the greatest football games of all time.

It was the 2006 season that took Boise State from small potatoes to prime time.