A Case For Boise State

Wow, what a game.  Boise State 33, Virginia Tech 30.

First of all, I must admit I was wrong.  I predicted Virginia Tech would beat Boise State because of the strength of Tech's backfield (Ryan Williams,  Darren Evans, Tyrod Taylor) and the perceived problems the Broncos have had stopping the run.  What I forgot to take into account, however, is that Boise State has developed a reputation for showing up in big games.  While Williams and Evans weren't big factors in this game (Williams had 3 total touchdowns, but very few yards and a terrible yards-per-carry average), quarterback Tyrod Taylor nearly carried his team to a huge win, with some help from 12 Bronco penalties.  The only thing the Broncos lacked yesterday evening was discipline, and it almost cost them the game. (A funny little story: on one play early in the game, Boise State snuffed out a Virginia Tech end-around, causing Kirk Herbstreit to exclaim, "This defense is way too experienced and disciplined to get them on a play like that!" Seconds later a penalty flag was thrown for a personal foul against Boise State.)  Other than the penalties, the Broncos looked like it deserved the top 3 ranking it was given this preseason.  The Hokies came out lethargic and looked dazed and confused the whole first quarter, as the Broncos jumped out to a 17-0 lead.  Finally, Tech turned it on in the second quarter, getting back within six, and the halftime score was 20-14 Broncos.  The third quarter was exciting, with several lead changes (21-20 Tech, then 26-21 Boise, then 27-26 Tech).  The last Bronco drive of the fourth quarter was what sold me on this team.  Trailing 30-26, junior quarterback Kellen Moore showed exceptional poise and accuracy in an huge pressure situation, leading his team to a late touchdown (Kirk Herbstreit was very pleased with himself, as he gave Moore a Herbie award for "quarterback he would want in pressure situations" over guys like Ryan Mallett (who sucks) and Jake Locker (who is 8-20 as a starter, compared to Moore's 27-1).  His good ol' partner Brent Musberger further inflated Herbstreit's ego by offering him effusive praise for his obvious pick).  Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor did all he could, but the Broncos held, locking up a huge win.

After seeing Boise State beat Virginia Tech, yes, they must be considered a national title contender.  First of all, the Broncos showed me they will be ready to take on anybody, any time, no matter how much of an underdog (or favorite) they are.  This team relishes chances to play big games, and if nothing else, you can expect an exciting performance from this team if they make it to the National Championship.  Second, Boise State showed against Virginia Tech that they will not panic when things aren't going well in a game.  Too many times you see teams lose the lead, get into a panic, abandon their gameplan, and proceed to get slaughtered by a team that isn't much, or not at all, better than them (I think back to Oklahoma's 55-19 loss to USC in the 2004-'05 Orange Bowl. USC was better than Oklahoma, but not That much better).  Boise State took a huge lead, and then watched Virginia Tech chip away at it until the Hokies had taken the lead in the third quarter.  All the momentum was Virginia Tech's.  But this team did not panic.  They took the lead right back with a huge touchdown run by DJ Harper.  Then when Tech took it back again, and even got 4 points ahead with less than 3 minutes in the game, Boise State still did not panic.  Instead, they took it right down the field for a touchdown.  I attribute that to championship-caliber coaching and veteran players.  Third, Boise State has a championship-caliber quarterback.  The field general has a lot to say about whether a team wins or loses.  He is the leader, the guy his teammates look up to.  If the quarterback doesn't play well, the whole team doesn't play well.  A championship team must have a difference maker at the most important position on the field.  Boise State has that in Kellen Moore.  Fourth, their improved recruiting and, consequently, higher-caliber athletes, form a team that will take any team in the nation right down to the wire on any field.

 With the rest of the schedule as soft as it is, they will need every other team except for one (presumably somebody like Alabama or Ohio State) to lose at least one game, and they will have to not only win, but blow out the remainder of the teams on their schedule, except for maybe Oregon State, which is still a must-win game. If they do that, they deserve a shot at a national title. They came to play against Virginia Tech, and they showed they can win a huge game against a very good opponent. They have the talent and the coaching to play anybody in the nation. Here is another way to look at it for Boise State skeptics (I have been one myself, and still slightly am)-- why not give an undefeated Big 6 team a chance to take the Broncos down? Why not give them a shot at burying them on national television in the biggest game of the season? Boise State proved last night that they are legit, and I think, at long last, they deserve a shot at a National Title. Here's the only thing for me-- the fact that they haven't gotten themselves into a Big 6 conference is a strike against them. They should have done that by now. That way, there would be no controversy about strength of schedule. If there are two undefeated Big 6 schools, those two should play for the National Championship and Boise will have to settle for another BCS game. But if Boise State is standing tall at 12-0 at the end of the season, without a close call in any game other than VT and Oregon State, and there is only one other (or no other) undefeated team, they deserve a shot at the national title.