Boise State Left Out in the Cold?

Boise State University just doesn’t understand why they are not invited to the party.  

Is the answer Boise?

Relax, I like Boise and would recommend a visit by anyone.  It is clean and scenic; the people are friendly and helpful.  Boise is the perfect mix of small town and city living.  There is nothing wrong with Boise on this level.   

But being in Boise is an issue for a team trying to gain national respect and notoriety.  Notoriety was easy; the blue field did that.  The hard problem that hurts Boise State is due to location.

1.       Cold.

2.       Remote.

3.       Population base.

There is nothing that will help cold, so I won’t try.  I like the cold myself, but most of the country likes a more temperate environment.

Remote is a problem.  Boise is the largest city between Salt Lake City and Portland Oregon.  How do you get there?  Sunday’s flight plans for the local airport had 13 commercial flights.  Not inbound, not outbound, TOTAL.  It takes forever to get to BOI (airport call letters) and is an iffy proposition during the 6+ months of winter weather.  Driving from Salt Lake City to Boise in the winter through the mountains for 350 miles?  It may not be bad for the locals, but visitors from Florida might have some major issues.

Half a million people in the greater Boise area, and that's about it for Boise State to draw from. Population equals viewers and viewers bring money.  Boise commands the 98^th largest market in the U.S.  Therefore, BSU has to self-promote to the nation and continue to do so.  Boise State can’t afford the 15 minutes of fame dilemma.

BSU is like the potatoes of college football.  They are the French fries in the BCS happy meal, the mashed potatoes to the prime rib.  You find them at the party like the chips, but nobody remembers how good the chips were days later.

Boise needs to pay their dues.

What?  But they beat Oklahoma in the game of the century!  Yes they did, but that sword cuts both ways.   They arrived too soon and will need to organize the rest of their BCS resume.  They forgot a few pieces to the puzzle along the way.

1.       BCS opponents, three per year of two year contacts with both games away from the blue turf.

2.       Academics.

3.       Stadium size needs 10000 more minimum and continued sellouts.

4.       Another winning program in any major sport.

5.       Research cash, much much more.

Let's look at the first one. What needs to be scheduled as two away games with three major conference opponents.

Why? Simple economics. Major conference schools are looking to fill their home schedules with as many games as possible to boost their cash coffers. Most of the schools play in front of 75,000 or more screaming fans, which is almost twice Boise State's capacity. Major programs would be more inclined to pay Boise State $300-$500,000 each year for two visits to their own stadium. Therefore, playing at home would be the ideal situation for any BCS school because playing away at Boise just doesn't pay.

However, at this time, Boise State appears to be unwilling to accept these conditions in the belief that they are entitled to home games. The money isn't there. That coupled with the possible loss of prestige due to loss by any BCS program forces Boise State's hand. They must go on the road and take the fight to the BCS schools or they will be completely shut out of the BCS picture in the years to come.

Academics. What if they were to get into a BCS conference? Impossible. 24 percent graduation rate for any given freshman is unacceptable for any major conference in the country. This needs to be fixed, no exceptions.

Continued financial support of the football team is a must. When they have a home game, it must be a sellout, and the attendance must reach 50,000+. If BSU wants to be a player on the field of the BCS, where schools like Tennessee, Michigan, and Penn State command over 100,000 in attendance, they must think big.

Joining BCS conferences is not only about football; schools need to be competitive in another major sport. Boise State is getting there, but they need to show at least a few years of consistent growth and competitiveness.

Major BCS conferences sell themselves to the academia by stating that money will be available for research. Take some time and look at the Big Ten as a model. Look at how much research money to those schools command in any given year compared to what Boise State can offer. The numbers are astounding. Schools have no chance of getting into BCS conference without research money.

Banking on a future playoff system?

I predict the maximum number of teams in the playoff system will be eight. Say that I am right just for the sake of argument.  Seven BCS schools and one at-large school is my most likely scenario. Do you want to risk your chances against 100 other schools or be part of the conference that places you in a one in 12 to 16 chance at an automatic bid? I know what my answer is.

The future holds many opportunities for Boise State. Those opportunities can easily be snatched away by other schools like TCU. Will Boise State prevail, or will they be left shivering in the cold, blue as their once mighty field?