By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Boise State continues to reap the rewards of its 2007 Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma.

Nike has produced a new TV commercial for its Michael Jordan brand that includes footage of, or references to, Boise State’s Fiesta Bowl win, Appalachian State’s stunning win over Michigan last season, North Carolina State’s unlikely NCAA basketball title in 1983, Villanova’s surprise basketball title in 1985 and Jordan’s title-winning shot for North Carolina in 1982.

A clocktower strikes midnight in the background as the commercial runs.

The tagline: “There are no Cinderellas. Become legendary.”

For Boise State, the commercial includes a simulation of the Broncos practicing the Statue of Liberty play at Bronco Stadium. The footage was not shot at Bronco Stadium and does not include any Boise State players. The stadium is a digital re-creation. Nike couldn’t use footage of the actual play without jeopardizing some players’ eligibility (that’s why the running back is No. 33 in the reenactment).

The Broncos ran Statue on their game-winning two-point conversion in the Fiesta Bowl.

The commercial is slated to run 48 times from last Monday through March 23, said Adam Parker, Boise State’s director of promotions. It will air on ESPN, TNT, ABC and CBS.

Here’s a link to the commercial.

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Boise State coach Chris Petersen wore the “LP” patch that the basketball teams are wearing Thursday at practice. Petersen put the patch on his hooded sweatshirt. The patch honors Boise State senior associate athletic director Lisa Parker, who is battling cancer.

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Petersen has carried an air horn with him at practice all week. He uses it to let everyone in the stadium know when the defense has forced a turnover. Forcing more turnovers this season is a huge emphasis for the Broncos.

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One of the best competitions this year will be at linebacker, where key players Kyle Gingg, Dallas Dobbs, Derrell Acrey, Ellis Powers and possibly David Shields (who is injured) return.

Coaches weren’t happy with the production at that position, which had turned guys like Korey Hall, Andy Avalos and Colt Brooks into stars in recent years. The Broncos did not have an All-WAC linebacker last year.

The competition will heat up in the fall, when the Broncos add three linebackers, some of whom could play this year.

“We need to take a step forward at that position,” Petersen said, “and I think we have the guys to do that. The returning guys need to get a step better or the young guys will be ready to go. I like our guys returning. I like our guys who redshirted (last year) and I like the guys we’re bringing in.”