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Is Boise State No. 1 football team over last decade?
Submitted by Brian Murphy on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 11:31am.
This is a joke, right? Boise State has racked up some impressive numbers in the last decade, owning the WAC and capturing the Fiesta Bowl in 2006. Without a doubt, the Broncos have had an amazing decade.
But Fox Sports ranks the Broncos as the No. 1 team team in the last decade — ahead of USC and Texas and Oklahoma and Virginia Tech and Ohio State.
The ranking is simply a winning percentage ranking.
Still, it's tough to see how a team with one top-5 finish in the polls and no national titles (Boise State) is better than a team like USC, which won back-to-back national titles in the last decade.
Yes, Boise State's .809 winning percentage is tops. But I can't imagine any Bronco fan would take that winning percentage over Texas' accomplishments in the last decade. And, oh by the way, the Longhorns have a .805 winning percentage in that same time.
Come on, Fox. This is plain ridiculous.
UPDATED: 4:06 p.m. -- I was reading some of the comments and decided to address some of the questions.
I said right at the top that Boise State has had an amazing decade. Most mid-majors that have had top-line success (Utah, BYU, Hawaii) have not been able to sustain dominance over a long period of time, like the Broncos have been able to.
Easy BYU fans: We're talking recent history.
Part of it is coaching. Boise State has lost successful coaches, but the Broncos have been able to sustain success with different coaches.
Part of that is conference, no doubt. There is a much bigger gap between the top and bottom of the WAC then in other leagues. Boise State, to its credit, keeps pushing the ceiling higher. Other schools, however, aren't keeping pace.
Would the Broncos have the same winning percentage had they played the last decade in the Mountain West Conference? I typically hate such questions because they don't factor in the additional revenue and additional recruiting advantages associated with playing in a (slightly) better conference. But I think it's reasonably safe to assume even with those advantages, Boise State would not have run up the same gaudy conference mark over the last 10 years.
Yes, I know Boise State has had tremendous success against teams currently in the MWC, but playing one or two a year is different than playing nine games each season.
Plus, the Broncos are 41-3 in WAC games against current WAC teams since joining the league. It would be tough to match that mark against anybody.
Part of it is finances. Boise State, again to its credit, doesn't have to take on the same body bag games that other schools have to play. The Broncos have been able to schedule smarter than any other mid-major in the country. Of course, the downside to that is they don't have as many signature victories over BCS teams as say Fresno State.
• Meant to mention this yesterday, but Boise State cornerback Brandyn Thompson was really impressive in the scrimmage. With Orlando Scandrick departing early for the NFL, Thompson is going to play a huge role in the Broncos' defense this year. Seems like he's up for it.
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I hate Murphy
Even if you feel that way as a local sports writer you have a lot of hate for our team and it is so easy to see in your writing of them. No one likes you in Boise except Vandal fans!
Two Words
Idaho State!
I think you mean ..
1981 Division 1-AA National Champions Idaho State. Granted, it's more than two words, but it does drive home the fact that ISU has won a football national championship more recently than BSU.
That's cool...
we still got an extra practice in Saturday with them.
hate Murphy
Murphy is stating the truth. Boise is good but the Broncos are a big toad in a tiny pond ( the WAC ). The biggest toad is bound to catch the most flys.
Tooth........................
You really need to get a life. College sports do not drive most peoples lives.
The kind of attention BSU loves
At least the resident booster/journalist can call this ranking ridiculous. If this type of ranking really meant anything teams like USC and Florida would be asking the WAC to join so they could run up the wins against weak conference opponents and schedule relatively easy out of conference games. And in turn the highlight of their program could be a come-from-behind miracle Fiesta Bowl win over an Oklahoma team disappointed to be there.
As much as the "mid-majors" hate it, there is a reason they created the BCS.
Come from Behind...
ccd3, while in the end the Broncos had to come from behind to win the Fiesta Bowl, I seem to recall they punched Oklahoma in the face right off the bat and led the entire game until the final minute. I'd say the Sooners had the bigger "come from behind" task in that one.
They may have not wanted to be there but I can certainly guarantee you that they didn't want to lose to BSU. Did you see the looks on their faces at the end? Coaches, players, fans, all of them. Like somebody had just run over their cat! Quite a highlight to the program for a school of BSU's status.
However, that was 2 seasons ago. Let's live in the present and see how this year's team is. Hopefully they don't repeat last year's embarrassment at the Hawaii Bowl...
Reason for BCS: Monopolize Revenue
Yes, there is a reason they created the BCS: to lock up the highest revenues!
not the point
As a local writer he shold not be pulling out the negative outlooks of our team. He is a Boise writer. BSU cannot control their schedule. Vandal fans and the haters like to point that out but no one will play a home and home with us and Gene will not accept anything less( I respect that). I wish we were not in the WAC either but we cant control that. I would love to get rid of the Idahos and Utah States ont he schedule but that is what we got and we get criticized for beating the HE** out of them every year. He is a local write and most people who read his local writings are tired of hearing all the negative criticism. I do not know how he still has a job. Move to Moscow or Pocatello. OR if you dont have anyting nice to say just shut up
Wrong.
"BSU cannot control their schedule."
That is absolutely incorrect, as you yourself point out. Gene will not settle for anything but a home and home. You may respect that, but the rest of college football doesn't. If BSU was actually interested in playing tougher teams it would do whatever is necessary to play them. They're not, so they don't.
Not the way I see it.
Gene B. is absolutely right on for not settling for anything but home-at-home series games with teams in the same division. BSU is doing their best to control what they can, but BCS schools (with the exception of the two Oregon PAC-10 Universities) are not willing to play in Bronco Stadium. The rest of college football plays by the home-at-home series standard, so it really does respect that scheduling method. If BSU wants more respect, it should stick with the way it schedules games currently. Oregon and Oregon State are just the start and the rest of the tougher teams will follow. BSU is now a respected enough team that it should not settle for anything but home-at-home series games which will earn them more respect over time.
Not the way I see it
This home and home excuse is just that an excuse. Oregon State is going to Penn State this season with out a home and home contract. Last season and the Season before they they traveled to both Cincinati and Louisville both with out a home and home agreement. Both teams have since agreed to play in Corvallis. LSU did not return the favor and more than likley niether will Penn State. Oregon plays Oklahoma with no return contract. Tenn is not flying back to UCLA. Gene B. schedules the way he does to get the best chance at a BCS bowl, that home an home line is just garbage.
Oklahoma v. Oregon
was a home and home series. The front end was in '04 in Norman and the back end was in Eugene in '06. They also played in the Holiday Bowl in '05, but that obviously wasn't a scheduled.
Oregon doesn't do one-ways with non-conference teams, other than having lower-level teams come into Autzen with no return trip (USU, Idaho, Nevada, etc.). In the past few years they've done home and homes with OU, Michigan, Michigan State, and Miss State, and in the next few they'll have home and homes with Purdue, Georgia, Tennessee, Colorado, etc. Oregon's general schedule is 9 Pac-10 teams, 1 scrub, 1 mid-level team (BSU, FSU) and one non-conference BCS team. Good scheduling, imo.
Oregon State does one-ways with BCS opponents because they can't get them to come to gReeser (too small).
If you want to get me fired up about scheduling, I'll slam most every SEC team before I slam Boise State - at least in BSU's case, most of their weak schedule is unavoidable.
Garbage
"BSU is now a respected enough team that it should not settle for anything but home-at-home series games which will earn them more respect over time."
What a load of garbage. BSU is not respected near as much as you think it is. Last season has erased whatever respect BSU had from the Fiesta Bowl. The fact is that BSU plays a conservative schedule in an attempt to rack up wins and try to get to a BCS bowl. It has no intention on trying to prove itself against big-time BCS teams. The home-and-home thing is just an excuse. Until BSU plays teams like USC, Florida, and other perrenial top-10 teams during the regular season you are living in a fantasyland if you think BSU is one of those big boys.
Um...
BCS teams also try to rack up as many wins as possible. What's your point? Isn't the whole home-field advantage worth something?
No. Having a good team is.
Next.
Agree
I just took a look at the BYU and Utah schedules from the past few years. Both of those teams have had home and away games with schools such as: Notre Dame, UCLA, Georgia Tech, USC, Boston College, Texas A&M, etc. Keep in mind BYU and Utah are not BCS schools, yet these BCS teams are willing to travel and play at their home stadiums. I really don't think the reason teams won't make the trip to Boise has anything to do with being afraid to play on blue turf in front of 30,000 people. I doubt that scneario give BCS teams nightmares. I'm just not sure the respect is there yet for other teams to visit BSU. It might not be a bad idea to settle for the one game series with top caliber teams for now. Eventually I'm sure great teams would be willing to play at Bronco Stadium.
Absolutely correct
And I think it entails more than just respect. I don't think many self-respecting BCS teams want television footage of their team on the blue turf. It's a joke. It's small time. BYU and Utah have nice stadiums that can attract big time teams (i.e #1 Miami in 1990). Someday BSU will have to consciously choose between the big time and the blue turf. You could add 20,000 seats, close the ends, and you'd still have a small time stadium with that turf in there.
Uh big time?
I guess the 56-12 schlaaking that BSU put on BYU in Utah was "Big Time". I guess the 38-3 schlaaking of Utah in SLC was also "Big Time". I think that ESPN must think we are atleast somewhat big time, or why would they have extended a fairly large TV contract to the WAC? ccd3 the blue is big time, try not to be upset that the Kibbie Dome is smaller than most High School stadiums in the treasure valley. I assume your a Vandal because of the level of hate you show towards BSU. If not let us all know your football affiliation, so we can be on a level playing field.
You are missing the point.
I still do not see it that way, and you are hardly making a relevant point. BSU is earning greater respect than a decade ago despite last year's season - simply said. That respect should dictate a home at home series. It is my opinion that is the best way for BSU to keep earning respect and is the best strategy to compete in a frame work dominated by the BCS. If you do not agree, then provide a different perspective. Garbage? How so? What is a less trashy method of scheduling? It is better playing an away team and not reaping the benefits of a home and home? I think not. How else would we be getting into this discussion anyway if FOX Sports had not recognized BSU for its current winning state and success, largely due to playing at home? BYU, Oregon, and Oregon State home at home scheduling is great for BSU's current status. Seriously...make a point. All you are doing now is being presumptuous about my take on BSU's current level of respect. It is not enough respect to be a "big boy" team yet, but that is not the point. Get out of your own fantaslyand, leave Moscow vandulland, and get a real education that will allow you make relevant points to a perspective as opposed to spilling your own garbage that has nothing to do with my opinion or points I am making. Seriously...make a point or Gene B. is going to keep doing what he is doing. You certainly have not said anything that should make him believe that it is in BSU's best interest to change his current scheduling method.
My point
I think my point has been made many times over, not only by myself but by numerous other posters. This story was about BSU purportedly being the best college football program over the last 10 years. They're not. Not even close. If, by chance, Gene B and the program had any desire to attempt to be one of the big boys, they would have to abandon the conservative scheduling philosophy that safely keeps BSU away from serious competition during the regular season (except Washington and other "hard" away games, of course).
As to respect, you can respect the life out of BSU for all I care. You will never find anyplace in this world where they are respected even close to the level they get in Boise by their adoring, accommodating fans. And that's not necessarily a good thing.
You are so personal about this whole thing. Did you grow up in Texas?
No, I didn't either but now this means Murphy is a TROLL?
It's his blog, kids, he doesn't have to butter your toast nor kiss the wart on your Heineken.
Why didn't YOU ever try for the team, all you zombies?
you're a joke
Alright top dawg "thegoodword," you should really investigate how scheduling is done in the first place before you run your trap! BSU can't afford to have a home and home with a big name team yet. They are not respected enough from a collegiate athletics perspective yet, let alone football. Florida would laugh at B.S.University (hope you can put that together) if they ever asked them to play there. Georgia paid B.S.University 500k to play there, and destroy them. BSU doesn't have the money for that type of payment to a big name school. You might as well relax on the issue because there isn't going to be any big name schools playin in Boise for a long time, period. NEXT. Telling the guy above you to leave Moscow 'vandulland' and get a real education? Seriously? Its pretty widely known what a joke B.S.University is academically. I'll take my degree from U of I against yours anyday and well see who gets the job dude. Go ahead and be a "Goodwood" restaurant manager for life.
Next??
I agree
thegoodword,
I couldnt agree more, I say hold out for Home and homes. Gene is doing the right thing, look where the away with no return has gotten Fresno. Not very far, sure they have some level of respect Nationally but I dont think it compares with BSUs respect. Everyone across the country knows that when you play the Broncos you better come prepared, especially if its on the Blue!
What the hell is a home and home, Maverick?
Sounds like some stupid California phrase...
PRE-anything, comes to mind, especially if pre is an illogical substitute for PREVIOUSLY?
When sports betters get bored do they try to outdo the 6 o'clock news and invent words? I DON'T want an explanation snd would be likely to flag the dude that didn't listen anyway.
PLAY FOOTBALL. If you imply that BSU is who they are by schedule engineering, just go to hell anyway...you are part of the problem. I have a pre-owned raspberry with premium audio and no preapproval required on-site.
That means if you show up in Ontario I will go PBBBBBBBLT! in your ear without asking you to sign a financial statement, no waiting if you don't speak the language.
When is BSU going to give ISU a home and home
You seem to dog the big boys for not playing a home and home with BSU. When is BSU going to schedule a home and home with Weber State or Idaho State? Once you answer that question, you will have your answer as to why USC will not schedule a home and home with BSU anytime soon.
Any BSU fans remember the
Any BSU fans remember the Globe of Death? Wasnt that ISU?
UHHH MAYBE BECAUSE THEY ARE DIVISION 2
and that your stadium cannot hold the number of BSU fans that would show up......possibly.......
Not Div 2...
... Div 1 FCS (formerly Div 1-AA). Your point about stadium size is valid, however.
Tooth............................
Murphy doesn't work for Boise State.
Morons
The article was improperly labeled. It should have been called "Top winning % in last decade" because that's what it's about. And yes, BSU is #1 in that category, so get over it Murphy. When you look at how the teams are ranked, that becomes obvious.
I would hope BSU fans (I'm one of them) don't think they have the top team in the country over the past decade. But no one can dispute what they have done with the talent they get. Probably the most efficient program in the country if you look at it from that regard.
Strength of schedule
What would be really interesting is to see how each school's strength of schedule graded out or even opponents winning percentage.
BSU plays such a soft schedule that they should have an asterics next to their name.
BSU would be lucky to have a .600 winning percentage if they played in either the Big 10, Pac 10, or SEC.
I agree with you Shobe
That is what I am trying to say. It is impressive what Boise State has done! Does it mean we are the best team in the country ...NO. Is it something that is very impressive and something to be proud of...Absolutely! Keep in mind we have only been a division one program for a little over 10 years. What we have accomplished in that time with little money and little respect and attention is amazing! My point is why cant our local writer point the positives like that out? Why is it always hate and contempt coming out of Murphys mouth about our program. He is a local writer and I feel like a local writer should not be writing about nothing but negative points of view about everything with our team.
Wha?
Murphy, did you even READ the article on Fox Sports? The writer even said something about wondering if he should put an asterisk next to the number 1. It's straight D1 win percentage... get over it. The article title should have been worded different... that's all.
ccd3
Oklahoma must have been disappointed to be there two years in a row...losing both games.
Of course winning percentage!!!
When your schedule is as weak as Boise States of course you are going to win a lot of games. BSU shouldn't even be brought up in the same sentence as Texas, USC etc.. You are right Murphy it is a joke!
Exactly
"When your schedule is as weak as Boise States of course you are going to win a lot of games. BSU shouldn't even be brought up in the same sentence as Texas, USC etc.. You are right Murphy it is a joke!"
...and therein lies the issue, they have nowhere to go, they are at a glass ceiling with no hopes (at the moment) of breaking through, forever destined to strive for "WAC" titles while hoping to prove themselves in a bigger conference whose invitation will never arrive.
RIght...
... so the top 10 winning percentage list must be full of mid-major teams, right? Teams like... wait a minute. There isn't a single other mid-major team on the list. How can that be? Why, that would make your statement, "When your schedule is as weak as Boise States of course you are going to win a lot of games" demonstrably false, so that can't possibly be right. Fox Sports must have gotten their numbers wrong.
This is not news
Who cares? And please, all the smack talking...seriously, do you have nothing better to do than put down other towns and teams in the state? This is where that "State of Boise" mentality shows up oh so well. When you do nothing but talk smack behind the anonymity of your keyboard, you are no better than the writer of the article...in fact, you are worse. He has his picture posted and a letters column you can write in to.
I liked the past conferences because they did feature teams in the Pacific Northwest...BSU vs. LaTech...wow like I care about LaTech?
Probably the biggest balance shifter here is that BSU has a great program, but their college from a um, "academic" standpoint is a joke. In reality, it is nothing more than a former junior college that became a University. Now all the fanboyz brag about their team like it represents their "Fine institution" when in fact, that isn't the case.
Personally, I think BSU should try and get into the Pac-10, a classic conference with a very storied history and it features teams from Washington and Oregon. Of course then BSU would have a so-so record instead of a dominating one and all the fanboyz (seriously, most BSU fans I meet didn't even go to school there) would probably be hiding their car flags like they were back in the late eighties. I think the wheels have fallen off the Fiesta Bowl bandwagon, you can start walking now.
Be patient...they will eventually be able to move out of the WAC, the question is, where will they end up?
High
You're high if you think they'll ever be a Pac-10 school. Their basketball program is weak, they have no baseball program. Just be happy having an easy schedule and playing bottom of the barrel schools like U of I every year.
Yes I notice...
You treat them like a girlfriend, folks, giving them a short one-syllable nickname like "Hon", "Stef", "Ang" (and two-syllable names are hard when you can remember, "Arlo T Johnsonian's IPA bitter Pale Ale with extra barley and LEMON" at a bar)???
Where is New Orleans? UHHHH, It's in the back of my mind.
Time to clean out your mind, guys, your woman is getting upset.
Oh, forgot, you bet on sports and don't have one.
LOUISIANA TECH (short for TECHNICAL but I did want to get TECH on you all).
I agree...
The top ten that FoxSports.com referrenced was the exact order of the ten winningest programs over the past ten years, which you can cross-reference on the Bronco Media Guide.
Murph, I am sure you read these comments. Understand that I don't live in Idaho. I live in St. George, UT. There is nothing in the way of Boise State coverage down here. I look to the Statesman to keep me informed. While I applaud you for remaining objective and fair most of the time, I have to agree with the masses this time. You purposely are misleading your readership with this blog entry.
For the rest of you out there who feel like I do, there is a little known website out there that I've found has all the Boise State information one could want. It's called 'One Bronco Nation Under God' and you can access it at www.obnug.com.
I wouldn't be one bit surprised if Murph found this FoxSports.com piece by going to OBNUG himself and seeing the link that was posted this morning.
Why haven't the agnostic and atheist complained about that?
Do you write that?
New Bronco play, the "naked promotional blitz"?
Understand your opinion but not getting my point
You are entitled to your opinion and that is fine, you hate BSU, ok. My point again is that I do not think a local sports writer should have your negative opinion and always express teh negative side and view of our local team that most of us love in our local paper. He doesn't fit. I should not get angry every time I have to read his negative views of our team in MY LOCAL PAPER every day. You say then don't read it. It is one of the only things I have to keep up on my team. Most of us want a writer that gets us excited about our team and points out the positives. That is the point.
I don't hate BSU
I don't, I was just pointing out some facts.
I hear you on the writing standpoint...I still am a bit puzzled why this article was even written, it is almost like he had fifteen minutes for a coffee break and needed something to throw in there.
I don't like many of the Statesman writers, and that issue hasn't improved for some time. Well like I said, we will see what the future holds.
PLEASE STATESMAN PLEASE READ THIS
Give us a writer who gets excited about our local team and get us a writer who is excited about writing about them and actually likes them. Get rid of this bum. You would be doing us and from his writing I believe him a favor by doing so.
Right...
We need more writers to jump on the Donkey bandwagon and write nothing more than fluff pieces. That will go a long way towards improving the Statesman's already shakey journalistic credibility.
Go back to playing Madden in your Mom's basement, tooth.
what if
they just held an open contest for a year for prospective journalists (like aspiring BSU journalism majors) to try and get his job?
What a laugh
All of these BSU fans whining about Murphy's piece. Crying because he says something less than adoring about the program. Accusing him of hating the team. Absolutely incredible. The Bronco Nation is no different than a small Texas town whose residents' lives revolve around the high school football team.