Players talk rivalry; breaking down WAC bowl race
By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Even though the vast majority of players in this week’s Boise State-Idaho game didn’t grow up in Idaho, they know plenty about the rivalry.
It’s a tradition passed down from veteran players, coaches and even the fans.
Here are a few players’ thoughts on the rivalry, which Boise State has dominated recently with nine straight wins:
Ian Johnson, Boise State: “It’s huge. This is everything that Boise State’s about. It’s everything that Boise’s about. There’s so much of this rivalry that I’m learning every year that I’m here that we get to pass on to the young guys. If there’s one thing you don’t do, you don’t lose to the Vandals at all. We could stir up a huge pot if we end up losing this game. It’s one of those things where we’re going to take every precaution to go up there and give this team all the respect they deserve and give them the best shot we have. … I don’t want to be remembered as the team that lost the streak.”
Nate Enderle, Idaho: “It’s more like an attitude. You don’t have to be told. You just know that the Boise State-Idaho game, it’s going to be a good time, it’s going to go back and forth. I remember when I came in, nobody comes up and says, ‘This is our big game.’ But you can feel it in the locker room, you can feel it in practice, you can feel it with the coaches and the fans.”
Eddie Williams, Idaho: “It means a lot to the people in Idaho. We’re going to come out and we’re going to play hard. They’re a good football team. As a matter of fact, they’re a great football team. We have to respect what they do. They’re an amazing football team. We have to come out and play perfect.”
You can listen to Johnson's press conference here.
•••
The WAC bowl race couldn’t be much more convoluted going into the last few weeks. So far, only two teams (Boise State, San Jose State) have reached six wins to become bowl-eligible and only one team (Boise State) has reached seven wins. Seven-win teams get preference over 6-6 teams in bowl selections.
Here’s a look at who’s still in the race for a bowl berth. The WAC has three definite spots (Humanitarian, New Mexico, Hawaii), likely a fourth (Poinsettia) and possibly a fifth (BCS).
Boise State (9-0, 5-0)
What’s left: at Idaho, at Nevada, vs. Fresno State
Projected record: 12-0
Bowl: BCS/Poinsettia
San Jose State (6-4, 4-2)
What’s left: at Nevada, vs. Fresno State
Projected record: 7-5, 5-3
Bowl: Humanitarian/At-large or none
Louisiana Tech (5-4, 3-2)
What’s left: vs. Utah State, at New Mexico State, vs. Nevada
Projected record: 7-5, 5-3
Bowl: New Mexico
Nevada (5-4, 3-2)
What’s left: vs. San Jose State, vs. Boise State, at Louisiana Tech
Projected record: 7-5, 5-3
Bowl: Poinsettia/Humanitarian
Hawaii (5-5, 4-3)
What’s left: vs. Idaho, vs. Washington State, vs. Cincinnati
Projected record: 7-6, 5-3
Bowl: Hawaii
Fresno State (5-4, 2-3)
What’s left: vs. New Mexico State, at San Jose State, at Boise State
Projected record: 6-6, 3-5
Bowl: None
New Mexico State (3-6, 1-4)
What’s left: at Fresno State, vs. Louisiana Tech, at Utah State
Projected record: 3-9, 1-7
Bowl: None
Idaho (2-8, 1-5) and Utah State (2-8, 2-4) have been eliminated already.
•••
Idaho is down to about 125 standing-room-only tickets for this week's game. Nevada reportedly has less than 2,000 tickets remaining for next week's game in Reno.
•••
Sorry about the late post today. The Internet was down at Boise State.
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Back and forth
I must be really confused? Is Nate Enderle talking about his performance or running to the quickie mart to grab another 24 pack of Keystone?
Fourth and Back
No he's talking about, "It's FOURTH down...again and we're giving the ball BACK to Boise...again."
P-Bowl
So who's the projected team that Boise will play in the P-bowl if that's where we end up?
Poinsettia
Most people expect BYU to land in the Poinsettia Bowl.
Hope
Play a MWC team?? I want a east coast team.
Let's hope they walk in or the landings could hurt.
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If this had been an actual troll post the attention seeking you just read would've been followed by screaming, name-calling and cutting and pasting for no apparent reason. We now return you to the Idaho Statesman already in progress.
It will definitely be...
... a MWC team. It's the second selection from the MWC (will actually be 3rd if Utah is in the BCS. If Utah is not in the BCS, the Broncos will not be in this bowl...). Either BYU or TCU. Most likely TCU will be in Vegas, and BYU will be in San Diego (Poinsettia).
BSU has a football team???
Can't play all cupcakes and get respect. Can't go to georgia and wilt and get repect. Can't wait till ya get in a bowl game and wilt again. I did see the OU game where BSU held on and won. Just so ya know that was the 3rd best team out of the Big 12. Teaxas QB got hurt. OU QB wasn't even a QB. But I know that's your one game of fame. Everyone, even me, pulled for the little team that could. BSU would struggle struggle struggle to be a >500 team in the Big 12. Ya can't do trick plays all the time.
Bring on UGA
If you watch that game BSU held their own on both sides of the ball but when you have six turn overs that kinda ruins the day. UGA is a great football team what happen to them against Florida? Dang, I was going for Georgia!!
They have a neat old mascot dawg...
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If this had been an actual troll post the attention seeking you just read would've been followed by screaming, name-calling and cutting and pasting for no apparent reason. We now return you to the Idaho Statesman already in progress.
No...
... that was the Conference Champion of the Big XII, and they beat every team in the Big XII on their schedule except Texas (who then lost twice), so how could you possibly think they were 3rd? Get a clue before posting so that you don't look so ignorant.
don't watch much BSU football. do ya...
We don't do trick plays all the time. Hey everyone - did we beat #17 Oregon at Autzen with trick plays? I think we just out played them.
If your broken record is by Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell...
died this week and all three of them can now roll in their graves.
BSU ultimate posers
For all you fans that say playing good teams like fresno st would be a failed season. You're a true wannabe football fan. I know you gays have the napolean comples about football. Let us look at your conference. No let's don't. I will start alughing too hard. Who knew have those schools even had a football teams. Posers
soft soft silly soft
Go to the WAC and at least play someone. Even that league is considered soft. That's an upgrade for ya'll. Anyone that want's to stay in the mwc just to win and prance around as winners is silly. Let me here how ya have the 5th best D in college football. I need to laugh somemore.
um...wow
you are really showing your football IQ with this one. as bsu IS IN THE WAC
I hear they're in a stadium off Broadway and also PERFORM WELL
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If this had been an actual troll post the attention seeking you just read would've been followed by screaming, name-calling and cutting and pasting for no apparent reason. We now return you to the Idaho Statesman already in progress.
Poinsetta bowl
Poinsetta bowl.... that's perfect, bunch of mary's.. maybe after the game you can go tease some teenagers. Even after saying all of this I still have love for the village of boize
POINSETTIAS are for Christmas? You don't want a Red Ryder?
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If this had been an actual troll post the attention seeking you just read would've been followed by screaming, name-calling and cutting and pasting for no apparent reason. We now return you to the Idaho Statesman already in progress.
We are in the WAC not the
We are in the WAC not the Mt. West but good attempt at a put down.
wac is wack
sorry I got the sister mary league confused. I not up on all the badmitten leagues
bboyr
What happened bboyr, is your boyfriend out with another guy tonight and you’re pissed, or did BSU beat your team at one time or another and you just can't get over it. If you hate BSU so much why do you take the time to come to a Boise paper and read articles about BSU?
Wow you really should get some kind of life. Maybe your mommy can get you a new bike to ride or something.
yeah i never understood
why people who obviously dislike Boise State bother to come to the Statesman's website, to a BSU article, and write multiple posts dissing BSU. Don't these people have any life at all? kinda pathetic.
You should vote Republican! They love you ;-p
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If this had been an actual troll post the attention seeking you just read would've been followed by screaming, name-calling and cutting and pasting for no apparent reason. We now return you to the Idaho Statesman already in progress.
It does no good here. You get another they'll move to assualt.
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If this had been an actual troll post the attention seeking you just read would've been followed by screaming, name-calling and cutting and pasting for no apparent reason. We now return you to the Idaho Statesman already in progress.
Jeez
Apparently your lack of knowledge extends past badminton leagues and into usage of a dictionary. Get back to your dinner. Your possum is gettin' cold!
Hail Mary and BADMINTON.
You dig that because they use a shuttlecock and it feels good saying that.
We could all learn something from this....
Why can't the football fans be as humble as the players?! Afterall, the players are the ones with everything at stake, yet they can still manage to show some class when talking about the rivalry. Props to Ian Johnson, Nate Enderle, and Eddie Williams! Go Vandals!
Now you're just condescending for no reason. We don't play U NO
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If this had been an actual troll post the attention seeking you just read would've been followed by screaming, name-calling and cutting and pasting for no apparent reason. We now return you to the Idaho Statesman already in progress.
Disgrace
bboyr - You are a disgrace to real B-Boys, and to intelligent college football fans.
bboyr
Now you know where deschutes went-just changed his name. What a......guy? He should at least make an attempt at originality. Look it up bboyr. All that trash you write is indicative of your ignorance. You know, the coaches poll has the Broncos at #9. They must see something you obviously don't. And they know the game apparently, they get paid to teach and coach it as well as look at the other teams out there and rate them. THEY think the Broncos are better than all those teams behind them including Georgia and Ohio State. Go Broncos.
Leave Him Alone....
His pathetic rantings is all he's got.
They don't bother me and shouldn't bother anyone else either.
The Broncos are the 11th best winning team EVER with National Championships at DII and D1AA. Not to mention a BCS win over a perennial top 10 team, a team that was let back into the game by a fluke off a WRs leg on a punt return.
The Broncos would appreciate it if Imaho would stop being the WORST team in the conference year in and year out.
But, hey sometimes you can't unschedule many of the cupcakes.
Bring on the MWC. We may not win every conference game, but the competition will be competitive thru much of the conference rather than the top 2 other teams.
Let him rant....it's all he's got.
Despite what he says after this, it's all weak and let him be.
funny
Not a one of you will show your face after the bowl games. We'll see. Oh yes I don't live there anymore. Love the town. Just play somebody. Quit hiding behind "We don't make the schedule" Homers... Ya'll wouldn't know football anyway. Potato heads.... good luck with hunting... another joke
coaches poll
None of the coaches have even seen BSU play. They just see them being without a loss. Better hope ya stay in your "little" conf. Then ya play 1 meaningful game a year. And when ya lose ya'll all say 'Except for the turnovers we held our own. See georgia. Hope ya play someone good. You would be under .500 in the big 12. what you gonna say. No we would run the table in the big 12 too. see that's we it is at. teams from other conf would love to be in your conf and win all games.
coaches poll
I'm very impressed with your English...sounds like you moved to Big 12 country and picked up a new language. It is kind of sad that your weak mind has to put down a young D-1A (FBS) school. BSU has only been in this division of football since 1996...hmmmm. That would be 12 years if you ran out of fingers (you can take your shoes off and use toes next time). I'm quite impressed with what they have accomplished in so little a time. You can talk about the Georgia game, but they came back the next year and beat the Big 12 Conference champion--in dramatic fashion I might add. It sounds like you're more scared than anything else. Give BSU a few more years and you will be changing your tune about how they would fair in the Big 12. Parity in college football is getting closer each year...
Broncos
I love being a Bronco fan. I love wearing orange and blue flying my Bronco flag next to the American flag pole. Our team has given us some sweet memories and its only the beginning. With Coach Pete and our staff, with this city of Boise, the sky is the limit.
Go Broncos!
thank you bronco fans
for taking the high road when card carrying ding dongs show up on our sites. Yes - let's follow the example of the players quoted in the story!
Go Broncos!
foxsports power poll has BSU at 17th
Hey look foxsports power poll has BSU at 17.....not a one of you will respond to how many games would BSU win in the Big 12. cowards
Apology To All Bronco Fans
Hey, I have been a jerk and apologize. I have had a rough time lately and the only way to make up for it is being this way. BSU desreves its ranking as most the Coaches agree. I didn't even play football let alone sports. I was always the last kid picked and hate athletes.
Again, I'm sorry to all Bronco fans.
I almost thought it was Deschutes!
I had to look twice!
I'll take the baton from deschutes...
How can anyone think that BSU could compete with a top ranked team when their SOS is sitting at 81/119?
Any team with a drop of talent that plays a schedule that sits at the bottom of the country should be undefeated. There is no excuse not to be. Playing powerhouse teams like Utah State, Idaho, Idaho State, etc every week... does not make the best case for BSU being anything more than last years Hawaii team playing on a blue turf.
Lets all check BSU's SOS at the end of the year and just see how low it finally drops. My guess is 100+....ya know, just like last season.
Cupcake schedules = pretenders...not contenders.
OK, let's play that game...
Using the CBS Sportsline team and SOS rankings (BSU's is ranked #9, with an SOS of 70 in that system):
How can Alabama be #2 with an SOS of 67/119?
How can USC be #6 with an SOS of 49?
How can Penn State be #7 with an SOS of 55?
How can Utah be #8 with an SOS of 50?
#10 Oklahoma State at 43?
#14 BYU at 111?
#15 Ball State at 117?
#16 TCU at 53?
#18 Michigan State at 60?
#21 Pitt at 48?
#23 Oregon State at 56?
#24 Tulsa at 118?
#25 South Carolina at 62?
This is a silly argument. Ranking systems take the SOS into account when making their rankings. And it is nearly impossible to have a good SOS when you play in a mid-major league.
very funny
That last apology wasn't mine. Good job though. Have to get my computer nerd son to teach me how to post a comment using someone else's name. Good job, very impressed. I'll make a bet. If BSU wins a bowl game against a good team I will become a lifelong BSU fan.. I will then be drinking the kool-aid nonstop. and as long as I'm in AZ I will promote, recruit and do whatever to encourage players to come to your great city. I have to come back to Boise, thats where my golf buddies live and I still own real estate there.
Its not your name
Its not your name anyways.
Spaceman didnt we decide you are Deshutes in dark clothing?
Listen, no one is disputing Boise St. could compete right now in the Big 12 or Sec. If we were in those conferences and got to recruit better athletes and got a bigger share of BCS money than maybe someday.
Bronco fans are impressed with doing so much with so little. By in large we have mediocre facilities and take good players and plug them into a great system. So euphoria in this town is over blown. Going undefeated is no easy thing no matter who you play.
Hostile bitter people like you only add fuel to the fire...and no matter how much you hate it, and deep down you always will, the Broncos and the "nation" have only scratched the surface of whats going to be.
nobody cares
Nobody cares if you become a bronco fan. Nobody wants you as a bronco fan.....Bet NOT ACCEPTED. I hope the Broncos lose the bowl game if it means you will be a fan.......
good job spaceman
spaceman is right. SOS is everything.
bboyyr: apology accepted!
Very good! bboyr is not astute enough to see the extra y! I'm still on the ground with laughter!
spaceman21 (deschutes apologist)
Now is the time for the Broncos to leave the WAC and become an independent like Notre Dame, Army, Navy and Western Kentucky. Forget the MWC. I say it is time to take over the sweet deal from ND and get: 1) the national television coverage; 2) the automatic berth in a BCS bowl game if ranked in the top 8 and no sharing our BCS bonanza with other non-BCS and co-league opponents; 3) no more whining from those who say the Broncos play in a weak conference.
Here is ND's deal that should now be Boise State's from http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bcs_explained.html:
"Under the new BCS arrangement Notre Dame will be guaranteed one of the at-large slots in a BCS bowl if it is ranked No. 8 or better in the final BCS Standings. It is also guaranteed annual payment for its participation in the BCS. In those seasons in which the Irish play in a BCS game, the school will receive $4.5 million (an amount equivalent that received by a conference that places a second team in a BCS bowl). In those seasons in which Notre Dame does not play in a BCS game, it is projected to be paid $1.3 million for its participation in the BCS arrangement."
I say, just substitute Boise State and Broncos for all instances of Notre Dame and Irish in the new BCS arrangement.
Go Broncos!
had do get my glasses
called the gov. mr beaver or otter. to check on you guys. i wish I had a life....help me. retired and playin golf everyday. who laughs now
To My Computer Nerd Son
Son,
I am sorry for calling you this in front of perfect strangers. I didn't mean it, I really didn't. I just can't seem to get things right with all the pressure lately. That property in Boise I have told you about, well I can't seem to get anyone to move our double wide here. I know it's been tough with your Mama (I mean your sister) leaving us in a lurch, but things will get better, I know it. Please just don't make your buddies on the play ground not pick me when it comes down to you and me at the end.....