By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Mid-American Conference commissioner Rick Chryst was non-committal Tuesday about whether a deal can be brokered to set up a Ball State-Boise State showdown in the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl.
Chryst was most worried about protecting his bowl partners. The Motor City Bowl in Detroit would lose the No. 12 Cardinals (12-0) if they come to Boise.
Humanitarian Bowl executive director Kevin McDonald said he hopes to have a final answer in the next couple days.
“It’s exciting to see if the game could happen,” Chryst said. “… Boise State has a national program, Ball State is having a great year, it’s been an exciting year for teams outside the (BCS) automatic (bid) conferences. Whenever we are able to generate a national discussion, that’s a positive.”
The MAC is particularly sensitive to its bowl partners — Motor City, GMAC and International — because for more than 50 years the league only had one bowl, Chryst said.
“We’re still young in the bowl system,” Chryst said. “Universally we are committed to not doing anything that would damage our existing bowl relationships. What’s neat about them is they also understand Ball State, the special type of year they’re having. If there is a chance to match ranked teams, we should explore that as well. … All of us should explore ways to create matchups like this.”
The final decision will be a collaborative one, Chryst said — between what Ball State wants to do, what the bowl partners have to say and what is in the best interest of the MAC.
“The possibility of a game like this has certainly warranted the time people have spent on it already,” Chryst said. “People aren’t talking just to talk. The seriousness of what it would take to make it happen also underscores the level of interest.”
A decision needs to be made soon because the discussions are holding up decisions affecting where the WAC, MAC and ACC send teams. Boise State likely would play TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego if the Ball State deal doesn’t happen; the H-Bowl most likely would get Nevada out of the WAC and Maryland, Wake Forest or Miami out of the ACC.
•••
Ball State coach Brady Hoke is in his sixth year rebuilding the Ball State program. He was a longtime assistant at Michigan and Oregon State, but he played football at Ball State.
“Brady was part of a championship program when he was at Ball State and he really has brought that type of belief to what was a pretty significant rebuilding effort,” Chryst said. “He’s incredibly connected to his team.”
Ball State ranks 15th in the nation in scoring offense (37.7 points per game) and 10th in scoring defense (16.7 points per game). The Cardinals have only had one game decided by fewer than 10 points.
Quarterback Nate Davis is sixth in the nation in pass efficiency at 169.28. He has 25 touchdown passes and six interceptions — numbers that would make him a Heisman Trophy candidate if this wasn’t the Year of the Quarterback.
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I fear mediocrity
If the Broncos commit to the Humanitarian Bowl, they won't be playing Ball State. Ball State would be nuts to play a Bronco home game, regardless of what color uniform they wear. It'd be nice to see two unbeaten teams playing, but Ball State won't put themselves in a vice. And if Ball State doesn't come to the Humanitarian Bowl, the Broncos will play some mediocre 5-7 team.
And, of course, the BCS is going to drag their heels picking Ohio State to be the last at large team, just to add insult to injury. Boise State won't go to a BCS game because Ohio State will make more money for the Sugar Bowl.
To recap, Boise State isn't going to a BCS game because they won't make enough money for the BCS, they won't be playing Ball State because the Humanitarian Bowl is just another Boise State home game and they may not play TCU because, although they don't make enough money for the BCS, they do make a pile of money for the Humanitarian Bowl.
Ain't an undefeated season something?
Mediocrity...serve with barbeque sauce.
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We Are NOT ALONE...
They refuse to fly over here and bail our butts out anymore though.
HUH?
What are you talking about?
What are you talking about? Hire a native Idahoan to interpret!
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We Are NOT ALONE...
They refuse to fly over here and bail our butts out anymore though.
You probably meant to say a
You probably meant to say a 7-5 team. If you did want to say a 5-7 team then you obviously don't know much about college football.
Quandry ....
Who (Ball State) would travel to Boise to play BSU on their home field when they have other bowl options (with merit) exist? Would BSU travel to Ball State if the situation was reversed? I think not. To heck the $, I hope the WAC and Humanitian Bowl allows BSU to play against the best possible team, where ever that may be - and win! This coming from a Vandal Alum and Booster.
Quandry, Yes we would travel
Quandry,
Yes we would travel to play them. We played in the Texas Bowl against a team from Texas a few years ago. We played in the Liberty Bowl in Louivile's back yard another year. We have only played in the H Bowl 4 out of the last 11 years because we aren't afraid to go play the best competition availiable.
Fair
I think it would be totally fair to invite them to the Humanitarian Bowl if we go to their stadium and play them sometime in the next few seasons. What isn't equitable about that? If Ball State really wants to prove their team is worthy of its spot in the polls they would come to Boise.
Man UP or Not
If you think you are better than a #12 ranking then you play up. If not, sit home where it's cozy and deal with never knowing if you were good enough.
Ball St. needs to shut up about playing on the blue. It makes them sound weak. The conference is sounding reasonably credible about their bowl affiliations.
Either you play Boise St. and find out if you are good enough or not. Period.
What's the priority for the team?
I know this TCU would be the tougher opponent and we are not afraid to play them in the Poins. Bowl.
Man Up or Not???
That's a funny post. How about Boise travelling to Detroit to play Ball State on a neutral field and Boise can wear their blue unis on green?
NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, No, No, No, NO!!!!! NO BALL STATE! No matter where we played a team like that, we would destroy them. I wouldn't even be a game, it wouldn't be fun, and it wouldn't do us one bit of good regarding national respect. NOBODY would care if we destroyed BALL STATE. Nobody but the H-Bowl.
BALL STATE has never, ever won a bowl game.
TCU, BYU, or give me death!
Hmmm
Kind of sounds like what people said for so many years about playing Boise State...Who Boise??? We'll kick their hinds...wait what happened...we got our hinds kicked and no one thought that would happen...
Not a good straight-line comparison
(1) Why does everyone assume TCU is a better opponent? Undefeated, top-12 conference champion (if Ball State beats Buffalo) or a 2-loss, 2nd-place team from a crummy conference? Hey, I think TCU is a good team. I just find it confusing why everyone assumes Ball State is a weaker opponent. Seems like some people here have forgotten where BSU was 5-6-7 years ago... where people assumed we were inferior because they were unfamiliar with us. Just like us, they can only play-- and beat-- the teams that are on their schedule. (2) Ball State doesn't recruit Idaho... isn't that one of the primary reasons people keep rolling out for playing in the Pointsettia Bowl?... and they won't be able to get fans to Idaho. It's natural they wouldn't be thrilled about sending their football team out here to play on our home field.
Ball State
I would hope that Ball State would embrace the challenge of a game against a top 10 team. This would be a great game.
I agree
Ball State has improved every year for the last five years. They have gone from a 2-9 team to being undefeated this year, and their conference isn't totally crappy. Central and Western Michigan has been receiving votes for the Top25 quite regularly whereas the noone else in the WAC has, so by those standards they do play in a tougher contest.
I looked at their stats for the year and they are very comparable to Boise State in all categories. I personally think this would be a more enjoyable game to watch then TCU.
Yeah, Ball state here at Boise
that would be a fun game at least. It's not like BSU is going to, in one bowl game, suddenly get credibility. Cripes, we soundly beat Oklahoma after dominating nearly 60 minutes of the game, and that did little to nothing for us in regards to respect this year. So if we beat Ball st. in the H Bowl, at least that would be watched my many viewers because everyone would be interested in seeing the two undefeateds play each other. Have we ever played Ball st. ever? We've already beat TCU. Let's beat someone new!
GOOOOOOO BRONCOS!
here is an idea
keep boise state home and keep the acc home and pic up a team not ranked but very high profile......NOTRE DAME as of right now according to ESPN will have to be an at-large team somewhere ...question is why not here?
boise st. v ball st.
Glorious news about no game with Ball. The pundits would've called it the battle of the little guys, or the mid-major bowl-- an insult to us after we took care of Oklahoma in the Fiesta. You would've thought that would've changed the bcs rules, but here we are, being unfairly kept out of one of their private club bowls. Now they're (bcs conferences) afraid to relinquish their stranglehold on recruiting and alumni donations they've maintained through the myth that only a few schools can play big-time football. TCU, is a bigger name, and so WE, and Ball, have to play the most well-known schools to break down the perception that mid-majors can't compete. And by the way, the name, mid-major's gotta go; but one of the primary ways to eliminate these unjust restrictions on these 5 conferences is to play the so-called "power" conferences and beat them. Beating Ball does nothing for us. And the fans? Who wants to see Cinderella v. Cinderella? There should not be 2 tiers in Div. I A. What's Div.I AA for?!!! All members of the same div. should have access to the national championship. Isn't the reason you play sports is to find out WHO THE BEST IS? Then how do you send home an undefeated team without giving them a shot? This leaves Boise and Ball in a unique group of teams among ALL teams in every league in every sport on the planet that can't win it all if they have a perfect record. Better not play each other. You see, we've got to stick together: demand the best opponents possible, 16 (at least)-team playoff, and, yes, boycott the Rose Bowl-- big thorn in the formation of a post-season tourney. Go Broncos!
Boise State Fans...
Folks, I'm sure all college football teams have "good" fans, and the ones nobody wants to sit next to during a game.
And, as hesitant as I am to paint the whole crowd with one brush, I just have to submit this:
I, like nearly every college football fan on the planet, THRILLED to the greatest football game I've seen in decades when YOUR BSU took down Oklahoma.
One would think that Boise State fans would appreciate the record and struggles of a smaller, upcoming program. Sadly, here's what we Cardinal fans were invaded with--all over a game that will never happen:
http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20081204/NEWS01/812040378
Well, let's just say that it's going to be difficult for me ever to pull for your team again. Sad, since you'd won a big fan. But, no class is simply no class.
The "class" of Boise State
Well, the sea of a-holes from Boise hasn't stopped on Ball State's sites.
Look around your own. See a ton of Cardinal fans around, casting as much dung as they can? Didn't think so.
So, here's to the CLASS of Boise State...
"Boise was rocked over the weekend by a horrific traffic accident that killed a young family and highlighted perhaps the worst possible outcome of irresponsible, reckless driving and “road rage.” It happened early Saturday evening, when a BSU football player in a hurry tried to pass a pickup truck whose driver had been drinking, and the pickup driver wouldn’t let him by.
The football player, Cam Hall, 22, and the pickup driver, Mark Lazinka, 45, revved up their road rage until they were zooming down state Highway 55 at 100 mph, oblivious to safety and common sense. When a young couple in a Subaru Outback, their 5-week-old baby strapped securely in her car seat, turned out onto the highway, Hall swerved and missed them, but Lazinka’s truck smashed into the Subaru, and mother, father and baby all were killed. The family was Tony and Stephanie Perfect, both 23, and their infant daughter Zoe. Charges are pending against the other drivers."
Yeah, we lost a football game. But nobody got killed.
What a classy program. What a bunch of lousy, nitwit, excuses for human beings.
Hope your team's plane goes down over the Rockies.