No incentive for BCS conference teams to play Boise State
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No one will play
WAC commissioner Karl Benson told the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday that Boise State is struggling to schedule a BCS-conference opponent for 2011 — even with the help (and exposure and money) of ESPN behind the effort.
The Broncos are not asking for a return game in Boise. Just one road game. And about 10 teams have turned the Broncos down, according to Benson.
"They're running into a situation where nobody will schedule them, nobody will take them," Benson told the Statesman's Chadd Cripe.
The story is starting to get some national attention as ESPN.com's Bruce Feldman has begun tweeting about it and a conversation he had with Benson. Feldman is characterizing the teams that refused the offer as "elite programs."
No one is naming names, but here are some teams that have openings in 2011, according to nationalchamps.net: Michigan, Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas A&M, Alabama (though the Crimson Tide plays at Penn State in 2011), Texas, Oklahoma State
Among the teams whose schedules are full for 2011: UCLA, Penn State, Tennessee, Florida, USC
This is part of the problem with the BCS. The easiest way to get into the BCS for big-conference teams is to win games. And it doesn’t matter who you play in your non-conference games.
So why would you risk a loss by scheduling a team like Boise State? Look at what a loss to the Broncos has done to Oregon. If the Ducks had played Portland State in their season opener, Oregon would likely be ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the country at this point.
Florida is No. 1 and the Gators' non-conference schedule, so far, includes: Charleston Southern and Troy.
This article by Yahoo! Sports Dan Wetzel shows how quickly many of the big schools have figured out the system. Texas coach Mack Brown brought in BCS gurus to help determine the best way to the title game.
College football has a serious credibility problem with the BCS. No one is buying the argument about protecting the sanctity of the regular season.
Boise State has played a major role in exposing the hypocrisy of the sport.
But I’m not sure it’s helping the Broncos at this point.
Boise State’s 2011 non-conference schedule
@ Toledo
vs. Tulsa
vs. Utah
vs. Wyoming
The Broncos can play 13 games because they have a date at Hawaii during the 2011 season.
More Oregon vs. Boise State
• ESPN.com’s Ted Miller makes the “body of work” vs. “head-to-head”
argument in saying he would rank Oregon ahead of Boise State.
I find that rationale pretty ridiculous.
In a sport where so much is speculative, we should give deference to on-field results.
Other links
• Unreal: Conference USA signed agreements with seven bowl games for 2010 and beyond.
• From @VandalNation: Get your official "I'm a fan of the Idaho Vandals, and I've been here from the start" certificate here.
You can follow Murph's Turf on Twitter.
Brian Murphy is co-author of "Blue Magic: Boise State's Unlikely Journey to a Fiesta Bowl Win." You can click here to purchase the book.
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Exactly
Just as I said on the last article on this:
Let’s face it, it is a no win situation for BCS teams to play BSU. If they win people will say "so what, you beat a WAC team". If they lose they will go down big. BCS teams want to play against non-BCS teams they know they can beat; the risk is too big they will lose to BSU. This is why we need a playoff system.
Hypocrisy
There may be hypocrisy in the BCS but the fact that the Broncos are still in the Top 5 or 6 shows they have earned respect for years of being a very good program. The fact that this being talked about almost daily is a huge thing as well. As long as objective non fans of the Boise St program can see the bias of the BCS, and the haters still whine about the Broncos, means good things in Bronco Nation. Results take time to measure. Keep winning and eventually things will change for the better.
I also think that the fact
I also think that the fact that the Broncos are still in the top 5 or 6 and that they will quite possibly NOT play in a BCS Bowl is a rediculous notion. I think that if TCU and BSU finish 4th and 5th or 5th and 6th they should both be in the BCS bowl games. I understand that it's all about the money but if the BCS wants to claim that their system truly does identify the true national champion they have to quit putting the money first.
BSU and the big payday
They just need another big payday BCS Game. This will help Non-BCS Teams get a chance at a big haul, especially when you have two non-bcs teams going undefeated.
Weak Reporting - Try again Statesman!!
This is a weak story from the start. Where's the real 'reporting'? Are there not a few questions that should have been asked before rushing this one off to print? What teams turned down BSU? Did those teams have open dates on the same day that BSU has open? How many 'elite teams' actually have an open date on the exact day BSU has open and would not have to move their schedules around to accomodate a game with BSU? Did Benson mention that the contract with ESPN could actually be working against BSU as other conferences have contracts with other networks?
Do not most NCAA Divison 1 schools set their schedules at least 5 or 6 years in advance. Of all the BCS schools exactly how many have an opening on their schedule in 2011 and on the exact same day as BSU has open? Granted, there are changes to schedules but how many of the 'elite' BCS schools are willing to tear up the deals they have made with other schools just to play BSU? Would BSU have broken the deal to play UC Davis if Florida would have called and said 'please, will you come and play us?."
I just looked up Notre Dame's 2011 schedule and they only have 9 games scheduled according to the site I found their schedule on. Does Benson and the BSU AD have Notre Dame's phone number? If not, I can find it for them. Oh....I forgot. Maybe that NBC contract with Notre Dame would conflict with the ESPN contract?
This story does a lot to 'fire up' the BSU faithful and it gives them fodder for those who say "Ya, but you don't play anybody!" ... but personally, I think it is a bit of weak reporting. There's a whole lot more to the story than what has been printed. Remember those things they taught you at Journalism School? Who, what, why, where and when?
Like I said, there is a whole lot more to the story than what was printed. Either the Statesman did a weak job or they didn't print everything that they found. It's one or the other.
well, until we exit the wac
this is our life. traditional football powers refuse to schedule us, critics rag on us for not playing the traditional powers and the wac is weak. i suspect gene blaymaier is working on it and will solve the problem. we will be in the bcs or we will have a playoff system.
If that is your life...
...I pity you.
A Corrupt BCS System Is Better Than Sex
broncos81 sez: " . . . traditional football powers refuse to schedule us, critics rag on us for not playing the traditional powers and the wac is weak. i suspect gene blaymaier is working on it and will solve the problem. we will be in the bcs or we will have a playoff system."
Dude, are you serious? Do you actually think BlahBlahmire wants to change the way things are with the current corrupt BCS football system?
Why would BlahBlahmire really want to change the status quo? The way it exists now, it is bringing in all sorts of bling (bucks, dollars, pesos) that would never be coming into BSU coffers if the situation was changed. He doesn't want to change the current BCS system. If it was changed to a conference playoff championship series type thingy (like Basketball has) then BSU would face the overwhelming probability that they would not make it to the 'Final Four'. BSU would more than likely win the WAC (almost a perennial guarantee) but what about the first elimination game between the WAC Champion and some other conference champion Nope, no real guarantees with that scenario.
And remember, with a conference champion playing conference champion single game elimination scenario up and thru the Final Championship Game - all the mumbo jumbo about what team is ranked where nationally would be a moot point. All that would be relevant is what team is ranked where in whatever conference they belong to, as the season progressed. National Rankings would be meaningless. The only thing that would matter is the actual win/loss record of any current season.
BSU is making BIG BUCKS off of being an 'underdog' in the 'Corrupt BCS System'. So is TCU, et. al.
Blahblahmire doesn't want to change that.
BSU to the MWC - then what??
Consider a couple of things. One, if BSU is invited to play in the MWC when will that happen? After BYU and Utah are invited to join the PAC 10? If that were to happen, where would BSU be then? Hummm....let's see. TCU and BSU and the also rans? Still the MWC would not be invited to join the BCS. It wouldn't be an improved conference!
IF BSU was invited to join the MWC AND BYU and Utah were not invited to join the PAC 10, then who else would the MWC invite to join to make even numbers (NOTE: that would not have to happen but generally does happen to accomodate travel, etc.). Frenso State would be a great choice, but geopraphically they might not fit. It's interesting to ponder but I think any invites are out there a way yet.
Face it, BSU is just going to have to see if they can't move some games around (not easy this late) to accomodate playing some more BCS teams. And even that may not do the trick in getting respect.
“body of work” vs. “head-to-head”
“body of work” vs. “head-to-head” is not ridiculous at all. I have no idea why anyone would say something like that. Maybe hanging you whole season on one game brings that sort of comment on.
True Blue!!!
agreed
here is an on the field result you can feel free to speculate on: beating multiple ranked teams will always give you more credibility than beating one ranked team.
there is no doubt boise state gets screwed because no good teams wants to play them in non-conference games. so do dozens of mid-range bcs schools. please show me another sport with a level playing field: they don't exist. change conferences (won't happen), go unaffiliated (won't happen), or deal with it (definitely won't happen).
Another sport with a level playing field?
College Basketball. BSU wins the WAC title in basketball and guess what they get invited to? NCAA tournament. Even playing field, opportunity to play and prove your worth. BSU wins the WAC, or goes undefeated in football, guess what they get invited to...anything but the dance, with the excuse that "you don't play anybody."
Works like this: A teacher gives one red ink pen and a piece of brown paper to a student, with the following assignment, Draw a blue whale in yellow water. Student draws the whale with the pen on the paper provided. Teacher gives the student an "F", because she asked for a blue whale in yellow water, not a red whale in brown water.
Kind of ironic
BSU has basically hurt themselves in this whole process. In essence, by their own success, they have shown BCS teams that winning every game matters more than quality opponents. BSU has vaulted to the top of the standings with a ____ schedule and has proven that you can be in the top 10 while playing one solid game a year. Why would BCS teams play anyone other than the New Mexico's and such?
BSU may well be a good enough team to be top 5, we'll never really know b/c of the status of the system. However, it's funny that they created a loophole which is now hurting them.
BSU Created the "Loophole"?
Yeah, nobody else had figured it out before BSU. BSU is just prescient that way.
BTW
I am not a BSU fan, but if you can't use H2h result as a matter of rational it has gone from completely moronic to something worse(whatever that word is).
I don't know if bsu deserves a top 10 ranking thanks to one good win, but they sure as hell deserve to be ahead of oregon regardless of any argument. Scoreboard wins. Every time.
Look at this objectively....
If you were to arm wrestle an individual and you beat that individual handily, and then weeks later were told that the guy you beat was stronger than you based upon his "body of work" since your arm wrestling match, wouldn't you be a bit upset and disappointed that this speculation ignored your victory? Football is more complex than arm wrestling, but...when Oregon and BSU met on the field, there was no question at the end of the day who was the better team. None. By anyone...even the turkeys like Mark May who hate BSU.
This chatter now about Oregon being better is ridiculous. BSU would beat Oregon again this weekend, next weekend, and the weekend after if given the opportunity because they are a better team, as they proved in week 1. You can't ignore the fact of BSU's domination week 1, as Oregon's "Body of Work" includes a loss to BSU. That is what you "body of work" advocates seem to be forgetting.
UO - BSU sos comparison....
well, there is no comparison. BSU basically runs it up against another Washington St every week while Oregon is crushing the Pac 10. BSU should never be considered for the NC game - their schedule is too weak. Teams from major conferences aren't willing to play them because there's no upside.....Oregon's situation is exhibit one.....major conference teams get little credit for winning but but a loss does more damage than a loss to a major conference team....repeat there's no upside.
Anyway back to the sos facts:
BCS rankings:
UO 8
SCal 12
UA 18
Cal 21
OSU 28
Stan 35
UW 37
UCLA 51
ASU 54
WSU 102
Average BCS rank 37
BSU 7
Nevada 57
Idaho 36
FSU 47
LaTech 98
NMSU 108
USU 106
SJSU 93
UH 105
Average BCS rank 73
The argument is always strength of schedule. Find any college football fan worth his weight in wings, and the my-team-is-better-than-your-team argument begins and ends with "who have they played?"
Two weeks into the BCS poll, the argument holds strong. Of the 25 teams in the BCS poll, the toughest strength of schedule—according to the NCAA—is Arizona. Since the Wildcats have two losses, you can forget about them playing in the BCS National Championship game.
The ranking of BCS conference unbeatens in strength of schedule (among the top 25—not overall NCAA rank): Iowa (No. 2 among the 25), Texas (No. 12), Alabama (No.13), Florida (No. 20) and Cincinnati (No. 22).
But it gets more intriguing with the strength of schedule rankings for the BCS conference one-loss teams: OREGON (No.3), Pittsburgh (No.5), West Virginia (No.7), USC (No.11), Oklahoma State (No.14), Penn State (No.15), LSU (No.16), Georgia Tech (No.19).
Notables: TCU (No.21), BOISE STATE (No.24) and Notre Dame (No.8).
What a Joke!
This is nothing more than a publicity stunt by Benson to try and put up an argument for BSU's weak scheduling tactics. He even said during the Tulsa game that the schedule was "strategic". Oh, "no one will play them", boo hoo. Yeah, tell that to Fresno State. No team in the West will play them so they travel to 3 Midwest schools to get games. BSU simply isn't working hard enough or isn't willing to settle with the offers put on the table by other schools. Maybe Gene should have been spending more time a few years ago trying to schedule BCS schools rather than the sisters of the poor. Now look where it has got him! I have not pity at all for BSU.
BTW, Benson made a comment a few years ago at the WAC media football days stating that the WAC had surpassed the Mountain West. How silly does he look now after saying that comment, while BSU could go undefeated 2 years in-a-row and get bumped from a BCS bowl in favor for a Mountain West team.
Wac surpasses Mountain West
Benson was referring to the "body of work". I'd say BYU, Utah and TCU are good teams. BSU, Nevada (sometimes), Fresno State (almost) and possibly Idaho (we'll see) are good teams. The bottom of the MW has sunk below the bottom of the Wac. So, overall, I'd say the WAC HAS surpassed the MW. Does anyone fear NM, UNLV, San Diego St., Wyoming (Wyoming can't be any good - BSU played them so they must be a cream puff!)
Many call for a play-off in FBS. Well,we had a mini-version of that this year. BSU eliminated Oregon- period! If we played them later in the year then our win would be "because they were beaten up from their tough schedule". Apparently OREGON is only beating teams that are beaten up because of the tough schedules. Pick an excuse and stay with it.
There's a post season mini playoff system already in use
it's called Conference Championship Games
Cool
More unbiased duck poop on the subject.
And I would add: you have not class either (sic)
i keep hearingthat the win
i keep hearing that the win against oregon doesnt count because it was oregon 1st game and they r better, well wasnt it boise 1st game and they r better too. plus boise beat then whith their best player who ve not play since. so boise is better. we need a 16 teams playoff
You're the Joke!
There's an obvious difference between Fresno State and Boise State, try to educate yourself before you have an opinion in the future. Teams that schedule Fresno State won't schedule Boise State, champion of the WAC 6 out of last 7 years. The debacle that Oregon had at BSU will eliminate any good team from coming here to play us, and now with the emphasis on the BCS conferences playing bad teams out of conference they won't let us come there (Houston beat 2 Big 12 teams, and they were scheduled to be patsy games but really just exposed how mediocre the conference was). Let's face it, if you look at who the BCS conferences are playing out of conference it's a joke. The talking heads still talk about how tough those conferences are (look a the Big12 last year!) all year, only to have them get worked over during bowl season. The fact of the matter is that the non BCS conferences and the BCS conferences are WAY closer than they will say (or probably even realize). To figure conference strength don't just look at conference records against each other, but look at which teams in the conferences they are playing to pad their SoS. The SEC and Big 12 don't look all that great when you do that. Most big time football homers are in denial...
Take off the Horse Goggles
You really don't get it. Do you really think BSU would play a non-conference schedule like Fresno State's if they were in the Pac 10? Heck BSU today plays a non-conference schedule that rivals those of the BCS schools. BCS schools normally schedule weak non-conference games because their conference schedules are brutal. They don't have to make up for their conference by playing a tough non-conference schedule like TCU, Fresno, ECU and others have too. BTW, Houston, Utah and Fresno State are the only teams to have ever defeated 3 BCS teams in the regular season. Something BSU has never even attempted. Only Utah was able to remain undefeated. That should tell you just how far the non-BCS schools are from being on par week-in-week-out with the BCS schools.
Oregon
My other problem with AP voters voting Oregon above Boise State because of all the general excuses about the game this year (first game, new coach, blue turf) is that they conveniently forget that BSU beat them last year in Oregon as well. Give me another poll in any sport where an undefeated team beat another team 2 years in a row, and then were rated below them. I have had email conversations with a few of these AP polsters that had Oregon over BSU, and I just asked them why. They said that BSU didn't look great against Tulsa and didn't pass the "eye ball" test that week. Well Oregon didn't pass the eye ball test against...BSU! Why does BSU have to pass the eye ball test every week, and teams like Alabama and Florida and Texas can play like crap on the field repeatedly and squeak by wins (over a Tennessee team that lost to UCLA) but those are just bad games for them. It's a double standard, and the AP and other polls need to give some rules and training to everyone allowed to turn in a poll. Speaking of eye ball test...TCU would crush Texas right now, now can you be national champions when you're not even the best team in your state...?
That was last season
Why do some people keep acting like last season's game should count for something this season? If Oklahoma were undefeated this season would you say that BSU should be ahead of them because they beat the Sooners a few years ago? It doesn't matter if you beat a team two years in a row.
I sure hope BSU wins the rest of their games...
or none of this really matters, does it?
BSU and the BCS
The national media complains that BSU doesn't play a tough enough schedule to merit a BCS bowl selection at the end of the season. The Broncos' 12-0 record in '08 was not enough for a Fiesta Bowl selection, though BSU was qualified by rule--except that, by rule, the BCS was only obligated to select one non-BCS at-large team (Utah). The system is so weighted in favor of the BCS elite teams that the few mid-majors (TCU, Utah and BSU) who compete at a higher level must operate under a completely different set of rules. No wonder the Mountain West Conference is p***** off that they can't get in on the big money.
Frankly I would just as soon see BSU stay in the WAC. The previous year's bottom feeders (Idaho, Utah State and New Mexico State) are vastly improved and I can assure you that from the looks of the recruits coming into all of those programs this year and next, they will improve markedly over the next couple of years.
The coaching at each of these schools is also superior to what it has been in the past, and it shows so far this season. Last year all three were fodder for the top-five conference teams. This year not only has Idaho's resurgence and winning conference record been a surprise, but Utah State finally beat La. Tech and has taken every other conference game to the last few minutes before the outcome was decided (five conference games with a winning or losing margin of four or less points).
Not only are the lower echelon teams improving in the WAC, but FSU, UH, UN and La. Tech had higher rated recruit classes than BSU in 2008 (according to Rivals.com). This is healthy for a well-balanced conference and should make for better future matchups.
In the final analysis I would suggest that if BSU is fortunate enough to stay undefeated this year, they will very likely be asked to join the MWC next year (BSU president Bob Kustra's goal since he arrived on campus in '03). The MWC needs the Broncos' record (non-BCS conferences are under a four year review beginning in 2008 and ending 2011 for possible inclusion as a BCS member. The MWC could use BSU's poll rankings for the years they are not members of the MWC as long as they are a conference member for one year. Boise State must give the WAC a one-year notice if they decide to leave).
tbarb
Theres so many things wrong with this post. It looks like a damn term paper. First, Boise St is like 75-2 in conference. Theres no challanges here, its been conquered. The bottom feeders you mentioned are a little better but still no threat to the Broncos. New Mexico State is better?
Anyways, comparing Boise States recruiting class to anyone else's doesnt make much sense. BSU molds easily the players they want to make the team unit far superior to any one on one skill athlete. You think all of a sudden Fresno is going to be better on the field? They have had better recruiting every year. Why stay in the WAC? If the Mountain West can get an automatic bid to the BCS than its a no brainer.
The Best Evidence
What would be the best, most direct indicator of one team's superiority over an opponent? The choices are as follows:
A. The body of work argument - the entire pallette of work is more impressive despite the one glaring flaw at the top of the painting (incorporates the timing argument)
B. The common opponent argument - who beat common opponents and who won more impressively
c. Who has the most money, tradition and best PR department
D. Who won in a head to head matchup on the field
to the unique teke troll
of course you pity us. because like all troll fans, you consider yourself to be superior to boise state fans & alums. you are not. your board name indicates your pathetic life. does "if you can't go greek, go teke" ring a bell for you? thought so. my comment was in reference to the state of college football and the problems associated with having a strong program that wins consistently and is ranked in the top 25. this is, of course, entirely foreign material for a troll fan.
Oh Snap!
donk81. The pity has turned to hatred.
Yes...I still pity you...
Wait...isn't this a football board? So tell me what my fraternity affiliation has to do with it the discussion? Did I bring that up? Next you're going to bring up academics I suppose...
And yes...I am superior...thank you for recognizing it.
Really?
Come on vandals get a life...quit trolling its so annoying. Go to your vandal.net or whatever
LOL
I'm reading my hometown newspaper (and an article that references the WAC commissioner if you hadn't noticed) so why don't you go away...
I'd also like to point out that I haven't said one thing about the Broncos, positive or negative...
You are just being a jerk
Why come on here and act like this man? Other vandals come on here and make solid points and you are always trying to pick a fight. Have some class or beat it.
Because I think it's funny?
Really...we're all just here to entertain ourselves and think we're important (lookie my words are on the interwebs!) Maybe YOU shouldn't take things so seriously. Here...I'll throw you a bone. The BCS is a joke and really blows. It's a money racket. BSU has a good football team that has done remarkable things in the past decade (it's okay...you're good). Do I believe the BSU football team is better than Texas, Florida, dare I say Oregon? Heck, who knows (and realistically who cares what the heck I think?) The great thing about football...it's a dynamic sport and stuff happens throughout the season. OBVIOUSLY on one September evening BSU played a better football game than Oregon...THAT is fact. By that fact alone BSU probably shouldn't be ranked LOWER than Oregon. Can I change the BCS computers? This time I'm not being a smart-aleck. I'd rather see a legitimate play-off system. I'm not going to obsess about the whole thing, though. I'd also like to never see American Idol ever broadcast on television again and would prefer that Tyler Perry stop making movies. Fact is...I don't always get what I want and I have no control over these things so I roll with it.
Once again...I never called you any names...now if you keep that up you're just going to hurt my feelings.
Alright Teke
You are forgiven. I laughed too hard about the American Idol and Tyler Perry movies to hold a grudge. How does Tyler Perry make money? That stuff just isnt funny.
In my opinion
this is exactly why we need to leave the WAC. While the chances of it happening are "like a snowballs chance in....", we should plead our case for admittance into the PAC-10. Would we be the conference champ...likely not. Would we be a cellar dwellar...probably not, but at least the weak division and non-bcs issues would be a thing of the past. Let's stop dominating the weak/non-BCS WAC and "play up" in a conference with the big boys.
lol
Plead away. Go ahead and tell them why you can't sell out a 35k stadium for a "nationally ranked" team. I'm sure pleading will help.
its not just about football
ncaa conferences are university organizations that have academic standards. the pac 10's are especially high with stanford, usc and washington. boise state is a young university that doesn't have the programs or academic standing to fit into the pac 10. that isn't a shot at the university, just a fact.
I totally agree
It's not a shot at BSU, but is a fact. We are young, but still need to find a new home in a conference with some strength.
And yet ...
... BSU's wrestling team competes in the PAC-10. That argument doesn't jive.
What's the point?
Even if Boise State does manage to schedule one competitive non-con opponent it doesn't make up to the fact they play an incredibly weak conference schedule. As it stands, Boise's strength of schedule ranking is 84. By adding Oklahoma or Michigan or, oh please, Texas A&M, will not help. Boise State is a good team that finds itself stuck in the WAC. Really, who's fault is that? How difficult would it be for BS to secure an agreement in which they could join the PAC-10 or any other conferences that isn't the Mountain West? It may take time but it is certainly possible. Until you guys are able to get premier teams (more than one per season) to commit to future non-conference games, you will always be a good team with a weak conference schedule who always takes the shortcut to a BSC bowl game. I don't blame Oklahoma or Michigan or any other elite program for not scheduling you guys. They have it hard enough playing in the Big 10 and Big 12 respectively. The whole point of a non-con game for these schools is to prepare for their rigorous conference schedule.
Yes, but...
Yes, BSU's conference schedule will not be able to be much more difficult as long as they stay in the WAC, but I disagree with the rest. If BSU were able to add an Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, USC, Georgia, etc. to their schedule and especially if they were able to add two or three to their schedule, I believe it would do a lot for the strength of schedule and the respect they earn, especially IF they were still able to go undefeated or even finish with one loss. I will give BSU credit. The past two years they have been able to beat the one tough team scheduled on their schedule. In the past they were not able to do so, so they have come a long way. However, their overall bowl record shows how well they do when they have to match up against teams considered to be in the top level of college football. Anyway, in the end I believe adding one or two MORE BCS teams to their schedule would go along way in their strength of schedule and respect for BSU. However, it would also seriously diminish their chances at an undefeated season and a major bowl game. So,...?
Thats the real question
Would BSU fans accept losing 1 or 2 games a year if it meant playing a much stronger strength of schedule?
Also, why bring up their bowl record for proof? They lost on a last second field goal to ECU and Chris Johnson. And by a point to a very good TCU team. You could say they were overmatched if they got blown out. When was the last time the Broncos got blown out by a BCS team? I think it was 2005.
I'm surprised at you...
Usually your comments are a little more solidly rooted in fact, tomellen. You state:
The past two years they have been able to beat the one tough team scheduled on their schedule. In the past they were not able to do so, so they have come a long way. However, their overall bowl record shows how well they do when they have to match up against teams considered to be in the top level of college football.
First off, the "overall bowl record" comment is off base. The Broncos are 5-4 overall in bowls, which is quite good. I'm sure you are playing into the same goofy argument that many recent Bronco detractors cite: They are 1-4 in their last 5 bowls. Gosh, that sounds terrible, until you consider that means they were 4-0 in their first four bowls. Also, in their last 6 bowls -- in which the Broncos went 2-4 -- all but one of their opponents were ranked, and 4 of them were ranked in the top 15. And of course, they lost those four games by a total of 14 points (3.5 points per game). The worst loss was by 6. Every one of those games was in doubt right down to nearly the last play of the game. Hardly a sign that the Broncos don't match up against "the top level of college football". On the contrary, it is a sign that they match up very well.
Secondly, it is not just the past 2 years that the Broncos have won the tough games on their schedule. In the Chris Petersen era (nearly 4 years now), the Broncos are 4-1 versus BCS AQ teams (80%), with all 4 wins coming against AQ teams that were ranked in the AP top 25 by the end of the season (assuming that is true of Oregon this year... not much of a stretch), and 3 of them also ranked at the time played. They also have 2 more wins against bowl bound BCS AQ teams in the 4 years prior to that.
What are you talking about tbarb?
I can't believe you just made, or tried to make a case for the WAC. You are and will always find yourself on the outside looking in because of the WAC. BS would be doing itself a disservice by remaining in the WAC. And quite frankly, I am sick of watching teams like Boise State have top ten rankings handed to them, while of other teams work their tails off. And, no, I am not a TCU fan. I think TCU falls into the same category as Boise- a good team stuck in a weak conference.
"The previous year's bottom feeders (Idaho, Utah State and New Mexico State) are vastly improved and I can assure you that from the looks of the recruits coming into all of those programs this year and next, they will improve markedly over the next couple of years"
Vastly improved? Really? Compared to what? The fact that you honestly believe this assessment shows just how pathetic Boise State's situation is. In spite of playing in a conference, with a "vastly improved" cast of bottom feeders, still earns you a strength of schedule rank of 84. Yes, 84!!!! BS needs to leave the WAC, period. And, sorry, the Mountain West will not solve your problems. In my view, the solution to BS's woes will be found in the Pac-10. Considering they are ranked in the top 10 almost every year, they need to be in a conference that will test their ranking. The Mountain West is a slightly smaller joke than the WAC and will not test Boise State adequately. TCU should have joined the Big 12 when the Southwest Conference was dissolved. Instead, they have joined BS in taking a short cut to BSC glory.
The Aardvarks Roll Past The BSU Broncos
Seriously - BSU deserves to be # 4 nationally - ahead of Oregon and TCU. Why?
BSU beat Oregon on the field - pure and simple - head-to-head competition between 2 football teams (during a real time event - THIS season). Now the pundits are wanting 'Mulligans' (aka, Body of Work theory) to further confuse the BCS corruption. The Head-to-head competion theory is now suddenly, not as strong a predictor of success as the Strength of Schedule and Body of Work theories. And, is it really relevant that TCU beat BSU LAST/PRIOR football season by 1 point in the Pointsetta Bowl - that was LAST season. If Oregon gets a Mulligan for their first BSU game THIS season BSU could take a Mulligan on the TCU game loss LAST season - following the 'improved' football team theory ascribed to Oregon's loss to BSU early this season - making BSU more 'improved' than the current 'improved' Oregon team - because BSU 'improved' more following the TCU loss and then beat Oregon. The permutations of 'improved' teams are endless. One could even deduct that the perennial national football powerhouse of the 1910' - 1920's (Harvard) is the most 'improved fotball team of all- time because they beat Army in 1935 - when Army had dominated the national college football landscape in 1934. Being a college football fan makes my thinker broke - where does this Mulligan - Body of Work - Strength of Schedule theorization ever end?
If one follows this convoluted logic - all that remains is to analyze the SOS of each football program and award the final rankings and National Championship BEFORE the season begins. This could easily be done by a computer in the April or May time frame (when scheduling is completed) - thus saving the hassle of actually playing the games. The BCS schools could save vast sums of money by just owning and controlling the copyrights to the Final Standings and sending - by mail - each week of the season, the results of each game - to the ticket holders. The fans would not actually have to go to the games - just send in money for the 'tickets' and receive the results of the games thru the mail. Or you could even have a TV show called 'College Football Team Idol' where the fans called a phone number and voted for their winners, from week to week. If 'ties' ensued or doubt evolved regarding the legitimacy of the final standings - then the 'body of Work' of previous seasons could be factored in (i.e., the Aardvarks beat the Mosquitoes last year in the Frumpy Bowl by 1 point - so the Aardvarks are superior this season - and will always be in future easons until the Mosquitoes beat the Lemmings at home by 57 'style points').
Isn't it time for a playoff system, just like all other real sports have?
Yep, I am a Vandal, but I would rank BSU # 4 nationally because they have legitimately proven it on the actual football field THIS season.
and
and a teke...we're on to you, english major/producer