By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
The Fiesta Bowl is counting on its teams’ fans to provide a one-week stimulus to the Arizona economy — making fan travel the central element in the team-selection process on Sunday.
Boise State is one of several teams under consideration for the Fiesta, which is expected to have two at-large picks. The Fiesta likely will take Iowa or Penn State and Boise State or TCU, but also could stage a Boise State-TCU battle or end up with Nebraska.
“The entire country has been hit very, very hard with the economic downturn,” said Tony Alba, Fiesta Bowl director of media operations. “Arizona has been hit even more so than other parts of the country. This year, more than any other, the number of people a team will bring and the length of time they’ll stay here and fill hotel rooms — from an economic engine standpoint — that’s going to be very important to us.”
The Fiesta Bowl’s sponsors include the state office of tourism and the cities of Glendale, Scottsdale and Tempe.
“We get tremendous support from the state government,” Alba said. “It’s incumbent upon us to do our part.”
That priority makes it unlikely that the Fiesta would take Boise State over the Big Ten team if Nebraska beats Texas in the Big 12 championship game. A Nebraska-Iowa game might not be a TV hit, but there would be a parade of fans driving from the Midwest to the Southwest.
However, Alba said speculation that a Nebraska win would eliminate the Broncos is premature.
“Obviously somebody’s spot is at risk there, but I do not think necessarily Boise State is done,” Alba said. “I know you read that speculation and a lot of people are thinking that way. I absolutely think they are still right in the mix even if that happens.”
The Fiesta Bowl has an eight-member executive committee that will choose the teams. The bowl has considered countless scenarios but won’t make a decision until late Sunday afternoon.
If Texas wins, the Fiesta will have the second and fourth selections. The first choice goes to the Sugar Bowl, which will take the SEC runner-up.
That puts the Fiesta in the driver’s seat.
“We feel really good regardless of what happens,” Alba said. “There’s a couple scenarios out there where the wheels come off — one of those is New Mexico State beating Boise State.”
The Fiesta won’t work with the other games to put together the best matchups, Alba said. TV partner FOX also doesn’t have a role in the process, he said.
“There’s communication,” Alba said of the BCS bowls, “but not a lot of conversation in terms of trying to work together.”
The Fiesta is expected to choose between No. 9 Iowa and No. 11 Penn State with its first choice. Both teams have two losses, but Iowa beat Penn State head-to-head. Iowa also has beaten three teams in the BCS top 30. Penn State hasn’t beaten anyone in the top 30.
That would be a tough call, Alba said.
“Iowa has a reputation of traveling very, very well,” Alba said. “We’ve never had them in our game, we’ve always wanted them in our game — whether we get them or not, who knows? … Penn State has a long history with us. They’ve been here six times. We more or less grew up together. They were instrumental in helping us put together that Miami game in 1987. There’s some attractiveness there as well.”
•••
Sugar Bowl spokesman John Sudsbury said his game wouldn’t have a problem inviting Boise State even though it would mark the third straight year the game landed a non-BCS team. Hawaii played there in 2007 and Utah in 2008.
“Any time we can get an undefeated team, we’re happy with that,” Sudsbury said. “… Both those schools were great for us. It was a fun environment. It was fun to have teams that hadn’t been here before.”
•••
Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore is not a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award. The finalists are Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, Houston quarterback Case Keenum, Alabama running back Mark Ingram and Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Moore was a semifinalist.
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Interesting...
Last time around, Fiesta Bowl officials raved about how well Boise State fans traveled and they loved having us in Arizona. Is the assumption that more people would come from other states simply because of population or that somehow, the economy hasn't had the same impact in Iowa and Nebraska?
Fiesta
He was very complimentary of Boise State and its travel to the Fiesta Bowl. But there's no denying that Iowa, Nebraska and Penn State have larger fan bases and a better track record of bowl travel.
For crying out loud man...
We have been fed this BCS computer system that makes a choice for us rather than playing head to head football... we groan and grudgingly accept it. We have to. But then when we get down to the last week of games - we are told that the final hoop that must be jumped through is .... who... has... the most fans that the schools can drag to the bowl stadium site and buy a stinking ticket.....
"But he was very complimentary of Boise State"...... For crying out loud man.
So much for a perfect season of football.
I'm sure that a kind complimentary pat on the head of these 50 some football players will make things okay.... after they've spending 6 months of fierce work compiling a 12 and 0 season. Not to count the broken bones and torn ligaments.
Milkey
According to the BCS, this is a "system that works" much better than a playoff. I want to know how I can get into this good ole boys system as maybe an "advisor" role. Get payed to go to lots of games, where I will be wined and dined and given VANDL's blind lez wife for entertainment. I have got to get that job. Where do I send my resume? I am willing to get paid off, take bribes, manipulate local chamber of commerce's, and take pay outs from hotel chains. I think I am qualified.
Dick Butkus is too far gone to finish your business.
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bowl bound?
chad:
i would have thought that the previous game attendance by boise state would be proof enough that we are willing to go for bsu. wasn't that enough? yes, he was very complimentary of boise, i just don't know what else you can do. do iowa, nebraska and penn state have even more people to do the traveling?
Boise State
Those schools have more fans -- bigger stadiums, longer traditions, etc. And they have been doing this a lot longer. Boise State has taken more than 5,000 people to an out-of-town bowl game one time. A team like Iowa is just a safer bet.
Chad
We've only been to one BCS bowl.......
Oklahoma State took 5,000 to the holiday bowl last year
How many Iowa fans you think went to the Outback Bowl last year? (I found it but it wasn't easy)
Next year you can say "Boise State has taken more than 5,000 people to an out-of-town game -two- times"
Iowa
I'm not sure, but I did find a story that said they sold 20,000 tickets for the Outback in 2006 and sold more than their allotment (11,000) last year. ... Anyway, doesn't matter what I think. It matters what the bowl thinks — and they are big believers in Iowa's fan base.
"Length of Stay" -- Key words in his statement!
IF BSU is invited to the Fiesta (personally, I think that's the only real viable option -- Sugar bowl? No Orange Bowl? No way) one of the keys these people are talking about is LENGTH OF STAY in Phoenix. Many of the BSU fans will drive to Phoenix, which generally is going to mean shorter stays. Iowa may drive a few and IF Nebraska is in, they too might drive a few -- but nothing like Boise State fans. It's just too close and by the time you fly down and rent a car, you're into the deal a bundle. Driving would be much more cost effective especially with car pooling. But the key again, length of stay, could hurt the Broncos. I don't like the sound of their rhetoric right now....especially this new 'economic' angle and now the 'length of stay' threat. Hummm.....out of all those teams (Nebraska, Iowa, Penn St, TCU and BSU who do you think the intended target was? Remember, these people don't say anything unless it serves a purpose. Can you say "excuse"??? Hope not.
and, more importantly, will they?
we will.
Now I know how to improve the BCS poll process:
Take the Coaches Poll, add the Harris Interactive, add 6 computer calculations and then have the State Dept. of Tourism for each BCS Bowl city make the final tabulation - and the winner is...!
TetPilot: If you want someone to listen to you
Talk to this guy:
Good Day
My name is Mr. Song Li. I work with the Hang Seng Bank. There is a sum of
$19,500,000.00 in my bank Hang Seng Bank", Hong Kong. There were no
beneficiaries stated concerning these funds which means no one would ever
come to claim it. That is why I ask that we work together.
I do solicit for your assistance in effecting this transaction.I intend to
give 30% of the total funds as compensation for your assistance.
I will notify you on the full transaction on receipt of your response if
interested, and I shall send you the details and necessary
procedures with which to make the transfer.
Should you be interested? Please send me your:
1. Full names
2. Private phone number
3. Current residential address
Kind Regard.
Mr Song Li
tell your bro Jet to shut you up, fool
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Proof of Ability To Travel - Show Them The Tax Returns First
Good point tetpilot:
Understanding that tetpilot's posting was proffered in jest and tongue-in-cheek; I am momentarily left pondering if someday:
Half-way through the season, fans of respective programs will someday, have to fill out notarized Statements of Intent to Attend Post Season Bowl Games (regardless of future location or travel distance) and attach copies of their last 3 years tax returns and CPA prepared Profit and Loss Statements to verify Net Worth, and post Future Performance Bonds:
All submitted thru, the athletic program administrations of respective programs, to the respective Bowl Committees and the BCS for compilation and 'ranking' to determine which programs have the strongest to the weakest probability of 'traveling' to bowls, Strength of Travel (SOT), and bringing in Big Bucks.
These rankings would not only be used to determine the pairings of the post season bowls, but also, SOFBNW (Strength of Fan Base Net Worth) as a criterion for 'determining' future season's preseason's rankings.
This would be analogous to going out for an evening at a Casino in Macau or Monte Carlo - where one must 'prove' they have at least X amount of money, in cash, before they are granted entrance to the casino and admittance to the gaming tables. Thereby, physically establishing, their 'intent' to actually gamble that evening, and not be there just for the free cocktails, horse overs, and female companionship.
This post was also, in jest, BUT - Yes, it's really free, if you show up with at least $50,000 US Dollars, in cash, on you, and your wife is a blind lez.
Vanal
I love that. SOFBNW !! That was like your light bulb going off. That MUST be included in future computer formuals. If you suggest that to the BCS, you might just get yourself the "advisor" role that I wrote to milkey about.
I worry, Fiesta or no BCS period
How much do you all think distance from Boise will make the difference on the minds of those 4 bowl boards?
I don't see the Sugar or Orange Bowl making much of a consideration of us being willing to travel 2000 or 3500 miles for that game, though I know many of us would surely be willing to make the sacrifice, even in these poor economic times. I fear the Fiesta Bowl may be the only option we have in the eyes of these people, though, I don't think they consider the fact that since we aren't in an automatic qualifying conference, these at-large bids are a big deal to us BSU fans, after being snubbed as much as we have the last 8 years, I would believe that those of us who are "true blue" would make a better showing than even some of those conferences that yawn over the mention of another consecutive bowl bid.
.......you should be worried.
It's Fiesta Bowl or bust. Period.
HOW ABOUT THIS SCENARIO BSU FANS???
How about you forget about playing a BCS game this year and focus on what will help your program in the future. Check this, if you played Iowa in the Fiesta Bowl and beat them, both you and I know, that will not help your program, because that match up doesn't even look good on paper, BSU will beat Iowa. But if you lose to Iowa, it will set the program back 5 years. But if you play in the Poinsettia Bowl and beat USC, which I believe BSU is capable of doing, then this time next year, BSU wouldn't have to worry about IF they will be playing in a BCS bowl game, it would be a matter of WHICH BCS bowl game. Not only that, beat USC and that would propel Boise State into the national program level they think they suppose to be in now. Contrary to what you think or believe, your one win against a BCS team means nothing at all. That is why you are in this position. A smart AD will set his team up for the future by taking the Poinsettia Bowl and playing USC, it will be a VERY ATTRACTIVE and MOST WATCHED GAME!!!
Yeaath... that would be very very attractive.
I'm outta here.
Early retirement? Giving Farve all the glory huh?
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Okay GA_BOY
Sir, I agree whole heartedly with your ideas on moving our program forward, except for the possibility of a national title shot, even with the defeat of USC in your proposed bowl game situation. I do also give merit to your argument on the single defeat of a BCS conference team on our schedule. I don't think we can be a national title competitor without massive chaos in the current system. The only true chance that exists would be for BSU to move out of our current conference to a stronger one, and the qualifications for that include increased stadium capacity and attendance that, sadly, we just do not have the capacity for at this current point in time nor do I foresee in the next 5-10 years without a couple of things. I personally believe, however nice the ammenities are, that the increased attendance capacity we were given with the building of the Stueckle Sky Suite was wasted money. The common football fans cannot afford the seating for an every home game attendance that this facility requires, and would have been better spent on more affordable and greatly increased capacity for the "every Joe" fan rather than appeasing the rich elitists and national presses for a "more suitable press box" atmosphere that ESPN has always commented on in past visits to Bronco stadium. The second, and unfortunately less likely, is the ability to schedule more big conference teams, as we are viewed by those teams much the same as we view playing teams from the FCS; for those BCS conference teams, the national landscape would be either a win against us that, being an FBS team, they should have won anyway, or, and much more detremental to their program, a win against them by BSU making the program look hypothetically weak and unstable or "in a position of transition." As this is so, the only possibility for an improved view in national contention is for BSU to leave the WAC, even if it means a few seasons of sub-par season records for us to become a viable contender in said larger conference. I would like to make one final argument for those teams who will not schedule us for fear that the game itself is a lose-lose situation, please take note of Oregon's #7 ranking in the polls and very realistic possibility of playing in the Rose Bowl AND being the PAC-10 champion, even after a defeat by us; granted it was the first game of the season for them and they had the time left to recoup their loss.
You drinkin GA_BOY???
Iowa or USC would give BSU all they can handle. Trust me!
ga boy does have a point
but we are more interested in the big money and beating the highest ranked team. i would recommend ga boy focus on getting that georgia program to a level where they could compete with us.
COMPETE??
Are you kidding me? Compete with BSU?? Thats a joke!! As I recall, UGA smashed that a**!! I admit, this is a bad year for UGA, but good teams always bounce back. The next time you play a good team, let me know. And all this crap about schools NOT wanting to play BSU, you can thank your PR team for that bullcrap! You have to remember, BSU need the big schools, the big schools do NOT need BSU!! Rememeber that when you are scheduling UC Davis again!
Sshhhhhhhhhh.....GA_BOY!
You're not supposed to mention UC Davis!
Na, its fine now
It's history. We need to start discussing why UC Davis, The Citadel, Portland State, Eastern Washington, Sacramento State, and the like are doing on PAC 10 schedules.
Hmmmm UC Davis v California......someone needs to fire their AD :)
omilk, you forgot the link
for song li. tetpilot, lamesched, outhouse, weisberg and rjetti are interested.
here...
immorestupidthanuthink@quizme.com
Yet Another Stupid Internet Trick (tm)
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money honey
Ga boy you got it right except for the money. It wouldnt matter if we lost anyway, kinda appeared thru the year voters cant remember who beat who last week by the why they voted. But I cant complain how they voted for BSU.
I know
its about the money, but if you take the Poinsettia bowl now, you can set yourself up for big bowl games to come in the future. Sacrafice now, reap the rewards later. BSU has a very young team and there is NO ONE that is going to stop them from getting back to an undefeated season next year or the year after.
That's like saying...
Hey take your cousin to your junior prom because you still have next year to get a real date. GA_BOY we did go to Poinsettia bowl last year. We've been settling for less the last two years even though we have been one of the better teams in the nation. It's all about how the fans travel? We are the WAC. The WAC has the largest distances to travel of ANY other conference. LaTec to Hawaii and we travel that every year. Guess what we have a Army of fans that travel to the games. Let GA_Boy take their cousin to prom. We want to dance with a cheerleader. We've earn that right.
Go Big Blue
I've heard
there is a shortage of pencils in the Georgia public school system, I think our BOY just confirmed it.
You heard that?
Must be that slow Idaho schooling talking! WHEW!! Stick to the potatoes son, we will work on counting in the morning!
COUNTING? AH HA HA YES!
ONE TROLL!
TWO TROLLS!
INFINITE TROLLS! AH HA HA! WONDERFUL! INFINITE TROLLS!
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tebow over kellen moore....
tebow over kellen moore.... wow
UMMM, YEAH!!!
What the hell are you thinking? Are you SHOCKED!!! Kellen Sloore vs Tim TEBOW???
Hey GAY BOIY
We already did that a couple of years ago. Beat a national champion program that is, only bigger than USC. I think they are called the sooners. What you did in the past appearantly doesn't help with us now, so your argument doesn't hold any gay geogia sauce.
APACHE64??
Or should I say fake a** Apache wanna be pilot! LOL!!! You must be drunk or very high if you think for one second that Choklahoma is bigger than USC! Your vision of being a REAL Apache pilot has really clouded your vision to see that!! Oh yeah, the last time I checked, UGA did smash that a**!! So try again loser!! And you if you keep up these posts, I am going to disable your account APACHE64!! ;)
NOT ANOTHER SSI RECIPIENT...Shoo
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Cash is king
I say we take the cash and dash win or loose. We made big bucks last time and we'll do it again. A lot came out of that last BCS trip for our team and fans. I say we take the biggest dance we can get so we can keep improving from the inside out. The respect of others will come if we continue to win out and go to more big bowls year after year. In addition doing so makes us a much nice school to pick up in the "fancy" conferences for those that wish that. I'd rather keep kicking arss in the WAC and going to money bowls therefore building the program than playing into the hype that we have to play good teams to ever be taken seriously. This is a business plain and simple, you deliver the goods better then anyone else (wins) then you end up on top.
No, Cash is Johnny.
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Oh thats nice.
Can't take the truth so "you" are going to diable my account? Hey georgia boy, I've lived in your stinking state. I've seen all you backward southern racist homophobes in person. So if talk of about your supposed sexuality is a problem for you, go somewhere else. As for the fake wanna be pilot, go blow smoke up your partners a##. If you didn't know, Boise has a whole battalion of apaches, just like the georgian national guard. Reject. And, tell me how USC is a bigger program than Oklahoma?
AFAGGY 64
YOU ARE DILUSIONAL!!! Now that I have your slow a** attention, listen up redneck!! I know you probably lived in BUFORD Georgia, so now youa re living in Idaho. Thats what we do in Georgia, send all the rejected rednecks to Idaho. LMAO!! And you aren't an Apache pilot, you are probably a C-12 or a Cessna pilot, not a bad a** Apache Pilot. You are probably some dumb IP aren't you? Yeah you are!!!! Fake A** DOUCHER!!!
GA_boy
Squeel like a pig for me!!
GA
ssssooooooooo eeeeeeeyyyyy!!!
Are you kidding me?
Before you start trying to match wits with me or make fun of GA, please understand what you are talking about, its SUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEYYYYYYYY!!! And what the hell does that have to do with UGA??? Just proof you are just a crew chief working in the hangar. LMAO!!! By the way, your account will be disabled tomorrow!!! Now say you are sorry right now!!
Once again it goes back to Johnny Cash
I hear that train a-comin'...
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If It Makes a Difference
Me and my fiance plan to attend if the Broncos get in and, since we have no children, we spend lots of money.