"be careful what you wish for"?

[1boisebro]

hello folks.

first, i wanted to stop by and offer a belated congrats on good season. i watched the bowl game with my family, and we thought it was a great performance despite the outcome. freddie barnes is a stud, and i hope he gets his chance in the NFL. you have many fans in boise!

secondly, i wanted to get your opinion on something.

as a boise state fan, i'd love nothing more than for us to go undefeated next year and win one of those mythical "national championships." i've talked to a number of people that are hoping that to happen, partly as a means to ending the BCS.

however, this is where the "be careful what you wish for" part... do you think a Boise State making a BCS title game would actually hurt all of us who desire a playoff? for instance:

- if Boise loses, the BCS can say, "see? we told you so, and they still got their chance. the system works." (which i believe is absurd. ohio state got blown out of BCS title games, and still they're in the mix every season.)

- if Boise wins, the BCS can say, "see? the system works -- even a little guy can win a 'championship'" (which i also think is absurd, because an SEC team can and has won 'championships' with two losses, whereas it'd take Boise a ridiculous three-year run of going 38-1 with a 26-game winning streak for their chance at one -- if they even get that chance.)

personally, i hate the BCS. it destroys any good feelings we can have when we win. even a 14-0 season is tainted with disrespect and what-if's.

from your perspective, would you rather see BSU (or any AQ team) actually make and even win a BCS title game? or do you think that would actually hurt our common goal of getting a more equitable playoff system?

thanks in advance for your input.

[Class of 61]

Boisebro,
I can't speak for others on this board, but I for one would LOVE to see you guys in the "B.S. Championship game"... (that's how I feel about the B.S).... and I'd feel even BETTER if you won it... assuming that BG won't get in, I'd love to see you guys make it...a quality team, built of non-superstars, who plays hard ...and together.

Would it hurt the "mid majors" in the long run? I'd say it'd at least give us all hope that it CAN be done, despite the odds against it. I'd still prefer a playoff system that would recognize the league champs of ALL conf., with at large teams added to make it work... if the old 1-AA can do it, there's no reason, the "biggies" can't allow us po folks some chance. And that doesn't mean scheduling us against each other, like they did this year.

[Redwingtom]

When you're the little guy so to speak, you have to take what you can get when you can get it, and not worry about the future.

[KeyWestParrot]

Boisebro,
I have to admit that I have become a huge fan of Boise and what they have accomplished the past few years. I feel their success only helps us 'lesser' colleges in the eyes of the BS conferences apologists. With that said I find Boise's problem with respect, as well as all of us 'lesser' programs, similar to what Penn State faced for a number of years.

Under Paterno Penn State had some remarkable records, most of which occurred while they were still an independent. Following are the results of seasons PSU had when they either had an undefeated season or one-loss season.
1968 11 -0 (2nd AP, 3rd UP)
1969 11-0 (2nd AP, 2nd UP)
1971 11-1 (5th AP, 11th UP) yes that is correct, 11th
1973 11-0 (5th AP, 5th UP) John Cappelletti won Heisman too
1977 11-1 (5th AP, 4th UP)
1978 11-1 (4th AP, 4th UP)
1982 11-1 (1st AP, 1st UP) unanimous National Champions
1985 11-1 (3rd AP, 3rd UP)
1986 12-0 (1st AP, 1st UP) unanimous National Champions
1994 12-0 (2nd AP, 2nd UP) Big 10 member
2005 11-1 (3rd AP, 3rd ESPN/USA) Big 10 member

Penn State has gone undefeated five times and won the national championship once and won it once with a single loss. Even with all these impressive records Penn State was still penalized in the polls because they were an independent and didn't play as tough a schedule or because they didn't play in a conference.

Even in 94' when they went undefeated they didn't win the championship, I believe that year it went to Nebraska with no talk of the need to split the championship.....in 97' Michigan and Nebraska split after all the apologists demanded the only right thing to do was split it which also happened to be Osborne's last year at Nebraska.

As I see it the only way Boise or any other 'lesser' program can achieve a championship is to either sustain an incredilbe streak of near perfect seasons or join a BS conference. I could see Boise eventually joining either the Pac-10 or Big-12 in the future but I'm afraid teams like BG or Toledo are screwed. Only an all inclusive playoff would help our situation and I don't see that anytime in the near future.

[kdog27]

Even in 94' when they went undefeated they didn't win the championship, I believe that year it went to Nebraska with no talk of the need to split the championship.....in 97' Michigan and Nebraska split after all the apologists demanded the only right thing to do was split it which also happened to be Osborne's last year at Nebraska.

I can't speak for their other undefeated teams but that 94' team got the ultimate hosing. They were dominating.

[RobbyFalcon]

Go ahead and win the BCS national title and worry about the rest later. It appears that the new BCS head likes the current system, meaning it makes a lot of money. If he doesn't think it's broke, he ain't gonna fix it no matter who wins the final game. If you make it to the big game though, I'll be pulling for you. (Unless you're playing BG).

[1boisebro]

i appreciate all the replies.

the penn state connection is interesting, and something i hadn't considered. usually people compare what we're doing to what bobby bowden did at florida state -- turn a relative unknown of a school into a long-term, successful football program.

but compared to what jopa did at penn state, perhaps BSU is in the infancy of a similar rise, particularly when you compare our recent years to penn state's:

2002 12-1 (15th AP, 12th CP)
2003 13-1 (16th AP, 15th CP)
2004 11-1 (12th AP, 13th CP)
2006 13-0 (5th AP, 6th CP)
2008 12-1 (11th AP, 13th CP)
2009 14-0 (4th AP, 4th CP)

while our records are similar, the big disparity compared to penn state is the final ranking, but perhaps that's now changing, too.

believe me, i'm in no way suggesting that i don't want the Broncos to run the table next year, and i'd be happier than a virgin at a porn convention if we won the whole thing. but i'd be remiss not to at least acknowledge the bigger picture and how such a feat would affect the BCS, the FBS, and other non-AQ teams in general.

regardless, i hope chris petersen stays at boise as long as jopa has at penn state.

thanks again...

[TG1996]

I think they should allow Boise St. to play for the BCS title next year, but if they lose, they have to install green turf.

[KeyWestParrot]

i'd be happier than a virgin at a porn convention if we won the whole thing.

That is a great line, I'm gonna have to steal that one for future use

[Falconfreak90]

Would love to see Boise State in the title game...or TCU, Utah as well. These programs have proven they can play anyone in the country anytime...and win. With every starter but one (I think that's true) returning next year, BSU has to be in the top 5 to start the season. BSU regularly beats impressive BCS teams and deserves that opportunity. Next year they get Va Tech and Oregon State. They'll go after anyone and I love that attitude.

Here's a great story about the Fiesta Bowl and the great things BSU and TCU have done...and will do again next year. How about they play again next year for the title? They had a great game this year and the year before was even better....TCU won 17-16 in the Poinsettia Bowl. Can it happen or will the BCS find away to not let it happen?

Bowling Green and the rest of the MAC need to look at the game plan of the MWC and WAC and strive to get to that level.

GO FALCONS!!

[gmartin]

The one thing that we all forget about Boise is that they do not have as many athletic programs as BG has therefore they can put much more resources into its football program. They can afford better facilities, better coaching salary, etc. They also do not have to compete with as many other 'major colleges' nearby. If you don't go to Boise, then maybe you go to Washington, Oregon, or USC, and now maybe Idaho, of which, each college is over 5 hours away. Look how many colleges we have within 5 hours (Toledo, Ohio State, Cincy, Notre Dame, Purdue, Indiana, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, Miami, not too mention the eastern Ohio Schools, etc)

So recruiting is much easier in Boise.

People think that BG can emulate the success as Boise. I find that less than 1% possible because the lack of funding, resources, and more importantly, talent to choose from.

[PGY Tiercel]

The one thing that we all forget about Boise is that they do not have as many athletic programs as BG has therefore they can put much more resources into its football program. They can afford better facilities, better coaching salary, etc. They also do not have to compete with as many other 'major colleges' nearby. If you don't go to Boise, then maybe you go to Washington, Oregon, or USC, and now maybe Idaho, of which, each college is over 5 hours away. Look how many colleges we have within 5 hours (Toledo, Ohio State, Cincy, Notre Dame, Purdue, Indiana, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, Miami, not too mention the eastern Ohio Schools, etc)

So recruiting is much easier in Boise.

People think that BG can emulate the success as Boise. I find that less than 1% possible because the lack of funding, resources, and more importantly, talent to choose from.

BSU has the same number of sports as BG. (If you count Swimming & Diving as one and Track and Field as one). And considering that there isn't as many schools nearby, BSU likely has larger travel costs to cover, so I'm sure that negates some of its benefits to its athletic department.

[gmartin]

Good point as far as travel costs, I never thought about that, but it is easier for Boise to recruit the football athletes because it is not in recruiting wars with other nearby schools.

[rood]

The one thing that we all forget about Boise is that they do not have as many athletic programs as BG has therefore they can put much more resources into its football program. They can afford better facilities, better coaching salary, etc. They also do not have to compete with as many other 'major colleges' nearby. If you don't go to Boise, then maybe you go to Washington, Oregon, or USC, and now maybe Idaho, of which, each college is over 5 hours away. Look how many colleges we have within 5 hours (Toledo, Ohio State, Cincy, Notre Dame, Purdue, Indiana, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, Miami, not too mention the eastern Ohio Schools, etc)

So recruiting is much easier in Boise.

People think that BG can emulate the success as Boise. I find that less than 1% possible because the lack of funding, resources, and more importantly, talent to choose from.

You also have to consider the population bases within that 5 hour radius. Over 30 million in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Chicago, under 10 million in Idaho, Utah, and Washington (I took out Seattle's million people since they are outside the radius). It's not worth the effort to count eastern Oregon or western Montana.

They may not have to compete with as many schools but there isn't much of anyone out there to recruit.

[AyZiggy97]

Boise State (or TCU, or Utah, or whomever) winning the BCS would further press the case for the system to be opened more for non-AQ conferences. So yeah, go Boise, or whomever.