An in depth look at the "Powerhouse" Boise State since joining the WAC

 
The more i see us dominating in classic Beamerball style…

Pound the rock, bruise them with Evans and slice them with Williams.

Play inspired defense, the upside to our 2010 unit is very high,

Create turnovers, and execute special teams…

LETS GO HOKIES!!!!!!

Rant over :)

All that matters is 2010. It doesn’t matter what happened in 2004. Why would that matter? We don’t have any guys who played on that team. 2009 is probably the only indicator of what this team is capable of(ya heard? 21-22 starters.) Keep goin though, I hope Beamer and crew think like you guys. Ask soon-to-be 2nd round draft pick Lagarette Blount what he thinks of BSU’s weak team? O ya, he wasn’t drafted, rushed for negative yards, hit Byron Hout, and got suspended. Lets just hope Ryan Williams/Darren Evans don’t act like sore losers.
       Thank you, and good day

Firstly, bsu415, not to question your research but I am almost entirely sure that the reason for moving the game was network television motivated. There is no way in the world that Virginia Tech would have been pro-moving the game to an earlier point, especially considering what they have coming back. Usually in early season games, experience wins out. It’s paramount. Beamer knows that. I’d just find it hard to believe that Virginia Tech would be doing anything to get a game moved forward when their defense is in need of some extreme seasoning.

Having said that, I am apprehensive about the outcome of the game. As VTinACC pointed out, we don’t have a good record in OOC openers against high-profile opponents, ESPECIALLY not in neutral sites. We tend to come out of the gates hot in these games and then flatten out as the game goes on. I guess that’s a stab at Mike Gentry in S&C as much as anyone else.

In an un-Bud Foster-esque style, I expect this to be a high scoring, most high-octane on the day wins. As much improvement as I think our O has made, we still forget who’s behind the wheel…the guy who ALWAYS seems to lurch from a dead start as the season progresses. But the point is the beginning of the season is the dead start. And for what I think is going to be a dissecting of our defense by one of the top picks in the 2011 NFL Draft, quarterback Kellen Moore, I think we will need a VERY well-oiled offense on that day. Especially considering that we are going to be working with somewhat of a reworked O-Line, and are banged up there as well. We shall see. We certainly cannot treat Boise with the amount of respect that Oregon did (or rather lack thereof) last year. Anyone who watched that game knows that 1. game was a misnomer, and 2. that their defense made a very good Oregon offense look absolutely dysfunctional! Bsu415 is absolutely right about that.

But…I would not be bragging about the Legarrate Blount ordeal. I don’t at all support Blount for doing what he did, including the pre-game festivities…and certainly he had it coming…BUT I think what Byron Hout did was incitement. Pretty much anyone else I spoke about it felt that Hout should have spent the exact same amount of time on the bench last year as did Blount…yet he got off scotch free. It reminded me of the Pacers vs. Pistons brawl of ‘04, when a guy like Artest is punished inordinately based on his reaction to the aggressor’s (in this case I’m talking about Hout’s incitement on the field) action. It didn’t help that he was taunted and even punched by at least one Boise fan while exiting the field. In Hout’s case, yeah you won…DOMINATED and that should be enough to shut him up. Be the bigger man and don’t stoop to his level. I love Boise State’s program, but I lost a lot of respect for the program as a whole for the off the field stuff that day.

As for Williams/Evans, I don’t think either of those guys are like that. They’re more even-keeled. Certainly they won’t go out in the media and slam the Broncos before the game. Likewise, Williams is in a completely different league than is Blount. In years of watching good Virginia Tech tailbacks, I will objectively tell you that Ryan Williams is the best (objective because he’s not my favorite), and is undeniably one of the top 2 running backs drafted in ’11.

Record against BCS team under Chris Petersen: 4-1 (Washington, 2007)
Three of those wins were against ranked opponents.

Boise State has been in the WAC since 2001, not 2002. They went 7-2 in Conference play that year, losing to La. Tech and Rice. There WAC record is 69-4. They have never lost a conference game at home.

Last, but probably most important, All-Time Record: 354-144-2 (.710)

Why is it important? Boise State is, and always has been, a winning program, at every level. This is not new to us. They have two national championships (1958 NJCAA, 1980 DI-AA)

In the 42 seasons of football as a four-year institution they have FIVE losing campaigns. The last one was 13 years ago in 1997 (5-6). Their second year as a D-IA program.

Since 2000 they are;

 the winningest team in the country: 112-17 (.849)

the highest scoring team in the country: 41.4 points per game with an average margin of victory of 21.5 ppg

Sure you can say that any of these numbers are in fact inflated by having to play poor teams in conference. But in doing that you would be missing the point. Boise State has long been a formidable opponent. Assuming they are weak because there competition is would be supremely ignorant. Espescially after they just beat TCU team that many thought, should have been considered for a National Title. How much we forget in four months time.

Losses to Louisville or Georgia 5-6 years ago mean little now, and will mean less in September.

In the words of Joelestra above;

Not saying it’s not winnable, just that they’ve proven an ability to beat big teams on big stages, and an average record in this situation doesn’t make this a win for us, just winnable.

Put hope in the fact the your Hokies and Coach Beamer are probably not being as dismissive as you are about Boise State’s weak schedule and conference. Because if they are, they’re already in trouble.

At least you guys acknowledge that we might have a pretty good team this year. Last year before the OU game the trash talk from duck fans was off the scale. Looking at the season right now the VT game is going to be the biggest single test.

 As a BSU fan I have confidence in our coach to put together a good game plan. The one thing that people really don’t take into account is BSU’s coaching. Coach pete brings a winning attitude and he is one of the best coaches in the country bar none.

 Good luck on your season next year hokie fans and may the best team win.

This team was in Conference USA in 2004…just sayin’.

They were a midmajor. If you are going to call the loss to them a loss to an AQ, then give us credit for the time we beat them as beating an AQ.