2009 BOISE STATE BRONCOS

FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Boise State University’s football team moved into elite company on Sunday (Sept. 27) as the Broncos moved to the No. 5 ranking in both the USA Today Coaches and Associated Press media polls following their 49-14 win at Bowling Green Saturday (Sept. 26) night.

Undefeated at 4-0, Boise State joins a top five that includes No. 1 Florida followed by Texas, Alabama and LSU.  The Broncos recorded 1,144 points in the coaches’ poll and 1,203 points in the AP poll, moving up three spots in both rankings.  Both polls had the top five teams the same this week.

The No. 5 ranking is the highest regular season ranking in school history for the Broncos.  Boise State did have a No. 5 ranking one other time when it was fifth in the final Associated Press poll of the 2006 season.  The Broncos were also ranked No. 6 in the final 2006 coaches’ poll, which followed the team’s 43-42 win over Oklahoma in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Boise State’s No. 5 ranking is the highest regular season ranking for a WAC team since former member BYU was fifth on Dec. 9, 1996.

In regards to some national statistical rankings following Saturday’s win, Boise State is tied for the team lead in sacks allowed with 10 other teams.  The Broncos have allowed only two quarterback sacks in their first four games.

Boise State is also ranked in the top 10 in five other team statistical categories.  The Broncos are fifth in pass efficiency defense with a rating of 83.69; seventh in scoring offense (41.75), kickoff returns (32.71) and offensive pass efficiency (166.82); and ninth in net punting with a 40.73 mark.

Individually, quarterback Kellen Moore has the nation’s second best pass efficiency rating at 177.51.  The sophomore signal caller has completed 70 of 101 passes for 932 yards, 10 touchdowns and only one interception.  Hawai’i quarterback Greg Alexander has the nation’s top efficiency rating at 178.76.

Boise State returns to Bronco Stadium this Saturday (Oct. 3) for a 6:07 kickoff vs. UC Davis.  This will be the only home game for the Broncos until they return to host San Jose State on Halloween night.

By Lace Banachek | Boise State Gameday Correspondent

Already this season fans have watched Jeron Johnson, George Iloka, and DJ Harper fall hard to the turf. Sadly, one of the three (the Texas Tornado) tore an ACL and could not get up on his own; he will be lost for the season.

What does that mean for the Boise State Broncos who seem destined to prove they can run the ball this year. Well it obviously would mean more if Harper was not hurt, but the Broncos are not devastated yet. Enter Doug Martin, the all everything for the Broncos.

Doug plays special teams (all star), offense (running back), and defense (nickel). Doug’s heart is bigger then his 5’9 dimensions. He just wants to get out there. Yet to play this year at running back is the injured Matt Kaiserman.

Matt will be beneficial when he returns, but until then junior Jarvis Hodge will be counted on to assist Jeremy Avery and Martin in the tailback position. Helping to bust open holes is the job of the O-Line, and full backs. Both are doing a far better job then last season.

Leading the way at fullback is the 6’2 Richie Brockel. Richie is also added at the fullback position by former linebacker Dan Paul. Dan is a great blocker and is relentless once on the field. Down the road the Broncos have another treat at the Tailback/fullback position, but this one will be used very sparingly at the position, he is defensive tackle Michael “Canadian Bacon” Atkinson.

Bacon is a 320-pound mass of battering prowess. Michael will be coming off suspension and ready to play on October 3^rd, when Boise State entertains Cal Davis. Cal Davis is the former school that Bronco coach Chris Petersen played quarterback very successfully.

It would appear that the Broncos are OK with or without the Tornado, but to borrow a heavily used phrase from the University of Texas coach Mack Brown, “not so fast big boy”; You just don’t take a back out of the game that gives you 6 yards a carry on average and expect it not to make a difference.

Having said that, the Broncos will most likely pass more often, and that should not upset the fans. However, Avery will continue to get the ball, it would be ridiculous not to, especially after Jeremy Avery tore loose Friday with a 186-yard effort against Fresno State.

The Broncos are deep, very deep and not at just running back. Don’t look for the loss of any player other then Kellen Moore to affect the overall win-loss of the Broncos. Even Kellen Moore has a respectable back up in 6’5 Mike Coughlin and a to be super star Joe Southwick waiting in the wing temporarily at no. 3.

The bottom line is Broncos will be solid for the next few years. They are getting better, BCS bound better, and that’s another story. Go Broncos

Weekend Football Parking Release, Sept 12th

***Traffic Alert***
Due to the Tea Party Boise political march portions of Capital Blvd. will be closed to traffic between sometime between 11a.m. and 12p.m.  For an estimated 20 minute period no traffic will be allowed to enter onto University Dr.  We recommend that fans use an alternative route. There will also be increased foot and vehicular traffic in and around Julia Davis Park for the 55th Annual Art in the Park.

Off-Campus
Park Downtown and arrive at the game hassle-free! BSU Transportation and Parking Services highly encourage the public to park in the parking structures downtown for $5 and take the Boise Shuttle Service to the game. Shuttle stops include the corner of 8th St. and Broad, 8th and Main, and 6th and Grove.  Additional information regarding the Downtown Business Association stops and shuttles can be located @  HYPERLINK “http://www.downtownboise.org/” http://www.downtownboise.org/.

URS/WGI Parking Structure- located off of Park Blvd., across from the Ram. Parking is $5 per space; parking areas open 2 hours prior to kick-off. Boise Shuttle Service will take you to the game for free 2 hours prior to kick-off and one hour after the end of the game.

Residential Street Parking is limited. BSU discourages you from planning to park on the residential side streets. The street parking located closest to the University is city parking, and NOT controlled by Boise State University. If you choose to park on the city streets remember: Vehicles are not allowed to be parked along portions of University Dr. from 2am-5am, vehicles cannot be parked longer than 24 hours, no parking 30 feet from stop signs or 20 feet from an intersection, no parking in alleyways, driveways, or vacant yards and all vehicles must be closer than 18” to the curb.  Additional city parking rules and regulations can be found at  HYPERLINK “http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/City_Clerk/CityCode/” http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/City_Clerk/CityCode/

Julia Davis Park will not be available to the general public for parking.  Boise Art Museum’s Art in the Park is being hosted and has reserved a majority of the parking in the park.

On-Campus
To avoid traffic congestion, it is highly recommend visitors enter and exit campus off of University Dr. and Capitol Blvd., or Lincoln Ave. and Beacon Ave.  University Dr., between Lincoln Ave. and Broadway Ave. will be congested and should be avoided.  Parking and Transportation Services recommends that all visitors view the BSU parking map prior to arriving on campus.  ( HYPERLINK “http://www.boisestate.edu/parking/CampusMap.pdf” http://www.boisestate.edu/parking/CampusMap.pdf ) and visit the Parking and Transportation Services website for additional parking and updates  HYPERLINK “http://www.boisestate.edu/parking” www.boisestate.edu/parking.

Pre-Purchase Your Reserved (guaranteed) Parking Pass!- Football Parking Permits can be purchased in advance by visiting the Transportation and Parking Services website at  HYPERLINK “http://www.boisestate.edu/parking” www.boisestate.edu/parking.  Pre-purchased parking options are listed on the main page under “Parking Pass pre-purchase information”.  The price has been reduced to reflect the remaining games.

Game Day Public Parking is very limited on the Boise State University campus.  Only paid parking lots on campus will be available for non-permit game day parking, pending availability.

These parking lots include:

• Administration Parking Lot: 4 hours prior to kick-off, $10 a space, accessible shuttle provided 2 hours prior to the game and 1 hour after the game.  The lot will open to permit holders all day.
• Lincoln Parking Garage: Lot opens at 8a.m. $10 a space, accessible shuttle provided 2 hours prior to the game and 1 hour after the game
• Brady Parking Garage: Lot opens at 8 a.m. $10 a space, accessible shuttle provided 2 hours prior to the game and 1 hour after the game
• Parkcenter Lot: 4 hours prior to kick off (located at W. 220 Parkcenter Blvd across from Red Robin), $5 per space NO SHUTTLE SERVICE

Accessible Parking
Lots open at 8a.m.
Stadium Lots- Accessible stalls in the Stadium Lots are on a first come first served basis, $10 to park or free with proof of BAA membership card. An accessible plate or permit will need to be displayed at all times.
ET Reserved Lot- located off of Euclid Ave. and University Dr., $10 or free with proof of BAA membership card. A BSU shuttle will provide transportation to and from the game starting 2 hours prior to kick-off.   Shuttle service will be provided 1 hour after the game.
Lincoln Parking Garage- located on Belmont St. and Lincoln Ave. $10 or free with BAA permit and accessible plate or permit. A BSU shuttle will provide transportation to and from the game starting 2 hours prior to kick-off.   Shuttle service will be provided 1 hour after the end of the game.

RESTRICTED PARKING AREAS/RESERVED BRONCO ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (BAA) PARKING
Stadium Lots: West Stadium/East Stadium/Bronco Circle/Cesar Chavez Lane, will be open to BAA Reserved Permit holders and those needing accessible parking starting at 8a.m.  Transportation and Parking Services will NOT be opening the parking lots prior for any reason.

Parking lots South of University Dr.: The Denver Lot, Denver and Beacon Lot and Manitou Lot, LB General (corner of Beacon St.and Michigan Ave.) and the Engineering and Tech lot have been added to the Reserved parking program this year.  These south lots will be closed to the public and all permit holders starting at 12:01a.m.  All vehicles must vacate the lot by 12:01a.m.on the day of the game or they will be cited and towed out of the lot.  .

The Lincoln Parking Garage(PS#2, LG): Will be used a multi-use event parking area starting at 8a.m. LG Permit holders will be allowed to park in the garage pending availability at the time of entry.  The bottom floor will be blocked off for accessible parking ONLY.  The following permits will be valid in the Lincoln Parking Garage- BSU LG permits (PS#2), BAA Reserved Lincoln Garage permits, LG Football permits and those in need of accessible parking.  No other BSU parking permits will be valid on game day in the Lincoln Parking Garage.

BSU appreciates your understanding and cooperation.  Additional information regarding visitor parking or Bronco Athletic Association parking can be found @  http://www.boisestate.edu/parking or by calling the Transportation and Parking Office @ 426-PARK.

A CBS commentator said of the BCS bowl busters he felt that the number 20 Brigham Young would get the nod over number 14 Boise State because of their schedule, and the fact that the Broncos only play Oregon.

Well he may be right if the Cougars can beat or play close the Oklahoma Sooners, and take it to the Florida State Seminoles. After that they have conference games with a TCU who still looks tough and should take it to BYU and then they play Utah who is ranked 19th and highly overrated.

OK Cougars, after your early season thumping it looks like you might win the Utah game, the rest of the games are soft and I am not so sure that Brigham Young will recoup from the thumping that Oklahoma is going to give them.

The Mountain West is highly overrated. Sure they’re better than good in places like TCU, who is the cream of that crop regardless of what any others may think. For the most part, TCU is still intact and they were very sound last year.

Utah is a shell of its former self and will diminish quickly in the ratings. Andy Dalton and company are head and shoulders above the Mountain West (this year anyway) and that begs to differ greatly the CBS viewpoint.

First of all Boise State does not just play one good team, the Broncos have to play a very explosive Tulsa team. Like the Broncos, the Golden Hurricanes are known for great quarterback play, they generally put up a lot of points each game, and they have a couple of QB’s that can do just that.

Boise State also has to play Nevada, which is in their conference and is highly explosive them selves. In fact, the Wolfpack of Nevada have played the Broncos tight the last couple of years, threatening to win each game.

Nevada leads off their season playing Notre Dame and the Pack will win the opener. Fresno State plays Boise early and that team has a tendency to play very good at the beginning of the season.

The WAC is not a cupcake conference; they are getting better. Maybe Fresno State, Louisiana Tech, and Hawaii do not create shivers for most teams but surely the thought of playing Nevada does.

Therefore the argument of who will be the true BCS buster must lay in the final rankings. That is why for the most part the Broncos are being lightly penciled in to return to the Fiesta Bowl and play the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Sooners are a great team and that would definitely be an honor for the Broncos to play Stoops’ team once again. It is going to be a long season. It looks like the Broncos will be 13-0 at the end, and be deservedly ranked; but that is speculation at this point.

The Broncos must prepare one game at a time, not taking any one team for granted, as is Bronco coach Petersen’s normal way of preparing his team. Look for an exciting season, one game at a time, and that is another story.

Go Broncos!

This article first published on Sept. 1, 2009, by Lace Banachek at http://broncobluereview.blogspot.com/

By Lace Banachek

The Boise State Broncos were a tad off their game last night, only scoring 19 points against the Oregon Ducks in the opening home game that was so hyped in the forums that have been bantering for about eight months.

Still, the Bronco defense held the Ducks to little productivity, as they were only able to score one touchdown and a two-point conversion—and that was largely a gift.

The Ducks were totally dominated by the Bronco defense, even their fans were crying in the stands (during the whole game). Well, the end justifies the means, does it not?

The Ducks showed that they meant business as their star running back LeGarrette Blount Sunday punched Bronco defensive player Byron Hout for tapping him on the shoulder after the game. Blount shoved his own teammates and was completely out of control.

These are the type of players who, upon going to the NFL with million dollar contracts, wind up doing severe damage to other people, animals, themselves, etc.

The announcer said Hout, No. 94, might have been taunting Blount, but still, the Sunday punch assault was uncalled for. That thug had to be dragged out of Bronco Stadium by the police. He was just embarrassed for running for a total of minus five yards on the night.

Blount had earlier spoke to his local media saying the Broncos were due an “ass whoopin.” Well, he didn’t kick any ones butt, but he sure assaulted a player and advanced toward a fan or fans.

Had the police not been there to grab that thug, he no doubt would have attacked the Bronco fans, and then he might have not faired so well. He is a very lucky boy. Still, the Oregon Ducks are not responsible for what that fellow did, but they are responsible for what action is due to him.

The run of the mill penalty for troubled Duck players is a verbal nothing. Blount’s sanction, in order to be just, must be delivered by the PAC-10 commissioner. The announcer made a comment that he should probably be penalized for one game.

The Broncos’ Titus Young was penalized for a season and is still not allowed to speak with media, blogger(s), etc. Titus has been so properly disciplined he doesn’t even answer e-mails (mine anyway).

Players like Blount must learn that when he advanced on fans, he crossed a line that should penalize him for the rest of the year. Last year, I watched a PAC-10 player push a coach because he got in his face. This conference gets some ding-hummers.

The PAC-10 is the one who will pay in the long run if they do nothing and continue to allow this type of action.

For as much media attention that the Ducks received complaining about the Broncos’ aggressive play last year on the football field, one would imagine that the Ducks as a whole were not that aggressive, but apparently when star Ducky Blount made that threat, he was bound and determined to try to pull it off (even if it meant being done on national TV).

Bronco fans expect justice for this, and that’s another story.

Go Broncos.

September 3rd, 2009

Boise State 19, Oregon 8