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

However, regardless of the Bronco A D’s poor game scheduling and lack of guts to play Boise State against BCS foes with no return game or two for one, The Broncos have proven themselves winners and worthy time and time again. Furthermore, Boise State starting winning long before Gene Bleymaier and Boise States arrival in college footballs division 1 cellar conference the western athletic conference (WAC).

Sure the Broncos like any other college football conference have showed in the past un-quality like play, albeit, that is not said of them today. Last season under the guidance of brilliant coaching and the cool operation of a redshirt freshman quarterback the Broncos finished their season undefeated and beating a very fine Oregon Duck team in Eugene Oregon on their way.
Boise States only downfall last season was a one-point loss to TCU, and that may have been the very best TCU team ever to take the field. They were great and yet Boise State lost by just one point and it didn’t have to end that way either. The Broncos play hard fought football and man for man they line up amongst the very best college football teams in the nation.

This season BSU going into the third week of college play are perfect (2-0), and they open the Boise State conference with a game against Fresno State. Sure Fresno State has played brilliantly their first two games; Pat Hill coaches them, and they live in California where the sun always shines. That alone is most likely the reason that Hill is always tough early on.

But this is not the normal Bronco football team. Boise State has built a powerhouse and they are deeper at any position then they have ever been. Don’t be surprised if the Broncos do what Wisconsin could not and that is keep the Bulldogs from scoring or at least scoring very much. Yet, know this for sure, Fresno State will not contain the Broncos to a measly 34 points. This will be a smooth win for BSU and that’s another story. Go Broncos.

Boise State Broncos

currently playing in the NFL

Last updated: September 9, 2009

Bronco Stadium

1400 Bronco Lane

Boise, ID 83725

Location: Boise, Idaho

Ground Breaking: 1969

Year Opened: 1970

Stadium Dedication: September 11, 1970

Total Seating Capacity: 30,000

Surface: Blue Field Turf

Bronco Stadium is the only football field in the world with a Blue Field.

All-Time Attendance Record: 30,950 (vs, Oregon State on September 10, 2004)