BSU won?t take Fresno lightly

[IE]

Murphy: BSU won?t take Fresno lightly ? for good reason

By Brian Murphy
Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 11/01/06

Five years ago, Boise State stunned Fresno State in a game that changed the fortunes of both programs.

For the Broncos, 35-30 victors against then-No. 8 Fresno State on Oct. 19, 2001, the win signaled the coming BSU dominance. The road win is still probably the Broncos? biggest victory.

For the Bulldogs, the loss ended their best chance at a BCS bowl and the adulation that would have accompanied it. Who knows how much that might have boosted Fresno State?s chances at earning a spot in the Mountain West Conference?

That game was played on a Friday night, the only game on, and televised by ESPN. Tonight, the game will be viewed on ESPN2.

Five years later, the Bulldogs, struggling through a disastrous 1-6 campaign, can turn the tables on their WAC rival. They can deny the 8-0 Broncos? BCS dream on the blue in front of the nation.

And if anyone, anywhere, thinks the Bulldogs haven?t considered the potential payback, think again.

?We?re wanting to do the same thing,? junior cornerback Marcus McCauley said.

That Fresno State is 1-10 in its last 11 games ? a streak that started after the Bulldogs dominated BSU 27-7 last year ? won?t matter tonight. Fresno State relishes these kinds of games.

Even if the Bulldogs, who have won just a share of one WAC title in Pat Hill?s 12 years, can?t seem to find a way past their conference foes, they always play their best when everyone is watching. Like near-upsets against Oregon and Washington this year, and Southern California last year.

?Fresno State always plays good in big games. This will be a big game,? Boise State coach Chris Petersen said.

?I don?t really expect it to be much different than if they were 8-0 and we were 8-0 or their record is what it is and ours is what it is.?

This is, without a doubt, the most dangerous game remaining on the Broncos? schedule. Even with road challenges at San Jose State and Nevada remaining, tonight represents the best chance for Boise State to stumble.

Fresno State, despite its record, possesses big-time talent. McCauley, center Kyle Young, receiver Paul Williams and running back Dwayne Wright are future NFL players and perhaps first-day draft picks. That kind of talent, mixed with a good deal of pride and perhaps a hint of payback. That?s a recipe for an upset.

?They look like the same Fresno team that we always play,? Petersen said. ?They?re looking to iron out a few things and get back to their winning ways. And there?s no better way to do that than against us. We know that.?

The Broncos better. This is the Bulldogs? BCS game. Fresno State, which still harbors dreams of a five-game winning streak to end the season with bowl eligibility, will play like it?s New Year?s Day.

Boise State, which has looked disinterested at times (the final three quarters against New Mexico State, for example), should have no problems matching Fresno State?s intensity. The Broncos, 10-1 since last year?s loss to Fresno State, can also invoke a bit of payback. Fresno State snapped BSU?s 31-game WAC winning streak with last year?s win.

Five years ago, BSU announced its arrival as a WAC power against Fresno State. Tonight against those same Bulldogs, the Broncos can punctuate their arrival on a national stage. Or they could squander their momentum and a chance for BCS glory.

One game can mean that much.

 

[IE]

Challenge set for Bulldogs vs. Boise State
WAC rivalry enough to inspire Fresno State.

By Bryant-Jon Anteola / The Fresno Bee
11/01/06

BOISE, Idaho ? Fresno State needs no extra incentive to prepare for today's game.

This is Boise State after all, Fresno State's archrival, whether it's a down year or up year for either school.

And today is a chance for Fresno State to ruin Boise State's undefeated season, the talk of a Bowl Championship Series game, and maybe ? just maybe ? the Bulldogs can begin to turn around their season.

"If you can't get up for Boise State, your rival, who can you get up for?" defensive tackle Jason Shirley said. "We beat them last year. There's nothing more I'd like to do the rest of this season than beat them again this year."

But beating this Boise State team might prove to be as challenging as facing Hawaii's offense and Louisiana State's defense in one game.

And Fresno State knows all too well how it fared in those two games.

But that's what Boise State brings under first-year coach Chris Petersen ? a high-powered offense paired with a stingy defense.

It's a reason Boise State (8-0) is No. 14 in the nation, and also in the Bowl Championship Series standings ? two spots from the top 12 and a guaranteed bid to a BCS game.

Boise State ranks third in scoring at 39.8 points per game and 22nd in points allowed with a 16.1 average.

When coach Pat Hill breaks down Boise State on film, he said he sees a team capable of beating the BCS schools Hill usually chases.

"They play with such confidence," Hill said. "They know how to make plays. They don't get down when things aren't going their way. They stay up and keep performing."

When asked how Boise State compared with BCS teams such as Oregon, LSU and Washington ? all opponents Fresno State has faced this season ? Hill said: "I think they are a better team. There's always that misconception that [Boise State] doesn't have any athletes. I think that's a bunch of baloney.

"Now they might not have a whole bunch of NFL athletes in the eyes of the NFL, but that's not the thing. They play so well as a team. They just make plays."

That Boise State has continued success despite a coaching change comes as little surprise.

The Broncos returned nine starters on offense and nine on defense from a team that went 9-4 overall and 7-1 in WAC play.

Quarterback Jared Zabransky is back after a trying junior year in which he threw 18 touchdowns to 16 interceptions. And linebacker Korey Hall was named the WAC's preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

The only major change ? though huge ? was the transition from coach Dan Hawkins the past five seasons to Petersen, who spent the past five seasons as the offensive coordinator.

"It's kind of gone like I thought it would, not necessarily the record but everything else," Petersen said of his coaching transition. "The goals, the mind-set around here is pretty much the same from past seasons."

The Broncos are contending for a fifth straight Western Athletic Conference title.

But it's Boise State's undefeated season and potential to win out the rest of the season that has captured the nation's attention.

Win out and the Broncos could end up playing in the Fiesta Bowl, and become only the second team from a non-BCS conference to play in a BCS game. Utah was the first, in the 2004 season.

If Boise State does not land in the top 12 of the final BCS standings, it still could play in a BCS game if it finishes in the standings' top 16 and ahead of a BCS conference winner.

After Fresno State, Boise State plays at San Jose State, against Utah State and at Nevada.

Before last season, Boise State had three straight seasons with only one loss.

During the Broncos' 2004 run, they went 11-0 in the regular season but still didn't finish high enough to qualify for a BCS game under old BCS rules, in which a team had to be in the top six of the final standings.

"I think this Boise State team is as good as any that they've had," Hill said. "It will be our job [today] to try to end their undefeated season."

 

[Raybo]

ie:

thanks for the post.. I was going to go to the Statesman and Bee websites today, but you saved me some time.....

good luck......rb