Boise State tops Hawaii 70-58 in WAC Opener
“Kurt Cunningham scored 14 points to lead Boise State to a 70-58 win over Hawaii Saturday in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
The Broncos (10-3, 1-0 WAC) got a double-double from Mark Sanchez, who scored 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Anthony Thomas added 11 points and eight assists for the defending WAC champions.”/AP
Idaho Press Tribune: Broncos heavy on depth, light on defense
Idaho Press Tribune WAC Overview here.
“Boise State Broncos
Record: 9-3
Last season: 12-4 WAC, 25-9 overall
Strength: Depth. The Broncos have used seven different starters and six players average 7 points per game or more.
Weakness: Team defense. Boise State is eighth in the conference, giving up 72.5 points per game and is also eighth in field goal percentage defense (42.4 percent).
Who to watch: F Mark Sanchez, Sr. Stepping into a starting…”/Dave Southorn-Idaho Press-Tribune
HoustonBronco: Utah won without run–why couldn’t BSU?
“I found it interesting that Utah didn’t need to establish the run last night while dominating a good SEC defense.
Why wasn’t BSU able to do the same thing against TCU? Why did the Broncos seem to spend so much effort trying to establish the run?
Utah looked more like JJ’s Hawaii-forgoing the ground game and using short swing passes like runs.”/HoustonBronco-Broncocountry.com
Question: Did Boise State’s insistance on establishing a running game in the Poinsettia Bowl (28 yards on 20 attempts) end up being the reason the Bronco’s lost?
OBNUG:Rooting for Utah was rooting against Boise State
“We have one of two options for tonight’s game: Root for Utah to win and raise the banner for non-BCS schools across the country, or root for Utah to lose – and lose convincingly – to prove our point that Boise State deserved a BCS bid ahead of the Utes. One is a respectful decision to support a fellow underdog; the other is petty. And we can’t pick between the two.”/OBNUG
Ed: I missed this post before the game, but honestly I was pulling for the Utes. Sure, there is some animosity between the two fanbases, but almost anytime it’s BCS vs NonBCS you know I’ll be rooting for the team that doesn’t have air conditioned lockers.
Question: Who did you root for?
Sugar Bowl Aftermath
Ed: While it will be a while before we’ll see if Utah upsetting Alabama truly has any impact on the situation of non-BCS teams attempting to get into the big bowls, at least right now the media coverage is overwhelmingly positive for Utah, with a few outlets saying they’ve earned the right to a share of the national championship this year. Good stuff. I’m most interested though not in the perception of the media for the non-BCS, but in whether or not the new conversation spearheaded by Tulane President, here, amount to anything.
“The Utah Utes have as much claim to this year’s national championship in Division IA college football as any team in the country. The nation’s only undefeated team capped off its perfect season by whipping Alabama 31-17 last night, holding the Crimson Tide to 208 total yards and, in the process, driving yet another nail in the coffin of the BCS.”/The Kansas City Star.
“5. The little guys have made their case for better access: Four times in the past five seasons the non-BCS conferences have earned their way into a BCS game. They have won three of those games:
2004: Utah over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl.
2006: Boise State over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.
2008: Utah over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.”/Atlanta Journal Constitution
“More than Southern California’s convincing victory over Penn State in the Rose Bowl or a potential win by Texas in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State, Utah’s upset of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl has thrown a serious wrinkle into the conversation about who deserves to be No. 1.”/New York Times
“”I know where I’m voting us,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Friday night to a nationally televised audience after the Utes’ 31-17 victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. “I’m voting us No. 1.”
Amen, brother.”/The Sporting News
Final: Utah wins Sugar Bowl 31-17
Ed: Honestly, I’m surprised. Maybe the BCS media bias got to me too. Way to go Utes though. The most incredible stat, though the number of sacks by Utah (8) is impressive too, is that they won the game the way Hawaii could have last year, with a great passing game and virtually no running game. Total passing yards: 336. Total rushing yards: 17.
Question: What would you rank the Utes in your final poll?
“NEW ORLEANS — Utah is the best of the BCS busters.
Brian Johnson threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns, and the No. 7 Utes upset fourth-ranked Alabama 31-17 in the Sugar Bowl on Friday night to finish 13-0.
With the victory, Utah became the first team from a non-BCS conference to win two BCS bowls.”/AP
“Quarterback Brian Johnson, receiver Freddie Brown and a smothering defense upended the heavily favored Alabama Crimson Tide 31-17 in the Sugar Bowl on Friday night, completing a perfect season with a victory in prestigious Bowl Championship Series game for the second time in four years.
Fans clad roared and raised their hands in victory at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans as the final seconds ticked off the clock, following a dominating performance that few imagined.”/Salt Lake Tribune
LIVE Blog Coverage: Utah wins Sugar Bowl 31-17
Running 2008 Sugar Bowl game blog (archive)
9:40 p.m.: Utah intercepts ‘Bama pass at their own 11 yard line. This will end it.
9:36 p.m. : Utah kicks field goal with 2:50 left in the fourth quarter to make it 31-17.
9:27 p.m. : Utah recovers fumble. Up 28-17 on Alabama’s 38 yard line. Utah has notched seven sacks so far.
Fourth Quarter Utah up 28-17
9:01 p.m.: At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Utah is still on top 28-17. Utah has regained some momentum after that touchdown and isn’t giving much on defense.
Ed: It feels like Utah really could win this.
8:38 p.m. Quarterback Comparison:
| Utah Passing | |||||
| C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT | |
| Brian Johnson | 19/29 | 257 | 8.9 | 3 | 0 |
| Alabama Passing | |||||
| C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT | |
| John Parker Wilson | 12/20 | 134 | 6.7 | 1 | 1 |
8:31 p.m.: Touchdown Utah! After nearly killing their drive with a delay of game, a 28 yard touchdown pass to David Reed takes Utah up 28-17.
8:22 p.m. : Alabama recovers a Utah fumble which results in a touch down. ‘Bama has now completed 17 unanswered points. 21-17 Utah
Ed: Let’s go Utah!
Halftime 21-10 Utah
Alabama’s passing game still looks sloppy and unreliable, while the runnnig game, especially with runs to the outside, has found success up against the Utah defensive line. Alabama has had all the momentum in the second quarter, but has been unable to finish drives. The offense has also shot itself in the foot several times with penalties. Alabama has five penalties for 40 yards.
Utah has done a very good job at putting pressure on Alabama’s quarterback, but offensively they’ve lost momentum. Their first three drives resulted in touchdowns with their final three resulting in punts. We’ll see how the second half goes.
7:32 p.m. : Javier Arena’s returns a punt 73 yards for a touchdown. Extra point is good. 21-10 Utah.
Ed: The point in the game when momentum shifts? This may be it.
7:28 p.m. : Alabama misses a field goal, but is beginning to be able to sustain drives. Wilson made another very bad pass that was nearly intercepted inside the Utah 15 that could have killed their momentum.
7:08 p.m. :Alabama kicks 52 yard field goal to make it 21-3 with Utah on top.
7:05 p.m. :End of first quarter. The quarter ended with Alabama failing to convert a promising drive on a third down. Utah brought the house on 3rd and seven and sacked the Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson.
6:55 p.m. : Touchdown pass Utah. Extra point is good. Utah up 21-0. Fox announcer: “Wow, wow, wow.”
1st three Alabama drives: 10 total yards
6:50 p.m.: Utah gets back to back sacks on Alabama. Announcers note that ‘Bama appears to be having trouble with the quickness of the Utah defensive line. THAT is something you don’t normally hear when a BCS team lines up against a non-BCS.
6:36 p.m. : Utah interception leads to a touch down. 8:37 left in the first quarter. 14-0 Utah
Ed: Bama looks like they just woke up from their New Years hang over.
6:30 p.m. : Utah intercepts Alabama pass. Utah ball.
6:30 p.m. MST: 5 plays, 68 yards, 3 first downs, 1 touchdown. Wow! Maybe Utah has a chance after all. Announcers are saying ‘Bama has ahd trouble with no-huddle offenses this year. Don’t know if that’s true or not but wow. Utah up 7-0
Fight, Fight, BSU: New Years Resolution for Offensive Line: Eat something
“Well, don’t believe for one minute that the Broncos aren’t taking a long look in the mirror this year and making a list of things that they’ll do or do better in 2009. Just for the heck of it, let’s speculate on a few, shall we?
Jeremy Childs—Don’t listen to pal Orlando Scandrick’s pleas to join him in the NFL.
Titus Young—Go to school, go to practice, go home, go to sleep…repeat.
Kellen Moore—Save some awesomeness for 2009. No need to blow it all on your Freshman year.
Bronco O-line—For the love of God, EAT SOMETHING!”/Fight, Fight, BSU
Question: What Bronco group needs to work hardest this off-season?
New York Times to Utah: Do NOT repeat 2008 Sugar Bowl
Less than an hour till kick-off of the 2008 Sugar Bowl…
“A repeat of the 2008 Sugar Bowl, when Georgia crushed Hawaii of the WAC, 41-10, will be viewed as a step backward for midmajor programs, especially with Alabama weakened by the suspension of the all-American tackle Andre Smith.
Asked about the ramifications if Utah sustains a blowout loss, Craig Thompson, the commissioner of the Mountain West, said: “That’s not good. You do not want that. We’re making steady progress.”/New York Times-Ray Glier
Ed: The NYT article states that Tulane’s president is pushing for auto-bid status for the non-BCS, but doesn’t pin down how that would work, if that means all conferences or just one bid. I tend to think the BCS will only agree to the latter.
I think the only way out of the BCS system for “coaltion” teams is to join them. Most good non-bcs programs have had opportunities to get out. Think Cincinnati, Louisville, South Florida, Arizona State, etc. It’s only good non-BCS teams on the left coast that have no hope of gaining through the BCS conference shifts. Time to join the MWC and push for BCS status through that avenue.
Tide Fans: Someone call Oklahoma and get their thoughts on Boise State
“You’ve probably heard it all already: Utah, a Mountain West team, can’t compete with SEC juggernaut Alabama. Utah is just “Florida Lite.” The Utes will be exposed as soon as the ball is kicked off.
Someone call Oklahoma and get their thoughts on Boise State.”/Jess Nicholas-Tide Fans
Ed: It looks like virtually all ‘Bama fans are expecting a blowout against the Utes in one form or another. Check out the score prediction thread for Alabama fans here. I tend to agree.
Question: What will it take for the 2009 Sugar bowl to surpass the 2007 Fiesta Bowl in bowl notoriety?
BoiseFlyFisher: Is the WAC worse than we thought?
“I have to drag myself back to reality and come to the conclusion that in general the WAC sucks.
I am not ready to concede that this fact diminishes how good BSU is/has been. However, it is obvious that it has not gotten them (BSU) ready to play against real teams in the Bgames. BSU is a better team than most of the teams that they have played over the past 5 years and…”/Boise Fly Fisher
Ed: I think not having another ranked team makes Bronco fan’s feel like the WAC has taken a step back this year. Truthfully, I think it’s always been crappy. A ranked Hawaii/Fresno won’t change that. Gene and Kustra need to bake as many Potatoes as are necessarry to get us into the Mountain West ASAP.
4:09 p.m. Former Bronco: Nutt’s Rebels top Texas Tech 47-34
“DALLAS — Ole Miss isn’t just the team that handed Florida its only loss. These Rebels are seriously on the rise.
Behind Jevan Snead’s passing, Dexter McCluster’s squirming runs and some big returns by Marshay Green, No. 20 Mississippi overcame an early deficit and beat No. 7 Texas Tech 47-34 Friday in the final Cotton Bowl played in the stadium of the same name.”/ESPN
Ed: Stat of the game: Time of possession. Ole Miss held onto the ball 35:10, more than 10 minutes more than ‘Tech.
Edit 3:17 p.m. MST: 38-28 Ole’ Miss with 12:13 left in the fourth quarter.
Question: Do you like to see former Bronco coaches crash and burn or increase their success?
Link: ESPN Scoreboard
SportsOpinionated: In an Absolut’ world; UF, UT take top seeds, USC takes on OU in ‘Championship
“If you apply my ‘caveats’ into these final numbers, it would have looked like this:
1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. ‘Bama
5. USC
6. Utah
7. Texas Tech
8. Penn State
See the difference is that Oklahoma would have to be behind Texas because they lost to them AND did not have less losses than them. So, they move down just behind them.”/SportsOpinionated
Ed: While I hate to see any playoff that doesn’t include the Boise State Broncos, an eight team playoff may be as many teams as The BCS will allow. I wonder what the percentage of teams in NCAA Div. 1 basketball that have the ability to get into the playoffs… May have to check on that.
MWC Connection: Utah is no hawaii
“The casual fans still think Utah is in the WAC instead of the Mountai West, and some may even think that this game will be a repeat of last years matchup win Hawai’i was cruhsed by Georgia.
Utah is not Hawai’i the Utes defeated two top 15 opponents, defeated Michigan on opening weekend at The Big House well before people knew how bad the Wolverines would be, they defeated Oregon State just a week after they beat USC, and they defeated five bowl teams.”/MWC Connection
Ed: Though I do agree that Utah has a better defense than Hawaii and has been better tested, I tend to think the outcome will be similar. Alabama went undefeated in the SEC after all. So something along the lines of 36-10 with ‘Bama on top….
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