Boise State 33, Virginia Tech 30 (final)

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Didn't Balls State get their ass kicked by Buffalo and then in their bowl game? I know they have a joke schedule but they also have a good football team. Who knows until they give one of these midmajors a shot at the title. Besides, it's the BCS formula which decides so if the formula says they're in, thery're in. If not, sorry Boise, beat up TCU again.
That's one thing that disappointed me about the BCS bowls last year. They had Boise State playing TCU. I would've rather have seen say Florida-TCU and Iowa-Boise State.

If the BCS says they're one or two, I agree, they will get their shot. However, they don't "deserve" anything until they earn said ranking.

 

[DubCoffman62]

If the BCS says they're one or two, I agree, they will get their shot. However, they don't "deserve" anything until they earn said ranking.

Yes, I was communitcating it very poorly before but that's what I meant.

 

[buckeyes_rock]

I know it's unfair but every year it seems we have this mid major that's undefeated and cries that they should've had a crack at the title. All I'm saying is give them the shot and if they get blown out the voters can use that as a reference for the next year. I honestly don't think Boise would win any of the 6 BCS conferences but if they win the games put in front of them plus the two challenges then I think they deserve a crack. Besides it makes for good drama, gives sportscenter and the other talking heads something to talk about.[/quote

I see what you're saying. But my problem is that it's unfair to be able to coast through their season of cupcakes and then come into a championship game fresh. Football is obviously a violent sport and having to prepare mentally, physically and from a game planning point of view against a major conference schedule like OSU is much more taxing on a team than what Boise goes through. I know there is a lot of time off before the bowl games, but still...it's a long and tough season to get through the Big Ten (or for that matter the SEC, the Big 12 or even the PAC 10).

So to say, yeah give them their shot...well they are obviously well coached and prepare well. So with a fully rested roster and minimal stress since week 3 of the season, I'd be afraid they'd actually make a game of it instead of getting blown out like we'd all expect. Just saying...anyway I look at, they still don't deserve their shot. They're a nice team and my hats off to them. But that's enough. I mean really people...they actually picked up some first place points in the polls. Seriously? Crazy stuff there.

 

[Diego-Bucks]

I dislike the arguments about Boise State that have to reference their victory in 2006 over Oklahoma or 2008-09 Oregon to justify why they should be in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game. They aren't related with one another. They have a different team now and their resume doesn't just get to build up over time to justify the 2010 season. Ohio State doesn't get to bank their win over 2006 Texas for the 2010 season. No, they have to play their current schedule. Obviously with pre-season rankings, the "impression" of the team is already formed and often based on projections with data from last season... but still, its not the same things as when people say, "The Broncos beat the Sooners! So lets let them have a chance at the title game this year?" Nope, not one bit.

Consider, they play either the 1st game of the season against a ranked team (not the best, but not the worst) and they play a bowl game against presumably a top-notch team. In the middle, for 11-12 games, they play no one.

So they get to prepare over 5 months for one opponent, and then prepare over 1 month for their next opponent in the bowl game. There is no grind. None. That is not how championship caliber programs are made. Its not their fault, and their schedule will definitely become harder when they join the MWC, not night/day harder, but harder. They'll play TCU, Fresno St., Nevada (the two toughest conference foes they currently have in the WAC) plus UNLV, Air Force and whoever else in the conference decides to show up that season, plus they still get their "marquee" non-conference opponents. Then they have an argument that their schedule is actually harder than the Big East's.

Do they have an up-hill battle that they've had to fight for many seasons now? Yes, as all great programs have had to do. But what team exactly have they beaten in their recent history that was supremely impressive, like national-title game opponent impressive? No one (this year's Virginia Tech may prove otherwise but we'll see).

So I am not convinced, and the burden of proof is on their side. I don't want any team that hasn't proven things on the field for THAT season to show up in the title-game when other, worthier, programs are left back. This is not some social-experiment where we get to say, "Hey, for 2010, lets say to HELL with the status-quo and give Cinderella her 'fair' shake over an undefeated or one-loss team from a great conference. Because... well, because they beat a team or two of reputable talent over the last few seasons!!"

No, this is the national championship that we are talking about. Earn it by playing the best (or at least consistently very good), then you get to play the #1 or #2 team in the nation. It is not a gift that is given easily. I remember in 2008 Texas was knocked back in the BCS polls because their non-conference slate was weak compared with Oklahoma's despite the head-head victory over the Sooners. But Texas played a far, far superior schedule than Boise State ever has.

However, if the Broncos have the best resume/record by the end of the 2010 season (which would probably mean every major conference team has at least 1-2 bad-losses, and some crap victories too) then I am open to letting them in the game. These Broncos are very good/great and deserve high-praise. Just not the title game.

 

[RockstarBuckeye]

If Virginia Tech finishes the season in the middle of the pack or even has a losing season, is the Bosie State win really that impressive? IMO Va Tech isn't a major brand like Ohio State, USC, Florida and other annual powerhouse teams.

It's a nice win for their program. When the conference schedule is combined and calculated according to the BCS standard and not the AP poll, there is no way in hell that their conference schedule warrants a shot at the BCS title game A one loss Big Ten, SEC, or PAC-10 team is still better than an undefeated Boise State team.

My last rant....money. How much money would be made/lost if Boise State appears in the title game? I think that Alabama vs. Ohio state makes more money than Bosie State vs. whoever. The BCS is all about making money. I just can't see the BCS officials taking the feel good cinderella story over millions of dollars in revenue.

 

[Tlangs]

Before bowl games last year, Boise was behind a 1 loss Florida team....but TCU was ahead of 1 loss Florida. So it looks like a 50/50 shot that Boise could leapfrog a 1 loss team.

TCU's SOS was 60 and Bosie was 96. So my best guess would be that if Boise's SOS is above 75 there aren't gonna jump a 1 loss team. So for the Boise haters (like myself), root against Va Tech and Oregon St. These are the only 2 teams that could ifluence their SOS in a positive manner. Boise is anywhere from 87 to 95 currently, and that's assuming that Va Tech is a good team.

 

[Woody1968]

So you would consider Utah a big time program now that they are joining the Pac-10? Let's look at their schedule this year:

vs Pittsburgh
vs UNLV
@ New Mexico
vs San Jose St
@ Iowa St
@ Wyoming
vs Colorado St
@ Air Force
vs #4 TCU
@ Notre Dame
@ San Diego St
vs BYU

I'm not seeing that much more of a "harder" schedule for Utah then Boise St. Since 2002, Utah is 74-25 (4 10+ win seasons) with 2 undefeated seasons while Boise St is 94-11 (7 10+ win seasons) with 2 undefeated seasons. In my mind Boise St has built up a stronger program over the past 8-10 years then what Utah has. You also have to remember BSU joined D-1A in 1996 while Utah has had a very long time to build up a program.

Utah schedule has 3 (4? I can't remember if TCU won in '35...) more teams that have won National Championships than Boise's does.

Virginia Tech will not even win their division this year. Why are we even having this discussion?

 

[buckeyes_rock]

Virginia Tech will not even win their division this year. Why are we even having this discussion?

Because, what else are we supposed to do to pass the time til Saturday? :)

 

[Woody1968]

Because, what else are we supposed to do to pass the time til Saturday? :)

Talk Buckeyes and canes!

 

[DubCoffman62]

I see what you're saying. But my problem is that it's unfair to be able to coast through their season of cupcakes and then come into a championship game fresh. Football is obviously a violent sport and having to prepare mentally, physically and from a game planning point of view against a major conference schedule like OSU is much more taxing on a team than what Boise goes through. I know there is a lot of time off before the bowl games, but still...it's a long and tough season to get through the Big Ten (or for that matter the SEC, the Big 12 or even the PAC 10).

So to say, yeah give them their shot...well they are obviously well coached and prepare well. So with a fully rested roster and minimal stress since week 3 of the season, I'd be afraid they'd actually make a game of it instead of getting blown out like we'd all expect. Just saying...anyway I look at, they still don't deserve their shot. They're a nice team and my hats off to them. But that's enough. I mean really people...they actually picked up some first place points in the polls. Seriously? Crazy stuff there.

Just because the teams on their schedules aren't filled with the best football players in the nation doesn't mean there's no physical wear on Boise State. These are still football player good enough to play at that level and no matter how badly you beat them you're going to get some bumps and bruises.
Yes, they actually picked up more first place votes than the Buckeyes which is kind of ridiculous.

 

[TDunk]

Just because the teams on their schedules aren't filled with the best football players in the nation doesn't mean there's no physical wear on Boise State. These are still football player good enough to play at that level and no matter how badly you beat them you're going to get some bumps and bruises.
Yes, they actually picked up more first place votes than the Buckeyes which is kind of ridiculous.

The point I believe he's trying to make is when you play crap teams, you can score early and often. Then you can take the starters out of the game quicker. Then it's less likely they'll be injured or dinged up.

I get what you're saying though. Yes the crap teams still hit and tackle you, but 30 mins of that is a lot easier to heal up from than 60 mins.

 

[Bucklion]

The point I believe he's trying to make is when you play crap teams, you can score early and often. Then you can take the starters out of the game quicker. Then it's less likely they'll be injured or dinged up.

I get what you're saying though. Yes the crap teams still hit and tackle you, but 30 mins of that is a lot easier to heal up from than 60 mins.

This. Imagine if we played a great team, then could rest our starters at least half the game for the next 10 games, then played a great team in a bowl game. Would we get the occasional injury? Of course. But the weardown, war of attrition games we would miss that all take place in a row...imagine how fresh the guys would be for the NC game.

 

[BayBuck]

I'm trying to wrap my mind around that classification. College football's weight classes are becoming as jacked up as boxing's.

There are no "minor" teams - only majors and mid-majors. The fact that we call every minor team a "mid-major" kinda speaks to this whole Boise State thing in a sense. When every team on your schedule is at worst a "mid-major" then it's not that big of a stretch for some people to rhetorically justify a weak schedule. Also, when every team is at worst a "mid-major" it becomes not so big a leap to claim that the best of the mid-major teams are actually major.

TCU is a top-10 team coming off a BCS bowl: as far as mid-major opponents go, that's upper-echelon. Boise (and maybe BYU/Utah) are right there too, given their recent history, and IMO they look great on anyone's schedule--but calling them big-time programs doesn't mean all their schedules are created equal.

 

[buckeyes_rock]

The point I believe he's trying to make is when you play crap teams, you can score early and often. Then you can take the starters out of the game quicker. Then it's less likely they'll be injured or dinged up.

I get what you're saying though. Yes the crap teams still hit and tackle you, but 30 mins of that is a lot easier to heal up from than 60 mins.

Exactly. And it's not just the physical part of it either. It's also about having to go out every week and be "up for it." If you don't bring it every week in the Big Ten, it'll bite you in the butt. See Purdue game last year. The teams Boise plays, they could come out flat as a pancake and still win. That's a nice luxury...knowing you only have to bring your A game twice a year.

Also, you look at the game planning aspect. The prep work that goes into beating the San Jose States of the world is significally less I'll bet that the prep, physical and mental, that goes into beating the Wisconsins and Iowas every week.

My sole point being, when you look at the big picture, Boise just doesn't earn it even with an undefeated season. Period.

 

[jlb1705]

Also, you look at the game planning aspect. The prep work that goes into beating the San Jose States of the world is significally less I'll bet that the prep, physical and mental, that goes into beating the Wisconsins and Iowas every week.

I'm sure they go through much the same process against the multitude of cupcakes that they go though for their occasional games against AQ teams. I mean, I'm sure Chris Petersen is a hyper-competitive guy, so there's probably plenty of self-inflicted pressure on the process, even if the media spotlight isn't as intense. Plus, they really don't have the margin for error the Buckeyes have. I mean, if Boise loses a single game, their season is ruined. The Buckeyes lost two games last year and still won the Big Ten outright and went to the Rose Bowl.

The real difference is that the timeframe for that process is compressed. Boise State gets to spend the entire offseason preparing for a Virginia Tech, or six weeks after the regular season preparing for TCU or Oklahoma. Teams like Ohio State get a only get a week to prepare for a game against Iowa - because there's no time off and they had to pour everything into the week before preparing for Penn State.