Non confernce game #2 to watch
Boise State comes into the 2011 season playing a BCS caliber game for the 3rd consecutive year. In 2009, the #14th ranked Broncos opened the season at home vs a tough #16 ranked Oregon Ducks team who ended up in the Rose Bowl at season's end. Boise took advantage of the hostile home crowd, though both teams were sluggish throughout the first half. I was at the game, and the tension in the air was maddening. I knew multiple fights would break out because of that tension. What I didn't know was that there would be a fight on the field.Oregon Running back LaGarrette Blount was suspended the remainder of the year for punching Broncos Defensive Lineman Byron Hout in the jaw at the end of the game. Boise pulled out a defensive battle and won 19-8.
The next year, 2010, Boise opened it's season with a very strong opponent at a neutral playing site (basically a home game for Virginia Tech) at Fed Ex field in Washington, D.C . The country was split on opinion for who was gonna win this game. The elitist's and tradition honks hated that Boise State was being considered a national title contender, so they automatically chose Virginia Tech to win. This may sound cliche, but it's the complete truth, both teams were great and nobody knew who would win, it was the good guys (Virgina Tech) vs the underdog, small school, (Boise State) who some believed they had no right to be ranked so high and playing in this high -stakes football game. From the beginning of the game, I'm talking before kickoff, there was this weird feeling in the air that this was a huge game and both teams looked very intense and pumped up to play. I really do believe that one of the biggest upsets in Virginia tech history the next week, vs James Madison University ( FCS team) would have been avoided had this opener gone different. Boise quarterback Kellen Moore had a mediocre game, throwing 23-38 for 215 yards picking his way patiently through the heralded Hokie Defense, and BSU had gotten back their momentum that they just couldn't hold on to for most of the game. Virginia Tech scored with less than 2 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, tying the game 30-30. Tech had stolen the momentum back, but Boise came out cool as ice, and drove with no problem all the way down the field to get into field goal range for kicker Kyle Brotzman. The kick went through the uprights, and BSU prevailed 33-30.
Now comes the third test for Moore and the Broncos, a meeting on Sept. 3rd, 2011 at the Georgia Dome vs the Georgia Bulldogs. The last meeting, in 2005, got out of hand early, BSU turned the ball over numerous times, taking advantage of it, D.J Shockley and Georgia destroyed Boise State that afternoon 48-13. That game was played at Sanford Stadium, "between the hedges" opposed to this years contest, which also is a "home game" for Georgia, making the short trip from Athens to Atlanta, though it's listed as a "neutral site game".
In the past five seasons, Boise State has only lost one non conference game vs BCS schools, going 6-1. That lone loss was 2007 in Seattle, with Jake Locker overpowering the Bronco defense, and leading Washington to the 24-10 win.
Georgia Freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell will get his first taste of college football, as he is expected to carry the load in the opener in Atlanta. Dawgs Sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray is coming off a very productive freshman year, throwing for 3,049 and a 24-8 touchdown/ interception ratio. That kind of production led him to be freshman All-American and he will only improve in his second year on campus in Athens, Ga.
This should be one of the best games of the 2011 season, and will very possibly be a BCS play- in -game week 1.
Article : Ronald Hill/ Sports Junkie Publications 7/29/11
Photos courtesy of allogos.tk (Georgia mascot) and normslosted.com (Boise State logo)
