In the Bank With The Guy Next Door
Kozsports@comcast.net
Life is funny sometimes isnt it? Do you remember a day when your life changed forever, whether good or bad? Did that particular day change the course of life for those around you too? Last November 26th in Reno, Nevada was one of those days that changed the lives of many prominent figures in the college football landscape.
In East Hartford, Connecticut it changed the life of Uconn Coach Randy Edsall, whose Huskies would find themselves in the Fiesta Bowl after this night, and Edsall would wind up in Maryland thirty six hours later.
In Fort Worth, Texas it changed the life of Gary Patterson and his Horned Frogs as the only remaining roadblock separating them from the Rose Bowl came crashing down like the Berlin Wall. After this unseasonably cool, fateful night in Reno, the dreams of every resident in Boise, Idaho came to a halt like an Amtrak freight hauler running off track and falling into the Grand Canyon. And more than anyone else, the life of Kyle Brotzman would never be the same.
On November 26th, 2010, Boise State took the field versus Nevada ranked #3 in the BCS poll and were closing in on both Oregon and Auburn for one of the sacred births in the National Championship game. They would certainly beat Nevada on this night (they were 14-point favorites) and would be 38-point favorites in their regular season finale versus 3-8 Utah State.
Boise State, the cute, feel good story that play their home games on that funny blue turf, were the darlings of college football. Rece Davis loved them. Kirk Herbstreight loved them. They had won ten straight by an average of 40 points per game. Everyone was jumping on the blue bandwagon. Now back to last November.
The Broncos took a 24-7 lead into the locker room at halftime. The only remaining question was by how much? Well, this was when the course of history changed in thirty minutes. Nobody told the Nevada Wolfpack that they were supposed to die. Quietly, Nevada rallied in front of their home faithful and sent the game into overtime. There was a mysterious chill in the air as it approached midnight. Everything that could go wrong for Boise State was, and Nevada took advantage at every turn, taking a three point lead. Still, the Broncos senior placekicker Kyle Brotzman lined up for a field goal that would force double overtime. It wasnt meant to be, the National Championship kick sailed wide. Brotzman was in tears. The state of Idaho sat in stunned silence. Hell, the potatoes stopped growing. How could this happen? It couldnt happen. It DID happen! Just like that, after an uncharacteristically sloppy second half, the dream was over. Instead of National Title riches in Glendale, Arizona, Boise State ended up ho-humming through a 26-3 win over Utah in the Hostess Twinkie Bowl.
The college football gods just werent ready for Boise State, but this year could be a whole different story. As we look at this years schedule, they will be favored in all of their games, including Saturdays opener. Boise State will travel cross-country to take on Georgia in Atlanta. They are three point favorites. Think about that! Georgia, an SEC heavyweight is playing in their own backyard versus a team from the Mountain West Conference and the odds-makers dont even think enough of them to make them the favorites? Oh Boy. Since the beginning of 2001, Georgia has only been a homeDog twice. They lost both of those games. What is really unbelievable is that in their last 12 games versus ranked opponents, the Bulldogs are a dreadful 3-9. In fact, they have had only one win against a Top-25 team in the last two years!! (Georgia Tech, 2009) Do I need to say that again? Coach Mark Richt is coaching for his job this year, and as the leaves start to change, they will improve. But on Saturday they are up against it.
Under Chris Petersons five years on the sidelines, Boise State is 61-5. They have beaten Oklahoma. They have beaten TCU. They have beaten Oregon TWICE. They are no strangers to playing in nationally televised road games. You know ladies and gentlemen, the Smurfs arent the Cinderella Story anymore. They are legit! On Saturday, September 3rd at 8:00pm on ESPN, they are 3-point favorites for a reason. And we are going to cash in. In week #1 of the 2011 college football buffet, the Boise State Broncos get the call as our In the Bankpick of the week. And hey, make sure you tell the guy next door.