Today is Boise States final game of the season. A season that started off with so much on the line every game. The opener against the top 10 Virginia Tech Hokies and ACC player of the year Quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Congrats TT, your a class act on and off the field, you deserve the honors. The game was played was played in DC and lived up to the pregame hype. Boise won a thriller and secured its top ten preseason ranking.
From there the Broncos moved on to the MWC and destroyed Wyoming in their house. The next week we had our first home game against the Pac 10 Oregon State Beavers featuring the talented Rodgers brothers. We managed to win on the blue.
Everything was going Boise States way and we were getting more attention this season than we have ever had in the past. We had the honors of being a regional cover for Sports Illustrated followed by being on the national cover. Man we have arrived.
The rest of the season seems like a blur, the Broncos pitched shut outs against San Jose and New Mexico State. We were on cruise control as we destroyed Hawaii at home and followed that up with being the first team to blank the Fresno State Bull Dawgs in 12 years.
We had a #4 ranking in the BCS polls, the highest ever for us, as we prepared to invade Reno and take on the Nevada Wolf Pack. We were in position to challenge for the national title by beating the #19 ranked Pack and become the first mid-major to have back to back BCS Bowls.
It was Black Friday and cold in Reno. Boise had not lost a regular season game since it lost in Hawaii to the conference mate Warriors on Black Friday 2007.
Things in Reno started well, the Broncos had a nice lead after the first quarter even though they left points off the board. By the half the Broncos had a comfortable lead 24-7. Something was different, Boise had time to score in the remaining minute or so of the first half and the Broncos took their foot off the accelerator. Maybe it was because the Nevada defense was getting to Moore a bit or the Broncos were not firing on all cylinders, but they took their boot of the Wolf Pack throat.
The second half of that game changed the Bronco destiny and season. Twenty years ago in Reno, Boise battled it out with the Pack in a division 1AA semifinal game. Boise missed the game winning field goal in the closing seconds and the game went into overtime. Both teams fought hard and in the 3rd overtime Reno advanced itself to the 1AA championship.
This cold Black Friday night was deja vu all over again. Boise and Nevada were tied with 9 second left and the Broncos were close to 70 yards from victory. Quarterback Kellen Moore had one miracle left in him. He wound up and tossed a 53 yard pass to wide out Titus Young who made a sensational catch. Two seconds left on the clock and WAC point record holder Kyle Brotzman stepped onto the field to kick a game winning BCS Bowl saving 26 yard field goal from the center of the field. Just like former BSU kicker Mike Black 20 years earlier, Brotz missed the easy one from the center of the field, sending the game into overtime.
This time it would be different, I felt it and knew the gloom that awaited us. Boise was gassed the defense was on empty. The Broncos had the first possession and could not must a first down. Brotz was lined up in the center of the field for a 29 yarder, it went wide left. Four plays later Nevada made it winning 34-31 ending the Broncos hopes of three back to back perfect regular seasons a BCS Bowl and sole ownership of the Wac Conference Championship. Gone was the top 10 BCS ranking.
Today a 10-1 Boise State team takes to The Blue for its regular season finale and plays the Utah State Aggies. Today the Broncos can force a three way tie for the conference championship. Today Boise State can send its seniors off with the taste of victory and another championship ring under their belt. I believe Boise will do exactly that.
We started with high hopes, things did not turn out the way we had hoped but a 11-1 season and co champions of the conference isnt bad. After today another Bronco season is in the history books, been a hell of a ride. I look forward to today to pay respects to our departing seniors and to what next season will bring. Thanks Broncos for another wonderful year of college football.
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