Deseret News | Boise State should man up, play TCU

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Dick Harmon: Boise State should man up, play TCU

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the nation..speaks! | 10:04 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

As far as mid-major team the only team we know or aknowledge is UTAH!!!..and lookin to be a ligitament power house year in and year out!!...

Big time school!

Go Utes! | 10:19 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

BSU can't hold a candle to this years Utes! I can hardly wait until we start playing them again and teach them how the game is really played!

Just think | 10:21 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Drop San Diego St. from the MWC. Add not only Boise St. - but Fresno St. as well. That is a conference that would compete with, and eventually overtake the mighty Pac-10 as the elite conference in the west.

Comments continue below

Scotty | 10:23 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

BSU's non-conference schedule was tougher than Utah's. According to ESPN, Utah only played two ranked teams this season, TCU and BYU, of course both MWC schools, and both games were in SLC. Neither Michigan or Oregon State were ranked when they played the Utes.

BSU impressively defeated #17 Oregon on the road. (An Oregon team that easily defeated Oregon State yesterday.)

Oklahoma easily defeated TCU 35-10. This is the same TCU team that the Utes barely beat by 3 points with last minute heroics.

Boise State over-rated? I doubt it. More likely, that honor should go to the Utes.

RE ; nvlawyer | 10:25 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

BYU finally grew up?
They didn't play anyone this entire year. They only played 3 teams who had a winning record and lost to 2 of them.
How does Idaho State compare to UNI?
I am confused. maybe I need to go to law school too.

Anonymous | 10:27 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

As a football fan I don't care much for the past. I want the most entertaining bowl games now and TCU-BSU would be a game I would watch. I'd like to see BSU play Utah in a BCS game but it's not going to happen, neither is BSU getting a BCS invite over OSU.
I'd also agree that there is no way BSU would be undeafeated against the MWC top 4, though saying they would lose 4 of those is stupid. BSU also beat Oregon with their backup QB and the ducks not at full strength which cheapens the win and the always weak WAC schedule is reflected in the BCS polls as it should be. This could happen every year even if BSU always goes undefeated as long as a MWC team does as well, which is as it should be with the way the system is set up.
If Utah doesn't get a matchup with Cinci or the ACC champion it's probably going to be a Hawaii type game like last year, especially if they get Bama or any other top BCS team. Looking forward to the bowl matchups, OU-Florida BCS Championship prediction.

Give credit where credits due | 10:36 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Boise State is a great team. End of story. Utah, BYU, and TCU fans are hypocritical. If the tables were turned and Utah was on the fringe of a BCS game and other conferences were saying Utahs MWC was not good enough, you would all be up in arms.

I know Utah beat 3 ranked teams (all 3 at home) but 2 of those games they did not win but the other teams lost.

Boise went into Oregon and won.

Don W | 10:43 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

The MWC's constant whining that BSU never plays the MWC's top teams is simply not true. I actually did the research. Giving credit to the TCU team BSU beat in the Ft Worth Bowl on their home field as a 1st place team the average finish of the teams BSU played is a team tied for 4th (4.5th place). It's unfortunate that BSU's attempts to schedule the top tier teams in the MWC have not worked out better but it's not their fault that the BYU team they scheduled was 11-1 but was mediocre by the time the series started. It was also BYU's choice not to continue the series, BSU wanted the series to continue.
Regarding bowl losses: Louisville finished #6 in 2004 and BSU lost by 4. BC finished #18 and BSU was 5 yards from victory when Z was picked. Injuries and suspensions killed BSU vs. ECU - They played without their top 3 receivers, Ian was dinged and as soon as their run stuffing safety made it into the game ECU couldn't move the ball at all. Too late unfortunately to get the victory.

Whinners | 10:54 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

BSU fans are a bunch of whinners. The Utes are far superior to your football team - and let's not even bring other sports into the equation.

Why would the MWC want a team that only competes in one sport - and not very well at that?

usc smashed oregon | 10:55 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

That same usc team got beat by that oregon state team that the UTAH beat!!!...so now what?

Hey scott, you're lame dude!!

Dilusional | 11:01 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Ute fans are just as dilusional as BYU fans. BSU would smack both of your "storied" programs.

BSU in MWC | 11:17 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

I hope it never happens or it won't happen until they put some green turf in BSU's Bronco stadium. I hate watching BSU simply because of the blue turf!!! BSU thinks they are special or something. More special than something.

TO: Dilusional | 11:19 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Maybe, but we Ute fans could care less. We are to busy counting our millions and millions and millions (did I mention millions) of dollars our good friends at the BCS are giving to us once again.

Edlo | 11:22 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

I am a BYU fan am not sure how Boise State would stack up against Utah, TCU, or BYU but would love to see a TCU/BSU boul game and also believe that Boise State would be a great MWC team and a welcome addition, adding strenth and interest to the MWC

BSC to the MWC! | 11:32 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

I can not stand BYU homers. They have always given me a pain. Scheduling North, East West Iowa was a joke and I got tired of BYU homers supporting it. I am not so sure that BSC homers are not just as bad! Supporting and praising the schedule you have- you remind me of BYU HOMERS! Give me a break. Even a compliment from me about BSC adding greatly to the MWC is ripped. Ask the BSC heads of state how fast they would join the MWC if offered. In Boise seeing Air Force, TCU, BYU, and Utah- sometimes New Mexico and CSU come in would be quite an improvement. Seeing BSC at BYU and Utah every other year would be just as good! Give Wyoming its walking papers- add Fresno and Tulsa and you would have the 5th best conf. in the country! I would love for Boise to kick OKL. and Utah to kick Alabama- and yes BSC is a no brainer pick over Ohio State.

RE; Mark May | 11:38 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Dude your comments about if BYU and TCU were also undefeated with Utah would bring screams of two Non-BCS show your lack of intelligent thought. How can three teams that play each other all be undefeated?

How can BSU man-up??? | 11:43 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Their stadium was built in the kids department at Walmart.

Whose idea was it to decorate Bronco Stadium in a "My Little Pony Theme" anyway?

the MWC | 11:58 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Is full of average teams no better then Fresno and Nevada. Boise St will romp through them like it does in the WAC. You boys better hope the broncos are never invited.

bob carlisle | 12:02 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

why would boise state (perhaps #1 mid major) want to play the 4th or 5th best mid major (tcu) when they should be playing utah in a bcs bowl or the 3rd best mid major (ball state) in another bowl. tcu had there shot twice and proved they are not bcs worthy, byu got smoked and showed they are not bcs worthy. utah, ball state and boise state beat all of there bcs conference battles. the difference is utah and ball state beat bottom of the barrel big ten schools while boise gave oregon there only home loss of the season. and everyone will say it is tought to win at Autzen.

No Point | 12:03 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Throw out the history books. There is no point in discussing what BSU did to BYU in 2003 / 2004 or what they did to Utah in 2006. The article is about THIS YEAR'S Boise State team playing THIS YEAR'S TCU team.

Could this year's team beat TCU on a neutral field? I don't think so. TCU is too good defensively. But I would love to see that question settled on the field.

Better Not | 12:06 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

You people that want the Yewts to play a top 5 BCS team better hope that the selection committee has more brains than you fans and backers do, because it will be an embarrassment for the whole state if they get matched up with a REAL team.

For Real | 12:10 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Utah vs Boise State. That would be the only competitive match-up that would be just for both teams. Neither belongs in a top BCS game. Little people with wild dreams, thats what we have here.

RE: BSC to the MWC | 12:19 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

And you are not a UTAH HOMER??? What a hypocrite.

I can't wait to meet you on the field again to show you who the real power is in the non-BCS conferences.

BSU | 12:25 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

What a bunch of deluded donkies. I enjoy their brand of football, but...trick plays aren't gonna work week in and week out against better talent.

BSU a good addition to the MWC, but their fans are either deluded, or drunk, if they think they will continue their dominance with the likes of Utah, BYU, TCU, and Air Force.

Bring on the TCU game.

Re: the nation...speaks! | 12:32 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

That should be "the nation...studies spelling!"

I acknowledge that the Utes are legitimate...this year.

But if the Utah team has caught the same wild-eyed overconfidence that has infected their fans, then they might be headed for an embarrassment on national TV at the hands of Alabama or Florida.

And of course, after the Utes go 7-5 next year it will be entertaining to hear Ute fans calling for Whittingham's head.

Potato zoobs | 12:37 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

I would love to see BSU play BYU.
The super-inflated ego of both sets of fans would be the best entertainment in a lifetime.
The only problem with that scenario would be that one team would win, if there was a way for them to play and have them both lose, that would be better than just about anything.

Crimson Club | 12:45 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

The Utes are crying all the way to the bank, to deposit their millions and millions and millions and millions (did I mention millions) of dollars that our friends at the BCS are giving us again.

Here is an interesting statistic for you. Utah's endowment is over 600 million dollars, BYU's endowment is 280 million and Boise's endowment is 64 million.

There really is no comparison between Utah and BYU or Boise in terms of academics, endowment and athletics. Go Utes!

Big Rock | 12:57 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

The best part of hearing BSU fans complain, is that there's nothing they, or their little conference, can do about it. No matter what they do at kiddie table, as long as a MWC team is undefeated, they'll be palying on their stupid blue turf for the holidays.

BSU | 1:17 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Should get the invite over utah for the at large berth.

From a BYU fan, Go BSU!

monkeytime | 1:23 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

BSU in the MWC? no way, not until they get rid of that eyesore of a football field, ugh!! what the potatoes were they thinkin.
BSU you beat ONE ranked pac 10 team, the MWC owns the pac 10 this year! TCU would beat the blue smurf turf purple this year and you by 14 or more.
To BYU fans, max hall is still throwing interceptions, and utah will be going to its second BCS bowl game. i have to give Max props for not crying like a baby after the game, as we know a certain cougar would've (aka jon beck)

byu? | 1:31 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

hey dick
how about byu manning up and playing boise? i guess
going to las vegas and playing a middle of the pack
pac10 team is safer. byu doesn't want to get embarrass again playing a top 20 team. i also don't think bronco wants anything to do with oklahoma next season

Mark May's an Idiot | 1:43 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

For being a diehard football fan, I can't stand to listen to Mark May & Lou Holtz... glad that NFL Network has some college coverage! May & Holtz sit and pontificate like they're the college think tank... stay tuned for MORE garbage that's just designed to get people to talk about it from May & Holtz through the bowl season!

If Boise doesn't make the BCS (plenty of argument that others should be there instead), Boise/TCU would be a GREAT bowl game and would make for much better football in one game than Boise/ACC Lame Duck Team on the Smurfturf in Boise and TCU or BYU/PAC-10 4 or 5 seed in two games.

Boise is a good program playing in a non-powerhouse conference (sounds like the MWC from a few yrs ago)... the MWC is very strong at the top and very weak at the bottom with very little in the middle. They'd have more respectability without the Mtn due to lack of visibility.

Tired of blow-out bowl games... get the right matchups for the best games... you could even invite 5 teams out of the Big 12 this yr to the BCS and it would be better!

rick k | 1:47 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

The sad truth is BSU should get to a bigger bowl than the one they will get, it is my opinion Ball St would compete with the lessor boise St, but as luck would have it, boise will get a shot at TCU instead!
Hang your hat on the Ducks win, you do that, but stop referring to the Utes win over mich as non important due to the demise of the wolverines this year, for as you like to mention, we scheduled them when they were a powerhouse!
my opinion remains the same, boise couldnt win yr in and yr out in the mwc, nor could the utes in the big 12 or the sec, but unlike you we wouldn't be embarrassed by the switch as i think you would be.
penn st - USC in the rose Texas -utah in feista bama-oh st in Sugar , cincy - BC in orange and florida-OU NC Florida wins, Penn St wins, Utah wins, Bama wins and Cincy wins
#1Florida #2Bama, #3Utah #4Pennst, #5TT and #18 BSU after losing to some East carolina team beacause your ankles hurt, or your DB's were late to arrive or whatever lame reason you'll choose

10 reasons to hate Boise State | 1:56 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

10.Bronco Stadium field is blue turf that causes disorientation of opposing teams. (It's evil and magic combined - like the "Twilight Zone.")

9. Boise State always beats the bottom feeder MWC teams when they are in a down year.

8. To always lose to Boise State is unfair because Utah had the Olympics.

7. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Boise State should have a handicap like horse racing and only play 8 man football when playing MWC teams but let MWC have 12 players all the time.)

6. Boise State is in Idaho where most Utahns and Gary Crowton have summer cabins.

5. "We got drilled" (Coach Whittingham 2006) keeps surfacing and we're tired of hearing it.

4. Salt Lake and Provo population is double the size of Boise and the Treasure Valley which means the MWC is the "Big Time."

3. It's unfair the only show in Boise are the Broncos where we have the Utes, Wildcats, the Jazz, the Cougars, Aggies and Utah Valley Welding College.

2. Idaho became a state before Utah did.

1. Dick Harmon and Mark May are afraid of the "Twilight Zone" and have nightmares in blue.

OoC Scheduling - Future | 2:05 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Got to give it to both BYU and Utah for attempting to upgrade their schedules against big-time BCS programming. When the 2008 schedules were finalized 4-6 years ago, who knew that UCLA, Michigan, and Washington would be in the midst of their worst down cycles in years. These are big time power house schools from powerful BCS conferences suffering sub-par years.

2009/2010 BYU-Utah schedules include Florida State, Oregon, Notre Dame, Arizona State, Washington, etc.

And who has Boise State scheduled for 2009/2010? Let's see, they do have Oregon at home plus Toledo, Miami (Ohio), UC Davis,and Tulsa. What a bunch of powerhouses. Of course, they do have both Utah and BYU scheduled starting in 2012. Too bad Chris Petersen will go the Urban Meyer path to a BCS school by that time.

Mark May is correct for once | 2:26 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

The spuds would get throttled by the MWC trifecta of Utah, Texas Christian, and Brigham Young and then would have a horrific time trying to stop the Air Force triple option. Boise could then have all the glory of fighting it out with New Mexico and Colorado State for the best nearly .500 team in the league.

Why not BSU vs. BYU?? | 2:28 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

What is with all the talk about Boise playing TCU in San Diego? Why not put Boise up against BYU in the Poinsettia Bowl? I love how even staunch BYU homers like Dick Harmon are calling for the TCU matchup because they feel that TCU could handle Boise. I think the implication is that even BYU fans know that Boise would wipe the field with the Cougars. I personally believe that Boise's resume is every bit as impressive as Utah's if not better, considering the impressive win at Autzen Stadium. Utah was fortunate enough to get ranked earlier in the year and therefore is ranked ahead of Boise now. But on a neutral field today, I'd take Boise over Utah too.

Boise State Only losses 4 | 2:36 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

The real joke is that people think Boise State would have only lost four games playing in the MWC. Boise State would be a mid-level team in the conference. New Mexico, Colorado State, and UNLV would have all had a chance to beat the Broncos this season. Boise State is a joke, and they haven't played anyone this season. TCU, Utah, and BYU all at least tried to schedule some tough out of conference opponents.

Gretzky | 2:47 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

BSU should leap frog UTah in the BSC standings based on caliber of wins having beat Oregon at the ducks who beat OSU at the beavers pond who beat USC at home. the only quality win for Utah is OSU by BSC standards. TCU and BYU don't count.

also, Utah has only BYU to thank for being preseason ranked 15 and making it into the top 10 before losing to TCU and then Utah was gifted a win over TCU by the refs and unlucky FG kicking game by TCU.

don't be surprised if BSU leaps Utah in the standings for BSC...Florida looks poised to jump a few spots as well...it's all about the yo-yo bsc situation...

JimBob | 2:48 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

i believe Utah and BSU should have a playoff game in 2 weeks....

soakblue | 3:14 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Boise State is basically a community college academically and would not add one bit to the prestige of the MWC.

Provo Dad | 3:32 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

I think Byu should play Boise. People like Harmon are afraid that Boise would kill the Y. Besides TCU should be the team going to Vegas.

WE NEED A PLAYOFF | 3:33 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

All this controversy warrants a college football playoff system. The BCS is a joke. The rich only get richer.

We can debate all day who we think is the better team and/or conference. Let's settle these issues on the field.

My2Cents | 3:35 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

If I was a Utah or BYU player and the MWC invited Boise, I would immediately commit seppuku.

New BCS Rankings Just In | 3:38 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

New BCS rankings just came in. Boise is #9 and Utah is #6. So much for Boise leap frogging Utah.

Hello Humanitarian Bowl for Boise.

Congragulations Utes! Represent us well in the BCS!!

Re:Scotty | 3:40 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

BSU beat Oregon by 5.. that's "impressively"?

Oregon was also using it's third string QB. And OSU was minus the #1 RB in the Pac-10 when playing Oregon.

I guess all these things managed to slip your attention when making the round robin comparisons of who beat who.

Second, you can either go with teams that are ranked at the time they play or ranked currently. Either way Utah beat 3 ranked teams (Michigan, BYU, TCU at time played) or (Oregon St., BYU, TCU currently ranked).

Boise St. beat 1 ranked team "impressively". So if 5 points is impressive what is 24?

Re: the MWC | 11:58 a.m. Nov. 30 | 3:43 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Yes it is.. however those teams are not in 2nd place in the MWC they are in 5th, 6th and 7th place..

Fresno and Nevada are no better than CSU, UNLV and New Mexico...

RE;Why not BSU vs. BYU?? | 3:56 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Because bowl games have tie ins.. Las Vegas is tied to Pac-10 #4 this year. Poinsettia is tied to Pac-10 #6 they won't have that many teams qualify.

Las Vegas wants to sell tickets... BYU will sell theirs.. Pac-10 will sell theirs...

BSJC | 3:57 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

Everyone would take BSJC serious if they would play a good team. The only one this year was Oregon, but they did have the 4th string quarterback in. Also if the would act like a top 10 team and get a classy field and new colors!

JLF | 3:58 p.m. Nov. 30, 2008

I don't know who has been feeding bogus info some commenters above but BSU is chomping at the bit for a chance to meet TCU. The Pac-10 notion is pure idle brain musings. Of course we would jump at the chance but that isn't going to happen aqccording to a story that came out of Hawaii a few years back. Boise State's pedestrian roots are to not impressive enough.
The MWC actually should disolve and reform with BSU and a couple other WAC programs into a strengthened conference designed to impose itself on the BCS. But a National playoff may pre-empt something like that happening. Who knows, but we REALLY want TCU or BYU anywhere.

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