Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

Murphy: Boise State should do these things to avoid another snub

By BY BRIAN MURPHY

How Boise State can ensure that an undefeated Bronco team does not get left out of the BCS again:

1. WIN BY MORE POINTS

Running up the score is unseemly and quick to draw a rebuke from some commentators. But, let's face it, it matters. It implies dominance and it affects voters.

When Utah had to sweat out a 13-7 victory against New Mexico, the Associated Press voters punished the Utes by moving Boise State ahead of them for one week.

In some cases the final score shouldn't matter. In Boise State's case this season, it should.

The Broncos couldn't slam the door shut on Oregon or Nevada, making comfortable victories a bit more uncomfortable during the game and less impressive to voters who simply saw the game's final score.

Boise State didn't register overwhelming, make-you-do-a-double-take victories against Bowling Green (20-7), Southern Miss (24-7) or Hawaii (27-7).

Part of it was that they weren't capable. Boise State is undefeated, but not dominant.

When you're trying to make up ground on Utah and sway voters, those things add up.

"Those BCS bowls are extremely difficult to get into. Sometimes that means more than just winning all your games," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "Sometimes you've really got to win by a lot of points. We did at times and not at other times."

2. ADJUST THE NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Fresno State, Boise State's opponent, has made its reputation by playing brutal nonconference schedules. The slates have helped the Bulldogs earn some signature victories, but haven't aided them in getting to a bowl game.

The Broncos, who repeatedly get dinged for a soft WAC schedule they can't control, could move slightly closer to the Fresno State model. Who wouldn't want to see the Broncos play California and UCLA? Fresno State played Rutgers, Wisconsin and UCLA this season.

Boise State, especially under Petersen, could handle playing that type of schedule and not lose focus in the WAC.

But Boise State's overriding scheduling philosophy is to play home games and not get involved in 2-for-1 or 1-for-0 deals with major conference teams. The Broncos make about $2 million from each home game and the $38 million Stueckle Sky Center wasn't built so Boise State could play five or four home games a year.

Boise State has take some steps to address the schedule issue in future seasons with games against Utah and BYU. If Boise State proves it can beat the Mountain West's best teams - and BSU is 12-0 all-time against MWC teams - then it will be hard for voters and computers to leave them out of the BCS in favor of Utah, which is what happened in 2004 and this year.

Others are not certain the schedule is a problem at all. Boise State has finished in the top 10 of the BCS standings in 2004, 2006 and, if the Broncos win today, 2008.

"Boise State has shown that their schedule works. Their scheduling strategy works. I wouldn't encourage them to change it one bit," WAC commissioner Karl Benson said.

"I've read some of the critics and some of the fans out there that are placing the blame on their schedule. Their scheduling philosophy is working."

3. CHANGE CONFERENCES

One way to get more games with Mountain West teams is, simply, to play in that league.

It has been a public goal of Boise State president Bob Kustra for a while now and every few months rumors spring up that an invitation is close.

"If we could hook up with the Mountain West, which has excellent competition, which has considerable academic quality, it would be a good match for us," Kustra told the Statesman in 2007.

Boise State seems like the logical pick if the nine-team Mountain West does decide to expand. League commissioner Craig Thompson said last month that some schools have mentioned expansion lately.

"I would be shocked if we didn't get one of the first calls, if not the first call, to join," Kustra said last year.

The conference gets more love in the national polls and the BCS standings. Utah made it in 2004 and 2008. BYU began this season as the highest-rated non-BCS team. A one-loss TCU was threatening to pass Boise State in the rankings before the Horned Frogs lost at Utah.

A Mountain West with Boise State might be as close to an automatic qualifier conference as the Broncos are ever going to get. A one-loss MWC (with Boise State) team would almost assuredly be around the top 12-14 each season, putting them in position to earn a BCS spot.

4. KEEP PUTTING THEMSELVESIN THIS SITUATION

Hey, what's wrong with three undefeated seasons and one trip to the BCS since 2004? Boise State has positioned itself as one of the top mid-majors in the country and a near year-in and year-out presence in the top 15.

The team continues to whip its WAC rivals and stockpile conference championships. This year's title is the sixth in seven seasons. Boise State got its first victory against a Pac-10 team on the road this season.

Fan interest has never been higher for the Broncos, who are selling out Bronco Stadium for nearly every game and expanding their facilities.

Times are good for Boise State's football program.

Keeping Petersen around - maybe with a 10-year, $15 million contract extension this offseason, with a massive buyout - and growing the program will lead to more opportunities. The Broncos, after all, are a young program, having joined Division I-A (Football Bowl Subdivision) in 1996.

If the Broncos can cement their reputation as a perennial power over the next decade, more BCS opportunities will come.

Brian Murphy: 377-6444