5 Words I Thought I'd Never Say: "I'm Jealous of Boise State."
by charnaw on Oct 26, 2010 9:09 PM PDT
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PrintYeah, I know that sounds so "Zuckerbergian", and I really mean no malice to Boise State and the beautiful state of Idaho, but are you kidding me? I saw bits and pieces of Boise's latest massacre of Louisiana Tech (I believe) on ESPN's Tuesday Night Special, and it really made me realize how far from good our football program really is.
The kids that play for Chris Peterson/sen are not five-star athletes, and Boise is seldom their first choice, but they play with heart, discipline, spirit, and (dare I say) Wooden-like, relentless execution. I saw a tight-end run a skinny post and the QB read the defense and had the time to make a 12 yard pass, that resulted in a 35-yard TD. Instead of waiving his arms around like a circus baffoon, the guy dropped the ball, gave some high fives, and everyone set up for an extra point attempt. This was no dream . . . it really happened.
I'm jealous of Boise State.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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Yeah, well, three of the top 5 teams...
are from the very northern stretches of the US and totally non traditional powerhouse schools. Well, Mich St. was there but hasn’t it been quite a while since?
Topsy Turvy world!
Why "Play" for Boise St.
How is Peterson getting so much out of his players? Is it because he has a degree in psychology? A master’s in education? Was WR coach at Oregon under Bellotti? Someone please explain why they are doing so well and UCLA is doing so poorly? What are the intangibles that make a consistent winner?
I’m really not sure. Dan Hawkins was doing great things at Boise St. before Peterson got there. I know also that Brian Kelly worked magic at Cincinnati and everywhere he went but the jury is still out on what he will do at Notre Dame.
It’s so frustrating to not know what makes a winner. As Bruins our resource for this is the greatest Coach of all time. He started with the basics—putting your socks on right and running plays until they became automatic. Maybe unconsciously this builds confidence.
I also feel that a premium has been placed on the individual player in modern college athletics. I’m sure that is what good recruiters are catering to. I think we need more team and if that means going out and getting more humble players, then that is what it means. I can’t think of any “highly-touted” recruit being worth a damn without a good team around him. I think we need teams that want to play for UCLA instead of the NFL. UCLA isn’t just a stepping-stone, it is something much, much more. These players need to realize that if they are a TEAM and have the confidence that comes from really buying into UCLA, they will more likely be playing on Sundays.
I’m not calling out any players—it’s not really their fault. The coaches need to stop scheming and start building character and confidence. Let’s not make “winners,” let’s make men. Winning will follow.
EGO TROIORUM MALLEUS SUM
correction
Dan Hawkins became head coach at the same time Peterson became offensive coordinator. No-one at Boise – or for that matter, Colorado – believes he would have been doing ‘great things’ without Peterson on board.
by britishbruin on Oct 27, 2010 7:26 AM PDT up reply actions
It was Dirk Koetter
Who got the Boise State program up and running in 1998. Just like Dan Hawkins, Dirk Koetter turned out to be a big fail when he moved on to another program.
I could care less what a program like Boise State is doing. Don’t care much for programs playing in ridiculous conferences w perhaps one or two game they have to face any real competition the entire season.
If people want to envy Boise State, they are free to do so. As mentioned below, there is a cool blog for Boise State where all that envy can take place. We have plenty of issues worth focusing on. None of that is going to get solved with apples and oranges comparison to a program like Boise State.
the failures of Koetter and Hawkins kind of make your overall point
which is that the ‘success’ of Boise St cannot be compared to programs that play in real conferences. I think a lot of schedules for MWC teams are no less legitimate than for a lot of Big East or ACC teams, but the WAC is pretty terrible.
by britishbruin on Oct 27, 2010 8:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Big East has been a joke ...
ACC I am not totally ready to discount. They at least have some legit programs in FSU, Miami, Va Tech, BC (even though some of them have been on a down cycle in recent years).
I get what Chris Petersen is doing. He is a very good coach. Their program has done an impressive job of marketing itself. However, when it comes down to it, comparison to what has been happening there and what is UCLA doing is very misplaced.
To me what is interesting is how Mike Stoops handled Arizona when he was on the hot seat. He brought in a spread offense OC in Sonny Dykes while completely focusing on defense. Neuheisel while working to get this season back in order, should already be thinking ahead to bringing in an elite DC. If that requires shifting his budget around to get a new OC that fits in his vision of running a ‘pistol’ offense, he needs to think about that as well.
Getting envious about what Boise State is running against La Tech is a silly talk. I like charnaw’s posts and thoughts. So apologies if he thinks I am jumping on him. But using it more to make a general point re. Boise “envy” I have seen at other places as well.
yeah
ACC has some legit programs, and also has a ton of legit players even in recent times; but for whatever reason hasn’t been putting out complete elite teams in the last few years.
by britishbruin on Oct 27, 2010 8:36 AM PDT up reply actions
Without defending or attacking Chow
Let me say that his talk of firing a too-expensive OC so we can afford a more expensive DC is very depressing. A serious football program should not shy away from paying their coordinators good money. It should not require hiring cheap on one end so we can hire well on the other. Chow’s contract after this season is in the 450k range — an amount we should have no trouble paying our DC.
Again, this has nothing to do with whether Chow is worth keeping or not.
Nestor, you missed the bus on this one
Boise is a place bruins go to watch guys like Tyus Edney make history. Perhaps my fanpost should have been titled “5 Words I Thought I’d Never Say: ’I’m Jealous of _______ State.” Because you can fill in the blank with two dozen schools that do it better than we do, and there is absolutely no acceptable reason for that.
I know enough about Boise State ...
What is your point with this:
Because you can fill in the blank with two dozen schools that do it better than we do, and there is absolutely no acceptable reason for that.
Is that an original point? What does that add to the discussion we have been having here? Yes, we know what has been happening in terms of blowout losses are not acceptable. So, how does a comparison to Boise State prove anything or providing any new insight?
As pointed out above, a comparison to Boise State is apples and oranges. The two programs are not in similarly situated position. If you want to make comparisons, you should think about programs that would be more fair comparisons (such as Georgia Tech or NC State or Boston College in similarly situations).
Don’t come here to make ignorant comparisons and then justify it with lazier takes.
Georgia Tech, NC State or Boston College didnt play last night.
The “original point” is that I happened to see Boise State play on national TV last night
The "point" of my post....
These recruiting rating services are “fools gold”. Like Boise State, our coaches need to do a better job of evaluating talent. Without naming names… I’ve seen several of our recent highly recruited athletes that to me will never cut it here. BTW, I’m optimistic about Brett Hundley, but even though he’s much higher rated than Laughrea, I think Laughrea could probably start for us right now.
Heart and effort.
Talent will only take you so far.
Heart, effort, talent...
…and a little detail like the WAC schedule. Come on guys, let’s keep things in perspective.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
I don't think it's all WAC
They beat whoever they play, or so it seems. I think Charnaw makes a valid point. We know that some schools habe great records because they cheat. Other schools don’t cheat, but still somehow seem to get more out of their players than other schools do. We have coaches (at least some coaches) with proven track records, but still we can’t seem to get over that mysterious hump. If I had the answer, I promise I would give it to Coach Neuheisel.
But at this point, I got nothing.
I don't take anything away from them
but the fact is that they play teams that are far inferior to them, and in so doing they really don’t have to show many of their plays. When the time comes to play a good opponent, they can dig in their play bank to use things they haven’t had to use before, so it makes them tough to scout. So I will give them credit for their execution, but clearly they don’t have to go through the same grind as teams in big conferences because usually, their second string is playing by the third quarter.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Re: the"point of my post"...
I thought I made a post…LOL.
The only conclusion that I will draw on Boise St.
as it pertains to a question that I have on our own program, is that they clearly have a guy in Petersen that is getting the most out of his resources available to him.
"I don't forget very much" Rick Neuheisel, 11/28/09
It's easy to envy how other coaches did in their programs
We could have hired the Boise State coach too for that matter. But then facts remain that certain coaches do well in some schools but barely pass muster when hired to replicate their skills & sucesses in other programs.
I agree largely with what was said regarding Chris Petersen, but also disagreed somewhat with the possible scenario that coaches like him and others could have come to Westwood and " blitzkrieg " the conference.
It’s just a calculated leap of faith, in my opinion.
There is no crystal ball, clairvoyant formula to guarantee any sure win candidates out there unless they are certified clones of Bo Schembechler, Dick Vermeil, Lou Holtz, Bud Wilkinson etc. Even then, their approaches, if not strategies might just be too old school for the contemporary athletes.
In the larger scheme of things, COACH himself could not have forseen Gene Bartow ‘s failure to cut it either. We just have to trust AD Guerreo’s judgement and decisions when all the returns are in for CRN & company.
In the mean time, I’ll take it one game at a time, win or lose.
I support the OP and his thoughts.
As I read it, Charnaw is not so much jealous of Boise St.’s program so much as the success they are having. And that is a commendable sentiment.
It is a far cry, for example, of being jealous of South Central and their recent successes which were gained through cutting moral corners. Boise State has done it the right way in my book. (However, I reserve the right to change my opinion if allegations of misconduct surface later.)
I for one like watching Boise State play. Their defeats of Oklahoma in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl and Oregon last year were very inspiring. Petersen gets it. He goes for it time again in situations where I feel our coaches would punt or settle for a field goal. So, what’s not to like? Hoorah the Boise States of the CFB world and Hoorah to Charnaw for saying so.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
I think Nestor's point is
that if you are inspired to jealousy by a school in Idaho with none of the academic or sporting achievements of UCLA, and a team whose success is predicated on beating one or two half-decent opponents a year, then you need your head checking. Or you need to go and support that big fish in a small, non-academically-challenging, non-sportingly-challenging pond.
by britishbruin on Oct 27, 2010 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions
That's just it. I don't think Charnaw is actually jealous.
I know I’m not. He wants us to have the kind of success they are having. Yes, he used the word jealous. I commended his sentiment. But I don’t think either of us is looking up at Boise St. thinking the grass is greener over there.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Uh-oh
I think charnaw is applying for Gold Elite status in Bruin fandom. He has racked up 124 games, enough for a free seat at the Rose Bowl!
Just teasing you brother. I know where you’re coming from. It’s not so much that I’m jealous of any other program (let alone Boise State), it’s that I long for some success on our own terms.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
you're confusing me with PhrenologistEnglishman
I am sadly unqualified to check your head or anyone else’s, so cannot take you up on your offer…
But if Mexi’s diagnosis that you are not actually jealous is correct, then no need for the examination.
by britishbruin on Oct 28, 2010 7:26 PM PDT up reply actions
PhrenologistEnglishman
Damn, BB! Not quite as funny as ProgrammerSalvadorean, but more clever.
I’m envisioning a post with all these characters around a tailgate keg…
greg in denver - UCLA guy for life
I would not go to Boise State for a coach
Not even Peterson. It’s a perfected system in a weak conference that exaggerates the abilities of the coach, witness Koetter at ASU and Hawkins at Colorado. More telling is a coach who pays his dues as an assistant, then wins as a HC where the conference playing field is more even, like Urban Meyer: years as an assistant, turned Bowling Green around in a year, then wowed everyone at Utah.
Yes, Boise is fun to watch, at least the two times a year they play a real football team. In the PAC 10/12, with the current nine team round robin, how would they do getting mashed by huge lines week to week? They might beat one of the top four teams on a good day, but I’d say that’s about it.
Would they beat us? Maybe, but not if we played like we did against Houston or Texas.
Remember Ben Johnson, the Canadian sprinter?
Through the beginning of Ben’s career, he was nothing, an also-ran; in football recruiting terms… perhaps a 1-star or 2-star sprinter…. then boom, out of the blue, he’s breaking world records. For anyone living in a cave the last 20 years, the reason for his breakout from 1-star status to 5-star status was massive steroid use.
It also just happens that a group called bodybuilding.com, the owner of which was recently arrested for selling steroids, is based in …. wait for it… Boise, ID. And guess who used to be a guest blogger on the site…. Dan Hawkins, when he was coach of the local college team in Boise.
Okay… tenuous links, to be sure, but it’s something I’ve long suspected.
I always wondered
why Hawkins’ head was so big…
:)
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Very very tenuous
Be careful making these sorts of unfounded implications here.
greg in denver - UCLA guy for life
Boise St wins football games, period.
It really shouldn’t matter that they “only” play in the WAC. The talent level of their players is comparable to those in other WAC teams, so their wins is really a product of their system. If they were beating teams with Pac-10 talent, then sure, I’d call out their cupcake conference in an instant. But, they’re beating teams with the same 2-3 star players that those schools have. Not only that, they have beaten BCS-conference teams that were much more talented.
The one key success I’ll take from Boise State’s program is the continuity of their system. They’ve cycled through assistants over the past few years, but are always able to maintain the core philosophy of their program. That’s something we haven’t been able to establish yet.
Boise State’s success, and their identity as a football program, is inextricably linked to the continuity of Chris Petersen’s system and philosophy. It’s difficult to establish this as a program with the revolving door of assistants and schemes we’ve had on both sides of the ball.
The bottom line is that winning football games is an achievement at any level. Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel and Paul Johnson are just a small sample of coaches who’ve proven that they can win at any level in college. The fact that Boise State plays in the WAC shouldn’t take anything away from their achievements on the field.
I do envy Boise State...
…but not in the way you think.
As Nestor pointed out:
I get what Chris Petersen is doing. He is a very good coach. Their program has done an impressive job of marketing itself. However, when it comes down to it, comparison to what has been happening there and what is UCLA doing is very misplaced.
That’s what I envy. Marketing. Academically, Boise State is a nothing school, at least when compared to a world-elite university like UCLA. Hell, Boise State is a nothing school academically. Name one decent program they have besides football. Exactly. UCLA is the cream of the crop, both athletically and academically. Only Stanford has the same mix of elite athletics and elite academics (and I will admit they have the edge academically, while we have the edge athletically).
But I envy Boise State’s marketing team. Whoever they have in charge of PR and marketing, we need to go out and hire. That guy is doing a fucking awesome job. When compared to the half-ass "marketing" we see out of Morgan Center (hello folks, this is not 19-f**king-85), it makes me want to cry.
So yes, I envy Boise State, at least one small component of it. I want their marketing guy, because he’s turned Boise State football into a national name, an elite brand, despite playing inferior competition (mostly) in a non-BCS joke conference. That’s impressive work, marketing-wise.
c'mon people, they have a blue field...
can we focus here?
by DoubleTroubleBruin on Oct 29, 2010 4:58 PM PDT reply actions
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