The Bull Gator (4/7/10)
. When I say small, I’m of course referring to the non-BCSers. Not the size of enrollment. Time after time, that small program people think can make it is
Boise State
. I don’t want to take anything away from the Broncos and their recent success. Despite a conference schedule that leaves much to be desired (only six times in the last six years has a WAC team not named Boise State finished with nine or more wins), the Broncos haven’t really stumbled. Two Boise State teams even finished undefeated. But the fact will always remain that they are Boise State. Last season, it was easy to leave them out. Can you honestly make a case for Boise State over undefeated
Alabama
or
Texas
? If you can, they have great rehab centers across the country to help you beat your addiction. In 2006 (the other year the Broncos ended up unbeaten), they were one of only two teams with zero losses heading into the bowl season. Did they go to the championship game? No. A one-loss SEC team got the bid. Two other times, the Broncos ended the regular season undefeated, but were again left out. In 2008, two one-loss teams (from the Big 12 and SEC) got in over Boise State. And in 2004, they never stood a chance with three undefeated teams from “bigger” conferences. What the Broncos do on a yearly basis is commendable and each year many seem to think they inch closer to actually appearing in the title game, but I can’t help but think that’s not going to happen. Their undefeated season will never mean as much as the undefeated season of a “large” program. Where we stand right now, their undefeated season doesn’t even mean as much as a one-loss season of a Big 12 or SEC team. If the Boise State really wants to get there, they need to take their out-of-conference schedule to another level. In 2010, they play
Virginia Tech
and
Oregon State
. Yes and yes. But they also play
Wyoming
and
Toledo
. No and no. Yes, it’s hard to get a BCS conference team to agree to play Boise State (it’s a no-win situation for the power teams), but it’s only going to get harder. It’s time for the Broncos to up the pressure and get some of those games, otherwise they’ll continue to be thought of as a great team that in the end probably doesn’t belong.
Alabama’s resurgence is scary. Scary for any fan of an opposing SEC school. Definitely scary to me. Scary for a number of reasons. First of all, I don’t find myself hating Nick Saban anymore. I hated him for the same reason practically anyone did a few years ago. Because we felt he quit on the Miami Dolphins to return to the college game. Now though – and a lot of it really does have to do with Lane Kiffin – I find it hard to hate the guy. I dislike him as I should be required to dislike rival coaches, but I don’t hate him. He brought one of the sports’ premier programs back to prominence and did it with such a business-like demeanor that you almost had to respect him. Don’t worry; I’m not going soft, I said almost. But most of all, I’m scared. Scared of Saban and scared of what Alabama is building. Over the last two seasons, the Crimson Tide have lost one SEC game. Yes, it was to Florida, but their overall conference record in that time speaks for itself. 17-1. The Tide and Gators have identical records over that time at 26-2 and renewed a rivalry from the early days of the SEC Championship Game. Fun, of course. Scary, damn right.
In case you were looking for a young up-and-comer to cheer for when watching the Gators in 2010, look no further. Defensive end Justin Houston, Jr. He makes this list as the #5 SEC star you must know and will clearly tear it up for Florida. That is if he played for Florida. He doesn’t.
Leslie Stirrups no more. You throw away enough chances and eventually you aren’t going to get anymore. The defensive tackle from Hillsborough (Tampa, FL) committed to USF somewhere around 1993 I think. The actual records have been lost in time. Stirrups didn’t qualify academically when he first attempted to become part of the Bulls’ freshman class in whatever year that was (can you tell my patience has run out with the DT?) and then proceeded to get himself arrested on a number of charges. After spending two years in the junior college ranks, Stirrups attempted to resurrect his career, but couldn’t earn a steady spot in the lineup last season. He ran out of strikes after breaking a team rule (we may never really know which one) and was dismissed by new head coach Skip Holtz. Just another example of “you never really know what you’re going to get out of a recruit.” While some prospects never live up to their potential, others just waste it all away.
The List: Today I list the number of things I know about Boise without the aid of Google or Wikipedia.
1. Boise is the capital of Idaho.
2. Boise State University is there.
The Sixth Man: Now is the time for some good old fashioned bragging. I – the man who can’t put together a halfway decent tourney bracket to save his life – won the third incarnation of the TBG March Madness Challenge. To be fair, the winner of the first two challenges didn’t participate. Of course I also beat him in his own pool, but getting too full of myself is highly unbecoming. Then again, the odds of this happening again are roughly the same of me sprouting wings. So I’ll have my moment in the sun. My one shining moment if you will. And there it was. And now it’s over. Sigh. Quick shout out to bertiej55 for finishing first among those who don’t run this site.