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Football Questions Part I:
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Anyone who is a die-hard Boise State fan has plenty of questions heading into the 2007 Bronco football season. With practice commencing Aug. 3 and the preseason opener at home Aug. 30 against Weber State – time is running out to find answers to those complex questions. Many of those questions remain unanswered on the eve of perhaps the most anticipated season in Boise State football history.
Who will be Boise State’s toughest opponent this season?
After last season’s perfect 13-0 finish BSU fans now expect no less than a perfect record each season. That’s easier said than done, but it is possible. More than half of the teams on the Bronco schedule this season finished 2006 with losing records.
Two teams have the best chance to derail Boise State’s hopes of another BCS-like season. The first choice comes as no surprise. Hawaii will be loaded in 2007 and will be well equipped to make a BCS run of its own.
Of any team the Broncos will face this season Hawaii will be the toughest test. BSU will have the task of knocking off Hawaii on the island – a place that has become one of the most difficult places to play in the country.
The Warrior’s are led by Heisman Trophy candidate Colt Brennan. Brennan threw an NCAA record 58 touchdowns last season and led the country in nearly every statistical category.
“Colt is a very special kind of quarterback that don’t come around everyday,” Bronco Head Coach Chris Petersen said. “He will be one of the toughest challenges we face all season and that says a lot about what kind of quarterback he is.”
Hawaii will also be a well-oiled, well-balanced machine on both sides of the ball. Brennan will throw to some of the most talented wide receivers in the country, including Ryan Grice-Mullins.
“The receivers coming back this season are three of the best receivers I have ever had,” Hawaii Head Coach June Jones said. “I expect our passing attack will be one of the best in the country and we look forward to that.”
The Boise State/Hawaii match-up falls on Thanksgiving weekend in Honolulu and could potentially decide the Western Athletic Conference champion.
“We hope when we go to Hawaii we have a chance to compete for the WAC title,” Boise State tailback Ian Johnson said. “But, we’re more concerned with just going there and getting the win and we’ll worry about that when the time comes.”
Given BSU’s success in the past five years it’s easy to look ahead and hope for potentially enticing match-ups like the one with Hawaii, but first the Broncos must get past other worthy opponents to even begin thinking about another undefeated season.
The second team that should be expected to knock-off the Broncos is the University of Washington Huskies. The Sept. 8 match-up in Seattle could be the most important game the Broncos play in 2007. Washington opens the season at Syracuse, then hosts Boise State and Ohio State, before hitting the road to play UCLA and then returns back home to host USC (all within a month’s time). For the Huskies, Boise State is a must-win game given their very difficult schedule. For the Broncos it is a must-win game as well if they have any hopes of staying in the BCS hunt again this season.
Who will be Boise State’s Next Star Player?
Who is the next Boise State player to keep an eye on this season? Well, there’s a handful, but here are a few to watch out for. BSU can no longer rely on four-year starter and WAC Defensive Player of the Year Korey Hall and second-team All-WAC standout Colt Brooks to anchor the defense.
But, the Broncos could go deep at this spot and potentially be better than before. Juniors Kyle Gingg and David Shields will start, but at this point it is uncertain where. Keep an eye on junior Tim Brady and red shirt freshman Derrell Acrey who will battle for the third spot.
“We’re excited about our linebackers,” Petersen said. “There is no way you can replace players like Korey Hall, but we feel we have guys in place who will do special things for us.”
Cornerback Kyle Wilson had a breakout freshman season in 2006 and should be even better this season. Wilson was named honorable mention Freshman All-American by Sporting News Magazine and started the final five games of last season for the Broncos.
With BSU’s top three receivers gone the Broncos will look to sophomore Jeremy Childs to lead the receiving ranks. Childs red shirted for the Broncos in 2005 and was named the No. 1 incoming recruit in the WAC by Athlon Sports. Childs finished sixth on the team last season with 14 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown.
“Jeremy is a great player and we expect big things from him this season,” Petersen said.
When will Coach Pete lose his first game?
In 2006 Bronco Head Coach Chris Petersen was awarded the Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year award and finished his first season 13-0. It can’t get much better for the second-year head coach, unless he keeps on winning. But, the question weighing on everybody’s mind is when will Coach Pete lose, and when he does who will it be to?
That’s a tough question and one that nobody in Boise wants to think about. But, sooner or later that loss will come and at this point the team with the best chance to ruin Pete’s perfect record is Washington. The Huskies will have home field and will catch the Broncos early during the 2007 season. BSU has yet to decide who will take the snaps under center and until it does and that quarterback has a chance to get a few games under his belt, the Broncos will no doubt be susceptible to losing early on. Other teams with a chance will be Southern Miss September 27, at Fresno State October 26, or at Hawaii November 23.
“We try not to think about records or what will happen when,” Petersen said. “All I worry about and all the team worries about is taking the season one game at a time.”
BSU will have the chance to take the season one game at a time beginning Aug. 30, but Bronco fans will no doubt be watching closely and wanting answers to plenty of questions.
“We understand there is a lot expected of us,” Petersen said. “Our hope is that our fans expect a lot from us and we hope to give them what they want. What they want is what we want."
Tate Castleton
