History heralds seniors into undefeated season

The No. 9 Boise State Broncos did what they set out to do this season. Finish.

The showdown at Bronco Stadium last Friday night served as a stage set for multiple historic moments. The pinnacle coming with running back Ian Johnson’s 57th career touchdown, tying Marshall Faulk’s record set at San Diego State.

Bronco Nation rushed the field for the first time in recent memory to share in Johnson’s, along with the other Broncos’, revelry.

Yet another senior moment was Broncos’ Ellis Powers making a heads-up play to grab his first, and long withheld, interception in front of a packed crowd and his family.

The Broncos put together their first game with more than 60 points of the season against their most competitive conference foe. The statement made on Black Friday stretched beyond the expectations by many early on in the season. Many critics didn’t believe a redshirt freshman could guide the Broncos to an undefeated season on a road which included going into formerly No. 17 Oregon with their first road victory over a Pac-10 opponent.

Even more didn’t believe they would find yet another way to leave the season unscathed and unblemished – a way to bring an overall inexperienced offensive line and “rebuilding” team together for a conference championship that many thought would return to Pat Hill’s Fresno State Bulldogs. It took a group of players taking in a philosophy of a tried and true coach and staff.

“Everything we tell them they buy into,” BSU head coach Chris Petersen said. “They practice hard and they prepare really well. This was strange week for us in some ways with the [Western Athletic Conference] Championship already won and no school. That’s not good for us.”

But if the Broncos have done one thing all season it was focusing on the prize. The “finish” that has clearly been their number one focus since their last loss in Hawaii to an underrated East Carolina University Hawaii Bowl Champion.

“We’re all out there for one common goal,” junior cornerback Kyle Wilson said.

Wilson ran his fourth punt return back for a touchdown during the month of November.

A more bittersweet moment came for senior quarterback Bush Hamdan and his first – and last – collegiate start. Hamdan had mentioned that he didn’t want the start early in the week. His comments served a form of prophecy, throwing an interception on his first pass of the first drive that was ran back for a touchdown for the first score of the game.

“Bush deserves to start,” Petersen said. “I feel bad it turned out like it did for him because he is a heck of a quarterback.”

All things turned Johnson as the game wound down. The crowd hoisted their hero high above their heads, carrying him out like the king he has become at Boise State and ending an era that will serve as the crown jewel of a shining decade.

“It turned out like we hoped that it would and it was great,” Petersen said. “The crowd was awesome tonight. Boy, you could really just feel the electricity, like we always do. But I think there was something special out there for all those seniors and some of the things Ian was doing. It was great.”

BSU will await the possible Bowl Championship Series bust which became more likely with Oregon’s upset of Oregon State’s outright Pac-10 championship. This positions the Broncos to battle Ohio State for an additional at-large bid.

Though multiple options may present themselves, the most likely would be a Humanitarian Bowl or Poinsettia Bowl bid against their best possible opponent. A decision will likely be made Dec. 7 or shortly after.

The announcement of the BCS bowl teams will be announced Dec. 7 after the final standings are announced at 6 p.m.

KIRK BELL
Sports Coordinator

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