Does Boise State Still Have a Chance at the BCS?

Hello All,

While I was not able to keep up with writing as much as I would have liked to over the past few months, I can say that it has been an exciting time, full of interesting projects, some crazy college football, and good times mostly all around. While my Boise State Broncos suffered a heartbreaking defeat at home against the TCU Horned Frog just a few short weeks ago, the season is not lost as some may believe. In fact, I think that Boise State losing on the Blue has summed up this college season farily appropriately. LSU is now the sole standout, the team to beat. With teams like Boise State, Oklahoma and Oregon losing at home in recent weeks, the BCS is falling into utter anarchy. A few more upsets and we may have the season that pushes the BCS into implementing a playoff of some sort.

There is still a ton of football to be played in the next week, and a lot could happen. An at-large bid for the Bronocos isn't even totally out of the question. Here are a few of the things that need to happen for Boise State to claim one of the few coveted at-large bids.

- Notre Dame needs to upset Stanford
- Virginia needs to upset Virginia Tech
- Oklahoma needs to beat Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Game
- Georgia needs to Upset LSU in the SEC Championship Game
- Auburn needs to beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl

While not all of these are likely, and in fact, most of them probably won't happen, it would absolutely help the Broncos' chances of making it to the BCS. Most likely of these to happen is Virginia beating Virginia Tech and going to the ACC Championship game to face the Clemson Tigers. Least likely is Auburn upsetting Alabama in the Iron Bowl. But like always, anything can happen in a rivalry game.

If we do make the BCS, expect to see us once again in Glendale, taking on the winner of the Bedlam Game, either the Oklahoma Sooners or the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Here's to a few more weeks of college football, and to one of the craziest seasons I've been lucky enough to watch. As always, Go Broncos!

Boise State 2011 Schedule Breakdown Part 2

Well, at this point the Broncos are sitting at a likely 6-0. This is not without some very hard fought battles, and potentially some very close games. With the most difficult game of the season ahead, Boise State still has a long road to travel.

Here is my breakdown for the second half of the Broncos 2011 season -

• Air Force at Boise State - Saturday October 22nd, 2011 – 1:30 PM

Boise State continues Mountain West play against the Air Force Falcons. Air Force looks very stacked going into this season, and I project they will finish 3rd in the conference, behind Boise State and TCU. The Boise State defense should be strong enough to hold the Air Force’s Triple Option at bay.

My Prediction – Boise State 35 – Air Force 14

• Boise State at UNLV - Saturday November 5th, 2011 – 7:30 PM

UNLV is a team that hasn’t faired well in Mountain West play over the past few years. Boise State should be familiar with the territory playing in the Las Vegas Bowl last year. The fact this is an away game shouldn’t prevent Boise State from winning big.

My Prediction – Boise State 42 – UNLV 7

• Texas Christian University at Boise State - Saturday November 12th, 2011 – 1:30 PM

This is the one that all of Bronco Nation is waiting for. In what is the biggest game to happen on the blue in recent memory, Boise State and TCU will go at it more time. This will be the only meeting Boise State and TCU will have as members of the Mountain West, as TCU will depart for the 2012 season to the Big East. Boise State and TCU are 1-1 in their last two meetings, both of which were defensively charged battles at were decided by one score. Don’t expect anything different this time around. Even though both teams have lost some strong players, expect new talent to prove themselves on both sides of the ball for both teams. This will be the Bronco’s biggest test in the 2011 season. However, without Andy Dalton at the helm, I expect TCU to fall a bit short in this trip to Boise.

My Prediction – Boise State 21 – TCU 17

• Boise State at San Diego State University - Saturday November 19th, 2011 – 4:00 PM

After a close win against TCU, Boise State has another challenge. This time it is a trip to San Diego to play the Aztecs of San Diego State. Expect a good matchup, as SDSU will put up a fight. However, with the loss of a few key players and their coach from last season, Brady Hoke, San Diego State won’t quite be able to contain the Broncos.

My Prediction – Boise State 38 – San Diego State 17
• Wyoming at Boise State - Saturday November 25th, 2011 – 12:00 PM

Sitting at 10-0 by this point, Boise State has but two games standing between them and a likely bid to a BCS game. If the cards were to play out like last season and Boise State can win out, there is a good shot at the big game. This has been the storyline going into the season for the past few years, and it has not come to pass. Wyoming will not pose a threat against Boise State, and the Broncos will roll onto 11-0.

My Prediction – Boise State 42 – Wyoming 3

• New Mexico at Boise State - Saturday December 3rd, 2011 – 4:00 PM

At the end of the season, Boise State could not have a better way to finish out Mountain West play. The New Mexico Lobos will fall as the Broncos continue on towards the BCS.

My Prediction – Boise State 35 – New Mexico 10

There you have it! 12-0 would be a great way to finish out the season, with a more than likely BCS bowl bid. This season is going to be our toughest in years, and we have some very solid opponents throughout. The toughest games this season being against Georgia, TCU, Tulsa, and Air Force.

There are many things that can change as the season goes on, and in College Football, anything can happen. But with a lot to prove going into the Mountain West and a very strong team, Boise State should finish strong.

Stay tuned for more once the season begins!

Musings of a PR student

Summer Vacation - something that I have not truly gotten to enjoy in years. I start summer school in a month, but until then I have absolutely nothing scheduled. I am a recently laid off PR student who graduates in December - and I have no idea what to do with my time. I am starting to look into freelance work and maybe an agency or two that I could apply at, but until then, for the first time in awhile, I am just a normal twenty-something.

The reason that this is such a big deal, as most would not consider it to be so, is that I was really "comfortable" in my lifestyle. I love school (shocking, I know), I loved my job, and I loved where I was heading. I guess it was a necessary reality check going into my final semester at school that you never really have everything figured out. Though I am sad to leave agency life behind me for at least the time being, I realize that it happened and I must move on. Everything happens for a reason, even though it may not always be the reason we want it to be. I recently was given a bit of advice that really struck something in me, and that is that there is only one thing you can be sure about life, and that is that it goes on.

And that is what I am doing at this juncture, I am going on with life in the best way that I know how. So, while I am left at a crossroads, I know only that I will move forward, never back. I have come a long way in my time at Boise State University; I found passion, hope, and a lust for life. I will not lose these things, I will embrace them. Here is once again, to the next step - wherever it may take me.

Looking Forward

With yet another semester coming to a close, I am extremely looking forward to the one month break that is only days away. I have actually managed to finish up all my projects and papers, and only have one final left, which is not until Thursday. Next semester is looking to be just as busy as this semester was, if not even more. I am set to take 19 credits next semester, including classes such as PR Writing, Reporting and News Writing, Advanced Studies in Media, Mass Communications and Democracy and a few other upper division Comm classes that I have left to take before I graduate.

Another change for next semester is that I am now the Project Manager for the Boise State chapter of PRSSA. I think this will be one of the more fun aspects of next semester, and I am really looking forward to another great semester in PRSSA. We have a really great group of members, and I believe that we will have a lot of fun next semester.


Looking forward to it!

Sean