After calling the BAA, I found out the Athletic Director's office is the right place to contact with respect to football scheduling. I gave the AD office a quick jingle to let them know I hoped they would schedule a FBS team in lieu of a FCS team like Tennessee Martin. Just told them that since we only get 6 chances a season to see our Broncos at home, and since the cost of season tickets (and Bronco Athletic Association memberships) is so high, it makes a big difference if we get to see 6 vs only 5 FBS opponents. Left message with secretary of Mark Coyle saying I hoped we'd get FBS opponents for all 6 home games in 2013. The phone number for the AD office is (208) 426-1826.

I'd like to think Coach Pete would love he way this brave team and its opponents play. They all embody the best of sports: respect for one another and playing hard to achieve one's best. I think it's great the other teams allow this young man to "achieve his best". Kudos to the coaches for leading by example. I remember being a young man and questioning the "sporting ethics" of some of my coaches. Kids already know what's right and wrong, and almost always have no problem following it. It's the coaches and parents who get in the way.

OK, I suppose it's not really fair to send Coach Pete a card and not send one to Coach Rice too. Plus, Coach Rice is new to campus and could probably use the (belated) welcome. I'm sure it would make him and his staff feel pretty good about their choice to come to Boise. So if you still have your cards spread across your dining room table, throw an address on one to Coach Rice and join in the spirit!

Coach Rice, Wojcik, Linder & Rillie

1910 University Dr

Boise ID 83725-1021

Merry Christmas to All... and to All a Good Night!

Want to do something nice for Coach Pete? Send him and his staff a Christmas card. Wish them a Happy Holiday and thank them for all they do! Even better if you send them a picture of your family dressed up in Bronco colors!

Coach Pete, K, Pease, Bhonapa, Choate, Gregory, Huff, Prince, Strausser & Yates
Boise State Athletics
1910 University Dr
Boise ID 83725-1021

You won't regret it, and it's an easy way to let Coach Pete know you are a big supporter. Coach Pete always talks about how underpaid and under-appreciated his assistant coaches are, so including them will mean a lot to him as well.

While there are no games for week 15, there are a number of things the Badger is rooting for and against, nonetheless. We all know what they're related to: the crummy postseason selections. Having spent the last number of years believing in the system, (despite its many flaws) the Badger has finally had enough. This year's Bowl selections proved once and for all the BCS is unfair, biased and downright un-American. Even I had to agree with the Badger; there is no turning the other cheek this time. This time, we fight.

The Badger don't give a BW

The Badger has thought long and hard about how best to effect change. Join us after the jump for his thoughts (made family-friendly, of course) ...

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"HRMAN7" and "FSU PHD" are proven Trolls.

Trolls ignore facts and like to stir up controversy. Ignoring them is the best thing to do, because it starves them of what gives them life: attention.

Boise State has spent year after year methodically building a legitimate national powerhouse by doing one thing: winning. (And we win and lose the right way, I might add - with good sportsmanship.) Any collegiate fan worth his or her salt knows Boise State is the real deal and needs no defending.

Per Wikipedia:

In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[2] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[3] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.[4] The nountroll may refer to the provocative message itself, as in: "That was an excellent troll you posted".

HRMAN7 and FSU PHD while away the time...

Wikpedia continues...

According to Tom Postmes, a professor of social and organisational psychology at the universities of Exeter and Groningen, Netherlands, and the author of Individuality and the Group, who has studied online behavior for 20 years"..Trolls aspire to violence, to the level of trouble they can cause in an environment... They want to promote antipathetic emotions of disgust and outrage, which morbidly gives them a sense of pleasure."[17]

I'm sure there are lots of things we would like to say to the Sugar Bowl Committee. Just remember, we are Boise State.

Before we shoot off anything to the Sugar Bowl, we should remember: What Would Coach Pete Do?

I saw Oklahoma State's Coach Gundy on the BCS selection show, and he took the high road by congratulating Alabama's Nick Saban for making it to the National Championship Game. Impressive. And a good example.

--- Doesn't mean we shouldn't lobby for change or let our feelings be known. But whatever we do, it should be done in a classy manner ---

One of the criteria used by Bowl Selection Committees is to ensure FANS TRAVEL TO FILL HOTEL ROOMS AND SPEND MONEY. I could reference past statements from Bowl Selection Committees to prove this, but it takes too much time.

Please contact the Sugar Bowl and Fiesta Bowl now. Tell them:

• You are excited to attend the Bowl Game
• You will travel to the game and spend 3 or 4 days in their city
• You are hoping they choose Boise State

Join after jump for Sample Email and Email Addresses.

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Wow. It's finally here. The final regular season game for Kellen Moore and his senior teammates. I know it's game day on Saturday and that I should be excited, but I'm not. I feel like I'm saying good bye to a younger brother as he moves to another city... no longer down the street where I can pop in on him whenever I want and play Wii til 4 in the morning. Now, our interactions will be limited to long-distance phone calls and the occasional family holiday.

Join Mr. Badger and me after the jump for more...

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We’ve spent so much time this week ruminating on the loss to TCU, Mr. Badger is afraid we may have lost sight of what’s most important right now: San Diego State.

He says he wants us to focus, focus, focus on our future. Because yesterday is gone. But tomorrow is always something to look forward to. He says our Boys in Blue need our support now more than ever. As soon as he gets done with his nap, that is.

Join me and Mr. Badger after the jump for a rundown of this week’s games to watch.

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The Badger could hardly believe his eyes Saturday afternoon, having gotten so accustomed to the idea that Boise State should never lose at home. Having finally shaken off that admittedly ridiculous expectation, Mr. Badger shifted his attention to Plan B.

According to the ever-optimistic Badger, he still sees a way for Kellen and the boys to play in a BCS Bowl, provided they win the rest of their games (which should never - ever - again be taken for granted). 

The Badger has a hard time believing his Boys in Blue are actually human...

Having studied the rankings and the rules for at least 5 minutes (which is an eternity for the Badger's attention span), Mr. Badger says there are two realistic ways for the Broncos to make a BCS game. Join us after the jump for his answers...

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TCU rolls into town as the Broncos’ next regular season opponent. But no "regular" opponent they are. The Horned Frogs finished the previous season undefeated and are two points and one overtime away from continuing their unbeaten ways and holding the nation’s longest winning streak.  Despite some minor stumbles, the Frogs are every bit the strong team they were expected to be; Mr. Badger is right to respect them. But fear them he does not. 

Respect, Yes.    Fear, No. 

Join me and Mr. Badger after the jump for a rundown of this week’s games to watch. 

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During this week’s trip to Vegas, I’ll be keeping my eye on Mr. Badger. Whenever he gets around betting parlors during football season, he starts frothing at the mouth. Mr. Badger will gamble away just about anything so long as he can take his Broncos. I’ve seen him give point spreads in the hundreds just to satiate his hunger. Needless to say, I’ll be taking precautionary measures to ensure Mr. Badger does not gamble away our return trip. Like convincing him my Albertsons’ Points Card is a Casino Points Card that he can use to his heart’s content. (Just don't tell the dogs.)

Join me and Mr. Badger after the jump as we go review the games worth watching in Week 10.

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Our Boys in Blue took care of business last week and learned a valuable lesson in the process: Never take the option for granted. More importantly, Mr. Badger says he’s glad the boys were given a challenge. Blowouts do not reveal a team’s true weaknesses. Plus, they can lead to complacency and overconfidence. With TCU and San Diego State on the horizon, this is no time to relax. Mr. Badger is already starting to practice his cheers.

While our Broncos have the week off, there are still plenty of reasons to watch college football this weekend, with three of our opponents getting prime national coverage (TCU, Georgia, Toledo). Here’s hoping each of these teams dominates, thus boosting our Strength of Schedule and "Poll Cred".

Mr. Badger and I will run through these and other games to watch after the jump…

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It’s the middle of the week during football season, so it’s time once again for me and Mr. Badger to review the games – and teams – that should be followed come Saturday. As usual, we start with our favorite Boise State Broncos, fresh off a 50-point beat-down of one of our new conference friends on the East edge of the Rockies, the Colorado State Rams. This week, we host our other friend just East of the Rockies, the Air Force Falcons.

Since Kevan has already done such a tremendous job analyzing the potent offense that Air Force brings to the table, Mr. Badger and I see no need to reinvent the wheel. Plus, Mr. Badger says it’s tea and biscuit time. With Mr. Badger, anytime is Tea and Biscuit time, but I’ll humor him for now. He gets quite cranky if he goes more than a few hours without something in his belly. And it's been... about 45 minutes. Back in a minute – or 30.

Don't tell anyone, but it's more like Beer and Biscuits for the Badger whenever he gets himself in "game mode". (He tells Mrs. Badger it's just strong tea.) I stick to milk and cookies myself.

Watching our Broncos battle the Falcons should be considered every fan’s duty. We’ll see you Saturday.

In the meantime, let’s review who our Opponents play this weekend after the jump...

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Q: Welcome to the program Dr. Kustra. Can you please talk about the conference realignment situation going on right now?

Dr. K: My job is to represent the University, the faculty, the students, the alumni, etc. by keeping all of our options open and assessing every opportunity out there. We are proud to be in MWC. But with sands changing, we’d be foolhardy if we weren’t talking and listening and that’s what we’re doing.

A few days ago, I sent Coach Pete an email to tell him: he’s made a huge difference in the image and power of Boise State. Boise State is the team of the hour, day, and week. Boise State is the team people are currently interested in.

More after jump...

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Can you believe it’s already Week 7? Neither can Mr. Badger. He’s currently eating as many Churros as he can so his Winter Hibernation doesn’t catch him by surprise. Just between you and me, he has nothing to worry about when it comes to fattening up.

Your Broncos face off against the Colorado State Rams this Saturday afternoon. The weather should be perfect (Mostly sunny 75 degrees), the setting magnificent (foothills of the Rockies), and our Boys will be playing in Blue. If only the team they were playing were having more of an "On" year than "Off".

Join me and Mr. Badger after the jump for more…

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THe inevitable was bound to happen. Sorry I don't have a source... I saw it on TV news tonite in San Diego. Read it on Texas' blog as well. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the dominoes fall. The Big East did not have enough votes today to raise the exit fee. An anonymous source says there were ZERO votes, which does not portend well for survival of the conference. I'm looking forward to Saturday's showdown with Colorado State, which is sadly not the first thing on my mind this week due to musical Universities.