SBNation.com - 2011 Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State Takes It Out On Arizona State, 56-24https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2011-12-23T14:39:35-05:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24021092011-12-23T14:39:35-05:002011-12-23T14:39:35-05:00Kellen Moore Exits: Will We Ever See Another 50-Game Winner?
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<p>Kellen Moore's career wins record* is going to stand for a long, long time. This much we can all agree on, especially since it's Christmas and we are all best friends. Only Texas' <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8525/colt-mccoy">Colt McCoy</a> (45) and Georgia's David Greene (42) have come close, and Greene finished an entire respectable season short**. Both also got to play in conference championship games, unlike Moore.</p>
<p>But will it last for 100 years, <a href="http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/320521?eref=sircrc&eref=fromSI">as Moore's final downed counterpart speculates</a>?</p>
<p>If we assume the sport sticks to 12- to 14-game seasons, then it does seem all but impossible. Only four-year starters can make runs at the record, and most programs with starting freshman quarterbacks aren't in any position to win double-digit games -- take a look at <a href="http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/national/player/split01/category02/sort01.html">the teams that started freshmen this year</a>.</p>
<p>But who's convinced college football will forever stick with 12-game regular seasons? Won't 32-team mega-conferences require either extended seasons to even seem like conferences or their own mini-playoffs just to decide champions? And once the inevitable plus-one game becomes a multi-round playoff ... </p>
<p>Look at FCS tournament finalists Sam Houston State and North Dakota State, who'll soon play the 15th game of their respective seasons. Just as with NFL records, extended schedules will threaten older records.</p>
<p>And here's the thing. Even if we tack a four-round playoff onto a 12-game regular season, a 50-game winner would <i>still</i> be hard to fathom. Averaging 12.5 wins per year means pulling off combinations like four unbeaten regular seasons and two playoff wins, a perfect 16-0 year plus 34 wins in three years, or four playoff wins to complement only two career regular season losses.</p>
<p>And staying healthy. And not leaving for the NFL Draft despite never losing at football. And having lots of really good teammates. And having a brilliant coach who doesn't like money all that much.</p>
<p>With most sports records, we get to peer ahead and see who could make a late career run. Maybe Tony Gonzalez can play until he's 44 and pass Jerry Rice. Alex Rodriguez can still catch Barry Bonds. But that can't happen here. Everyone with a chance has already lost and is thus already not Kellen Moore.</p>
<p>* One Bronco Nation Under God <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.obnug.com/2011/12/23/2657157/gameballs-for-boise-state-versus-arizona-state">points out this is a senior class achievement</a>, not just Moore's. </p>
<p>** Yes yes yes, the SEC and Big 12 are tougher than Boise State's competition. But if winning 50 games against WAC and Mountain West competition by using WAC and Mountain West talent is so easy, shouldn't the runners-up on the wins list be WAC and Mountain West quarterbacks?</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/23/2657958/kellen-moore-career-winning-recordJason Kirk2011-12-23T14:35:41-05:002011-12-23T14:35:41-05:00Boise State Vs. Arizona State, Las Vegas Bowl 2011: The Numerical
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<p>A look at the numbers that mattered in Boise State's 56-24 destruction of Arizona State last night in the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas.</p> <p><b>2</b>: Ways in which game MVP <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15372/doug-martin" class="sbn-auto-link">Doug Martin</a> scored a touchdown. Boise State's senior running back returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, then did his normal thing. He rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown and threw in three catches for 26 yards, just for good measure. Including returns, Martin touched the ball 36 times (in three different ways) and gained 309 yards. Quarterback Kellen Moore has long been the face of the Boise State program, but he's gotten so much help. Martin might be better than <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15392/ian-johnson" class="sbn-auto-link">Ian Johnson</a> ever was, and Boise State has fielded some of the best offensive and defensive lines in recent history.</p>
<p><b>4</b>: Return touchdowns. Four of 11 touchdowns in this game were scored by a unit other than the offense. Martin returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, then Arizona State's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135484/rashad-ross" class="sbn-auto-link">Rashad Ross</a> did the same to start the <i>second</i> half -- one of the odder feats you will see in <i>any</i> bowl season. Boise State's defense then took over -- Jamar Taylor returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown, then <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15383/travis-stanaway" class="sbn-auto-link">Travis Stanaway</a> scored one of the easiest touchdowns in the history of football when a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77506/cameron-marshall" class="sbn-auto-link">Cameron Marshall</a> fumble bounced right into his arms and he took a 26-yard, leisurely stroll to the end zone.</p>
<p><b>5.1</b>: Average yards gained by the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77503/brock-osweiler" class="sbn-auto-link">Brock Osweiler</a> passes not targeting Gerell Robinson. The Arizona State receiver posted some crazy stats for the game: 17 targets, 13 catches, 241 yards and a touchdown. The problem was, he was the only player even remotely effective. Osweiler's <i>other</i> passes only found their mark 17 of 30 times for 154 yards. And considering Cam Marshall was woefully ineffective -- 12 touches, eight yards -- that made the Sun Devils far too one-dimensional to succeed against a good defense. Despite Marshall's great work, Arizona State was only able to score two offensive touchdowns, the same as Boise State's defense.</p>
<p><b>10</b>: Receivers who caught a pass from Kellen Moore. Boise State's passing game was the direct opposite of ASU's. Only one player caught more than four passes, and ten caught at least one.</p>
<p><b>20.8</b>: Value, in equivalent points (as defined <a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/varsity-numbers/2009/varsity-numbers-talks-turnovers" target="_blank">here</a>), of Arizona State's two turnovers. This game was a perfect example of why turnover points tell more of a story than simply turnovers. In the box score, ASU was plus-one in the turnover margin, three to two. But both of ASU's turnovers were returned for touchdowns (included the dreaded Notre Dame Special™, the "drive to the 1-yard line, then give up a 100-yard touchdown" maneuver. Meanwhile, Boise's three turnovers were far less costly -- they were worth only 14.0 equivalent points.</p>
<p><b>50</b>: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15358/kellen-moore" class="sbn-auto-link">Kellen Moore's</a> career wins. Again, Moore was not the single reason this team won 50 games, but he was the leader of an incredible group of seniors. The Broncos will almost certainly still be good next year, as Matt Miller, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15345/mitch-burroughs" class="sbn-auto-link">Mitch Burroughs</a> and others catch passes from a quarterback like <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78299/joe-southwick" class="sbn-auto-link">Joe Southwick</a> or <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113029/grant-hedrick" class="sbn-auto-link">Grant Hedrick</a> and defensive linemen like <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78307/ricky-tjong-a-tjoe" class="sbn-auto-link">Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe</a> and Tyler Horn take their turns at pursuing opposing quarterbacks. But the list of great seniors on this team is jarring: Moore. Running backs Doug Martin and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15385/d-j-harper" class="sbn-auto-link">D.J. Harper</a>. Receiver <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15437/tyler-shoemaker" class="sbn-auto-link">Tyler Shoemaker</a>. Tight end <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15429/kyle-efaw" class="sbn-auto-link">Kyle Efaw</a>. Linemen <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15422/nate-potter" class="sbn-auto-link">Nate Potter</a> (tackle), <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15420/cory-yriarte" class="sbn-auto-link">Cory Yriarte</a> (center) and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15439/chuck-hayes" class="sbn-auto-link">Chuck Hayes</a> (guard). Defensive ends <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113027/tyrone-crawford" class="sbn-auto-link">Tyrone Crawford</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15344/shea-mcclellin" class="sbn-auto-link">Shea McClellin</a> (who had three tackles for loss last night) and Jarrell Root. Linebackers <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35572/byron-hout" class="sbn-auto-link">Byron Hout</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15387/aaron-tevis" class="sbn-auto-link">Aaron Tevis</a>. Defensive backs <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15370/cedric-febis" class="sbn-auto-link">Cedric Febis</a>, Travis Stanaway and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35558/george-iloka" class="sbn-auto-link">George Iloka</a>. Almost none of them were highly touted recruits, but they proved both athletic, talented and disciplined enough to win 50 games in four seasons.</p>
<p>Moore, however, was indeed the face of the program and one of the most accurate quarterbacks in NCAA history. Not bad for somebody who only had offers from Boise State and Eastern Washington. (<a href="http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=528252" target="_blank">You blew it, Washington State</a>.)</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/23/2657963/boise-state-vs-arizona-state-las-vegas-bowl-2011-recap-statsBill Connelly2011-12-22T23:28:16-05:002011-12-22T23:28:16-05:00Boise State Vs. Arizona State Final Score, Las Vegas Bowl 2011: Broncos Make The Most Of It
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<p>The amateur career of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/boise-st-broncos">Boise St. Broncos</a> passer <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15358/kellen-moore">Kellen Moore</a>, the winningest quarterback in college football history, ends in appropriate fashion: a complete dismantling of a mediocre western team. The final score was 56-24, and if you weren't reminded the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arizona-st-sun-devils">Arizona St. Sun Devils</a> are a BCS conference team, you'd be tempted to think of it as just another Broncos trampling of some WAC team.</p>
<p>Said it before, saying it again: the Las Vegas Bowl is beneath these Broncos. For the second year in a row, they've come to Sin City to obliterate an inferior opponent instead of a legitimate challenger. We get to complain about it frequently.</p>
<p>Moore finished with 266 yards, two touchdowns and a handful of turnovers, so the game ball goes to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15372/doug-martin">Doug Martin</a>, who turned in 151 yards rushing, 26 yards on catches and a 100-yard kick return. Receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35231/gerell-robinson">Gerell Robinson</a> was pretty much ASU's entire attack, gaining 241 of their 384 yards.</p>
<p>In other news, the career of Dennis Erickson, which includes two national titles and lasting contributions to offensive strategy, likely comes to a close.</p>
<p>Still, the story is Boise State, and you better put on a great show in that Sugar Bowl, Virginia Tech.</p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Broncos, check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.obnug.com/">Boise State blog One Boise Nation Under God</a></i><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. For more on the Sun Devils, visit <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.houseofsparky.com/">Arizona State blog House of Sparky</a></i><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. Stick around for more <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football">college football news </a>and so forth.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/22/2656750/boise-state-vs-arizona-state-final-score-las-vegas-bowl-2011Jason Kirk2011-12-22T22:20:12-05:002011-12-22T22:20:12-05:00Arizona State Vs. Boise State Update: Dennis Erickson Ignored By QB, Refs, Etc.
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arizona-st-sun-devils">Arizona St. Sun Devils</a> showed signs of life early in the second half of the 2011 Las Vegas Bowl. Very early, in fact, as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135484/rashad-ross">Rashad Ross</a> ran back the opening kickoff to give ASU its first touchdown of the game, mirroring <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/boise-st-broncos">Boise St. Broncos</a> running back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15372/doug-martin">Doug Martin's</a> game-christening kickoff touchdown. It was then 28-10 Broncos, but reached 35-10 shortly after.</p>
<p>On the next drive, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15358/kellen-moore">Kellen Moore</a> was picked off and nearly pick-sixed by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8941/colin-parker">Colin Parker</a> thanks to some pressure:</p>
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<p>ASU made a little progress before facing a fourth down. Soon-to-be-ousted coach Dennis Erickson sent out the punt team, but <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77503/brock-osweiler">Brock Osweiler</a> responded by forcibly waving the special teamers back to the sideline. Boise State brought the house and hurried his throw, but it was a fine show of spirit for the quarterback of a team getting buried by a superior squad.</p>
<p>Moore fumbled away a ball on Boise's next effort, setting up an ASU march to the goal line. On that fourth down, Osweiler attempted a fade that was picked off by Jamar Taylor and run back 100 yards -- with Erickson clearly calling for a time out well before the play began. Dennis Erickson may be some sort of ghost only visible to television cameras.</p>
<p>The game's ACC officials took a look and evidently saw nothing to overturn.</p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Broncos, check out <a href="http://www.obnug.com/" target="_blank" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Boise State blog One Boise Nation Under God</a></i><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. For more on the Sun Devils, visit <a href="http://www.houseofsparky.com/" target="_blank" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Arizona State blog House of Sparky</a></i><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. Stick around for more <a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">college football news </a>and so forth.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/22/2656670/arizona-state-vs-boise-state-update-dennis-erickson-timeoutJason Kirk2011-12-22T21:35:27-05:002011-12-22T21:35:27-05:00Las Vegas Bowl 2011 Halftime Score: Boise State Burying Sun Devils
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<p>Despite being up by plenty, Boise State added a touchdown just before halftime of the 2011 Las Vegas Bowl, converting a fourth down and setting up a touchdown pass from freshman receiver Matt Miller to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15429/kyle-efaw">Kyle Efaw</a>. If you think Chris Petersen is using Arizona State as his personal BCS stand-in this evening, you might be onto something. It's 28-3 at the half.</p>
<p>The lowlight for Boise State: a previous pass on a reverse by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78304/kirby-moore">Kirby Moore</a>, relation of Kellen. The warbling trembler had Chris Fowler chuckling for at least two minutes afterward. Fowler's been entertained all evening, adding a "Why not?" to a late-half holding penalty against ASU.</p>
<p>Boise State has 269 yards worth of offense, plus a 100-yard kick return. The Sun Devils have 106, plus 54 yards worth of penalties. This game is beneath Boise State.</p>
<p>ASU's first real chance at points ended with a 32-yard field goal. While down by 21 in a bowl game during Dennis Erickson's last day on the job. To put it in Vegas blackjack terms, the Sun Devils are standing at 12. </p>
<p>This is how things were going a while ago:</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/929678/2011-December-22-20-57-50.jpg"><img alt="2011-december-22-20-57-50_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/929678/2011-December-22-20-57-50_medium.jpg"></a></p>
<p>via <a href="http://30fps.mocksession.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/2011-December-22-20-57-50.jpg">30fps.mocksession.com</a></p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Broncos, check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.obnug.com/" target="_blank">Boise State blog One Boise Nation Under God</a></i><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. For more on the Sun Devils, visit <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.houseofsparky.com/" target="_blank">Arizona State blog House of Sparky</a></i><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. Stick around for more <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football">college football news </a>and so forth.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/22/2656589/las-vegas-bowl-2011-score-updatesJason Kirk2011-12-22T20:38:20-05:002011-12-22T20:38:20-05:00Boise State Vs. Arizona State Score Updates: Tyler Shoemaker's Number Comes Up
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/boise-st-broncos">Boise St. Broncos</a> are now up 14-0 on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arizona-st-sun-devils">Arizona St. Sun Devils</a>, tacking a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15437/tyler-shoemaker">Tyler Shoemaker</a> touchdown onto their early lead. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15358/kellen-moore">Kellen Moore</a> hit a wide-open "SHOOOOOOE" (as the many traveling Broncos fans bellowed) for the 14-yard score, concluding a 54-yard drive.</p>
<p>So far, neither team looks terribly motivated, but the Broncos are so well-oiled they could put up points in their sleep. Not to say they're playing without effort by any means -- witness guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15439/chuck-hayes">Chuck Hayes</a> leading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134936/geraldo-boldewijn">Geraldo Boldewijn</a> 44 yards down the field on a screen. Shoemaker did drop a pass, but that's about it.</p>
<p>With ASU, drowsiness doesn't quite come off so well. They have a scant 24 yards after 10 minutes, which is barely more than three Brock Osweilers worth of yardage (we're up to two mentions of his height so far). Their response drive has opened with consecutive penalties. Oh me.</p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Broncos, check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.obnug.com/">Boise State blog One Boise Nation Under God</a></i><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. For more on the Sun Devils, visit <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.houseofsparky.com/">Arizona State blog House of Sparky</a></i><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. Stick around for more <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football">college football news </a>and so forth.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/22/2656503/boise-state-vs-arizona-state-score-updates-liveJason Kirk2011-12-22T20:11:59-05:002011-12-22T20:11:59-05:00MAACO Las Vegas Bowl 2011 Score Update: Doug Martin Runs Back Opening Kickoff
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<p>Just getting settled in here and ready to update some Las Vegas Bowl scores. Let's see, on this side we have the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/boise-st-broncos">Boise St. Broncos</a>, and on that side there are the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arizona-st-sun-devils">Arizona St. Sun Devils</a>. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77503/brock-osweiler">Brock Osweiler</a> is tall, yes, yes, everything is in order and OMG there goes <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15372/doug-martin">Doug Martin</a> with a touchdown on the opening kickoff.</p>
<p>It was officially a 100-yard return, removing just 15 seconds from the game clock. At this rate, BSU will score upwards of 50 points easily. Arizona State special teams! But then Boise State special teams, as the Broncos kicked off out of bounds.</p>
<p>We've had one mention so far of Osweiler being six-foot-eight. Kirk Herbstreit was the culprit. We'll be keeping track.</p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Broncos, check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c52126; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.obnug.com/" target="_blank">Boise State blog One Boise Nation Under God</a></i><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. For more on the Sun Devils, visit <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c52126; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.houseofsparky.com/" target="_blank">Arizona State blog House of Sparky</a></i><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; font-style: italic; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. Stick around for more <a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football">college football news </a>and so forth.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/22/2656487/maaco-las-vegas-bowl-2011-score-update-doug-martin-runs-back-openingJason Kirk2011-12-22T13:36:52-05:002011-12-22T13:36:52-05:00Rootability Index: The Las Vegas Bowl's Charming Underachievers
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<p>The<i>Today's Rootability index helps the uninvested fan decide who to pull for in a contest where they have no clear interest. Tonight's quarry: the fascinating matchup between Boise State and Arizona State in MAACO Las Vegas Bowl. You'll watch, because <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77501/vontaze-burfict" class="sbn-auto-link">Vontaze Burfict</a> will be playing his universal antipodes, Kellen Moore. If the two destroy each other, the universe as we know it ceases to exist. This is the exact plot of a Nicolas Cage movie coming out in five months. </i></p>
<p><b>ROOTABILITY FACTORS. </b>For perspective, remember what an achievement it is to become a bullish favorite in ten years, Boise.</p>
<p>A decade ago this would have been teed up as "upstart Boise likely to suffer at the hands of major conference power," but just ten years later this seems like a foregone conclusion of a Broncos victory. If Arizona State is an underdog here in the year 2011, it is quite the testament to the mysterious, football-enhancing forces at work in Boise.</p>
<p>So selling those attracted to underdogs on Arizona State is the first order of business. This is easily done in a series of tidy bullet points.</p>
<ul>
<li>SENTIMENT. This is Cap'n Dennis Erickson's last ride with the Sun Devils, and the finale to a snakebitten tenure in Tempe. Erickson survived a rough run to get to 2011 with what should have been his best team, watched as they raced out to a 5-1 record, and then dropped five of their last six games to finish at 6-6 and relegated to Vegas. Erickson is one of the most influential coaches of the past 30 years, and did pioneering work introducing the single-back offense as a reliable college offense. He deserves better than a disorderly finale in the desert, but when you sail from port to port like the Cap'n has in his career, sometimes you run aground in strange, filthy harbors. <br>
</li>
<li>QUIRKS. Any team as schizoid as ASU is by definition interesting. The Sun Devils feature the most erratic-but-talented defender in the nation in Vontaze Burfict, a catapult-armed quarterback in the towering (yes, he's tall) <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77503/brock-osweiler" class="sbn-auto-link">Brock Osweiler</a>, and a highly aggressive dwarf named <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/19279/aaron-pflugrad" class="sbn-auto-link">Aaron Pflugrad</a> running wide open through the secondary. Does this team make mistakes? Absolutely, but to their credit when they make them they make them HUGE, and that's always fun to watch. <br>
</li>
<li>MOTIVATION. They really have nothing to lose. If you doubt this, please see who they just hired as their head coach. Sun-Devil-may-care doesn't come close to covering how little concern for the future this team has right now. <br>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Boise has its own charms, but you already know many of them: the dog that fetches the kicking tee off the field after kickoffs, the strategic genius and precision of Chris Petersen, their habit of taking other programs' recruiting no's and turning them into starters, the continually underrated defense, dodgy kickers, and the toothy quarterback who fires rainbow lasers from both hands:</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/929452/kellen-moore-ranibow-guns_medium.jpg"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/929452/kellen-moore-ranibow-guns_medium_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="Kellen-moore-ranibow-guns_medium_medium"></a></p>
<p>It's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15358/kellen-moore" class="sbn-auto-link">Kellen Moore's</a> last ride, too, and for those leaning on sentiment to make the decision, well, there's that, too. (Cartoon fans will pull for Boise, since <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15372/doug-martin" class="sbn-auto-link">Doug Martin</a> is nicknamed "The Muscle Hamster," a nickname begging for its own animated series on Cartoon Network.)</p>
<p>Still, consider the Sun Devils, reader. They make huge mistakes. They have a rowdy, undisciplined pirate heading out for his last ride. Their school's hand signal doubles as a highly suggestive hand gesture. You'd like to be Boise, sure: a small-town success, virtuous, hard-working, and succeeding against the odds. That would be nice, if only for your ego.</p>
<p>Be honest, though: as an American, raised in America with the innumerable advantages of being you, you're probably a lot closer to Arizona State. You make huge mistakes. You squander your talent. When you're good, you're very good and beat USC, and when you're bad you somehow lose to Ron Zook, Paul Wulff, and Rick Neuheisel in an unforgivable streak of losses. Your potential? Unlimited, really. Your discipline? Let's just not talk about your discipline.</p>
<p>Instead, let's just all lean hard for the rogue underachievers tonight, and consider it a moment of hope for the 99% of us who don't floss twice daily like you know Kellen Moore and Chris Petersen do. </p>
<p><b>LEAN: The Sun Devils. </b>If you were ever to pray for the Devils, tonight is that night.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/22/2655369/rootability-index-the-las-vegas-bowls-charming-underachieversSpencer Hall