Boise State Style Points

What a win for Boise State on Saturday. The smoked Nevada like a Cuban cigar and are on their way to Tempe for the Fiesta Bowl.

I want to point out a few things that made this victory so sweet I almost cried while watching Ian Johnson wave a Tostitos Scoops bag in celebration.

1.) Bullshit Naysayers: Kirk Herbstreit, Stewart Mandel and all the oddsmakers that set the line at -3. Both of the pro analysts picked against the Broncos and should be eating a hearty serving of crow right about now. Mandel, as a mincing butt-wadd, I would expect this from. But of Herbie, for whom Switters carries a plantonic man crush and exalts as the most objective college football analyst, I would have expected better. He's seen Boise State in the flesh, calling their absolute dismantling of Oregon State back in September and I thought that would have given him something to consider, objectively at least. On Gameday he fell back on the blue-turf/kryptonite argument (which seems a little to metaphysical for an objective analyst to believe) in calling a Nevada win. I guess he didn't learn after the world picked Utah to win at home too.

2.) Intimidation: Nevada looked like a high school program and the only thing the once fearsome 'pistol offense' shot was itself in the foot. The game was a turnover fest as Nevada players choked frequently and coughed up the pill whenever they heard Bronco players closing fast. Highlights included the Austin Smith hit shown above, Nevada QB Steve Rowe's scrambling fumble and the cleanest open-field strip since Maurice Clarett in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl by corner back Kyle Wilson. Then there was the Bronco offense moving the ball at will. Awesomeness everywhere and Oklahoma or Nebraska better take heed!

3.) Class: Boise State won this game with class. While roid-ragey Nevada player Zach Shapiro let his frustration get the better of him, throwing punches, getting ejected for personal fouls and fighting with his coach and teammates. This was an emotional game that got 'chippy' as the color commentators like to say, and I'm proud of State for keeping its cool and shutting Nevada down with class when it would have been easy to go Miami and flip out.

The Broncos have broken the AP and Coaches Poll Top 10s for the first time in school history and are a solid #8 in the BCS Rankings. The BCS bid is in the can, along with a huge BCS pay day and a chance at some real national respect.