Rededicated Colorado State Rams have faith, work ethic and leadership
By Chris Dempsey
The Denver Post
Confidence will be tested
Boise State is next up. And even in an athletic universe that celebrates weekly tunnel vision, before the San Jose State game Thomas vocally expressed that he knew what was right around the corner.
“If you don’t know you’re playing Boise State, something’s wrong with you,” he said with a smirk.
There will be no bigger test of CSU’s confidence and belief this season than the one it faces in six days. The fifth-ranked Broncos are the toughest game on CSU’s schedule this season — a daunting task in and of itself, much less for a team trying to bounce back from a loss, as the Rams will be.
But CSU has proved to this point to be resilient. The Rams are, it appears, a reformed bunch.
“It’s just so much of what we needed this year,” cornerback Elijah-Blu Smith said. “You see guys never giving up, positive outlooks, even in the games. We’re never down even when we’re down, and that’s just something that we’ve lacked the last couple of years. Just that resolve that ‘We’re going to win this.’ If we just continue this, we’re going to create a great culture here.
“Guys bought in, and I’m loving it. Loving it every day, every second of it.”
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Boise State president issues statement on potential conference realignment
Monday afternoon
Boise State President Bob Kustra released a statement Monday afternoon on potential conference realignment:
“Boise State is excited about playing its first football game in the Mountain West Conference this weekend, and is looking forward to an outstanding inaugural conference season in all sports. The university is pleased to be affiliated with such high-quality institutions, and has great confidence in the future direction of the Mountain West.
“While we are certainly flattered to be mentioned in connection with other conferences, and we hold those leagues in high regard, our current focus is on continuing to build the outstanding athletic programs that have helped make Boise State a popular and compelling national brand.
“The landscape of college athletics is exceptionally fluid, and we are continuing to monitor the situation. We are confident that Boise State will be well positioned for future success, and we will evaluate our status with the best interests of the entire university in mind. Boise State’s athletic achievements, academic and research successes, popularity, and vision for future growth make the university an extremely valuable conference partner.”
• Boise State football coach Chris Petersen said Monday that playing in the Big East for football would be “doable.”
“Who is going to be in the league? If the money thing all makes sense, that’s been the big issue with all this stuff, then I think you take the next step,” Petersen said.
As for the travel: “For us, that’s not that big of a deal. You’re on the plane four hours instead of two. All that’s doable,” he said.
• More links: The Newark Star-Ledger is reporting that Boise State, Air Force, SMU and Houston are in play for Big East expansion.
But Pete Thamel of the New York Times tweeted this afternoon: “While Big East football ADs are still pushing for Boise, was told “no steam for Boise” today on BE call. Still a LONG shot.”
Monday morning
The Big East Conference could soon be in the market for a half dozen football-playing schools. The conference, which has six football-playing schools moving forward after the recent defections of Syracuse, Pittsburgh and TCU, wants to get to 12 teams.
“On a teleconference earlier today, our Presidents and Chancellors authorized the BIG EAST Conference to engage in formal discussions with additional institutions and are considering moving to a model that includes 12 football playing schools,” the Big East said in a statement.
Boise State was mentioned in two separate reports Sunday as a potential candidate for Big East expansion. (See below)
CBS Sports.com reports that Air Force, Army and Navy are the prime football-only targets for the Big East. Here is ESPN.com’s report on the Big East’s next moves.
• More expansion news:
— TCU is expected to accept its invitation to the Big 12 Monday night.
— The Southeastern Conference released a statement Monday after its presidents met. “The Presidents and Chancellors of the Southeastern Conference met on Monday for its regularly-scheduled fall meeting. While they discussed a wide range of issues dealing with the changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics, no actions were taken with regards to expansion,” the SEC said.
Much of the college football world seems to be waiting on Missouri to make a decision on its future — remain committed to the Big 12 or head to the SEC — before the next dominoes fall.
Sunday
The Boston Globe and the (Newark, N.J.) Star Ledger reported Sunday that the Big East is considering adding Boise State — along with Air Force and Navy — as football-only members of the conference, which is dealing with the recent defections of Syracuse, Pittsburgh and TCU.
The Denver Post reported Sunday morning that Air Force was preparing to leave the Mountain West for the Big East in football and put its other programs in the WAC or the Missouri Valley Conference.
“Our interest is high in the Big East. That’s fair to say,” Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh told Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post on Saturday. “This stuff is moving fast.”
Boise State would need a place for its other sports to play as the Mountain West is unlikely to allow the Broncos to stay in the league without its highly ranked football team.
WAC commissioner Karl Benson told the Idaho Statesman that he has had preliminary conversations with Air Force about housing its other teams. Benson has not spoken with Boise State officials, but is willing to talk with the Broncos.
Boise State was a member of the WAC from 2001 through July, when the Broncos joined the Mountain West. The Broncos play their first Mountain West football game Saturday against Colorado State.
“If there’s a non-football playing school that makes sense geographically for the WAC, we would certainly entertain that, whether it’s Air Force or Boise State or anyone else in our footprint,” Benson told the Idaho Statesman.
“If I were an athletic director in the Mountain West, I would consider all options. If I were a president in the Mountain West, at this juncture, I would consider all options.”
It was about a year ago that BYU — then a member of the Mountain West — considered moving its non-football programs to the WAC. The Cougars ended up moving their other teams to the West Coast Conference, which includes Gonzaga.
Benson said it would be difficult for the Big East to extend invitations until the Big 12, SEC and ACC complete their expansion plans.
Benson also said that he doubted a discussed football-only alliance between the Mountain West and Conference USA would result in BCS AQ status.
Big East members (football) that aren’t leaving: Cincinnati, Louisville, South Florida, Rutgers, Connecticut and West Virginia
Potential Big East football additions: Boise State, Air Force, Navy
Potential all-sport Big East additions: Central Florida, Temple and Villanova.
With 13 unbeaten teams left, the countdown begins
Time to start counting down the undefeated teams and sorting through which ones have the best chance to reach the national championship game.
With eight weeks left in the regular season, and a week before the first BCS standings are released, there are 13 teams in major college football that have not lost. No more than seven of those teams can finish the regular season (including conference title games) that way. It’s a safe bet that participants in the BCS title game Jan. 9 in New Orleans will come from that baker’s dozen.
While a bunch of undefeated teams entering the postseason would be a good thing at just about any other level of football, at the highest college level it’s a problem because only two teams get to play for the national championship in the Bowl Championship Series.
There’s plenty of time left for this to sort itself out. Or not.
With that, let’s take a look at the field of national championship contenders with their Harris poll and coaches’ poll rankings in parentheses.
SEC
LSU (1 and 2) and Alabama (2 and 3). The Tigers and Crimson Tide meet in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 5 and fans are already crossing the days off the calendar. The SEC has won the last five national championships, so if either of these two get through undefeated, there’s no question a spot in the title game awaits. The only question is could either get there with one loss.
BIG 12
Oklahoma (3 and 1), Oklahoma State (6 and 7), Kansas State (17 and 18)
The Sooners are the other team that probably doesn’t have to do much scoreboard watching. If Oklahoma can run the table, beating Oklahoma State and Kansas State along the way, a fifth BCS championship game appearance is very likely.
Though the Sooners might want to at least take a peek at what Wisconsin is doing.
As for the Cowboys, the Bedlam game against the Sooners is in Stillwater and their offense, with All-America receiver Justin Blackmon, is potent. Running the table is possible, but it won’t guarantee a trip to New Orleans.
If the Wildcats can go 12-0, it’ll be the greatest miracle in Manhattan coach Bill Snyder has ever conjured up.
BIG TEN
Wisconsin (4 and 4), Michigan (10 and 10), Illinois (14 and 15).
The Badgers are probably in the most intriguing position of all the undefeated teams. They look like the class of the Big Ten, by far. But the Big Ten in general has not been overly impressive. Russell Wilson and the Badgers need to continue to win big and for the rest of the conference to provide opportunities for impressive victories.
It would be especially helpful if Illinois, which hosts Wisconsin on Nov. 19, and Michigan, a possible Big Ten championship game opponent, stay unbeaten as long as possible.
The Wolverines and Illini look like long shots to remain perfect, but if either does and hands the Badgers their only loss, they would have to be in the national championship conversation.
PAC-12
Stanford (7 and 5)
Andrew Luck and the Cardinal are going to be a bit under the radar for a while, but their schedule is back loaded with Oregon and Notre Dame in November.
If the Cardinal can get past the Ducks and into the first Pac-12 title game undefeated, it would help their strength of schedule to have a 10- or 11-win Arizona State team there waiting for them.
Though in a beauty contest, which this system often is, having the best player in the country can’t hurt.
ACC
Clemson (8 and 8), Georgia Tech (12 and 12)
The Tigers’ immediate concern is the health of starting quarterback Taj Boyd, who left Saturday’s win against Boston College with a hip injury.
Beyond that the Tigers and Yellow Jackets meet in Atlanta on Oct. 29. The ACC doesn’t get much respect, especially with Miami and Florida State still playing the role of former superpowers, so an undefeated ACC team probably doesn’t stand much chance of nudging past perfect teams from the other BCS automatic qualifying leagues.
MWC
Boise State (5 and 6)
This is the part of the season when the Broncos become virtually invisible. With no big games left, Kellen Moore and crew have to keep rolling up lopsided wins against inferior competition and hope that they are one of two teams without a loss come Dec. 4.
CUSA
Houston (24 and 22)
Think Boise State has a soft schedule? Take a look at the Cougars’ opponents. No shot.
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