A FAREWELL TO KINGS

As we sit here a few days away from the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl kickoff and the last game Kellen Moore and this year’s seniors will play as Boise State Broncos, I think it’s appropriate to take a look back at the Senior class that has won more games than any other in college football history. This class, more than any before it, has left a mark in Boise State history that will go unmatched. As of now this class has a record of 49 wins and only three losses. Those three losses are by a combined total of five points.  Five points separates this class from perfection! There has never been a College football team at any level that can boast that they had such success on the field.

Coming off a season that was led by Senior quarterback Taylor Tharp, Boise State had a mediocre year finishing the season with a loss to East Carolina in the Hawaii Bowl, fans were unsure what to expect as the season began. Who knew that Kellen Moore would become such an incredible leader as he took the field against Idaho State? That season ended with a tough one-point loss to TCU. I remember that tough battle in San Diego. Ian Johnson becoming the all time WAC Rushing TD leader, Byron Hout on the nice spin move as he rumbled down the field after a TCU turnover. That very young team also had a convincing win at Oregon in the always-tough Autzen Stadium. It was during that game that young players such as George Iloka really stood out.

The next season led to perfection for the sophomore led team. The 2009 Boise State team rolled through the regular season with another convincing win over Oregon on the Blue and ended with a tough victory in the Fiesta Bowl against TCU. The guts of Coach Peterson to call a fake punt when his team needed it most is what I remember from that game along with the pick six that got the Broncos on the board first. Who would have though the punter would have the pass of the game? That season we also saw the tough running of Doug Martin as he scored the nail I the coffin TD for the Broncos in that battle in Glendale.

The following years, Bronco Nation had high hopes heading into the seasons. They hype was all around them on National TV shows, major magazine publications touted the Broncos on the covers. Finally, what Bronco Nation had been saying about how good our team is was finally getting recognized! Two seasons in a row that our Broncos were on the road to play tough BCS opponents. Both times the Broncos came away with the win on national television. The entire college football world saw our team; Boise’s pride was glowing throughout the nation. One by one, opponents were falling as the team rolled through the season. Alas, it was the foot of a kicker that changed the fate of this team two seasons in a row.

This team has provided Bronco Nation with the bragging rights for a long time! It is with pride that I would wear my Boise State gear while I traveled across the country. Walking into the heart of SEC, Big 10, and ACC country with the blue and orange Boise State flags flying on my rental car, my shirt, my luggage, and my hat.