Coach Patton continues to work magic. With practically an entire new team, Boise State has had to basically rebuild. Yet Boise State downed Pacific yesterday 5-2 to open their season.
Patton is redshirting James Meredith to prepare for the future and get his class breakdown the way he wants it. That means some younger talent will get valuable experience this year, and the Broncos will be all the better for it when Meredith rejoins the lineup next year.
The real test will be today against #26 Washington. That match is underway in Seattle.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Boise State Wins Seven Events at Bronco Invitational
The young Boise State Jackson Nampa
Three Bronco juniors remain unbeaten on the season. Eetu Viitala had a lifetime best of 25-4 in the long jump, bettering his previous high by eight inches. Viitala was just ¾ of an inch short of an all-time #3 jump in school history. Mele Vaisima won the weight throw (61-4.25) for her third consecutive victory of the young season. Trevor Kraychir, the reigning Western Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week, heaved the weight 64-7 to win his third straight title as well. Jeff Daw, Karrie Butler, Rolando Trammel and Paul Robertson are also 3-0 with a victory in the 4 x 400-meter relay (3:15.77).
Redshirt sophomore Chase Sexton captured the shot put title with a throw of 53-8.50, junior Brian Pierre ran a great mile (4:15.25) and sophomore Jeff Daw broke the tape in the 400 with a career best of 48.01.
Winning the WAC and doing well in the NCAA Nationals, however, requires more than individual efforts and event titles. It is the points a team gets from other contributors that separates the teams with a few good individuals from those that get to take the hardware home. We’ll watch that on this blog and chart their progress. Yesterday, Alyssa Osai and Nadine Russell had career-bests of 54-10.75 and 53-4.25, respectively, in the weight throw to provide backup for Viitala and finish second and third. Alex Nelson finished second to Kraychir in the men’s throw with a 59-10.25 effort.
The well-balanced Bronco quartet could pay dividends in the WAC Championships next month. Coach J.W. Hardy’s group went 1-2-3-4 led by Daw. Manoah Wesson ran a career-best 48.17 to take second, Karrie Butler finished in 48.82, also a career best, and Paul Robertson was timed in 49.23. Eric Capelle was just edged at the finish in the 60-meter dash (6.96) while freshman Justin Maines sported a lifetime best of 8.27 in the 60-meter hurdles to take second. Promising sophomore Destiny Gammage was second in the 200-hurdles (25.01) while senior BreAnna Craig took second in the pole vault (12-5.50).
Daniel Thompson still has work to do to join the top WAC pole vaulters, but he cleared a career-best 15-11 to take third yesterday. Mathew Moyer ran third in the 800 with his lifetime best of 1:55.01. Racquel Jones is another key to the Broncos’ hopes in the conference championships; she was able to take third in the long jump (18-2.25).
Boise State Jackson Nampa 11:30 a.m. Friday with action getting underway Saturday at 9 a.m.
Three Bronco juniors remain unbeaten on the season. Eetu Viitala had a lifetime best of 25-4 in the long jump, bettering his previous high by eight inches. Viitala was just ¾ of an inch short of an all-time #3 jump in school history. Mele Vaisima won the weight throw (61-4.25) for her third consecutive victory of the young season. Trevor Kraychir, the reigning Western Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week, heaved the weight 64-7 to win his third straight title as well. Jeff Daw, Karrie Butler, Rolando Trammel and Paul Robertson are also 3-0 with a victory in the 4 x 400-meter relay (3:15.77).
Redshirt sophomore Chase Sexton captured the shot put title with a throw of 53-8.50, junior Brian Pierre ran a great mile (4:15.25) and sophomore Jeff Daw broke the tape in the 400 with a career best of 48.01.
Winning the WAC and doing well in the NCAA Nationals, however, requires more than individual efforts and event titles. It is the points a team gets from other contributors that separates the teams with a few good individuals from those that get to take the hardware home. We’ll watch that on this blog and chart their progress. Yesterday, Alyssa Osai and Nadine Russell had career-bests of 54-10.75 and 53-4.25, respectively, in the weight throw to provide backup for Viitala and finish second and third. Alex Nelson finished second to Kraychir in the men’s throw with a 59-10.25 effort.
The well-balanced Bronco quartet could pay dividends in the WAC Championships next month. Coach J.W. Hardy’s group went 1-2-3-4 led by Daw. Manoah Wesson ran a career-best 48.17 to take second, Karrie Butler finished in 48.82, also a career best, and Paul Robertson was timed in 49.23. Eric Capelle was just edged at the finish in the 60-meter dash (6.96) while freshman Justin Maines sported a lifetime best of 8.27 in the 60-meter hurdles to take second. Promising sophomore Destiny Gammage was second in the 200-hurdles (25.01) while senior BreAnna Craig took second in the pole vault (12-5.50).
Daniel Thompson still has work to do to join the top WAC pole vaulters, but he cleared a career-best 15-11 to take third yesterday. Mathew Moyer ran third in the 800 with his lifetime best of 1:55.01. Racquel Jones is another key to the Broncos’ hopes in the conference championships; she was able to take third in the long jump (18-2.25).
The Conspiracy of the Idiocy of America
People from outside the Boise State circle claim there is no conspiracy against Boise State. Maybe not in the Watergate tradition, but it is more like the collective conspiracy of the idiocy in this country.
The mindset of our country is screwed up. We are blessed to be able to speak our opinions and we should all be thankful for that. What we are not thankful for are when idiots get paid to be television announcers. Case in point--yesterday in the East-West Shrine Game on the NFL Network, Mike Mayock said the following:
"You look at the Boise State kids individually and you think, how in the world did Boise State win so many games?"
and
"None of these four Boise State players are great athletes. But they're well-coached and they know what to do."
Really?
Mayock wouldn't know a great athlete if he came out of nowhere and knocked him back 10 yards on his can. Too bad it didn't happen.
I know the above comments are so ludicrous that any knowledgeable football fan sees right through them, but it still should be ripped apart. Ryan Winterswyk was a three-time All-WAC player and is fourth in Boise State history in sacks and fifth in tackles for loss. He was a menacing force in opposing backfields, impossible to deny over the course of any game against any team in the land. I guarantee you that I and most of this blog's readers could be coached by the great Boise State staff and not come up with those numbers. By the way, in the Shrine Game, Winterswyk, despite being held most of the game, was the West's leading tackler with 7.
Jeron Johnson was one of the fiercest hitters in college football over the last four years. JJ has a motor that won't quit, has tremendous instincts and knows how to finish a play. He may have been well taught at Boise State, but you have to have tremendous athleticism to be in position and then make the kind of plays he has made. Johnson finished his career as one of the top tacklers in school history. Johnson had three tackles yesterday.
Brandyn Thompson finished his Boise State career with 13 interceptions, including a pick six early in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl that helped Boise State beat #3 TCU. Thompson wasn't merely in position to make that interception as his coaches taught, he made the play and sprinted into the end zone untouched. It takes a tremendous athlete to make that kind of play, which Thompson of course is. Thompson had four tackles in the Shrine Game.
Mayock obviously hasn't watched Winston Venable either. He made highlight reel play after highlight reel play in his two years at Boise State. His outstanding play at the nickelback position allowed Doug Martin to switch to tailback and help the Broncos there. It wasn't outstanding coaching that allowed Martin to move from defense to offense. It was an outstanding athlete (Venable) who also has an amazing motor and great football ability. Only a fool like Mayock would be unable to recognize this.
Oh and by the way, Venable made four tackles yesterday, one for loss, and had an interception that he returned through the East team for 24 yards to the East eight-yard line. I suppose when Coach Petersen talked to Venable he said, "If you get an interception, Winston, cut to your left a bit, then to your right. There should then be a bit of an opening. There will be a couple of guys straight ahead but you can just break through their tackles. Cut again to the right, plow ahead, and it will get you 24 yards." Wow that would be amazing coaching if he did everything from memory of what he was taught and nothing at all by instinct or...umm...dare I say it...by athleticism. Har-de-har-har.
No, there may not be a Watergate-type conspiracy against Boise State. Rather, the Broncos are the victim of just plain dumb people that happen to be in positions of influence in college football. They have preconceived biases and spout uninformed nonsense to the masses.
That is where the conspiracy lies.
The mindset of our country is screwed up. We are blessed to be able to speak our opinions and we should all be thankful for that. What we are not thankful for are when idiots get paid to be television announcers. Case in point--yesterday in the East-West Shrine Game on the NFL Network, Mike Mayock said the following:
"You look at the Boise State kids individually and you think, how in the world did Boise State win so many games?"
and
"None of these four Boise State players are great athletes. But they're well-coached and they know what to do."
Really?
Mayock wouldn't know a great athlete if he came out of nowhere and knocked him back 10 yards on his can. Too bad it didn't happen.
I know the above comments are so ludicrous that any knowledgeable football fan sees right through them, but it still should be ripped apart. Ryan Winterswyk was a three-time All-WAC player and is fourth in Boise State history in sacks and fifth in tackles for loss. He was a menacing force in opposing backfields, impossible to deny over the course of any game against any team in the land. I guarantee you that I and most of this blog's readers could be coached by the great Boise State staff and not come up with those numbers. By the way, in the Shrine Game, Winterswyk, despite being held most of the game, was the West's leading tackler with 7.
Jeron Johnson was one of the fiercest hitters in college football over the last four years. JJ has a motor that won't quit, has tremendous instincts and knows how to finish a play. He may have been well taught at Boise State, but you have to have tremendous athleticism to be in position and then make the kind of plays he has made. Johnson finished his career as one of the top tacklers in school history. Johnson had three tackles yesterday.
Brandyn Thompson finished his Boise State career with 13 interceptions, including a pick six early in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl that helped Boise State beat #3 TCU. Thompson wasn't merely in position to make that interception as his coaches taught, he made the play and sprinted into the end zone untouched. It takes a tremendous athlete to make that kind of play, which Thompson of course is. Thompson had four tackles in the Shrine Game.
Mayock obviously hasn't watched Winston Venable either. He made highlight reel play after highlight reel play in his two years at Boise State. His outstanding play at the nickelback position allowed Doug Martin to switch to tailback and help the Broncos there. It wasn't outstanding coaching that allowed Martin to move from defense to offense. It was an outstanding athlete (Venable) who also has an amazing motor and great football ability. Only a fool like Mayock would be unable to recognize this.
Oh and by the way, Venable made four tackles yesterday, one for loss, and had an interception that he returned through the East team for 24 yards to the East eight-yard line. I suppose when Coach Petersen talked to Venable he said, "If you get an interception, Winston, cut to your left a bit, then to your right. There should then be a bit of an opening. There will be a couple of guys straight ahead but you can just break through their tackles. Cut again to the right, plow ahead, and it will get you 24 yards." Wow that would be amazing coaching if he did everything from memory of what he was taught and nothing at all by instinct or...umm...dare I say it...by athleticism. Har-de-har-har.
No, there may not be a Watergate-type conspiracy against Boise State. Rather, the Broncos are the victim of just plain dumb people that happen to be in positions of influence in college football. They have preconceived biases and spout uninformed nonsense to the masses.
That is where the conspiracy lies.
Broncos One Win Away From Being Premier Swim Team in the Northwest
With a convincing 160-83 win over Idaho yesterday, the Boise State swim team is on the verge of accomplishing something Coach Kristin Hill has publicly stated is a goal of hers. Coach Hill's Broncos have now beaten every Division I swimming team in the Northwest except Oregon State.
And guess what? Next up on the Boise State schedule is none other than those very Beavers. Now normally, you would say that beavers are much more natural swimmers than broncos, but you never know. These Broncos are different and I wouldn't count Hill's team out.
And guess what? Next up on the Boise State schedule is none other than those very Beavers. Now normally, you would say that beavers are much more natural swimmers than broncos, but you never know. These Broncos are different and I wouldn't count Hill's team out.
Broncos Score Another Road Win
You get the feeling that Bronco senior La'Shard Anderson wants to go out a winner.
Several times this year, Anderson has carried the Broncos to wins. He did it again last night, scoring 12 of the final 16 points to help Boise State come back to take a 70-67 win at Idaho. Anderson netted 21 points and has five rebounds, seven assists and three steals in a complete effort. Paul Noonan, Daequon Montreal and freshman Ryan Watkins also hit in double figures.
Speaking of Noonan, the young man has to find a way to get to the free throw line. He is money, but averages less than two attempts per game. When you have a guy that can consistently go to the line and rack up points for you, you want that guy at the line 8-10 times a game, not 2. Noonan is hitting 84% of his free throw attempts in his career, which would break Chris Childs' all-time record. But Noonan doesn't have enough attempts. That's a tragedy.
If Boise State is to get to 20 wins, they can take a major step next week. The Broncos face New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech on the road. Coach Leon Rice's team notched their third consecutive road win last night and seem to play better away from home. If the Broncos can get a split next week and somehow turn those big crowds into an advantage at home, they'll get to 20.
Several times this year, Anderson has carried the Broncos to wins. He did it again last night, scoring 12 of the final 16 points to help Boise State come back to take a 70-67 win at Idaho. Anderson netted 21 points and has five rebounds, seven assists and three steals in a complete effort. Paul Noonan, Daequon Montreal and freshman Ryan Watkins also hit in double figures.
Speaking of Noonan, the young man has to find a way to get to the free throw line. He is money, but averages less than two attempts per game. When you have a guy that can consistently go to the line and rack up points for you, you want that guy at the line 8-10 times a game, not 2. Noonan is hitting 84% of his free throw attempts in his career, which would break Chris Childs' all-time record. But Noonan doesn't have enough attempts. That's a tragedy.
If Boise State is to get to 20 wins, they can take a major step next week. The Broncos face New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech on the road. Coach Leon Rice's team notched their third consecutive road win last night and seem to play better away from home. If the Broncos can get a split next week and somehow turn those big crowds into an advantage at home, they'll get to 20.
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