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Congrats Herd

Dec 29, 2014
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Boise State fan here, and I come to you in peace
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First, I would like to congratulate you and your team on a very impressive and successful season. After watching the WKU game I was skeptical of Marshall, but after seeing the beating you guys laid down on NIU I was very impressed.

I know there was been a lot of tension and animosity between the Boise State and Marshall fan bases this season, and would like to clear the air. Boise State fans really respect your program and its success. As long as Boise isn't playing Marshall, I will always be rooting for you guys.

As for Boise State getting the G5 bid in the Access bowl over Marshall, I think it could have gone either way. Obviously if you guys went undefeated you would have got in. That loss to WKU really hurt you, but you rebounded and beat two really good teams in LaTech and NIU. TBH, I don't think any G5 team really deserved an Access Bowl this season. All of the G5 had bad losses and poor performances throughout the season. I'm glad my Broncos got in, but I think we lucked out with how the rest of the G5 performed this year.

Next year I expect Boise and Marshall to both be in serious contention for the G5 Access bowl bid. Although we lose our #1 RB to the NFL draft and our starting QB is graduating, we are fortunate enough to have our whole offensive line return, we're loaded at QB and are getting our 4* QB enrolling in January, and bring back the majority of our Defense. Our schedule isn't as favorable next year with Boise having to go to BYU, Virginia, CSU, and Utah State. We do get AF and Washington at home next year, so that is a plus, but that road schedule is pretty tough. As a homer I think Boise State is going to go undefeated, but there is a real chance we could drop 1 or 2 games next year.

As for Marshall, what should an outsider expect? You lose your QB and I think your #1 WR, no? I would think you guys would keep the success train going into next year and continue to be in the discussion for the Access Bowl. You guys seem to have some young talent that can fill in for the guys leaving.

Anyway, I wish all the success to Marshall and hope you guys continue to stay in the picture. I hope you cheer for my broncos in the fiesta against AZ (If you don't, I understand
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), You guys have a great program and very passionate fans!

~Thanks

Lurking Bronco fan
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We lose our QB, but have some strong candidates to take the position. However, he was basically equal to what you guys had in Kellen Moore, so there will be some time to get back to where we were at the position.

At RB everyone is back from our top 10 rushing attack. All 5 backs that played this year are still eligible, will have 3 sr and two sophomore.

We lose Shuler, our leading receiver, but we had two freshman 4 star guys on the outside this year, both started the last half of the season. Also we have a freshman, Hyleck Foster, who will take over the slot for Shuler. He was highly productive over the last 4-5 games. Also had a TE that was freshman all conference. We'll be more than fine at WR.

On the OL we lose a 4-year starter at center and a LT. Not worried about the LT spot, but will have to see at center. We signed a highly rated center last year and redshirted him this season and have another player with experience, but it is hard to lose a 4-year starter at that position.

DL loses a starting DT and DE, but I feel okay with our depth there. We rotated 9 guys all season on the line so there was little difference between the starters and 2nd team line. We also had a UCF transfer sitting out this year. He started as a true fr for them.

We lose two really good LBers, one was conference defensive player of the year and the other was 2nd team all conference and the bowl defensive MVP. Good thing is that we played so many blow outs this year that several young guys got a lot of meaningful snaps. Also had a fr, Huskey, step up big the last three weeks and play really well when we had some injury issues.

In the defensive backfield we only lose one, but he was our best lock down corner. We will need one of 4-5 guys to step up on the boundary side to take his place.

Overall, I think we may have some early season things to work through, but our running game should carry us.
 
I would really like for us to schedule a 1-1 with you guys. Talk to your AD make it happen.
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Thanks for the post. Come by next year after spring ball and give us an update.
 
I'm not convinced that Marshall would have gotten the G5 spot, had we went undefeated. They still ranked Boise higher even before the WKU loss. We were screwed before the season started, in regards to the G5 spot.

This post was edited on 12/30 2:56 PM by MarshallSnare
 
Well that's a good point, but why do you think so? Is it Boise's name brand? Marshall's schedule? Combination of both? Or the illuminati
 
Originally posted by toohandsome:
Well that's a good point, but why do you think so? Is it Boise's name brand? Marshall's schedule? Combination of both? Or the illuminati
Haha.....all of the above!

Really it's that we've dropped off of the Mid-major map since 2002. To many Herd fans that seems like yesterday but to the national media etc., that's 12 long years of being off the grid.

Hopefully we've back and can reclaim a spot in mid-major national relevance.
 
I think it was the perception of our schedule and a message from the cartel that you better play ball, go on the road and ensure that all P5 teams get to play at least 7 home games every year.

One of their reasons for ranking Boise ahead of us before the WKU loss was that you had played 4 .500 or better teams and we had only played 2. As it ended up, we played 7 .500 or better teams through our championship game. People perceived CUSA to be weak, but the conference went 15-4 in OOC games against other G5 teams and 4-1 in bowls, so I believe we were better than people gave us credit for.
 
I was really surprised with how well the CUSA did in bowl games this year. You guys played very well and all the games were enjoyable to watch. As always, the MWC flat out sucked and made us all look bad. Happens every year. Now Boise State is left to pick of the pieces and give the conference some pride.

I think what the CUSA needs to do is schedule more P5 opponents. It's clear now that the committee really looks at who you schedule. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read somewhere that with LaTech's win over IL, that became CUSA's first win over a P5 opponent this season. The MWC has 4 wins over the P5. To me, this is where the perception of your conference tanked. The CUSA had no wins over the P5 and the majority of you played weak schedules. Even if you beat up a bottom level P5 opponent, you still get way more credit than beating a top tier G5 opponent even if they are better. It's the sad reality of the situation. What CUSA needs to do is go out and schedule some very winnable games against P5 teams, that will get your conference recognized and earn you some respect. This is what the MWC did this year. The 4 wins we had were against Washington State, Colorado, Boston College, and Wake Forest. All of those teams (besides maybe BC), are bottom tier P5 teams. However, a P5 win is a P5 win, and having 4 wins over the P5 really helped the MWC.

Honestly I have no idea who is better between the MWC and CUSA. To a lot of teams in the MWC the game they have against Boise is their "Super Bowl", they always play there best game against Boise but then suck it up against teams they should beat. Its just the reality, and Boise has to live with it.
 
I think the P5 would love to see the G5 form their own playoff and out of the Access Bowl question. It would take them off the table and set up a move to keep the dollars all inside the P5. While it would be a nice move for fans and the free media (my old friend Chuck), the dollars would be far less and, as much as I hate saying it, move the G5 to somewhere closer to the old D1-AA.

The G5 may need to just dig their heels in, find out what ESPN, Fox and CBS are willing to pay for, and do that. If it means a G5 game of the week on Wednesday nights, so be it. G5 should explore a couple of pre-season games, maybe even a late season open slot between two leagues based on the standings (MW vs CUSA teams matched up ala bracket buster), even experiment with other changes to game play. Helmet cams, whatever. Just try a bunch of things, see what sticks and go again.
 
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