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Maybe it's the lack of NFL talent. Maybe it's that the Broncos only have one win over a BCS league team, and Iowa State hardly qualifies as a major player. Maybe it's that, unlike Fresno State, they lose every time they've gotten a chance to beat a high profile team. But how do you explain the total mastery over teams like Fresno State and Hawaii, who have both chalked up impressive wins against big names over the last few years?
They've done the WAC title thing, and now it's time to try and get that respect they so desperately crave. There's only one chance to get it this year facing Oregon State at home on 9/11. As sad as it may be, in today's day and age of college football, a win over the Beavers might mean more than winning the WAC championship again.
The team needs to replace several starters and several all-stars, most notably QB Ryan Dinwiddie, but there are enough good players in place to prevent a freefall. While good, this might not be the killer team of the last few years. Then again, that's what everyone said last year. Now watch and see the Broncos be front and center in the WAC race yet again.
The Schedule: If you want to win the WAC title and you want to have a gaudy record, this is the way to go getting Fresno State and Hawaii at home to go along with a very manageable road slate. The non-conference games couldn't be better for Bronco fans with BYU and Oregon State coming to Boise.
Best Offensive Player: Junior OT Daryn Colledge. It's hard for offensive linemen to get too much love in an offense with so many fireworks, but Colledge deserves recognition as one of the top linemen in the WAC. He's turning into an All-America caliber tackle.
Best Defensive Player: Senior LB Andy Avalos. One of the nation's top tacklers, Avalos should be in the hunt for WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors and is a lock to be a first-team all-conference performer.
Key player to a successful season: While there are other holes that need filling, no position will be watched more closely than quarterback where Jared Zabransky and Mike Sanford have to try and replace franchise signal-caller Ryan Dinwiddie. Zabransky has the overall skills but is young. Mike Sanford is experienced but not as talented. One of them has to be the spark to keep the offensive machine rolling.
The season will be a success if ... Boise State wins the WAC. Anything else is a failure at this point. A win over Oregon State is also necessary to get more of a national buzz going.
Key game: Oct. 23 vs. Fresno State. The Oregon State game is important, but it's the showdown with the Bulldogs that'll decide the WAC title. Even though this Boise State team isn't as good as the last few, home wins over the Beavers and Bulldogs could mean an unbeaten regular season.
2003 Fun Stats:
- First half scoring: Boise State 378 - Opponents 120
- Average yards per throw: Boise State 9.6 - Opponents 5.7
- Kickoff return average: Boise State 23.4 - Opponents 17
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