| Hokies, Broncos Set for Labor Day Showdown |
By Lou Jones
August 31, 2010
To be sure, the marquee showdown between Virginia Tech and Boise State at FedEx
Field on Labor Day night is a big one for both schools. Ultimately, though, it’s the Broncos
who have more on the line. For years, the anti-BCS contingent has screamed that the
system is titled against teams like Boise State getting to the national title. They’re right, and
a lot of that has had to do with a lack of love from the preseason polls. Well, this year its
different. Boise returns 21 starters from last year’s unbeaten Fiesta Bowl champ. As the
number five ranked team in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll (the only poll that really matters
these days), the Broncos are perfectly set up for the mother of all BCS-busting seasons. Get
past the Hokies and, with the exception of Oregon State, who they get at home, the rest of
schedule is pure butter. Simply put, the game against Virginia Tech could amount to a one
game play-in to the BCS title game. Win, and the way is clear. Lose, and the air comes out
of your season before the leaves even start to change. Pressure? Just a bit.
The national image of Boise State is one of trick formations and big plays and lopsided
wins, of QB Kellen Moore bombing the WAC into submission. True, the Broncos were the
country’s number one scoring offense last year at a whopping 42.2 points per game, and
Moore is a great QB. But this perception is skewed for a couple of reasons: first, because
defenses in the WAC are generally lousy, and second, because the Boise State defense is
actually much better than people realize. In fact, it’s the key to their success. The Broncos put
up big offensive numbers because their defense suffocates their opponents and gives them
endless opportunities. In fact, they’re somewhat like a basketball team that pressures all the
time: they don’t have to shoot especially well to win because they’re going to get off a lot
more shots than you are. And, when they’ve played teams with real live defenses (think
Oregon and TCU last year), their own defense has made the difference in the game.
September 6th is big for Virginia Tech too, of course, but the Hokies’ situation is a little
more complex. A win would get things rolling in a big way, but VT still has to deal with an
early trip to Boston College as well as a rugged November gauntlet consisting of Georgia
Tech at home followed by back-to-back road games against Miami and North Carolina.
However, the flip side of such a schedule is that VT could conceivably lose to Boise State
and still play its way back into the BCS title picture if it wins out convincingly the rest of the
way. Unlikely, but not impossible.
In a departure from recent seasons, most of Virginia Tech’s questions this year will be on
defense where coordinator Bud Foster will be overseeing seven new starters. The Hokie
offense, meanwhile, has the potential to be the best the program has fielded since the
Michael Vick years. There are a number of experienced playmakers returning, led by senior
quarterback Tyrod Taylor and All-Wow running back Ryan Williams, and the offensive line
appears to have rapidly improved after emerging as a weak spot in the mid-2000s. Boise
State has faced- and beaten – other big time programs over the last several seasons, but it’
s safe to say that Virginia Tech will be the fastest, most athletic team the Broncos will see
this year.
August 31, 2010
To be sure, the marquee showdown between Virginia Tech and Boise State at FedEx
Field on Labor Day night is a big one for both schools. Ultimately, though, it’s the Broncos
who have more on the line. For years, the anti-BCS contingent has screamed that the
system is titled against teams like Boise State getting to the national title. They’re right, and
a lot of that has had to do with a lack of love from the preseason polls. Well, this year its
different. Boise returns 21 starters from last year’s unbeaten Fiesta Bowl champ. As the
number five ranked team in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll (the only poll that really matters
these days), the Broncos are perfectly set up for the mother of all BCS-busting seasons. Get
past the Hokies and, with the exception of Oregon State, who they get at home, the rest of
schedule is pure butter. Simply put, the game against Virginia Tech could amount to a one
game play-in to the BCS title game. Win, and the way is clear. Lose, and the air comes out
of your season before the leaves even start to change. Pressure? Just a bit.
The national image of Boise State is one of trick formations and big plays and lopsided
wins, of QB Kellen Moore bombing the WAC into submission. True, the Broncos were the
country’s number one scoring offense last year at a whopping 42.2 points per game, and
Moore is a great QB. But this perception is skewed for a couple of reasons: first, because
defenses in the WAC are generally lousy, and second, because the Boise State defense is
actually much better than people realize. In fact, it’s the key to their success. The Broncos put
up big offensive numbers because their defense suffocates their opponents and gives them
endless opportunities. In fact, they’re somewhat like a basketball team that pressures all the
time: they don’t have to shoot especially well to win because they’re going to get off a lot
more shots than you are. And, when they’ve played teams with real live defenses (think
Oregon and TCU last year), their own defense has made the difference in the game.
September 6th is big for Virginia Tech too, of course, but the Hokies’ situation is a little
more complex. A win would get things rolling in a big way, but VT still has to deal with an
early trip to Boston College as well as a rugged November gauntlet consisting of Georgia
Tech at home followed by back-to-back road games against Miami and North Carolina.
However, the flip side of such a schedule is that VT could conceivably lose to Boise State
and still play its way back into the BCS title picture if it wins out convincingly the rest of the
way. Unlikely, but not impossible.
In a departure from recent seasons, most of Virginia Tech’s questions this year will be on
defense where coordinator Bud Foster will be overseeing seven new starters. The Hokie
offense, meanwhile, has the potential to be the best the program has fielded since the
Michael Vick years. There are a number of experienced playmakers returning, led by senior
quarterback Tyrod Taylor and All-Wow running back Ryan Williams, and the offensive line
appears to have rapidly improved after emerging as a weak spot in the mid-2000s. Boise
State has faced- and beaten – other big time programs over the last several seasons, but it’
s safe to say that Virginia Tech will be the fastest, most athletic team the Broncos will see
this year.
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