Press Box
Mid-Major teams
have to be perfectHOUSTON >> The big question these days is "How good is Boise State?"
Unfortunately for the Broncos -- and by association, Hawaii and anyone else BSU has beaten -- it's usually answered with another question: "How good is the Western Athletic Conference?"
That one can be answered in 12 letters: UTEP, SMU, Tulsa. The crowded cellar of the conference goes into this weekend all at 1-5 in the league and a combined 4-26 overall.
It's the same old story -- the conference plays an exciting brand of football, there are some very good players posting big numbers, and some decent offenses doing so against very bad defenses. At UH, the fans are wondering what's wrong if the Warriors don't score in the 50s. At Reno, receiver Nate Burleson is re-writing the conference record book one 15-yard catch at a time, but will have his hands full trying to beat out BSU's Brock Forsey and UH's Tim Chang for WAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Then there's Boise State. This is a complete football team, a veteran squad with few discernible flaws, and they simply dominate -- that is, when going against anyone in the conference.
That word "anyone" is where it gets a little complicated. The Broncos haven't only beaten up on the interchangeably terrible Tulsmutep and the four mediocre teams. They've also taken Hawaii (58-31) and Fresno State (67-21) to the woodshed -- a team that's got a bowl bid and another that might be on its way.
The coaches have deemed Boise State worthy of being ranked No. 23 in the nation this week, but the media types who vote in the Associated Press poll seem to be holding something against the blue-turf boys.
Could it be that they play in the WAC?
That might have something to do with it.
But, more likely, it's Boise State's lone loss that's keeping it out of the rankings. The Broncos' 41-14 stumble at Arkansas on Sept. 7 makes them look like an otherwise pretty girl with a three-inch pimple on her chin.
The Razorbacks (6-3) are just another team in the SEC, and the voters in both polls have the Broncos ahead of them.
It all comes down to this -- whether it be polls or BCS rankings: You've got to win nonconference games against teams that play tough schedules. This season the WAC is a terrible 12-27 when playing out of its league, so to speak. That includes 2-19 against the teams in the BCS conferences. Where have you gone David Carr?
If the Broncos win out and beat a name school from the Big 12 in the Humanitarian Bowl (assuming they don't end up in the Seattle Bowl for some crazy reason), then they'll get some real love from the voters.
Then one of Hawaii's blemishes -- that debacle at the Smurf Turf -- won't look so bad, too. (The Brigham Young loss is also regrettable considering how the Cougars have played this year, but to many a 35-32 defeat at Provo is still better than 58-31 at Boise.)
Of course, that's making a big assumption. If Alabama's Crimson Tide crashes down on the Warriors like a tsunami two weeks from tomorrow, forget about it. That will be remembered by the voters much longer than a 63-21 win over Alabama-Birmingham or whoever in the Hawaii Bowl.
It might even knock Boise State out of the rankings.
When you're a mid-major, it's all about guilt by association.
Dave Reardon, who covered sports in Hawaii from 1977 to 1998,
moved to the the Gainesville Sun, then returned to
the Star-Bulletin in Jan. 2000.
E-mail Dave: dreardon@starbulletin.com