Chris Petersen and Boise State Prepare for What He Calls Their Biggest Game of the Year
December 3, 2009 – 10:40 am by Chris FedorIn 2007, the Broncos upset the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl. The Broncos went 13-0 that year and followed it up with a 12-1 record in 2008, their only loss coming to TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl. Boise State is once again on the verge of another BCS game. All they have to do is beat New Mexico State on Saturday and they are guaranteed a spot in one of college football’s biggest games.
Despite the fact that Boise State has only lost one game in the past three seasons, there seems to be a feeling around those in college football that they are not one of the elite programs in the nation. Perhaps some of this cynicism comes from the fact that Boise State plays in the WAC. Teams like Hawaii, Louisiana Tech, and San Jose State do not necessarily boost the reputation of a program. However, Chris Petersen feels that the landscape in college football is slowly changing and Boise State is gaining more respect. Currently ranked number five in the BCS, the Broncos have an outside chance at the National Championship, should both Cincinnati and Texas stumble in their final games of the season this weekend. Quarterback Kellen Moore has the top QB rating in the country and this is one of the most exciting teams in the nation to watch play on a week to week basis. The rest of the country is about to find out what the Broncos are all about.
Chris Peterson joined WFAN in New York with Mike Francesa to talk about the possibility of BCS game, his quarterback Kellen Moore, and the changing landscape of college football.
On getting into a BCS game this year:
“We are. We do, we have one more huge game. This is obviously probably the biggest game that we have played this year just because of what we think is at stake. We’re excited to play and were just really trying to focus on ourselves, this game plan and New Mexico State as best we can.”
On getting a win last week against a hot Nevada team:
“Mike I think you’re exactly right and it’s interesting because Nevada got off to such a slow start. I think just a great coaching job by Chris Ault and those guys. When you start fast and you start hot, you get the momentum rolling but when you don’t it’s hard to get the ship going in the right direction. They not only did that, they tweaked their offense a little bit and they were as hot as anybody around and I’m anxious to see Nevada in a bowl game because they are extremely difficult to slow down.
On the play of his quarterback Kellen Moore:
“Well we appreciate that Mike. He has had a great season, he really has. He’s the key to our offense and a lot of our team. In terms of he’s such an efficient guy, were able to do a lot of things with him, he’s extremely, extremely smart and he’s an accurate thrower and that’s kinda what we need in our system.”
On teams like Boise State and TCU not being surprises anymore:
“We think in College Football, the parity is slowly but surely changing. Day in and day out I think there’s certain conferences that do a heck of a job and they’re dogfights. Before I came over here, I was in the Pac 10 for awhile and what’s going on over there, it was like on any given day anybody can beat anybody. That’s hard. That’s hard week in and week out. I think our conference is getting better and I just think college football in general, I just think there is more parity slowly but surely than there used to be in the old days.”
On the BCS system that is in place right now:
“I think this; I think every year it changes slowly but surely and I think the fact that people are talking about TCU, now whether that happens or not who knows, but at least they’re in that conversation. If certain things happen, they might have a shot to do that. Just the fact that those conversations are going on are an indication that it’s changing. It’s slowly working and hopefully at the end of the day it does work. I think everybody knows there is not a perfect system and I don’t know if anyone can come up with a perfect system that’s the whole problem with it.”
Listen to Chris Petersen on WFAN in New York with Mike Francesa here
Tags: BCS, Boise State Broncos, Chris Petersen, College Football, Kellen Moore
