Every one of these idiots wants to write off Boise State already because Virginia Tech lost to James Madison. The argument is that this loss diminishes the importance of the Broncos win over the Hokies. Anybody who actually watched both games knows this is absolutely garbage.
Let me give you an example. In 2007, circumstances and the stars aligned in just the right way for Appalachian State to beat Michigan 34-32 at home in the season opener. Two weeks later, Appalachian State lost to Wofford College. If Wofford College had been scheduled to play Michigan later in the season, which one of you would have bet everything you own on the Terriers beating the Wolverines?
To further illustrate my point, which one of you - after Appalachian State's win over Michigan - would have picked the Mountaineers to beat Florida, the defending national champion? None? Obviously. But that same Michigan team that lost to Appalachian State went on to beat Florida 41-35 in the Capital One Bowl at season's end.
This is where things get tricky. Just because one team beats another on a given Saturday doesn't necessarily mean that team is better than the other, it just means they were better than the other team on that day. By the time you get to the end of a season, you can judge a team based on its complete body of work, but, on any given day, anything can happen. That is what makes college football so much fun. Every Saturday, there are different issues to be considered. Fatigue, injuries, weather and other physical and psychological factors can play a significant role. Home field can be a huge advantage. But the big thing - and this is what really separates college football from the pros - is emotions. This is why you hear the classic cliches about the "look ahead" game or the "letdown game."
Secondly... In my view, Boise State has done everything they need to do to establish BCS credibility. Before you start telling me how bad the WAC is, I'd like to point out the fact that the league contains Fresno State, Nevada and Idaho - teams that have had some measure of success in recent years. Could Boise State hold up to the week in week out punishment of the SEC or the Big 12? I don't know. Nobody knows. But they sure hold up now.
The Broncos record so far this decade is 119-19. If you were surprised by their physical domination of Oregon last year, maybe you shouldn't be; Boise State beat the Ducks in Eugene in 2008. If you were surprised that the Broncos knocked off previously unbeaten TCU in last year's Fiesta Bowl, maybe you shouldn't be; Boise State beat the 11-1 Frogs in the Fort Worth Bowl in 2003. That same year, they beat BYU in Provo. In 2006, they beat Oregon State, and ended that season with the now-famous Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma. They have compiled a 51-4 record since the start of the 2006 season, and finished unbeaten in 2006 and 2009. What do they have to do? Win a Super Bowl?
Thirdly, the Virgina Tech squad that lost to James Madison bore little resemblance to the Hokies that played Monday night. I watched that game, and they looked as tough and talented as any team I've seen play so far this year. Saturday afternoon, they were demoralized by their hard-fought loss, playing with just four days rest in horrendous weather against a team that was sky high. If they played fifty more times, that would probably be the only time James Madison won.
I don't mean to take anything away from James Madison. Yes, they caught Virginia Tech at a time when the Hokies were extremely vulnerable, but the Dukes were good enough to take advantage of it.
But Boise State has been good enough to win most of the games they play each year, and twice been good enough to win all of them. Let's not take anything away from them either.
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