The Boise State sports blog One Bronco Nation Under God is the absolute worst. I’ve long wanted to hate Boise fans with the kind of spiteful passion we once reserved for BYU fans. But OBNUG’s team of affable and good-humored bloggers and commenters have led me to conclude that a non-insignificant portion of the Broncos fanbase is actually … kind of OK?
As thoughtful people do, OBNUGgie Russ Wood reached out this week to do another Q&A exchange and blog bet where the winner get’s a free post on the loser’s blog. So, uh, you might want to check this space next week to see what Russ cooks up. In the meantime, he kindly answered our most pressing Boise State questions.
They’re really very friendly, these Boise people.
I’m so annoyed.
Aztecs Killing Him: Is this Boise State team even better than the one that poured antifreeze all over SDSU’s dream season last October? Please show your work.
Wood: I believe it is. Here’s my work:
Brett Rypien (Sean Modster + A.J. Richardson + John Hightower) > Brett Rypien (Only Cedrick Wilson).
Rypien no longer has the crutch of relying on one receiver to do everything to get open and make huge plays (even though he could), and as a result, we’ve seen some spectacular plays by our WRs (including an ESPN #1 play “Whaddacatch”).
This Rypien fellow is completing 70 percent of his passes and has 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Is that good? That seems good.
He’s currently one of three quarterbacks in the country to pass for over 1,000 yards with no interceptions (the other two being from the SEC West). He’s been making great decisions with the ball, and I’m impressed with how he stands in the pocket to deliver well-thrown balls as defenders bear down on him. He even has rushing stats in the positive yardage (which is a surprise to me, since he runs like Frankenstein with a leg cramp). But if it makes you feel any better, he kinda has a horsey smile, I guess.
What exactly went wrong against Oklahoma State? Did it expose any weaknesses? Please say it did.
So here’s the thing… I was currently on the way to Orlando (by car with 5 kids — another story) when that game happened. I had my wife drive for a bit, and then used her phone to watch what I could on the ESPN app (which also required an ESPN + account, even though I already subscribe to the dang channel). We didn’t get the best service, so there were blocks of the game that would be buffering as we drove through rural Kentucky. I would be watching, then it would freeze, then come back to “ANOTHER BLOCKED PUNT!!” So I’m assuming our special teams didn’t stay in a Holiday Inn Express the night before. Don’t worry; they returned the favor against Wyoming.
Was it you who hacked into Mike Gundy’s conference call? I REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE UNDER OATH.
All I can say is that Oklah…HEY LOOK A PTERODACTYL!
Is there any chance Boise State’s other weakness is “teams missing their entire starting offensive backfield?” Because that would be super helpful!
Yeah, I heard about Juwan Washington’s injury … bummer. San Diego State always has an awesome rushing attack, and I’m not just saying that because my Seahawks picked up Rashaad Penny in the first round. But I suppose we’ll see this weekend if this is a weakness of the Broncos. Maybe the Aztecs could run a few dummy plays to see, like when they dress a cheerleader or a kitty cat and line them up in the pistol.
You guys have had Turnover Bikes, Turnover Belts and Turnover Thrones. Boise State is basically the Carrot Top of Group of Five college football. Are you still amused by this or is this prop comedy growing stale? What’s next?
Well, if we’re using Carrot Top’s props as a measuring stick then I guess maybe it is getting a little stale, since Gallagher did it first and did it better, with less ginger. Also, the defense doesn’t seem to be so enthusiastic about sitting in it lately. Maybe the last guy to sit there ate beans? I’ll just say I like it as long as it’s being used.
Our blogger @AttemptedChem will be making the trek out to Boise this weekend to cheer on the Aztecs in his ugly semi-ironic Hawaiian shirt. He is a craft beer swilling Millennial who was nearly kicked out of the Thomas & Mack Center for building a folding chair fort during the MWC basketball tourney. Based on these factors, where should he spend his Saturday night in the Gem State?
In a blanket fort at Boise Fry Company?
Snap judgement: Will we be doing another one of these in December?
I would be happy to as long as stupid Hawai’i doesn’t get any smarmy ideas.
KABEER THIRTY 