What We Learned From the Fiesta Bowl

In a word. Nothing.

After winning the Fiesta Bowl for the second time in four years, Boise State once again showed they are one of the best football programs in the nation. They also showed they still have no place in the BCS National Championship, and neither does any other mid major team.

BSU proved little more than it is the best mid major team in the FBS, Monday. The Broncos scraped by an uninspired Texas Christian team that looked like they were frozen in the spot light. Neither team played much offense, and BSU once again relied on a trick play to turn the tide in their favor.

TCU turned in its worst performance of the year offensively with QB Andy Dalton throwing three interceptions, including one returned for a TD that tallied seven of the 17 points the Broncos scored in the win. The Horned Frogs converted just one first down the entire game and looked disoriented with BSU's shifting defense.

The game was littered with penalties, dropped passes, missed receivers, turnovers, and sloppy offenses that could muster no yardage on the ground. Obviously, both defenses deserve credit for making that happen, but it really didn't leave the impression that either of these teams deserved to be playing in the championship, or that their programs deserve a closer look going forward.

The debate will rage on next year with both teams returning most of their starters. BSU will most likely start the year ranked in the top five which will give them an advantage they have not had in their previous undefeated campaigns. They should be primed to run the table again with their two biggest opponents being Oregon State at home, and Virgina Tech on a neutral field.

The BCS conspiracy theorists will tell you that the matchup of the two undefeated mid major teams was put together to keep out the little guy. By not giving the mid major teams a chance to compete against some of the bigger schools, the BCS would not have to apologize for creating a system which effectively gives schools from power conferences a monopoly on the BCS National Championship.

I can't really argue with that. I would have loved to seen both of these teams play big schools. At least we would have a clue as to whether or not they belonged in the national championship game, based on their talent. Last year the mid majors gained a lot of momentum when Utah throttled Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. That didn't mean that Utah deserved a chance at the National Championship. There were three teams far superior to Alabama that year (Florida, Oklahoma, Texas), and the bowl game is just one game.

Side Note: I am making these arguments in the confines of the current BCS system. At this point I imagine someone is thinking playoff, playoff, playoff, but that is not the current system, and that is an argument for another time.

When BSU beat Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, they played one of the weakest OU teams of the Bob Stoops era. History led the casual fan to forget OU played with a WR as a QB because OU's starter was kicked off the team (along with their best offensive lineman). The Broncos had to pull more than one rabbit out of their hat to win in overtime, even though OU spotted them three quarters.

The point is TCU and BSU can, occasionally, compete in a bowl game with major conference teams and win. They do not, however, have to do it week in and week out like the major conference teams. It might be a tired argument, but there are some finer points as to why this is the reason mid majors do not belong in a national championship game.

First. Beating one quality opponent a year is not enough. This year BSU beat Oregon, at home, in the opener. Make no mistake, the first game of the year is a crap shoot for most teams. Competitive schools like to schedule their weakest opponent in the opener to work out the kinks and warm up for the stronger competitors. Oregon took a huge chance playing a team like BSU before they were battle tested. The fact that they lost will continue to hurt mid major schools that have success because strong teams will avoid scheduling them. Not to mention, BSU was at home. Do you think they walk away with a win in Eugene? Gainesville? Even Lubbock? I don't think so.

Second. Playing in a weak conference, with less talent and depth, keeps athletes healthy. The physical toll that an SEC or Big XII team takes every week far overshadows anything that BSU or TCU has to face. That is a huge advantage for mid majors. Major conference schools have to be much deeper, and face more injury related issues than the mids.

Third. Play each other. I have heard BSU whine that no one will play them. Here's an idea. TCU and BSU play each other every year. If you can't schedule the big guys, then schedule each other. Don't wait for a nonsense matchup in the BCS. Play a top 15 mid major school rather than someone like Wyoming. Only one will remain eligible for the national championship, but at least it will be a start. I don't blame anyone but the schedule makers for not convincing the BCS they should get a chance to play for a title.

Fourth. Beat someone without the gadgets. This is obviously directed at BSU, but no matter how well you run them, the trick plays still seem mid majorish. I will not fault BSU for being great at running gadgets, or for having the guts to call them when no one else would, or for being so well prepared they are run to perfection. But it just isn't big boy football. Granted, the fake punt was just about the only interesting play of the Fiesta Bowl, and it essentially won the game for BSU, but they have now won two BCS games directly related to gimmicks. Trick plays are run by teams that need an edge to make up for a lack of talent or depth. It might be fantastic coaching, a great call, great execution, whatever. When you want to be taken seriously among the elite of college football, don't rely on gadgets. Blue turf doesn't help the image either.

Side Note: Just to be clear, I have tons of respect for BSU head coach Chris Petersen and think he is an absolutely brilliant coach who has done amazing things with the Broncos. I am not blaming him in any way for keeping BSU out of the BCS title game. I have to admire the confidence he instills in his team, their consistency, preparation, and execution when all eyes are on them.

Finally. Join a conference. Quit pouting on the sidelines and get in the game. Isn't it about time that the Big XII drops Baylor and adds TCU? There have been talks of Missouri defecting to the Big Ten, a spot might be open. I'm sure the PAC 10 could find room for Boise if someone campaigned the right way. Doesn't the Big Ten need an upgrade? Stop trying to back door your way in. If you are going to put a quality program on the field year after year, it is time to stop being a mid major and come on up to the big leagues. It might not be something these schools can control, but I haven't heard much about them trying to upgrade their conference. Too much breath is wasted on campaigning to get into certain bowls when the real campaign should be to force your way in to a major conference. Just showing an effort to get into a better conference might garner sympathy for the plight of these top mid majors.

I think that BSU and TCU could compete with some of the best teams in college football weekly. I believe they would have a significant impact on a major conference and continue to be successful. What I don't believe is that you would see them going undefeated and competing for BCS games consistently. The mid majors might want to stick with the Fiesta Bowl as their de facto national championship game because the path to the BCS is easier for them than any team out of a major conference. That is why they do not deserve to play for the national championship. Not because they can't compete, because they currently don't have to earn it.