A Lack of Respect

Boise State, a small school in Idaho, has been on an impressive run the past three years. But there hasn't been a lot of talk about them because they aren't in one of the "power conferences" in college football.

This year was supposed to be different. After beating Oklahoma in a BCS bowl two years ago and beating TCU in January. Boise came in ranked high in the polls and hoping to earn a berth to the National Championship game. And one-by-one, those ranked ahead of them have tumbled.

When Alabama lost two weeks ago, it appeared Boise State was finally going to get the chance it sought to prove it belonged. The school vaulted to No. 3 in the polls and was rumored to be the No. 1 school in the BCS computer rankings. Ohio State stood at one and Oregon, which leap frogged Boise, stood at No. 2.

Last weekend, Boise State beat its opponent by a final score of 48-0. It could have been more, but Boise took its foot off the gas. Oregon had a bye and Ohio State was walloped, falling 31-18 to Wisconsin. Then Sunday, the first official BCS rankings came out. You had to expect Boise to be in the top rung. Instead, that spot belonged to OSU.

Not Ohio State, but Oklahoma... a team ranked below Boise State heading into the weekend. The No. 2 spot went to Oregon and Boise was placed at No. 3, on the outside looking in again. While it shouldn't be a surprise in this elitist system, it was a disappointment.

College Football remains one of the biggest, most lucrative of collegiate sports. But the champion is decided by a room full of writers, a room full of coaches, and a computer. And it's a system heavily biased toward major conferences, which is what leaves Boise on the outside looking in so often.

I didn't grow up a Boise State fan. I do like the team's blue field and the fact they're called the Broncos, but that's about as far as my depth of knowledge goes. But I do love underdogs and I love teams that defy the odds and perform on game day. That fits Boise State to a tee. I just hope this system gives them a chance to prove themselves on the field on January 10, 2011.

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