(MWC) The Broncos play on an artificial field (Blue Astroplay) at Bronco Stadium (seats 37,000).
- Chris Petersen is in his 7th year as head coach at Boise State. In six years his record is 73-6. (It’s an incredible record, but worthwhile to note that in the five years prior to his arrival, the previous head coach, Dan Hawkins, at Boise State had a 53-11 record.) Last year this team finished 12-1, with their only loss coming to TCU.
- This will be Boise State’s last (and just second) year in the Mountain West Conference (MWC). In 2013 they will join the Big East and will finally be in a conference with an automatic bid for a BCS game—although now who knows what that means with the shake up in store in 2014 with the 4-team playoff system. But once again, Boise State is slowly addressing what has been the biggest challenge for this team the last few years in terms of getting into top bowl games and that is the lack of strength of schedule.
- After passing for almost 15,000 yards and 142 touchdowns, quarterback Kellen Moore has completed his time at Boise State (and while he wasn’t selected in the NFL Draft, he’s hoping to earn a spot on the Detroit Lion’s roster). It will be interesting to see what the next guy can do. Moore finished at 50-3 — breaking the Football Bowl Subdivision record for career wins by five. He and the Broncos’ other 20 seniors became the first class in FBS history to win 50 games in four years, and the program became the first to win at least 12 games in four straight seasons. He finished as the least-intercepted quarterback, by percentage, in FBS history and for the second time in three years the Broncos led the nation in fewest sacks allowed.
- The offense only returns 5 starters this year. Leading rusher Doug Martin departs with over 3400 yards and 43 touchdowns. The top receiver is also gone. But there are more total players with experience at running back and receiver than there were last year. The offensive line doesn’t have as much experience as last year, which could be an issue since they will have a much tougher job protecting a new QB and without the threat of Kellen Moore to distract from the runnin game.
- In even worse shape is a defense that returns just 2 starters. They return just ONE of their top 10 tacklers. Only the 5th ranked tackler on the team is back and he wasn’t even a starter last year. The Defensive line alone lost three players who were chosen in April’s NFL Draft (including 1st round pick McClellin). And the linemen they do have don’t have experience.
- The only good news is that the secondary is more experienced. It actually took quite a hit last year with the loss of several key players, including the #1 tackler on the team from 2010. They gave up the most passing yards by a Petersen coached Broncos team. But this year they seem to be the strength of the defense.
- They play their home games on a blue field and with their blue uniforms, no one can even see them.
Boise State's Blue Field
