Week 3 game prep: Links and boise film study

First things first: As I'm prone to do sometimes, this blog comes with directions. Directly below is the pre-game hype song for the Bulldogs -- We Ready. Click play then listen until you're done reading through the Fresno State portion of the blog. Further directions to come later.



The broncos (2-0) come into Bulldog Stadium having won two games, both of which were home games, against oregon and miami (OH), respectively. So far little attention has been given to the fact that the broncos used 22 players on defense at a time, 22 of which couldn't be seen by the quarterbacks of neither the ducks nor redhawks. Video replay does not show indisputable evidence proving otherwise.

The broncos will be displaying their new all-white uniforms, meaning they obviously heard about Fresno State's upcoming attempt at a white-out and quickly adjusted accordingly. Little do they know stubbornness is also a trait of Bulldog fans, so Bulldog Red should also be well represented.

And finally, boise state's orange-clad mulletteers, a close relative of this species, will also be present behind the north endzone for the broncos. So all in all, this should be your run of the mill cornucopia of colors.

Below you will find various media links (first for the Bulldogs, second for the broncos) so you can get yourself pre-gamed out before Friday's showdown. Also, toward the end of the blog, you will see two videos of boise state game footage from its first two games of the season. Yes, the camera angles and quality of the second video suck.

First up, Fresno State links:

• GoBulldogs.com: Official Web site of Fresno State athletics.

• The Fresno Bee's hub for Fresno State football.

• The Bark Board: Fresno State's biggest hub for both authentic and douchebag fans.

• 1430 ESPN radio online: Listen during the local hours from 1-6 to potentially hear Fresno State football discussion.

• The Collegian: The exceedingly pessimistic sports section for Fresno State's student-run newspaper.

• The Collegian's RedWave podcast: student sports reporter's normally glass-half-empty take on the football team.

• Dogbyte podcast: Unofficial fan podcast on Fresno State football. Hey, it's something.

• Idaho Statesman: Fresno State offense is loaded with skill

Instructions part 2: Make sure We Ready is done playing or stopped above and then click play on the song below for the remainder of the blog. You can silence the other videos during your film study session if you wish.



Second up, boise state links:

• OBNUG: Fan blog of the broncos specializing in keeping themselves entertained.

• bronco nation blue turf: boise state message board for fans and football discussion.

• Idaho Statesman: check daily for stories leading up to the game.

• IdahoStatesman bronco beat: blog following bronco football.

• bronconationpodcast: Fan podcast of the boise state football team.

• Idaho Press-Tribune: newspaper's blog on the bronco football team.

• IPT photo gallery and sound slide of boise's game with the redhawks. Pay special attention the outstanding talent in the band toward the end. That wouldn't make 17th string on the 300+ member Pride of the Valley.

• Chris Petersen press conference from Sunday for Fresno State week.

• Tour Petersen's office and find out the of hobby boise's Doug Martin that makes living in boise exciting and/or tolerable.

• Here's what the broncos play on the video board prior to their home games. Richie Brockel looks like such a teddy bear. And Kellen Moore looks like he could chuck so much wood if he could chuck wood, which he could so he does chuck a ton of wood.

• Dustin Lapray's Magic Valley newspaper blog for the Broncos. See, media members can be completely biased giant homers.

• Official Twitter page of bronco sports.

Study time:




Study time part 2:

Boise State is finally potty trained

Mommy wow, these Broncos are big kids now!

OK, OK, Boise State has already been to -- and won -- a BCS bowl game. And Fresno State still hasn't. But Boise State backed in that year with a wussified schedule while Fresno State was sticking to its "anyone, anywhere, anytime" mantra it has never wavered from.

But this past Saturday, Boise State made history by beating a BCS-conference team on the road (Oregon) for the first time ever. Winning at Autzen Stadium isn't easy...even if Oregon was using it's fifth-string quarterback. So the Broncos should be congratulated.

But come on...what's up with this sudden Boise State lovefest in the national media? They jump from unranked to No. 19 and No. 20 in the two major polls, leapfroging Fresno State? Why, because they beat an Oregon team that is notorious for crumbling when its starting QB gets injured (the Ducks blew BCS bowl hopes at Arizona last year for cryin' out loud...Arizona!).

Suddenly, Fresno State is an afterthought after losing by 3 points to the now No. 8/No. 9 Wisconsin Badgers. People, it seems, just expect the 'Dogs to win every big-time non-conference game nowadays while Boise State hides behind its Smurf turf playing the Idaho States of the world.

If -- and this is a huge if right now -- Fresno State wins the rest of its games, and Boise State the rest of its games up to the finale, then can anyone with a conscience honestly rank the Broncos ahead of the Bulldogs when one played three BCS-conf. teams and the other just one?

Apparently, ESPN's Graham Watson and Mark Schizzlegizzlebah (better check that spelling) are already officially off the Fresno State bandwagon and aboard Boise State's. Here's what Schlabach most recently wrote:

4. Don't forget about Boise State.
If a Mountain West team doesn't finish unbeaten, the Broncos might be the team from a non-BCS conference that crashes the BCS party. Boise State is the class of the WAC after upsetting Oregon 37-32 on the road Saturday. Quarterback Kellen Moore is playing well, and tailback Ian Johnson is still running on the blue artificial turf. The Broncos might be 11-0 heading into a Nov. 28 home game against No. 25 Fresno State.

So let's see here, Boise State beat one BCS-conf. team on the road (for the first time ever might I reiterate) and Fresno State has also beaten one (and will go for No. 2 at UCLA on Saturday). Sounds like the 'Dogs have just as good a case right now to me. And that Ian Johnson character he's hyping up...well he hasn't rushed for 100 yards yet this year and averaged a measley 2.1 yards per carry against Oregon.

Oh, and Watson...you really think there are SEVEN non-BCS-conference teams better than Fresno State? Really? Talk about a dip in credibility...