The Front Row with MARK NELKE July 25, 2010
There's been a lot of talk in the offseason about a certain college football program on the rise in Idaho possibly going undefeated in the regular season and, if enough of the national powerhouses lose a game or two, possibly finding a way to play for a national title.
OK, let's look at their schedule.
They should have little trouble with their opener against North Dakota. Traveling the following week to Nebraska, that once-proud program which is on the rebound after some lean years, will be a stern test.
UNLV, Colorado State and Western Michigan are all winnable games as they conclude the nonconference slate.
They can start strong in the Western Athletic Conference with wins over Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, Hawaii and Nevada.
If Idaho can just get past that trap game in their 10th game against Boise State, it figures to be 'BCS, here they come', and if the other heavyweights fall along the way ...
... Oh, you mean they were talking about that OTHER Football Bowl Subdivision team in Idaho?
SPEAKING OF Boise State, the Broncos are planning a staggering five hours of pregame radio coverage before every game this fall. Five hours. Lord knows they've become wildly popular in recent years, not just in the Treasure Valley but statewide and even nationwide, but still ...
What on earth they could fill five hours with each week will be interesting to see - or hear - though only the last hour of the pregame show will be on the entire Bronco Sports Network, which includes KJRB 790 AM in Spokane.
At least longtime Bronco play-by-play man Paul J. Schneider will be back on the broadcasts, at least as one of the pregame show hosts.
With most of its key players back from last year's unbeaten season, Boise State will likely be the sexy No. 1 pick in many preseason top 25 rankings coming out soon. But this year, it might be a realistic preseason pick, not just a readership-grabbing or viewer-grabbing No. 1 pick.
Look at the big dogs who are usually in the national title hunt.
USC is obviously a mess. Alabama is the defending national champion, but lost a lot of talent on defense, and isn't exactly explosive on offense. Ohio State look good in manhandling Oregon in the Rose Bowl, and if quarterback Terrelle Pryor finally comes into his own, look out.
Texas will be breaking in a new quarterback to replace Colt McCoy, but freshman Garrett Gilbert had 'Bama on the ropes in last year's national title game. Florida will have a new QB with Tim Tebow gone.
IF BSU beats Virginia Tech in its opener Sept. 6 at FedEx Field in Laurel, Md., its only other stumbling blocks en route to an undefeated regular season are two weeks later vs. Oregon State at home and, crazy as it sounds, that Nov. 12 ESPN2 game at Moscow. BSU plays Fresno State at home the following week and travels to Nevada the week after that.
But, with a loaded team and the knowledge that this year, with a stacked team, several other top teams rebuilding and no meatgrinder of a playoff to have to go through, this might be that certain Idaho team's best chance ever to play for a national championship.
As long as they can start things off right by getting past North Dakota - er, Virginia Tech.
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via e-mail at [email protected].