In the past decade, Boise State has gone from the plucky mid-major known for a home field with blue turf to an elite program that takes on the challenge of facing any team, any time, any place.
Known as a giant killer, winning two BCS bowl games in the past six seasons and knocking off ranked opponents in each of the past three season openers, No. 24 Boise State uses high-profile games to gauge its status against some of the country’s best and will continue its run Friday night in Spartan Stadium.
Head coach Chris Petersen said the nationally televised matchup against the No. 13-ranked MSU football team (8:00 p.m., ESPN) will be one of the biggest challenges his team has faced in his six years as the Broncos’ head coach.
“They’re an excellent football team. Without question, one of the hardest openers we’ve had,” Petersen said. “They don’t give you anything. You’ve got to earn everything. There (aren’t) broken assignments or those types of things … and then they’ve got really good players to go with it. So they’re doing the whole thing.”
The Spartans are favored by a touchdown in the first ever meeting of the two teams, as the Broncos look to replace record-setting quarterback Kellen Moore and five defensive linemen, led by Shea McClellin, all of whom entered the NFL.
Petersen announced Sunday that Joe Southwick won the starting quarterback job to replace Moore, but stressed that the junior is his own player and doesn’t need to imitate anyone at the quarterback position.
“All our kids are unique and different, and we’re just trying to get the most out of them and have them do the very best they can,” he said. “What (Southwick) does best is he runs the show for us. He’s like a coach on the field out there.”
Petersen was more blunt in assessing his brand new defense, saying he had “no idea” what his defense does best or what to expect from a group filled with new starters.
He added the team doesn’t have players with the unique physical size and skills of juniors defensive end William Gholston and running back Le’Veon Bell and that his team has taken some unique steps to prepare for the bruising duo.
“(For Gholston), I think it probably starts with (being) 6-foot-7, 278 pounds, which makes him unique when he walks in the door,” Petersen said.
“We’ve taped two of our running backs together, and they carry the ball at the same time to get a feel of what it will be like to tackle (Bell). We don’t have anybody around here who looks like that. … “We’ll (have to) see what (we) do when the lights come on. I’m as curious as you are to see who is going to step up.”
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