Boise State, BYU win; Talk over super conferences

BOISE STATE; SUPER CONFERENCES; BYU COORDINATOR'S FIRST TEST

Two years ago Boise State decided to up its competition by leaving the WAC and going to the Mountain West. This had the potential of making the Mountain West an AQ conference for the BCS as there would have been four great teams in the conference in BYU, Utah, TCU, and Boise State.

Back in the '60's, there was a cigarette commercial whose slogan was "I'd rather fight than switch". Well, with all the carping going on about strength of schedule and style, teams in the Mountain West got tired of the Rodney Dangerfield slogan, "I get no respect" and decided that they would do the opposite--they would rather switch than fight. Utah decided to go to the Pac-10, BYU became an independent, and TCU next year will join the Big East, leaving Boise State standing alone in the Mountain West, now a non-AQ conference for sure, though now in the hunt for a BCS berth after beating Georgia decisively this past weekend on the road.*

COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S FUTURE

Chris Dodd, senior writer for CBSsports.com outlined the formation of 5 Super Conferences in the works right now--the ACC, Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, and PAC-10. Of course, now, the Big 12 looks like it might be dissolving with Oklahoma thinking of going to the Pac-10 perhaps with Texas following. The Sooners would also like to see Oklahoma State and Texas Tech join in the move to the Pac-10, making it the Pac-14. Texas A&M wants out of the Big 12 and go to the SEC. There are many articles favoring pro and con. In the end, though, I think A&M will go to the SEC regardless of the traditional matchup arguments.

DOMAN'S FIRST TEST

There will be stammers and stutters when a team brings in a new offensive coordinator and a new system of offense. I don't care if there are 10 returning starters who know each other and have worked with each other. New offensive systems have new blocking skeems, new running plays, and new passing routes that require familiarity, timing, and crisp execution to be effective in a game.

Combine that with going into the SEC and facing any opponent regardless of record and coming out with a win. His choice of plays, familiarity with defensive systems not to mention that it's the first game of the season. He hasn't called a single play as an offensive coordinator nor has he had the luxury of game film to see what the opponent's defense is like.

That describes the situation Brandon Doman faced entering the game against Mississippi. He describes how he felt going into the game--"I had never searched my soul as much in my life in an athletic event." Really? He played at BYU from 1998-2001; was on the rosters of three NFL teams from 2002-04; and has been the quarterbacks' coach at BYU the past six years. One would think that he's accustomed to being under pressure.

I believe, though, that his soul searching experience is also understandable. It reflects his sense of responsibility to his team's success. As quarterback at BYU, his teams never had a losing season. Their best season was his senior year when they went 12-2. He's accustomed to winning. He has the benefit of longtime coach Lance Reynolds and receivers' coach Ben Cahoon. Both were starters on former BYU teams and no doubt share his feelings about creating a winning attitude at BYU.

He gave himself a "C" grade for his first game. While it was a win, it was wrought with miscues, penalties and turnovers he will want to address to his team. His task is no easier this weekend--the University of Texas Longhorns at home. It's a whole new set of challenges.** Let's see how it goes.

*--see yesterday's blog
**--see my blog from 8/11 "This Year"