2006 Boise State Broncos football team

The 2006 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos won the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship with an undefeated 12–0 regular-season record (8–0 in the WAC), their second unbeaten regular season in the past three years. This was also Boise State's fifth consecutive season with at least a share of the WAC title, and the fourth in that period in which they went unbeaten in conference play. They became only the second team from outside the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) to play in a BCS bowl game when they faced Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, defeating the Sooners in a dramatic thriller.

2006 Boise State Broncos football
WAC champion
Fiesta Bowl champion
Fiesta Bowl, W 43–42 OT vs. Oklahoma
ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 6
APNo. 5
2006 record13–0 (8–0 WAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBryan Harsin (1st as OC; 6th overall season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorJustin Wilcox (1st season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumBronco Stadium
(Capacity: 30,000)
2006 Western Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 5 Boise State $  8 0     13 0  
Hawaii  7 1     11 3  
San Jose State  5 3     9 4  
Nevada  5 3     8 5  
Fresno State  4 4     4 8  
Idaho  3 5     4 8  
New Mexico State  2 6     4 8  
Louisiana Tech  1 7     3 10  
Utah State  1 7     1 11  
  • $ Conference champion and BCS representative as top non-AQ school to meet automatic qualification criteria
Rankings from AP Poll

The Broncos completed the first undefeated and untied season in school history with a 43–42 overtime win over the Sooners. The Broncos led most of the game, but fell behind late in the fourth quarter when quarterback Jared Zabransky threw an interception that was returned for an Oklahoma touchdown. They tied the game on a 50-yard hook and lateral play that ended in a touchdown with 7 seconds left. In the overtime, Sooners star running back Adrian Peterson scored a touchdown on the first play of Oklahoma's possession. Zabransky led the Broncos on a touchdown drive, capped off by a trick play in which backup receiver Vinny Peretta connected with tight end Derek Schouman on a fourth-down pass. They then gambled for the win on a two-point conversion, and tried another trick play. The Broncos ran a play very similar to the Statue of Liberty play, with Zabransky looking toward three receivers before handing the ball off behind his back to star running back Ian Johnson, who ran into the end zone untouched for the win. (The play would later be named the 2nd greatest highlight of all time in a 2008 ESPN Sportscenter poll behind Mike Eruzione's goal against the Soviets in the 1980 Miracle on Ice)

Due to Florida's 41–14 thrashing of previously unbeaten Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game, the Broncos ended the season as the only undefeated team in NCAA Division I football, as no other team in Division I-AA (officially known as the "Football Championship Subdivision") finished undefeated (Three teams in lower divisions finished unbeaten: Grand Valley State in Division II, Mount Union in Division III, and Sioux Falls in NAIA.)

The Broncos play their home games at Bronco Stadium, most famous for its blue artificial turf surface, often referred to as the "Smurf-turf."

Previous season

Boise State finished the 2005 regular season with a 9–3 record. The Broncos' 7–1 conference record was good enough for a share of the title with Nevada. They ended their season with a 21-27 loss to Boston College in the MPC Computers Bowl on their home field in Boise to finish the season at 9–4. After the season, head coach Dan Hawkins left to take over the head coaching vacancy at Colorado, with offensive coordinator Chris Petersen taking his place.

Pre-season

The 2006 Broncos were an overwhelming favorite in the league's Preseason Media Poll to win the WAC title. They returned more starters than any other team in Division I FBS football—nine on offense and nine on defense, as well as their placekicker and punter. Among the returning starters was quarterback Jared Zabransky, whose 20 wins in the previous two seasons was the most by any returning quarterback in Division I FBS.[1]

Pre-season awards

Korey Hall

Ian Johnson

Jared Zabransky

During the season

The Broncos started the season unranked in both the Coaches Poll or the AP Poll, and would not enter the polls until they had won their first three games. They steadily rose in the rankings mainly on the strength of an offense that finished the regular season second in scoring.[2] The keys to their offense were running back Ian Johnson, who was the nation's leading scorer[3] and second in rushing yards per game,[4] and Zabransky, eighth in passing efficiency.[5] Due to their threats on both the ground and in the air, they were one of only two teams in the country to rush and pass for over 200 yards per game (the other being Oklahoma State).[6][7] In a more obscure statistic, they led the country in percentage of fourth-down conversions, converting 15 of 19 attempts.[8]

The Broncos played five bowl-bound teams during the season—Oregon State, their only opponent from one of the six BCS conferences; Utah; and conference rivals Hawaii, San Jose State, and Nevada. Four out of five of these teams won their bowl game. The only loser, Nevada, lost by one point. Notably, they put a 42-14 defeat on an Oregon State team that would later in the season end the 38-game regular-season winning streak of USC.[9]

Postseason awards

Chris Petersen

Korey Hall

Ian Johnson

Jared Zabransky

2007 Espy Awards

  • Best Game - 2007 Fiesta Bowl
  • Best Play - Fiesta Bowl Statue of Liberty

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 317:00 p.m.Sacramento State*KTVBW 45–029,647
September 75:30 p.m.Oregon State*
  • Bronco Stadium
  • Boise, ID
ESPNW 42–1430,711
September 161:30 p.m.at Wyoming*MTNW 17–1017,880
September 236:00 p.m.HawaiiNo. 25
  • Bronco Stadium
  • Boise, ID
KTVBW 41–3430,642
September 302:30 p.m.at Utah*No. 22VersusW 36–345,222
October 76:00 p.m.Louisiana TechNo. 20
  • Bronco Stadium
  • Boise, ID
KTVBW 55–1430,572
October 156:00 p.m.at New Mexico StateNo. 20ESPNW 40–2816,872
October 213:00 p.m.at IdahoNo. 18KTVBW 42–2617,000
November 16:00 p.m.Fresno StateNo. 14
ESPN2W 45–2130,604
November 114:00 p.m.at San Jose StateNo. 14KTVBW 23–2021,742
November 181:00 p.m.Utah StateNo. 13
  • Bronco Stadium
  • Boise, ID
KTVBW 49–1030,515
November 252:00 p.m.at NevadaNo. 12ESPN2W 38–725,506
January 1, 20076:00 p.m.vs. No. 7 Oklahoma*No. 9FOXW 43–42 OT73,719
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Mountain time

Roster

2006 Boise State Broncos football roster[10]

Wide Receivers

Offensive Guards

  • 61 Jeff Biedermann - Junior
  • 64 Pete Cavender* - Junior
  • 64 Jeff Cavender - Junior
  • 65 Cameron Filkins - Freshman
  • 66 Tad Miller - Junior

Offensive Tackles

  • 60 Andrew Woodruff - Sophomore
  • 70 Tony Volponi - Senior
  • 71 Ryan Keating - Senior
  • 75 Dan Gore - Junior
  • 77 Ben Iannacchione - Sophomore
  • 79 Ryan Clady - Sophomore

Centers

  • 69 Jadon Dailey - Senior
  • 78 Paul Lucariello - Freshman

Offensive Linemen

  • 62 Kevin Sapien - Freshman
  • 68 Mitch Rudder - Freshman
  • 72 Matt Slater - Freshman
  • 76 Jon Gott - Sophomore
 

Tight Ends

  • 39 Ryan Putnam - Junior
  • 40 Richie Brockel - Freshman
  • 49 Jared Hunter - Senior
  • 80 Peter Elliott - Junior
  • 82 Julian Hawkins - Sophomore
  • 85 Tommy Gallarda - Freshman
  • 86 Sherm Blaser - Senior
  • 88 Chris O'Neill - Sophomore
  • 91 Derek Schouman - Senior

Fullbacks

  • 30 Michael Lose - Junior
  • 34 Brad Lau - Senior
  • 37 Michael Orris -

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

  • 27 Jeremy Avery - Freshman
  • 28 Jarvis Hodge - Freshman
  • 32 Andy Silsby - Freshman
  • 33 Jon Helmandollar - Junior
  • 35 Brett Denton - Junior
  • 41 Ian Johnson - Sophomore

Defensive Ends

  • 48 Kapono Rawlins-Crivello - Freshman
  • 53 Sean Bingham - Sophomore
  • 74 Mike Dominguez - Senior (starting long snapper)
  • 93 Mike T. Williams - Sophomore
  • 96 Mike G. Williams - Senior
  • 97 Nick Schlekeway - Junior
  • 98 Ryan Winterswyk - Freshman

Defensive Tackles

  • 57 Andrew Browning - Senior
  • 59 Will Lawrence - Freshman
  • 67 Joe Bozikovich - Sophomore
  • 90 Ian Smart - Junior
  • 92 Dennis Ellis - Senior
  • 94 Phillip Edwards - Sophomore
  • 95 Sione Tavaki - Junior
  • 99 Steven Reveles - Junior
 

Linebackers

  • 13 Mike Altieri - Junior
  • 24 Tim Brady - Sophomore
  • 25 Korey Hall - Senior
  • 31 Colt Brooks - Senior
  • 43 David Shields - Sophomore
  • 44 Kyle Gingo - Sophomore
  • 51 Dallas Dobbs - Sophomore
  • 52 Derrell Acrey - Freshman
  • 55 Garrett Tuggle - Sophomore
  • 56 Josh Bean - Junior

Cornerbacks

  •  6 Rashaun Scott - Junior
  •  8 Orlando Scandrick - Sophomore
  • 16 Tristan Patin - Freshman
  • 22 Kyle Wilson - Freshman
  • 23 Quinton Jones - Senior (starting return specialist)
  • 26 Ia Falo - Junior
  • 29 Evan Surratt - Freshman
  • 37 Austin Smith - Junior

Safeties

  •  2 Gerald Alexander - Senior
  • 14 Jason Robinson - Freshman
  • 18 Ellis Powers - Sophomore
  • 20 Marty Tadman - Junior
  • 36 Seth Anderson - Freshman
  • 38 Jeron Johnson - Freshman
  • 46 Jon Barry Van Hoogen - Sophomore

Punters

  • 42 Kyle Stringer - Senior (also holder)

Kickers

  • 47 Anthony Montgomery - Senior
† Starter at position     * Injured; did not play in 2006.

References

  1. "2006 Bronco Football Media Guide" (PDF). Boise State Broncos Football. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-09. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  2. "Division I-A National Team Report: Scoring Offense". NCAA. December 2, 2006. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  3. "Division I-A National Player Report: Scoring". NCAA. December 2, 2006. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  4. "Division I-A National Player Report: Rushing". NCAA. December 2, 2006. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  5. "Division I-A National Player Report: Passing Efficiency". NCAA. December 2, 2006. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  6. "Division I-A National Team Report: Rushing Offense". NCAA. December 2, 2006. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  7. "Division I-A National Team Report: Passing Offense". NCAA. December 2, 2006. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  8. "Division I-A National Team Report: Offense Fourth-Down Efficiency". NCAA. December 2, 2006. Archived from the original on February 28, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  9. "Three and out: Beavers stun USC; BCS race wide open". ESPN. October 28, 2006. Archived from the original on February 18, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-08-12. Retrieved 2006-12-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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