Added pressure on Boise State in BCS bowl

Make no mistake about it, Boise State will be playing for all the "mid-major teams" when it squares off against Oklahoma in the upcoming Fiesta Bowl.

And, Chris Petersen, Boise State's first-year head coach, seems to have embraced that idea to a certain extent.

"Well yeah a little bit," he said after a short pause during Monday's teleconference with the rest of the WAC's bowl coaches, including Nevada's Chris Ault. "First and foremost, we're probably no different than anybody else. We're all about Boise State and making sure we represent our program and the university in a positive way.

"But certainly for the rest of the teams in the WAC and other conferences, we need to go out and show we can play (with the power conferences). If we do that, I do think we'll get the respect of the other teams."

Petersen also realizes there is added pressure in a BCS game of this magnitude compared to the Liberty Bowl or the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.

"There's so much hype on this game," Petersen said. "We have to keep it in perspective if that's possible. We can't think about all the other outside distractions and what it means to everybody or we won't play our best. If the players do what they are coached to do, we'll be all right.

"We've had this (pressure) in small stages this year. After we beat Oregon State in Game 2, everybody started talking about a BCS game. We've tried all year to think only about the things that matter. The seniors on our team have been to a bowl game every year, so they know the drill."

Petersen said the Broncos' focus has been good all season no matter who they play and regardless of the opposition's record. Obviously he hopes they can stay focused for another week or so.

When Utah became the first mid-major to play in a BCS bowl game, the Utes knocked off a sub-par Pitt squad from the Big East to finish their undefeated season.

Petersen was asked if a Boise win over Oklahoma would be bigger.

"I think so," he said. "Nobody doubts Oklahoma. A play here and there, and they could be playing for the national championship. If we do a good job, people will look favorably on our program."

And, WAC commissioner Karl Benson was quick to point out that Boise State would have made one of the four major bowls - Rose, Fiesta, Orange and Sugar - even under the old system based on their No. 8 ranking.

Benson said there were erroneous reports that said Boise State only made the BCS because a fifth game - the national title game - had been added. He said that Notre Dame and LSU would have been left out in the cold under the old format.

Benson continued by saying that Boise State is the most dominant team in WAC history, even better than the good BYU and Arizona State teams in the old WAC.

"They have been the flagship for us," Benson said.

SPARTANS EYE NEW MEXICO BOWL

Defense has been the big key behind the success of the San Jose State program this season, and that's not surprising when you consider coach Dick Tomey has always been known as a defensive-minded coach.

"The evolution of our defense was that the secondary had to come together," Tomey said. "We only had one starter in the same position. Everything came together. The addition of Dwight Lowery (All-American cornerback) was a great thing."

Lowery led the conference in interceptions, but the key ingredient was Rakine Toomes, who was moved to safety.

"He gave us solid play that we hadn't had there," Tomey said.

The defensive line made great strides despite injuries to Fred McCutcheon and Shane Lapka. Tomey played freshmen in both those spots with good results.

The linebacking corp led by undersized Matt Castela also played steady throughout the season.

Tomey said the key was the fact that San Jose State was able to play the same group of seven players (linebacker and defensive backs).

The group allowed 68 points in the first 1 1/2 games, but bounced back with a vengeance.

"From halftime of the Stanford game, we were very stingy except for the Hawai'i game," Tomey said. There's no shame in getting blitzed by Hawai'i. The Warriors pound most of their opponents who come to the island.

San Jose State gave Boise State its best game of the season, losing on a last-second field goal.

"I thought they got a lot better last year," Petersen said. "I knew coach Tomey would get things turned around in a short time. He's always been known for defense. It wasn't a surprise for me. They played us as good as anybody all year."

BRENNAN HONORED

Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan, who passed for more than 50 touchdowns and completed more than 65 percent of his passes, won the Sammy Baugh Trophy which is given to the top quarterback in the country.

Brennan, a junior, also finished in the top 10 in the Heisman balloting.