Wednesday, July 11, 2007


Jul. 11, 2007 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
The Fiesta Bowl is the gift that keeps on giving for the Boise State football program.

Just when the game begins to recede into the background -- it's been more than six months since the Broncos defeated Oklahoma 43-42 in overtime in the Jan. 1 bowl game -- something brings it back to the forefront.

Tonight, it's ESPN's annual awards show, the ESPYs. The gimmicky awards show, which marks its 15th appearance this year, will be held at the Kodak (NYSE:EK) Theater in Hollywood. The show, co-hosted by NBA star LeBron James and comedian Jimmy Kimmel, will air at 7 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.

The Broncos are up for two ESPYs (it should be at least four) and are favorites to win the Best Game ESPY and the Best Play ESPY.

The Broncos were inexplicably left off the ballot in the Best Upset and Best Finish categories.

Coach Chris Petersen, former quarterback Jared Zabransky, former wide receiver Legedu Naanee, running back Ian Johnson and his fiancee Chrissy Popadics are expected to attend the event on behalf of the team.

'It's just another one of the benefits of playing in a game like that. It brings more exposure to the program, which is always good,' said Petersen, who allowed that he hasn't prepared any sort of acceptance speech.

ESPN has used Boise State in its television commercials for the awards show. Last year, more than 2.5 million households and 3.6 million viewers tuned into the show and more than 12.1 million votes were cast online for the awards.

'All of the exposure is unbelievable for us, especially when you relate it to a national television audience on a national stage,' said Brad Larrondo, the Broncos' assistant athletic director for promotions and marketing. 'The ripple effects from (the Fiesta Bowl) have been unending for the last six months. People view Boise State differently now.'

So what chance do the Broncos actually have of returning to Boise with two 18-inch, 6.5-pound trophies?

Pretty damn good.

And what can Johnson do to top his post-Fiesta Bowl wedding proposal?

A red-carpet wedding, perhaps?

Let's break it down:

In the Best Game category, the Fiesta Bowl is competing with the Colts' dramatic 38-34 victory against the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game and Oklahoma State's 105-103 triple-overtime basketball victory against Texas in which Kevin Durant scored 37 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Longhorns.

The AFC Championship Game was a great contest between high-profile rivals, but it lacked the Fiesta Bowl's flair and dramatics. A regular-season college basketball game, no matter how great, simply isn't going to win this category.The five previous winners of the Best Game ESPY involved postseason games, including two bowl games (USC-Texas in the 2006 Rose Bowl and Ohio State-Miami in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl).

Chances of Boise State winning: 75 percent.

The Broncos face a bigger field in the Best Play category, but even less competition. The Statue of Liberty two-point conversion is up against a wild basketball shot in a regular-season NBA game, a double-backflip in the X Games, a punt return in a regular-season college football game and, its only real adversary, an amazing baseball catch in Game 7 of the NLCS.

Endy Chavez's grab was outstanding, but we see home-run robbing catches all the time. Plus, Chavez's Mets didn't even win the game.

You never see a Statue of Liberty play. Especially not on the most important play of the season.

Chances of Boise State winning: 85 percent.

Next question: How do you get those trophies through airport security?

Chances of that red-carpet wedding for Johnson and Popadics: 1 percent.

I've learned to never say never when it comes to Ian Johnson and Boise State.

Brian Murphy: 377-6444

Newstex ID: KRTB-0234-18059937


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