When Jamar Taylor started falling in the NFL draft from the late first round to the late second round it was a familiar feeling. The effects of the doubters who question the quality of competition he faces in the Mountain West Conference were again running the show. Just like the weekly poll voters question how good Boise St. really is, the NFL seemed to be following suit. Only 7 MWC players were drafted and only one Brice Butler, a USC transfer, a WR. Taylor was the 8th corner selected. Of the 7 taken before Taylor, one was from a “peer” school, the others all BCS conferences. D.J. Hayden of Houston played in Conference USA where only 8 players were drafted. Go figure. But, Boise St. is addressing this problem head on. President Kustra tried to give former AD Gene Bleymaier a bonus if he scheduled more BCS games and put Boise St. in the Big East where, for a year, they would have been in a BCS conference. Coach Petersen works at decorating the Boise St. facility walls with former Broncos in the NFL, writes them hand written notes and throws a party for all former players in the spring. The active NFL players attend Boise St. games at home or on the road and stand on the sideline. The future Boise St. schedule is now loaded with BCS games. Chad Crippe of the Idaho Statesman pointed out that 25 of the 29 future non-conference games scheduled for Boise St. are against either BCS schools or BYU. That’s an upgrade that will keep both Coach Pete challenged and future Bronco NFL prospects in the Big School spotlight.
