After the loss to Air Force, I wrote about the lack of talent on the Boise State offense. Specifically, the lack of playmakers, a dominant o line and I termed Grant Hedrick above average. 

At this point, Grant Hedrick is destined to be an above average quarterback who can't win against the best opponents.
Thank god I didn’t mention Thomas Sperbeck by name. 

I KNEW HE WAS GONNA WIN THE FIESTA BOWL OFFENSIVE MVP!  

Before the Air Force game, he hadn’t made one catch or started. He had 6 catches vs Air Force and started turning it on. The Hedrick to Sperbeck duo started meshing and we all know how it turned out. But, who knew we would watch the best season a Boise State QB would have since 2006? Maybe Bryan Harsin and Mike Sanford knew.

Harsin supported Hedrick after the Air Force loss during his press conference but said he had to watch the film. After he watched it, he said Hedrick was the starter.  I think he believed in Hedrick and knew he was the best QB Boise State had to stay in the conference title race. But, Harsin and Sanford sat Hedrick down and told him if he turned the ball over 4-6 times in the next few games, he was done. The team couldn’t handle any more multiple turnover outbursts from Hedrick. He listened and delivered. His only multiple interception game the rest of the season was vs San Diego State. And, his receiver fell down on one of them. 

Hedrick’s’ Fiesta Bowl winning season was impressive  and one of the best all time. Not Kellen Moore impressive but more like 2006. 
Jared Zabransky finished his 2006 senior season with 23 td, 8 interceptions, a 162 efficiency rating and a Fiesta Bowl win. He ran for 6 td’s. Grant Hedrick totals were 23 td, 14 interceptions, a 157 efficiency rating and a Fiesta Bowl win. He ran for 8 td’s. Z never lost his senior year. Boise State beat 8-5 Utah on the road, 10-4 Oregon State at home, who did beat #2 USC that year, and Big 12 champ, #7 ranked Oklahoma. Boise State lost 2x this season, Hedrick had 2 meltdowns in those losses and the Broncos snuck past the other Non-Power 5 teams for the Fiesta Bowl berth. Boise State only beat one ranked opponent and that was #11 Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl. 

Of the 3 Fiesta Bowl seasons, I would rank Grants performance 3rd behind Zabransky and 2010 Moore. Moore finished his junior 2010 season with 35 td’s, 6 interceptions, a 182 efficiency rating and a Fiesta Bowl win. 

But, Hedrick was much better then Taylor Tharpe and Joe Southwick. In 2007, Tharpe had 27 td, 8 interceptions, a 159 rating and no bowl win. Joe Southwick 2012 season ended with a Las Vegas Bowl win over unranked Washington, 19 td, 7 interceptions and a 141 efficiency rating. 

So, here’s to you Grant Hedrick. You are a history making QB who quietly came back from the near brink of disaster and led a gutsy Boise State team to a Fiesta Bowl win.  I nominate you for inclusion on the Fiesta Bowl Ring of Honor for QBs. Like I knew would always happen. Riiiiiighttttt……………