Former University of Idaho head coach Tom Cable (now the interim Raiders head coach) led the Vandals for four seasons and compiled a record of 11-35 from 2000 to 2003. I'm thinking it's going to be another toilet season for the Raiders.

Don't get me wrong. Tom Cable seems like one of those guys who was is a great assistant coach - but not cut out to be a head coach.

"In the end, it came down to gut feelings and instincts - both Chris Petersen's and Kellen Moore's.Petersen, Boise State's head football coach, said it was intuition and simply having a hunch as much as anything that led to his and offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin's decision to name Moore, a redshirt freshman from Prosser, Wash., as the Broncos' starting quarterback." (Source: BroncoSports.com) (Photo courtesy of the Idaho Statesman).

I've recently moved away from Boise for work, but I follow the broncos religiously, and for me this is exciting. While don't get me wrong, Taylor Tharp did an outstanding job last year, but I have a feeling the next 4 seasons are going to get better and better. Perhaps even another BCS ring in the near future.

I would love to see this kid play live, but I'll have to rely broncosports.com on the web and ESPN for as my source for blue and orange hoopla. The downside to the freshman quarterback in my opinion, lack of experience, but then I look at everyone on the squad and if Coach Pete says he's the guy, who am I to cast doubt.

He must be an amazing talent. Let's see what he can do. I'm really interested in seeing how the coaching staff adjusts the offensive line for the left handed QB and how opposing coaches will scheme their defenses.

For a replay of the press conference go here: http://www.broncosports.com/mediaPlayer/video.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9900&LCH=1&CLIP_ID= 135926&CLIP_FILE_ID=140582&CONTENT_TYPE=ONDEMAND&db_oem_id=9900

It looks like Boise State is serious about keeping Chris Petersen happy and at BSU.

Apparently the 5-year contract is worth at least $4.25 million plus incentives which could push it over $1 million per year.

The contract was on today's State Board of Education agenda.

Coach Pete made $666,666 in 2006 his first year as head coach, led the Broncos to an undefeated season, a Fiesta Bowl win, and the Bear Bryant Coach Of The Year Award.

Listen to Coach Petersen talk about the impact of Boise State game-day atmosphere on recruits.

INCOMING FRESHMEN: 28 COLLEGE TRANSFERS: 1

Boise State has one of it's best recruiting seasons ever. Take a look at what each new recruit brings to the table.

Massive 29-player class features new blood at tailback and receiver and emphasizes the offensive and defensive lines.

The Boise State football team reeled in a massive recruiting class Wednesday — 28 high school players and one junior-college transfer.

The Broncos loaded up as they found players eager to join a program rising into the upper echelon of Division I-A rather than waiting to see who was available next year.

Chris Strausser shocked them all. His wife. His two daughters. His Colorado colleagues. His old friend at Boise State.

But they also understood.

Strausser's heart was in Boise. And one year away proved that much more convincingly than the previous five years here.

Listen to Coach Petersen talk about signing the 29 players

When a program loses its offensive line coach after the best season in school history, what's the best-case scenario? Have that guy's predecessor come back. But it's interesting how this has all shaken out. With Sean Kugler going home to join the Buffalo Bills, Chris Strausser has returned to the Boise State staff after one year with Dan Hawkins at Colorado. But Strausser will be tight ends coach and "run game coordinator", while one of his former pupils, Scott Huff, moves over to O-line coach. So what's going on here? Well, Strausser and his family were firmly bonded with the city of Boise and wanted to get back. There you go.

Chris Petersen talked about Strausser's return yesterday on Idaho SportsTalk. Petersen called the re-hire a "slam-dunk, no-brainer", saying Strausser is the "one guy in this country besides Sean Kugler where we can hit the ground running and not miss a beat." Pete points to not only philosophy and style but chemistry, probably the most important word in the BSU football dictionary. As far as the move to tight ends goes, Petersen says Strausser wants to spread his wings with "probably the most complicated position" in the BSU offense after coaching O-lines for about 15 years.

Meanwhile, the fact that BSU held onto all of its highly-touted offensive line recruits Wednesday despite the sudden departure of Kugler just magnifies the big picture. The Bronco program is a total package right now, and recruits buy into that. And the sidebar to National Letter of Intent Day for BSU: here's a team that lost 22 seniors off an undefeated team, and it brings in just one junior college transfer (safety Garcia Day). The Broncos are in a cycle of recruiting classes that can perpetuate their amazing run, now entering its ninth year.

After losing 22 seniors from the 2006 Boise State football team Head Coach Chris Petersen knew the only thing to do was reload. Petersen held a press conference Wednesday to announce a finalized list of high school and junior college players who have signed a national letter of intent with the Broncos.

"We're really excited this day is finally here," Coach Petersen said. "I know at the end of recruiting everyone is always glad. It seems like it's been going on for so long. A little bit like the football season I think it's been a remarkable recruiting season too."

The Broncos' list of recruits consists of 25 players (15 defensive and 13 offensive). The recruiting base spans nine states and two countries. California was once again the highest-recruited state with nine players committing to join the BSU program.

CollegeFootballNews.com

2006 WAC Surprises, Disappointments, Bests, MVPs and More

Coach of the Year ? Chris Petersen, Boise State

San Jose State's Dick Tomey is a close second. Did Dan Hawkins or Dirk Koetter get to the BCS? Sure, Boise State would've gotten in a few years ago under the current rules, but Petersen is the one who actually got it done leading the team to an unbeaten season, yet another WAC title, and the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma despite being the circle-on-the-calendar game for everyone in the WAC. The offense remained explosive.

2006 Collegefootballnews.com All-WAC Team

Defensive Player of the Year - Korey Hall, LB Boise State

Other WAC players made more tackles and others made just as many big plays, but Hall was the leader of the WAC's top defense and a consistent rock against the run all year long. He was also fantastic in pass coverage coming up with six interceptions.

Why each WAC team should be excited, grouchy, and what each team needs to work on.

Boise State 2006 Record: 13-0

Why to get excited: Boise State always wanted the national attention that comes with being a top-flight program, and now it'll have it. Chris Petersen and his staff proved in the Fiesta Bowl to be among the most creative in the game, and they should keep the offensive production rolling with Ian Johnson running behind a good line with four starters returning.

Highlights and reaction from Boise State's amazing 2007 Fiesta Bowl finish.

Sean Kugler may be the first, but he probably won't be the last.

Boise State's offensive line coach became the first Bronco football assistant this year to leave the team for another job, accepting a similar position with the NFL's Buffalo Bills.

But now that the Broncos are Fiesta Bowl champs and the only undefeated team in college football, suddenly their coaches become more desirable.

Do you think Boise State University isn't scrambling to find a way to hold onto them?