The second-largest crowd in Bronco Stadium history exited Saturday afternoon in stunned silence. After all, the hometown fans aren’t used to seeing Boise State lose anywhere, much less on the blue.
This time, Bronco Nation was unable to shake the rare sight of TCU jubilantly celebrating after a 36-35 victory ended the Broncos’ hopes of another undefeated season.
Another conference championship.
Another run to a BCS bowl game, possibly even the national championship game.
Another Heisman Trophy opportunity.
All but gone.
“The worst I’ve ever felt leaving this place,” said Chris Gardner of Boise, just minutes after Boise State freshman kicker Dan Goodale’s 39-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right on the final play of a back-and-forth slugfest between the two Mountain West Conference powers.
Gardner had a lot of company Saturday night. The Broncos haven’t lost at home in nearly six years, winning 35 straight games at Bronco Stadium dating to the 2005 MPC Computers Bowl against Boston College before TCU, a 15-point underdog, stunned the nation’s No. 5 team.
“Heartbreaking,” said Susanne Smith of Boise, echoing the theme of the evening, “but we win as a team and we lose as a team.”
Much of the displeasure, however, fell on Goodale, a redshirt freshman kicker from Timberline High in Boise.
One fan, who didn’t want to be quoted, ranted that Boise State needs to sign a scholarship kicker rather than rely on walk-ons from the Treasure Valley.
Last November, the Broncos had their Bowl Championship Series dreams dashed when former walk-on kicker Kyle Brotzman of Meridian High missed two short field goals at Nevada.
Boise State coach Chris Petersen, as he did after last year’s loss at Nevada, refused to put the blame on any one player. Any number of plays, he said, were the difference between winning and losing.
“I know we can lose every game. We’re not that good. I count my blessings when we walk off that field with a win. You play TCU, it’s going to come down to a play here and a play there,” said Petersen, whose Boise State coaching record dropped to 69-6. “It’s not a pleasant feeling. I don’t take any of those wins for granted.”
As the beyond-capacity crowd of 34,146 filed out of the stadium, there was very little chatter, just the realization that another trip to the BCS will have to wait, that an undefeated season isn’t in the cards, that the Broncos are, in fact, not unbeatable at home.
“People were bummed,” said Kim Bentley of Boise. “But we still love our BSU.”
Brian Murphy: 377-6444
