It's supposed to be a rivalry. But Saturday's Boise State-Idaho game, like many of the previous eight meetings, quickly became a party - with one team having the time of its life and the other brooding in the corner.
Boise State feted its 18 seniors in a pregame ceremony, then threw them a magnificent going-away party in front of the largest Bronco Stadium crowd of the year.
In trouncing Idaho 58-14, the Broncos completed a pass to a lineman, who then struck a Heisman Trophy pose and took a leap into the stands. The Broncos allowed a defensive tackle to attempt an extra point. A backup quarterback threw two touchdown passes.
It was all smiles for those in blue and orange, who hooted and hollered through their ninth consecutive victory in this increasingly lopsided rivalry. The average score in the last nine games: Boise State 50, Idaho 18.
Once the Broncos took control, "You can really start having fun," tailback Ian Johnson said. "Then the coaches dialed up a few fun extra things to liven up the mood a little more."
Extra things like an attempted lateral to massive left tackle Ryan Clady. The 6-foot-6, 315-pounder deftly hauled in a pass from quarterback Taylor Tharp late in the third quarter, then rumbled into the end zone. That's when he broke out the Heisman pose and jumped into the stands.
"When you see big Clady jump into the stands, you can't not have fun. That's amazing. ... He had the Heisman and the Lambeau Leap all in one. I was pretty impressed. It's kind of like that Dr Pepper commercial," said Johnson, who decided to take part in the impromptu celebration that drew players from the sidelines and a 15-yard penalty.
"Once I saw one yellow thing fly up in the air, I was like, 'Oh, I might as well run over.' They can't sort us all out."
That the touchdown was called back because it was a forward pass to an ineligible receiver didn't much matter. That the penalties left Boise State facing third-and-29 from the Idaho 30 didn't matter much, either - the Broncos converted thanks to a pass interference call and Johnson scored on the next play to make it 45-14. Bush Hamdan, the Broncos' No. 2 quarterback (this week at least), added two more fourth-quarter touchdown passes.
After the last score, 6-foot-3, 274-pound defensive tackle Ian Smart attempted the extra point. Smart, who routinely kicks field goals in practice and warmups with the kickers before games, has long pestered the coaches to allow him to try in a game.
He missed. Badly.
"I kind of looked at (special teams) coach (Jeff) Choate like, 'Are you serious about this?' Then when I realized there was a chance he could miss it and (I wouldn't) have to talk to him again about this, I let him roll," coach Chris Petersen said. "I think I was the only guy on our sideline cheering when he missed it."
Such merriment was typical on the Broncos' sideline.
For Idaho, however, it was another painful reminder of its current place in this rivalry and another indication of how far they have to go to become competitive again. While their opponent celebrated, the Vandals seethed. Idaho was called for nine penalties, including six in the second half when things really went sour.
"Losing has got to be frustrating," said Bronco senior Marty Tadman, who can't really speak from experience.
Bronco Stadium was plastered with signs taunting the Vandals for their lack of recent success. The "Tired of losing? Call 1-800-BIG-SKYY" banner stood out.
"This one hurts," said Idaho senior linebacker David Vobora, who ends his career 0-4 against the Broncos. "... We try to approach this like it's just another game, but it's not. Sometimes I think guys got caught up in a little bit of the jawing, and maybe that took us away a little bit from our game."
When you're winning, you jump into the stands and let defensive tackles satisfy their lifelong desire to kick in a game.
When you're losing, you start talking, trying to get back with your words what you haven't been able to accomplish with your actions.
Despite their current second-class status in the rivalry, the Vandals aren't conceding anything.
Said Vobora: "Next year we'll come back with the mentality that we're going to beat Boise State and get this streak to end."
Until future Vandals can back up that talk, the blue-and-orange party rolls on.
Brian Murphy: 377-6444
