Bleymaier frustrated in search for $1 million payday

RUSTON, La. - Gene Bleymaier is getting a cold response from Bowl Championship Series-conference teams as he searches for a game to open the 2011 season.

Several BCS teams have turned down a home game against the Broncos for that season, Bleymaier said Friday night.

Earlier in the week, WAC commissioner Karl Benson said it's close to 10 teams.

ESPN is helping the Broncos find an opponent for what would be a television game, Bleymaier and Benson said.

Bleymaier has heard the criticism from the media and BCS teams that the Broncos don't play a difficult enough schedule.

"That is frustrating when schools say that and then turn around and won't play you," Bleymaier said. "And it's frustrating when commentators and others say we don't play anybody. Well, we played (No. 7) Oregon this year and we beat them."

Bleymaier wants a big-money road game for Sept. 3, 2011, to complete that schedule. The Broncos have home games against Utah, Tulsa and Wyoming and a road game against Toledo scheduled for 2011.

He's looking for a paycheck in the neighborhood of $1 million. The Broncos are getting $1.25 million to play Virginia Tech next year in Landover, Md.

The schools haven't given Bleymaier a reason for turning him down, but they haven't even discussed specifics, he said.

"In some cases, it appeared that the date was open but they weren't interested in playing," Bleymaier said.

The publicity generated this week by the scheduling problem might help.

"I'm hopeful once we get the word out more we can find somebody," Bleymaier said.

Bleymaier would like to play a big-money road game most years, he said. That's a change in scheduling philosophy.

The Broncos have played just two of those games since the start of 2003 - a 2005 game at Georgia and 2007 game at Washington, both losses.

The Broncos' status as a perennial Top 25 team and their budget situation convinced Bleymaier to change his approach, he said.

"I think we're ready and able to do that and we could use the revenue," he said.

BLEYMAIER ON OTHER TOPICS

The debate whether Oregon should be ranked ahead of Boise State: "Last time I checked, the Yankees are the best team in baseball. I don't think people are saying that the Phillies are the best team in baseball. Usually, the team that wins is declared the best team."

On the WAC hiring Boise-based public-relations firm Scott Peyron & Associates to help build a case for the Broncos' inclusion in the BCS: "It makes sense. I think it's great. We appreciate the conference doing that."

On coach Chris Petersen's refusal to lobby for the Broncos: "I think our coach is willing to lobby when the season is over. We have five games to play. Everybody wants to talk about it. If we lose tonight, what are we going to say? Hey, in four weeks if we're undefeated, we'll lobby. You're darn right we'll lobby."

Chadd Cripe: 377-6398