How Can Boise State Recover Before SDSU?

TL;DR

Boise State must stabilize its offense before facing SDSU by choosing a primary running back, building quarterback Cutforth’s confidence, and calling plays more aggressively. The hosts view the Hawaii Pacific basketball loss as a serious resume problem and argue that football issues involving leadership, quarterback play, receivers, and discipline require honest evaluation rather than panic about immediate coaching changes.

Transcript

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Key Insights

• Boise State’s proposed offensive priorities are selecting one primary running back, strengthening Cutforth’s confidence, and avoiding fearful play calling against SDSU. The hosts believe clearer roles and a more assertive approach are necessary after the offense’s recent instability.
• Cutforth’s limited appearances produced sharply different impressions. He looked effective when entering against Air Force and leading a touchdown drive, but his performance against Fresno State created uncertainty about whether Boise State can rely on that earlier version against SDSU.
• A backup offensive plan is necessary if Cutforth struggles. The hosts suggest opening competition for Caleb Annette or introducing creative packages, including Wildcat concepts, while treating a listener’s proposed wing T idea as unconventional but not entirely unreasonable.
• Spencer’s job is not viewed as being in immediate danger. Although a listener feared that another loss might trigger a major coaching change, the hosts reject that conclusion and argue that such a decision would be more plausible in a later season.
• The Hawaii Pacific basketball loss is portrayed as a major resume problem. The hosts believe the result reveals troubling qualities about the team and could continue to hurt Boise State when its postseason credentials are evaluated by a selection committee.
• Boise State is perceived by the hosts as receiving little benefit of the doubt from selection committees. Their concern about the Hawaii Pacific loss is reinforced by memories of Dayton, which they cite while discussing how damaging results can influence postseason decisions.
• Football criticism extends beyond one loss or one player. The episode’s stated review covers leadership, quarterback performance, the wide receiver room, discipline, and the broader path that produced the season’s current difficulties.
• Fan discussion serves as both criticism and emotional release after losses. The hosts note that disappointing results generate more views and comments, while listeners describe the podcast as therapeutic because it presents frustration that differs from more defensive reactions around the program.

Questions & Answers

Q: How should Boise State prepare its offense for SDSU?

Boise State should establish a clear primary running back, give Cutforth opportunities to build confidence, and call the game with greater conviction. The hosts also want a practical backup plan if the starting approach fails. Possible alternatives include opening competition for Caleb Annette or installing creative Wildcat-style packages that use the available backfield differently.

Q: Why is the SDSU game a must-win for Boise State?

The episode frames SDSU as a must-win because Boise State enters the matchup amid concerns about leadership, quarterback play, the receiver room, discipline, and offensive direction. Another loss would intensify criticism and fan anxiety, even though the hosts do not believe it would automatically cost Spencer his job. The matchup is presented as an opportunity to restore stability.

Q: What did Cutforth show against Air Force and Fresno State?

Cutforth created optimism when he entered against Air Force, moved Boise State down the field, and helped produce a touchdown. That appearance made observers feel more comfortable with him as an option. Fresno State produced the opposite reaction, leaving the hosts uncertain about which version will appear and emphasizing the need to support him while preparing an alternative.

Q: Should Boise State use a Wildcat or wing T package?

The hosts consider creative packages reasonable if the conventional quarterback plan begins failing. A listener proposes using Zeke Martinez, who played at Meridian, in a wing T concept, while the discussion more broadly supports exploring the Wildcat. The idea is not presented as the primary offense, but as a possible way to diversify rushing threats and create a backup option.

Q: Could Spencer lose his job if Boise State loses again?

The hosts strongly disagree with the prediction that Spencer would be removed after another loss. They acknowledge the listener’s concern and the broader atmosphere around coaching changes, but they believe Boise State is still too early in the process for that response. In their view, such a decision would be more conceivable in a third or fourth year.

Q: Why is the Hawaii Pacific loss so damaging for Boise State basketball?

The Hawaii Pacific defeat is described as a result that could haunt Boise State’s resume. The hosts see it as more than an isolated bad night because postseason evaluation can place lasting weight on damaging losses. They also believe Boise State does not receive much committee benefit of the doubt, making the result especially difficult to overcome later.

Q: What problems do the hosts identify with Boise State football?

The episode’s football assessment identifies concerns involving leadership, quarterback performance, the wide receiver room, discipline, running back usage, and play-calling confidence. The hosts are trying to explain how the season reached its present condition rather than blaming only one individual. Their SDSU demands focus on clearer personnel decisions, quarterback support, and a less cautious offensive approach.

Q: Why do Boise State losses increase engagement with the podcast?

The hosts observe that losses Boise State should have avoided tend to produce more views and more comments. Fans use the show to express frustration, debate decisions, and hear reactions that feel less restrained than messages telling them to stop complaining. One listener calls the podcast therapeutic after a loss, which the hosts connect to its candid fan perspective.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The hosts revisit the emotional response to Boise State’s Fresno State loss through listener comments, jokes, and criticism of their previous analysis. Brandon acknowledges feeling uneasy about his wide receiver conspiracy theory and criticism of Russ, while the group rejects a listener’s prediction that Spencer could lose his job after another defeat.

• Boise State basketball’s loss to Hawaii Pacific is treated as a damaging result that could remain attached to the team’s postseason resume. The discussion connects that concern to the belief that Boise State rarely receives favorable committee treatment, with Dayton serving as the group’s remembered example of how selection decisions can punish the program.

• Looking toward SDSU, the hosts demand clearer offensive decisions and more confident play calling. They want Boise State to select a primary running back, help Cutforth settle into the quarterback role, and prepare alternatives such as Wildcat concepts if necessary. Women’s soccer, Pac-12 realignment, broadcast access, and unusual football highlights also receive attention.