2002 Boise State Game Highlights

[Jborohog09]

Highlights of the 41-14 blowout of Boise State in 02, enjoy!  Was their only loss of the season.

[Inhogswetrust]

Thanks! I remember it like it was yesterday. We were sitting with some friends in the east outdoor club. About halfway through the third quarter a couple showed up with Boise State shirts on. They were looking around and taking pictures. M wife and I asked them if they wanted us to take a picture of them and they thanked us. We asked why they showed up so late and where were they from. They were from Idaho and just happened to be in town for someones wedding or funeral I can't remember which. The people they were visiting were season ticket holders and gave them their tickets to go but they couldn't make it until after halftime. They said they just wanted to experience an SEC stadium and atmosphere. They were very impressed and a really nice couple.

[LZH]

We were really, really good that year.  That was too much fun to watch.

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

We were really, really good that year.  That was too much fun to watch.

Too bad nutt was coaching. #annunalheadscratchingkentuckyloss

[DukeOfPork]

We also smoked USF the next week 42-3 and USF went 9-2 that year with a 31-14 loss at OU as their only other loss.

Typical voter logic: Boise ended up in the top 10 after running the table against creampuffs while we dropped out of the rankings because of having to run the gauntlet against SEC teams.

Boise rant the table with a backup QB all year after we knocked the starter out in the first half of this game.

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

We also smoked USF the next week 42-3 and USF went 9-2 that year with a 31-14 loss at OU as their only other loss.

Typical voter logic: Boise ended up in the top 10 after running the table against creampuffs while we dropped out of the rankings because of having to run the gauntlet against SEC teams.

Boise rant the table with a backup QB all year after we knocked the starter out in the first half of this game.

We fell from the rankings because we got smoked by Bama, kentucky, Georgia, and Minnesota.

Always thought the 02 and 03 teams were much better than their records indicate. Also throw in 06 and 07.

[MikePiazza]

I think the Alabama loss at home kind of killed any chances at that being a special year. That crowd was at a fever pitch and then Shaud Williams went 80 yards untouched and it was just like, "well, it was fun while it lasted."

[Bigdavis]

I'll never forget this. Boise had almost beat us in 2000 and had improved a lot from that year. Their fans flooded our message boards for weeks leading up to that game and they were sure they would beat us. They had never beaten a power 5 team before and they just knew this would be their first big win over a major conference team. It was so satisfying to beat them up like we did.

Then the next week it was the same story with USF. Another up and coming team that just knew this would be their first big win over a big name team and again we killed them.

I remember driving to Fayetteville the next week and I couldn't wait to knock Alabama's teeth in.... and then Shaud Williams took us all back down to earth.

I agree with the earlier poster that said this team was much better than the record. Same with the 2003 team, that team was way too talented to go 0 for October.

[MikePiazza]

The problem with those teams wasn't the defense.

Matt was a special athlete at quarterback and they had Cobbs, Talley & Howard in the backfield. Problem was, there were games where teams would stack the box and force the Hogs to beat them through the air, and while Matt was decent throwing the ball, they only had Richard Smith and George Wilson as reliable pass catchers.

They lost to Tennessee in 6 OT's in '02 and then had the inexplicable loss to Kentucky at home (Derek Abney is still a hated name in my household). If they had pulled those two out, they would've likely gone 11-1.

[DukeOfPork]

We fell from the rankings because we got smoked by Bama, kentucky, Georgia, and Minnesota.

Always thought the 02 and 03 teams were much better than their records indicate. Also throw in 06 and 07.

My point was that we were 27 points better than a team that ran the table in the WAC.  I'm not saying that we should have been ranked higher, but that Boise should have been ranked lower.  Their record flattered them.

[wildturkey8]

My point was that we were 27 points better than a team that ran the table in the WAC.  I'm not saying that we should have been ranked higher, but that Boise should have been ranked lower.  Their record flattered them.

Arkansas should have been better.

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

My point was that we were 27 points better than a team that ran the table in the WAC.  I'm not saying that we should have been ranked higher, but that Boise should have been ranked lower.  Their record flattered them.

Yes. Boise has always been that one team that has favor in the polls because of their level of competition. Anyone can get up to play 2 big games per year.

Boise state was no slouch back then though and we treated them like a HS team. Houston Nutt had some very talented players on both sides of the football but just never got us over that hump.
The Kentucky game that year was pathetic considering we wiped the floor with Auburn at Auburn the week prior.

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

The problem with those teams wasn't the defense.

Matt was a special athlete at quarterback and they had Cobbs, Talley & Howard in the backfield. Problem was, there were games where teams would stack the box and force the Hogs to beat them through the air, and while Matt was decent throwing the ball, they only had Richard Smith and George Wilson as reliable pass catchers.

They lost to Tennessee in 6 OT's in '02 and then had the inexplicable loss to Kentucky at home (Derek Abney is still a hated name in my household). If they had pulled those two out, they would've likely gone 11-1.

The play that sticks out in my mind in that 02 Tennessee game was splitting Matt Jones out wide and running a sneak late in the game on 4th and 1 with your backup QB (T.Jackson).

[code red]

That team severely underachieved.

[Jborohog09]

The problem with those teams wasn't the defense.

Matt was a special athlete at quarterback and they had Cobbs, Talley & Howard in the backfield. Problem was, there were games where teams would stack the box and force the Hogs to beat them through the air, and while Matt was decent throwing the ball, they only had Richard Smith and George Wilson as reliable pass catchers.

They lost to Tennessee in 6 OT's in '02 and then had the inexplicable loss to Kentucky at home (Derek Abney is still a hated name in my household). If they had pulled those two out, they would've likely gone 11-1.

Didn't O'Donohoe miss a field goal that would have won it in the third or fourth overtime?  I can't remember.  I haven't seen that game since I watched it live.

[Bigdavis]

Didn't O'Donohoe miss a field goal that would have won it in the third or fourth overtime?  I can't remember.  I haven't seen that game since I watched it live.

Yep. That's when he got the nickname "O shank a hoe" and got replaced.

[MikePiazza]

Didn't O'Donohoe miss a field goal that would have won it in the third or fourth overtime?  I can't remember.  I haven't seen that game since I watched it live.

He did. I think it was the third overtime. Here's the link to that entire game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QB7h7UPSDs

[OneTuskOverTheLine™]

In coaching consistency is at a premium. Poor HDN he was consistently inconsistent...

[DukeOfPork]

Arkansas should have been better.

Arkansas WAS better and proved it on the field rather emphatically.

Had Boise played our schedule, they would have had more losses than we did and wouldn't have been ranked.

[DeltaBoy]

Good find.

[Kevin]

That team had talent

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

That team had talent

One of the better backs Nutt ever had ended up playing defensive end and special teams by the end of that season. (Brandon Holmes)

Yuck.

[MikePiazza]

One of the better backs Nutt ever had ended up playing defensive end and special teams by the end of that season. (Brandon Holmes)

Yuck.

I vividly remember Holmes putting the team on his back in those last two games of the 2000 season and carrying the Hogs to a bowl game.

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

I vividly remember Holmes putting the team on his back in those last two games of the 2000 season and carrying the Hogs to a bowl game.

Carried us to a HUGE upset of Miss State in the sleet after Fred got hurt. Then carried the rock 42 times vs LSU in another upset 14-3 win. One of the many players who bought Nutt more time here.

[wildturkey8]

Arkansas WAS better and proved it on the field rather emphatically.

Had Boise played our schedule, they would have had more losses than we did and wouldn't have been ranked.

No, Arkansas should have had a better won-loss record that season.

[DeltaBoy]

Another proof case the HDN did LESS with MORE!!

[Jborohog09]

Good find.

Thank HoginIT.  He hasn't posted here in a long time, but he's the one who hooked me up with this game and all the other highlights I've uploaded the last month.

[DeltaBoy]

There are tons of these games on Youtube.  I been watching them in the evenings when those nasty Say Yes to the Dress shows are on.