Legendary Broncos Aren't the One's You're Thinking Of...

When a football fan is asked to list “Legendary Broncos”, the names John Elway, Terrell Davis, Gary Zimmerman, Floyd Little, Tom Jackson, Steve Atwater, Champ Bailey, Rod Smith, and Shannon Sharpe are a few of the people that come to mind. You might even be inclined to mention a couple of the legendary coaches like Mike Shanahan and Dan Reeves. But after 2010, I predict that at least 3 new names will be added to that “Legendary Broncos” list:

Kellen Moore
Austin Pettis
Chris Petersen

Yes, you read that correctly and unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 3 days, then you know exactly who they are.

I have long been a believer that the Non-BCS teams just simply would not and could not consistently beat BCS programs. Coming into College Footballs much anticipated 2010 Week 1, I predicted that there was no way that all 4 of the Non-BCS powers (Utah, Boise St., TCU, and BYU) could survive a weekend in which they would be playing 4 teams that many pundits thought would vie for their respective conference championships. But in a weekend where Florida looked average, Texas looked human, and USC looked mediocre, those 4 Non-BCS teams looked like the dominant programs across college footballs vast landscape. Utah defeated the preseason Big East favorite #18 Pittsburgh in overtime. BYU outslugged Heisman hopeful Jake Locker and the Washington Huskies. TCU stopped last years Pac-10 runner up Oregon State. And saving the best for last, the Boise State Broncos put the icing on the cake by defeating Virginia Tech in front of a Fed Ex Field crowd that was easily made up of 80% Hokie fans (a virtual road game for Boise).

After seeing the Broncos in person on Monday night, I came to a realization that this is a team and a program that no longer fits the title of “Non-BCS” or “Non-AQ” and it may have been that way for longer than I realized. The talent, the size, the coaching, the discipline, the speed, and most impressively the swagger that the Broncos brought to the stadium fits the mold of a team that has earned their way into the ranks of the elite and has EVERY intention of staying there.

Junior QB Kellen Moore catapulted himself to the Top 5 of the list of Heisman front-runners with his poise and efficiency when the game was on the line. WR Austin Pettis had 2 TD receptions, including the game winner, against an ACC defense that has been one of the best in the nation for the past 10 years. He also had a blocked punt against the perennial best special teams unit in America. And carrying the Blue-Collar mentality of their Head coach Chris Petersen, the Broncos KO’d the thoughts of every critic, including myself, with their 2nd consecutive opening game win over a Top 10 BCS school.

I still hold reservation on the assumption that Boise St. could win 11 games against an SEC schedule that consisted of LSU, Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee or a Big Ten Schedule that would see them face Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan. But, the light that was shed on my pigskin loving eyes Monday night showed me a team that could and would certainly compete with every program in America on a 1-game basis. And for now, that’s good enough.

We are only through week 1, so, there is much football to be played. But the next time someone asks you to name some of the best Broncos to ever play the game, make sure your list includes a few of the gentleman that call Boise, Idaho their home.