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Boise State jabs Mountain West, plans to wear all-blue uniforms in MAACO Bowl
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David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Arizona State players, from left, T.J. Simpson, Omar Bolden and Brandon Magee pose with 13-year-old patient Justin Skovgard at Sunrise Children's Hospital on Tuesday. The Sun Devils will meet Boise State in Thursday's MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium. » Buy this photo
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Seven-year-old patient Colin Clifford, left, smiles Tuesday during a chat with Boise State’s Jerrell Gavins at Sunrise Children’s Hospital. Seven members of both MAACO Bowl Las Vegas teams visited children at the hospital, bearing gifts of mini-footballs and stuffed animals. DAVID BECKER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL » Buy this photo
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Dec. 21, 2011 | 8:30 a.m.
When the obituary is written for the Mountain West Conference -- as it will be if the expected merger goes through with Conference USA, probably in January -- the MWC can look back at its treatment of Boise State as a cause.
The Mountain West never really made the Broncos feel appreciated, spending years spurning their desires to join the league, maintaining Boise State would not have aided the case for automatic Bowl Championship Series status.
And then when the Mountain West finally invited the Broncos last year, it was under the condition they not wear their all-blue uniforms while playing on their famous blue field.
That didn't sit well with Boise State, which still agreed to join but will head to the Big East Conference in 2013.
Boise State coach Chris Petersen was asked somewhat lightheartedly if the uniform issue was the real reason the Broncos will leave the Mountain West.
"I don't think that hurt," he said.
Petersen said eighth-ranked Boise State will wear its all-blue uniforms when it plays Arizona State in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at 5 p.m. Thursday at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Boise State also doesn't expect the Big East to have a problem with the all-blues.
"That's a sore subject," Petersen said. "It hasn't come up, so I assume we're all good."
n SHARING SPACE -- Bad enough Dennis Erickson knows this will be his final game as Arizona State's coach after being fired in late November.
He's also had to share office space with incoming coach Todd Graham and his assistants.
"It's awkward, yeah, of course," Erickson said. "People can say it wasn't, but it is. It's awkward for both sides. We're trying to practice, and they're trying to put together their staff. My guys are trying to find jobs.
"It's been very difficult for my coaching staff and my players."
n HOPING FOR 30 -- Bowl executive director Tina Kunzer-Murphy is hoping for a sellout but isn't sure she will get one.
She wants to draw at least a crowd of 30,000, and said there's a good chance of reaching that number.
"I think Boise will surprise us," Kunzer-Murphy said. "They come from different places. They're not fans to go through their own ticket office. They have creative ways of buying tickets."
Part of the reason, she said, is because Boise State doesn't immediately assign seats when tickets are sold, and "the fans want to know where they're sitting."
Kunzer-Murphy said each school returned more than 3,000 tickets out of the 11,000 allotment each had to purchase.
Selling tickets hasn't been a problem for the most recent Las Vegas bowls. It has drawn paid crowds of more than 40,000 each year since 2005, so it appears that streak will end.
Kunzer-Murphy said she will have a better estimate today, because ticket sales moved out of her office Dec. 1 to the Thomas & Mack Center.
n ODDS AND ENDS -- Some players visited Sunrise Children's Hospital on Tuesday, and today's main events will be a luncheon at the Convention Center and a pep rally on Fremont Street. Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rocky Bleier will be the featured speaker at the luncheon. ... Each player can receive up to $350 of bowl swag. Choices include a 32-inch flat-screen high-definition television, an iPod, a Wii gaming system and a Fender Starcaster guitar. ... Arizona State defensive coordinator Craig Bray was a UNLV wide receiver in 1973 and 1974, and an assistant coach in 1975. ... This is the Sun Devils' first trip to Nevada since losing to UNR 33-13 in 1947.
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.
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I'm really torn apart by conference realignment and other Boise State stuff. I was so excited when Boise came into the league, and I know they were too. I always thought they were a perfect fit for the MWC, and now look. The Big East? I am also tormented by their two losses. Two years in a row; a perfect season down the drain because their field goal kicker didn't convert. Kellen Moore went from Heisman trophy candidate to; just another QB. They went from a guaranteed BCS game and who know's, maybe even a national championship game to the LV Bowl. What a heartbreak. I really feel their anguish. This was their year, and they lost the big game for the second year in a row. They have to be really upset at themselves. In truth, they can only blame themselves for losing, but it still has to be one of the most heartbreaking things for players and coaches to experience. These opportunities don't come along very often and when they do, you have to reach out and seize it or it will get away from you. I see Kellen and the whole Boise State program as a first class football program. I don't see arrogance or attitude. I see sportsmanship. In my mind, they are a model for what is good about college football today. It's their spirit and their tenacious fight to climb to the top of the mountain that I most admire. They demand and deserve better and even though it grieves me that they're leaving the MWC, I wish them much success in the future. P.S. coach Peterson, go find two good kickers, you need a back up, too.
Are you an idiot or do you ever do any homework? Boise State always wears all blue against non-conference opponents at home or in a bowl game. Even in the MWC! this is nothing new. They did it a few times this year already so this isn't jabbing the MW. Horrible headline and I love your always negative stories toward UNLV, the MWC, waking up each day, crossing the street or really anything.
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Poor Dennis Erickson. What goes around....etc etc. He shouldn't have screwed the Idaho Vandals football program last time around when he broke his contract.