The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: Bowl Edition Vol. 2

Outside of the National Championship, the college football season is behind us; It was a wild ride to say the least. The Mountain West had its last bowl game of the year on New Year’s Eve as a decimated San Jose State squad faced off against MAC champion Ball State. Let’s take a look at the good, bad, and ugly moments of the past week.

The Good:

Ball State

The Cardinals came to play in Arizona. They jumped out to a 27-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Ball State had more than 400 yards of total offense against a Spartan defense that had been very stingy. Ball State didn’t do much after the first quarter, but the game was never in doubt as the Cardinals cruised to a 34-13 victory.

The Bad:

San Jose State

Missing your coordinators, best receiver, and key defensive players is never easy to overcome. San Jose State had plenty of adversity over the course of the season, but this was too much. After spending the majority of their season in a bubble of sorts, the COVID bug hit San Jose State in a big way, and they never had a chance in this game.

The Ugly:

COVID-19

COVID destroyed this season. The Mountain West did not give itself any wiggle room by starting the season late and allowing time for makeup games. For the first time, I am glad that the season is over. It was exhaustive and draining. You never knew who was going to be out from game to game and cancellations were constant.

The Boise State Athletic Director/Coaching Search

After the unexpected departure of Bryan Harsin, Boise State was forced to expedite their search for a new athletic director. On Saturday night, Boise State announced that Baylor Assistant Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey would be their new AD. Dickey has a very impressive resume, but former and current players were noticeably upset by the decision. Those players hoped that Brad Larrondo, who has been with Boise State for 27 years, would get the job. However, it appears that Larrondo will likely follow Harsin to Auburn.

Later Saturday evening, Kellen Moore announced that he was taking his name out of the running for the Boise State job and was signing an extension with the Cowboys. At the time of this writing, Boise State still has not announced a new head coach.

That is it for this edition of “The Good, the Bad, the Ugly.” What were some moments from this past season that stuck out to you? What changes does that Mountain West need to make in 2021?