1994 Boise State Broncos football team
Encyclopedia
The 1994 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University
in the 1994 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference
and played their home games at Bronco Stadium
in Boise
, Idaho
.
The Broncos were led by second-year head coach Pokey Allen
.
Boise State finished the regular season at 10–1 and 6–1 in conference to win their sixth Big Sky title, their first since the national championship season of 1980
. The only blemish was a one-point loss at Idaho State
in mid-October. To complete the regular season, BSU finally defeated rival
Idaho
for the first time since 1981, breaking a twelve game winning streak for the Vandals
. Both teams entered the game at 9-1 (and 5-1 in conference), and BSU head coach Pokey Allen promised to ride his horse through Boise if the game was a sellout.
(9–2). Idaho lost a first round road game, and Montana won two home games before falling in the semifinals on the road to the eventual champion. The Broncos hosted and won three close games, against North Texas
, Appalachian State
, and Marshall
to raise their overall record to 13–1. In the I-AA finals at Huntington
, West Virginia
, they were defeated by Jim Tressel
's top-ranked Youngstown State
28–14. The 15 games are the most Boise State ever played in one season, and finished at 13–2.
The 1994 season is known by BSU fans as The Magic Carpet Ride, as the Broncos won all ten home games on the blue AstroTurf
of Bronco Stadium
. This was Boise State's last Big Sky title in football and final appearance in the I-AA playoffs; BSU moved up to Division I-A and the Big West Conference
in 1996
.
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
in the 1994 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
and played their home games at Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference. Since 1997, it has hosted the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos...
in Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
.
The Broncos were led by second-year head coach Pokey Allen
Pokey Allen
Ernest Duncan "Pokey" Allen, Jr. was a football player and coach in the United States and Canada. He served as the head football coach at Portland State University from 1986 to 1992 and at Boise State University from 1993 to 1996, compiling a career college football record of 87–41–2...
.
Boise State finished the regular season at 10–1 and 6–1 in conference to win their sixth Big Sky title, their first since the national championship season of 1980
1980 Boise State Broncos football team
The 1980 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The Broncos were led by fifth-year head coach Jim Criner...
. The only blemish was a one-point loss at Idaho State
Idaho State Bengals football
The Idaho State Bengals football program represents Idaho State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . As of the end of the 2010 season they have an all-time record of 449–463–20...
in mid-October. To complete the regular season, BSU finally defeated rival
Boise State – Idaho rivalry
The Boise State–Idaho rivalry is a college football game between the Boise State University Broncos and the University of Idaho Vandals, the only two Division I FBS programs in the state of Idaho. The game had been played annually from 1971–2010, and with the exception of the 2001–04 games, the...
Idaho
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
for the first time since 1981, breaking a twelve game winning streak for the Vandals
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
. Both teams entered the game at 9-1 (and 5-1 in conference), and BSU head coach Pokey Allen promised to ride his horse through Boise if the game was a sellout.
I-AA Playoffs
Three Big Sky teams made the 16-team field for the I-AA playoffs: Boise State (10–1), Idaho (9–2), and MontanaMontana Grizzlies football
The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963...
(9–2). Idaho lost a first round road game, and Montana won two home games before falling in the semifinals on the road to the eventual champion. The Broncos hosted and won three close games, against North Texas
North Texas Mean Green football
The North Texas Mean Green football team represents the University of North Texas in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-FBS college football and competes as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The Mean Green have attained several conference championships, including four...
, Appalachian State
Appalachian State Mountaineers football
The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team is the college football team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers have competed in the Southern Conference since 1972, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National...
, and Marshall
Marshall Thundering Herd football
The Marshall Thundering Herd football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Marshall University. The team represents the university as a member of the Conference USA Eastern division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 Bowl Subdivision...
to raise their overall record to 13–1. In the I-AA finals at Huntington
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, they were defeated by Jim Tressel
Jim Tressel
James Patrick Tressel is a gameday consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, and former collegiate football head coach at both The Ohio State University from 2001 to 2011 and at Youngstown State University from 1986 to 2000. Tressel is most notable for his time at Ohio State. He was hired by the...
's top-ranked Youngstown State
Youngstown State Penguins football
The Youngstown State Penguins football team represents Youngstown State University in college football. Youngstown State currently plays as a member of the NCAA at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision and are a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference...
28–14. The 15 games are the most Boise State ever played in one season, and finished at 13–2.
The 1994 season is known by BSU fans as The Magic Carpet Ride, as the Broncos won all ten home games on the blue AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
of Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference. Since 1997, it has hosted the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos...
. This was Boise State's last Big Sky title in football and final appearance in the I-AA playoffs; BSU moved up to Division I-A and the Big West Conference
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
in 1996
1996 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the Florida Gators crowned National Champions, but not as unanimously as the Bowl Alliance would have hoped....
.