In terms of achieving the team’s ultimate goal — a Mountain West Conference championship — Saturday’s football game against Air Force did not mean much for Boise State.
But if any opponent was to motivate the Broncos with the Mountain Division already in hand, it was the Falcons.
Even in July, junior quarterback Brett Rypien said of outside noise saying the Broncos were on the decline: “We never lost sight of what’s made us good, but when you lose close games, don’t win the Mountain West, lose to Air Force three straight times, you hear it more.