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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:maroon'>Maybe I’m
petty, maybe it’s just my deep-seated hatred of smurf-turf and all things
blue and orange, but dog gone it, BSU got beat!</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:maroon'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:maroon'>Now begins
the downward spiral . . .</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:maroon'> </span></font></p>
<h2 style='background:white'><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Frogs rain on parade</span></font></b></h2>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Broncos' undefeated
season washed away by TCU</span></font></p>
<p class=byline1 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>By Bernie Wilson of
the Associated Press</span></font></p>
<p class=date2 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><i><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Wednesday,
December 24, 2008</span></font></i></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>SAN</span></font><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> DIEGO</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> - After
getting a pregame pep talk from LaDainian Tomlinson, the TCU Horned Frogs went
out and promptly fell behind </span></font><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Boise</span></font><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>State</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> 10-0 midway
through the first quarter.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>No big deal. L.T.
had told them to do what Frogs do, and in this case TCU kept it close before
wrecking </span></font><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Boise</span></font><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>State</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>'s shot at an
undefeated season.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Joseph Turner scored
on a 17-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to give the No. 11 Horned
Frogs their first lead of the night, which they preserved for a 17-16 victory
over No. 9 Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"We just wore
them down. They can't last forever," Turner said.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Boise</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>State</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> (12-1) was
trying to finish 13-0 for the second time in three seasons.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"It's OK -
you've not going to win every time," BSU coach Chris Petersen said.
"As long as you learn from it and become better for it down the road, we can
live with that."</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>It was the second
time in five years BSU lost a chance at a perfect season by losing its bowl
game. In 2004, it lost to </span></font><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Louisville</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> in the
Liberty Bowl to finish 11-1.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The Broncos took a
10-0 lead on Ian Johnson's 20-yard touchdown run midway through the first
quarter, but their high-scoring offense bogged down against TCU's fast,
aggressive defense.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>TCU (11-2) piled up
yards if not points until finally wearing down the Broncos' defense in the
fourth quarter. The Horned Frogs moved 80 yards in 10 plays on the winning
drive, with Turner finishing it off by shedding a tackle inside the 5-yard line
and diving into the end zone for a 17-13 lead.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Tomlinson, the
former TCU standout who's in his eighth season with the San Diego Chargers,
jumped in celebration and pumped his fist near the TCU bench.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>It was a good night
to be a Horned Frog, current and past.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Two top
defenses, two top offenses in the nation, we just wanted it more," TCU
running back Aaron Brown said.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>There wouldn't be a
crazy, victorious finish for Johnson and the Broncos as there was two years ago
in their memorable, highly entertaining overtime win over </span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Oklahoma</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> in the Fiesta
Bowl.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"They had
better athletes than we've ever seen," Johnson said. "They played
with so much heart. You didn't look over there one time and say, 'We broke
them.' They knew they were going to come back and they believed in themselves
the whole time."</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>After Turner's TD, </span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Boise</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>State</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> got to the
TCU 14 before having to settle for Kyle Brotzman's 33-yard field goal to make
it 17-16.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The Broncos got the
ball back with 6 seconds left on their 33, but Jeremy Childs' lateral after a
catch flip was grabbed by TCU's Matt Panfil.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"The game plan
going in was to stop the run and watch all the trick plays," said TCU
safety Stephen Hodge, who had 10 tackles and an interception. "They know
the trick plays."</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Said Johnson:
"You could see they were a little ready for what we had planned."</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>TCU outgained Boise
State 472 yards to 250. BSU had only 28 yards rushing.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>BSU came in
averaging 39 points and 456 yards, one of the benefits of dominating the
Western Athletic Conference.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Johnson scored on a
20-yard run midway through the first quarter. It was his 58th career rushing TD,
breaking former </span></font><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>San Diego</span></font><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>State</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> star Marshall
Faulk's </span></font><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>WAC</span></font><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> record and giving the Broncos a 10-0
lead.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Broncos quarterback Kellen
Moore faked a sweep handoff to Childs, then handed to Johnson, who broke
outside and found an open field. Officials brought to the ball to the sideline
for Johnson to keep.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The Broncos needed
the cushion, because TCU's fast, aggressive defense finally clamped down.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Johnson is best
known as scoring the winning 2-point conversion against </span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Oklahoma</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> on a
"Statue of Liberty" play, then proposing to his cheerleader
girlfriend moments later.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Johnson's wife, Chrissy,
spoke with Tomlinson on the sideline after doing a TV interview during the
first quarter.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Boise</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>State</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> defensive
end Bryon Hout intercepted Andy Dalton midway through the second quarter, and
his 62-yard return included a nice spin move to get away from one TCU player
and a stiff arm against another Horned Frog. Hout was a running back in high
school.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Hout returned the
ball to the TCU 11, but the Broncos had to settle for Brotzman's 24-yard field
goal and a 13-0 lead.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"We've had that
happen to us before," TCU quarterback Andy Dalton said. "But it was
early on in the game and we knew we had a lot of time."</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>TCU finally scored
on Brown's 16-yard run just before halftime.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"That gave us
big momentum. We needed that," </span></font><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Dalton</span></font><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> said."</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Brown had 102 yards
on 14 carries while Turner had 83 yards on 16 rushes.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"What did they
have, three, four field goals and a touchdown?" TCU coach Gary Patterson
said. "I think that was the key - not letting them have their plays they
needed to do."</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>BSU had to settle
for field goals by Brotzman three times after getting inside the 20. Brotzman
also missed a 38-yard attempt.</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"I knew a
couple of those field goals were going to come back to haunt us," Petersen
said. "We were trying too many field goals. One of them had to be a
touchdown."</span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Boise</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>State</span></font><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> 10 3 0 3 -
16 </span></font></p>
<p class=NormalWeb9 style='background:white' minmax_bound=true><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>TCU 0 7 3 7 - 17 </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:maroon'> </span></font></p>
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