There’s this kind of hype…
And these were just the five I found from memory and a quick Google search. In my now five seasons covering the Mountain West, no player has received as much attention as Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen.
That’s not to say this conference has lacked great players. Garrett Grayson put up a crazy good season his final year at Colorado State. Donnel Pumphrey was a mini-beast at San Diego State. Jay Ajayi was a record setter wearing blue. Those were all-conference first-team players, the best at their positions. Which is something Allen has yet to accomplish. In fact, the Cowboys signal caller has very few receipts in the Mountain West. Yet, these are some of the quotes.
“Some scouts are saying the next John Elway”
“There hasn’t been a talent like this since Cam Newton”
“Can be an Andrew Luck talent”
Heck, even Connor McGregor had to accomplish a little more before he got all the hype.
Meanwhile, inside the Bleymaier Football Center sits Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien, who has nothing but receipts. Ever since he took over the Broncos’ QB job, he’s been the most productive passer in the Mountain West. Rypien has been the first-team all-conference QB in each of his two seasons, led the MW in passing yards, directed the league’s best yardage and scoring offense, and is the ninth active leader in FBS passing yards. Going into his JUNIOR season. Even with a list of accomplishments longer than a Kardashian marriage, Allen surpassed Rypien as the preseason All-Mountain West QB.
This hype is not by accident, and sure, Allen might fit the NFL prototype. But when it comes to conference awards, that’s based on what you are in college. What we’ve learned is the hype matters, and you don’t get this type of promotion unless the individual and school want it.
Allen had at least five national feature profiles done this offseason. That type of promotion has led to excitement about Wyoming games, and interest from NFL fans who root for terrible teams. The same playbook has been used for guys like Sam Darnold from USC and Josh Rosen from UCLA. The more their name is out there, the more likely fans are going to make it a point to watch their games. Those players, and those schools want the attention.
That leads back to Boise State. This is a program that prides itself on its “Blue-Collar” motto. “Blue-Collar” and Hype live on opposite ends of the spectrum. Meaning, someone who takes ownership in being “blue-collar” is probably someone who is against all forms of hype. However, at what point does being true to “blue-collar” become a detriment to program exposure?
Rypien fell victim to the lack of hype on the preseason All-MW team. Jeremy McNichols fell victim to the Pumphrey hype when it came to the postseason All-MW first team last season. Cedrick Wilson made only honorable mention a year ago, and was left off the preseason team despite being the biggest game-breaking WR weapon in the league.
This is 2017, the year where the loudest voice in the room wins. Check the numbers on the Mayweather-McGregor fight, broke all the PPV records. Lavar Ball became a sports megastar who will have his own reality show. And Allen became the golden boy of the Mountain West.
As a Boise State fan in the “attention-seeking era,” do you still want a “blue-collar” program that goes under the national radar? Or, do you want a program that welcomes hype, seeks attention, and perhaps has their accomplishments more nationally recognized?
Chris Lewis, the play-by-play voice of Boise State women’s basketball, co-hosts Idaho Sports Talk with Bob & Chris weekdays from 1-3 p.m. on KTIK 93.1 FM The Ticket. He can be found @ChrisLewisTweet (Twitter).
