Advertisement

Despite rocky start, Boise State football’s future is bright with Avalos running the show

In six seasons at Boise State, offensive lineman Donte Harrington has seen just about everything.

He immediately saw something unique in Andy Avalos’ first few days as the Broncos’ new head coach.

“Our earliest lifts were around 6 a.m. From the moment our lifts started in mid-January (last year), he was in there, finishing up his workout,” said Harrington, who played from 2016 to 2021. “He’s too consistent, too driven — a guy like that isn’t going to let something that he cares about so much fail.”

By any measure, Avalos’ first season at the helm of the Broncos was not exactly a smashing debut. Posting a 7-5 record, the worst since 1998, is disappointing any way you cut it. ESPN’s grade of a C+ is fitting.

And yet, there is more than a strong hint of optimism on The Blue, a feeling that things will be a lot more akin to what Bronco Nation is used to. It’s not a leap of logic to understand why.

After offensive struggles and a 2-3 start, that feeling wavered. Sure, winning at then-No. 10 BYU showed us something, but it was what was said afterward that made it clear Avalos is different.

Offensive coordinator Tim Plough, who will face just as much, if not more, scrutiny as Avalos in 2022, said something profound in the days following the win, considering the pair had worked together for only nine months at that point.

“There’s not a person I respect more in coaching,” Plough said. “I tell him every day how he inspires me to be a better coach, a better father, a better man. … People outside this building don’t understand how talented he is, how inspiring he is and how much we really all love him.

“He really creates a situation where you want to do well for him.”

Does that last part sound familiar?

Sounds like the guy who took a high bar and sent it into outer space — St. Pete himself, Chris Petersen. It’s not exactly what you may have heard from those who worked for Avalos’ predecessor, Bryan Harsin.

Harrington describes Avalos as bringing in a more player-friendly mentality. Avalos made the locker room “a safer place to express themselves,” he said, while adding that having more of a say made players feel more part of the program, inspiring them to work harder.

“Guys just want to play for this guy,” Harrington said. “I think he’s got the right vision. He’s a guy I would stack my chips on no matter what.”

Avalos is still finding his way as a head coach, needing to get on the other side of close losses, putting the offensive staff’s feet to the fire and showing some more of that intensity in key situations.

But his commitment is showing in recruiting, where the Broncos just inked a class that was ranked No. 54 in the country by 247Sports.com after the early signing period — the same as the ballyhooed 2019 class that included quarterback Hank Bachmeier, running back George Holani and safety JL Skinner. Boise State’s 2022 class now ranks No. 55, despite the addition of former Oregon State quarterback Sam Vidlak.

It’s clear that even despite having the nation’s No. 12 scoring defense, upgrades had to be made at linebacker and in the pass rush. Boise State accomplished both, adding four-star recruits Dishawn Misa and Jayden Virgin, plus Weber State transfer George Tarlas (17 sacks in 45 games).

Season analysis: Boise State’s defense found its footing in second half of season

Avalos is also making moves with his staff, bringing in three coaches that are 41 or younger with at least a dozen years of coaching experience at the FBS or FCS levels. Bringing Keith Bhonapha back to coach running backs was a coup at a position that needs a boost.

Those who thought Boise State would always destroy conference opponents are going to be disappointed, but isn’t that exactly why the Broncos left the Western Athletic Conference — for a better challenge?

The Mountain West was tough in 2021, and it should be again in 2022. But Boise State gets Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State — all 10-win teams last season — and BYU on The Blue.

There’s not a lot of margin for error for Avalos, who has yet to win a close game. Six of the Broncos’ seven wins this past season were by double digits. Boise State’s closest win — a 26-17 upset at BYU — wasn’t as close as the score suggested.

With Avalos, this just feels like the right fit at the right time. It didn’t start out perfectly, but maybe that’s what Avalos and what a lot of people around here needed — a dose of reality.

This isn’t the WAC. Mountain West teams are getting better, seeing Boise State’s blueprint and aiming to get on the Broncos’ level.

Boise State could slide into mediocrity if the trajectory of the past two seasons continues, but few people have more pride in the program than Avalos. What he said himself after the BYU win told us something — that perhaps 2021 was more of a reload than we thought — but he was going to do it exactly as he has shown.

“This is just part of reestablishing the foundation and reestablishing what Boise State has always been about and that’s about hard work, diligence and taking care of each other,” Avalos said after the Broncos’ win on the road. “This shows what happens if we can do that consistently and we can rebuild that into our foundation.”

The Broncos seem well on their way, with someone who knows as well as anyone what it means to represent Boise State.

Dave Southorn is a former Boise State football beat writer for the Idaho Statesman who provides occasional commentary on the Broncos’ program.