Coach Spencer Danielson made his first massive decision of the Boise State football season Sunday: Redshirt sophomore Maddux Madsen will start at quarterback for the Georgia Southern opener Aug. 31.
It was the right decision, a smart decision, the only decision – based on Madsen’s five-month competition with redshirt freshman and five-star USC transfer Malachi Nelson.
Madsen was consistently better.
Nelson simply ran out of time.
“A mentor of mine, about a year ago, told me, as a head coach, if you know what you’re supposed to do, and don’t do it, someone else should have your job and that’s what I believe in this situation,’’ Danielson said. “I know in my heart this is the right decision.’’
Mike Prater
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter agrees, based on the No. 1 reps he gave Madsen in fall camp.
The defensive staff agrees, Danielson said.
Even coaching icon Chris Petersen, who spent a weekend at camp, agrees.
End of debate, right?
Wrong.
The decision – and the way Boise State handled it – turned complicated Sunday because, well, this is college football, and college football in 2024 is complicated.
Yes, Boise State made the right decision – it also made a very nervous decision and here’s why …
Boise State’s media relations department sent out a media advisory early Sunday afternoon, saying Danielson would be available later in the day for an “embargoed conversation” on Zoom.
“The conversation itself is embargoed as well – please do not make it (known) this is taking place,’’ the media advisory said.
Odd.
A couple hours later, once the Zoom call started, reporters were informed that the interview could not be recorded or released for work, social media or any public purposes. Reporters were not allowed to ask questions, instead questions had to be typed into a Zoom chat. After a small technical glitch, that decision was reversed.
The media also was told that anything Danielson said during his live interview was embargoed until further notice.
Very odd.
Meanwhile, a national ESPN reporter broke the news on Twitter at 4:48 p.m. – right as the Danielson presser started. A headline soon appeared on the front page of ESPN.com.
There’s more …
Less than five minutes into the interview with Danielson, a member of the media relations team took over the Zoom call and reminded the media that “this is a week one decision and things will be evaluated as we go along.’’
Odd comment – not coming from a coach.
When the Danielson press conference ended after roughly 29 minutes, the same media relations staffer, for whatever reason, finally told the media it could release the news.
Boise State is nervous because it spent the past eight months promoting its five-star QB – and he didn’t win the job.
Boise State is nervous because this QB competition is a divided issue – at least with fans who are still trying to decide whether to buy tickets (Nelson, as the starter, would be a much more engaging story because of his hype and pedigree).
Boise State is nervous because 10 different quarterbacks have thrown passes over the past five seasons – and everyone involved with Boise State football is tired of the non-stop juggling.
Boise State is nervous because we all know how football works. Injuries will happen. You need two QBs these days. How will the details play out?
“We are not going to do a two-quarterback system but everything we do will be evaluated. … If Maddux does not play well and struggles, obviously Malachi’s got to be ready,’’ Danielson said.
Boise State is nervous because the national media has been hyping the program all offseason, expecting the Broncos to play in the new CFP tournament because they have a five-star QB (Nelson) and a high NFL prospect at running back (Ashton Jeanty). Now Boise State’s national street cred has taken a hit … making Boise State nervous.
The breaking story trended on Twitter all Sunday night.
And now, the biggest issue of all, which makes everyone nervous: Who knows if Nelson sticks around, after first committing to Oklahoma, spending last season at USC, then losing the starting job at Boise State.
Danielson was both complimentary and cautious when talking about Madsen and Nelson – he used the phrase “people’s views,’’ referencing fans, media and whomever else has divided opinions about the highly publicized QB competition.
“I just don’t want it spun the wrong way in the media because we have two really good ones,’’ Danielson said.
The coach said he talked to Nelson and his father, Eric, on Sunday.
“I think the world of Malachi and that’s really why I want to be up front. People will see a tweet, however this gets out guys, I don’t know, media finds ways, who knows. This could be on the front page of ESPN for all I know. … I want people to know that we’ve got two great quarterbacks.’’
Controlling the message.
Pushing the agenda.
Protecting your QB room.
Aware of the consequences.
It’s all good, but on the topic of QB controversies, Boise State came off as a nervous football program Sunday afternoon.
With that said, Danielson was anything but nervous when talking specifically about Madsen – No. 4 dominated this QB competition because of his performance in fall camp. In the words of Danielson, it came down to: “Completion percentage. Interceptions. Explosive pass plays. Mental errors. Decision-making. … Maddux gives us the best opportunity to win game one,’’ Danielson said.
Keep in mind that Nelson got a good chunk of No. 1 team reps in spring camp, while Madsen was rehabbing a knee injury from last season. Madsen, fully recovered, got most of the No. 1 team reps in the fall. Koetter mixed it up more in two closed scrimmages, when the QBs were live and both got No. 1 reps, Danielson said.
This is how he broke it down …
On Madsen: “Our quarterback needs to be able to run our offense, be efficient with how we shift and motion, check protections, make sure we have the right read progressions. It’s everything for our offense to be efficient and be explosive the way we can. … Right now, Maddux can operate our offense at a higher level at this point than Malachi can.’’
On Nelson: “He’s got a ton of talent, now it’s just at this point, August 18th, going into game one, he has not mastered the offense the way Maddux has. … He’s grown a ton in his time here, he’s extremely talented and I’m excited to see him continue to grow and how he masters the offense going forward because his number is going to be called at some point. I don’t know when, and I know he’s going to be ready, too.’’
Does it make you nervous – thinking about two-QB flashbacks?
Does it make you nervous that one could leave?
There’s no way this story is over – and that’s why Boise State came off as nervous Sunday afternoon.
Mike Prater is the Bronco Nation News columnist who co-hosts Idaho Sports Talk (KTIK 95.3 FM on Monday-Friday from 3-6 p.m.) and the Boise State football postgame show (KBOI 670 AM). He is on Twitter @MikeFPrater and can be reached at mikefprater@gmail.com
