Andy Avalos hasn’t been with the Boise State football team for almost three weeks – and I can’t stop thinking about him.
Kellen Moore hasn’t been directly involved with Boise State for 12 seasons. We will never stop thinking about him.
Boise State is searching for a new coach after Avalos was fired Nov. 12. Athletic director Jeramiah Dickey has been flying around the West – spotted most recently in California – and has his list of finalists. A decision is expected any time after Boise State and UNLV play in the Mountain West Championship Game in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Interim head coach Spencer Danielson is the only known finalist after interviewing with Dickey and his search committee Sunday. Danielson is 2-0 with feel-good wins over Utah State and Air Force, has united a divided locker room, has shed his label as a questioned defensive coordinator, is saying all the right things, and is the favored choice of players and fans to replace Avalos.
We haven’t heard a peep from Avalos, who got $3.28 million to go away. He’s laying low, hopefully with all senses focused on anything but his former Boise State football family. The vibe around the program has done a complete 180 in two weeks – from frustrating to fantastic. If Avalos takes that unfortunate peek, it would be that gut-punch moment when you first see your ex with someone else. Painful.
Avalos doesn’t deserve painful, and that’s why I’ve been thinking about him. He’s a beloved former player, a good coach who will find another million-dollar job, and a wonderful man who could use a little CEO polish. His crime: He didn’t get the job done as a first-time boss.
Lessons learned. Time to move on.
That’s where Moore comes into play. When Dickey was spotted in a social media picture from Los Angeles on Monday night, the Moore rumors exploded. They’ve grown every day.
The Kellen Moore narrative has changed from NFL lifer to … you’re saying there’s a chance!
Moore, the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, could be looking for a new gig if head coach Brandon Staley is fired. The Chargers have the same amount of wins (four) as the Bears, Jets and Giants. Bad company to keep.
Could the timing be perfect, almost impeccable, for Moore to return to Boise State?
Do common-sense thinking fans want Moore to return to Boise State?
The emotional ones do, but there is so much else to think about beyond Moore’s monster popularity.
The winningest quarterback in college football history wasn’t a good NFL quarterback. The Cowboys are better this year, without Moore running the offense. The Chargers are worse this year, with Moore running the offense. The man, as wonderful as he is, has not conquered the NFL.
More importantly, who is willing to take the risk that just doomed Avalos: Popular former player whose legacy just took a massive beating as a coach. There are no guarantees that Moore would be a successful head coach. Coaching is a brutal business that spits out and chews up all types of great men and women.
For some, the hit to Moore’s reputation would be painful, a similar kind of pain that Avalos is feeling today
For others, Moore is Teflon-proof. It wouldn’t matter what he does as a head coach. His reputation, formed as a legendary player, would be just fine if the head coaching gig didn’t work out.
Bottom line: Whatever happens Saturday in Las Vegas, Avalos deserves a good chunk of credit for what Boise State has accomplished this season: A chance to win the program’s first Mountain West title since 2019.
The game is a monster opportunity for offseason momentum as college football moves into the CFP tournament era in 2024, but whatever happens after Saturday is far more important than the outcome of one game.
Does Danielson win a third straight game and land his first head coaching job?
Does Moore take advantage of the timing, make a professional lifestyle choice, and decide that it’s best to raise his young family in Boise?
Or will Dickey surprise us with his own guy?
Stay tuned.
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
