Boise radio host John Mallory previews BSU at Oregon, suggests giant-killer era has ended

John Mallory of KTIK Radio in Boise has covered Bronco football for nearly 20 years, the last 13 as the drive time co-host on The Ticket along with Mike Prater.

He's been at practice and in the press box for most of the glory years, including upset wins in major bowls over Oklahoma and TCU. The 2009 team went 14-0 and finished No. 4 in the BCS. From 2008-2011, quarterback Kellen Moore piloted the team to a 50-3 record, one that included two wins over the Ducks.

Despite the proud history, Mallory doesn't think Saturday's season opener in Autzen Stadium has the makings of another shock-the-world upset.

"Not many folks in Boise are expecting much of a game this time around," Mallory said. "24 1/2 point spread it is. And you know that that they they're pretty good at setting those spreads as you know. So, I don't know if this is going to be like the previous what four games they've played, which were all fairly close, three of which going to Boise."

What's changed the equation is money. The reality of the NIL and portal era is that Oregon has a roster valued at around $43 million. They stacked talent at every position. Mallory says the Broncos have spent around $3 million, with a big share of it going to senior quarterback Maddux Madsen, but nowhere near what Dante Moore is getting from the Ducks.

Even since Jeanty's big night and an Oregon comeback in 2024, the competitive landscape has shifted.

"In the current landscape if you're Boise State you don't get to keep your best players anymore," Mallory said. "it's just how college football went so you have all these new players in, trying to bring kids up to play at this level, seeing kids that come down that maybe didn't have success at a higher level can they succeed at this level."

"You have like spring ball and a couple weeks in fall camp to figure it all out and it's really really difficult and these coaches man they earn those salaries in most cases."

Another major difference is access. Bronco head coach Spencer Danielson, mindful to build interest and promote the program, allows the media into practice.

"We're at basically every second of every practice. It's unheard of coverage that Spencer Danielson gives us."

"Spencer Danielson's just a wonderful human and he he trusts the the media. There's certain embargoed periods that you see it. You can't print it, you can't shoot it, you can't write about it, you can't talk about it."

"We'll be at practice tomorrow. The access we have it's it's uncanny to see really how a team grows this time of year, develops."

Picked to finish first in the newly configured PAC-12, which has eight member schools for football, the Broncos got a transfer cornerback from Notre Dame in Jaden Mickey. The starting unit at linebacker will be entirely new. Edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan leads a strong defensive line.

Mallory says the open practices help create enthusiasm for the program while ramping up the intensity. Alumni come to practice. Last season baseball great Ken Griffey Jr. had a son who was a reserve cornerback, and the first-ballot Hall of Famer came to practice. Former coaches Dirk Koetter and Chris Petersen stop by.

A fixture on Gem State radio, Mallory remembers the last time Boise State took on the Ducks, a nail-biter that came down to the last three seconds.

"Ashton Jeanty was far and away the best player on that field. It wasn't even close. Um, he took over the game in Autzen like very few players I've ever seen come in there. I saw Reggie Bush come in there. He didn't have near the game that Ashton Jeanty had. It felt like Duck fans sitting in Autzen, you were just hoping every play. Just don't give it to Ashton. Even if it was third and 17, just don't give it to him."

September 8, 2024 in Eugene, the Ducks won 37-34 when Atticus Sappington kicked a 25-yard field goal on the last play of the game. Jeanty carried the ball 25 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns, with runs of 31 and 70 yards.

"My gosh, what a squeaker. I mean, tell me how many times in college football history a team has returned a kickoff for a touchdown and a punt in a touchdown in the same game and lost. It doesn't happen."

"Oregon won by three points. Jonah Dalmis, who was maybe the best kicker Boise State's ever had, missed like I think a 52 or 53 yarder (54 officially.) That would have sent it into overtime on that. But Oregon needed the two special teams touchdowns to get out of there on what really was Ashton Jeanty's night."

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