Fiesta finish a legend with rag-tag roots

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The day everything changed, Karl Benson fielded voice, text and e-mail messages like they were ground balls. The 55-year old was at least as proud Monday that he had been a Boise State infielder in 1973-74 than the current WAC commissioner.

"There were a lot of people rooting for us," Benson said.

Only the entire nation, minus the state of Oklahoma. Everything changed because just about everything you know about college football is now subject to review. Benson's WAC headliner, Boise State, belongs in the big time after Monday's shocking Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma.

Ian Johnson doesn't just win, he walks away hitched. (AP)

With a coach who makes about one-seventh of what Alabama is offering Nick Saban.

With a stadium that would be considered a seating expansion in the SEC.

With the play-calling chutzpah of an 11-year old PlayStation 2 vet jacked up on Mountain Dew.

There is so much more at stake now that Boise has pulled off one of the biggest bowl wins in history. The eternal argument can never be made again: "If (insert mid-major here) played in the (SEC/ACC/Big Ten etc.) it would finish fifth."

To that we say: How the hell do you know?

"The separation of BCS and non-BCS, I think that era is over," Florida coach Urban Meyer said.

Bronco Mania threatens to overshadow the national championship game itself. It certainly did on Tuesday when Dan Widner stopped in the lobby of the media headquarters on his way out of town.

"The national championship game has a long way to go to match this," said the producer for the Fox affiliate in Boise.

That morning a reporter slipped when asking Jim Tressel to break down Florida State.

Let's concentrate, people.