From the outside looking in, it appeared the Boise State football program might be in for a down year.
The Broncos, after all, had only three returning offensive starters going into the 2004 season. They had lost quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie, a prolific passer who practically rewrote the school record books, and several other talented players to graduation.
But those observers who believed Boise State would slip into mediocrity this year didn't grasp the type of program coach Dan Hawkins has built.
Emblazoned throughout the team's media guide is the phrase, "Building A Legacy, Brick By Brick," and, this season, the No. 21 Broncos (3-0) continue to lay bricks in bunches.
So far, Boise State has recorded an impressive 53-34 victory over Oregon State, marking the school's first win against a Pac-10 opponent. The Broncos lead the nation in scoring, averaging 55 points per game. Not that it should come as a surprise, since they have led the nation in that category three of the past four years.
Boise State will try to continue building its legacy Friday night (8 p.m., ESPN), when it plays host to BYU (1-2).
A year ago, Boise State ventured to Provo and dropped the equivalent of a ton of bricks on the Cougars, walking away with a dominating 50-12 victory. It was another clear sign that the Broncos have established themselves as one of the country's top programs.
In fact, Boise State, which posted a 12-1 record in 2002 and a 13-1 mark in 2003, boasts the nation's longest winning streak (14 games) and has won 27 of its last 28 games. At home, the Broncos have won 34 of their last 35 games, including 20 in a row. In Western Athletic Conference play, Boise State has won 19 straight games and has posted an all-time record of 23-2.
Since 1999, the Broncos (56-11) are the third-winningest team in the country, behind Miami and Oklahoma.
If that weren't enough, Boise State has never lost (10-0) when playing on ESPN.
Yet Hawkins, in his fourth season at the helm, doesn't pay attention to the streaks, statistics or rankings.
"We don't care about that. We just try to get better every day," he said.
"We don't put a lot of credence in that stuff. Last year doesn't matter. It's what's happening this week that counts."
That grounded, workmanlike approach may explain Boise State's success in recent years. The system Hawkins has in place seems to grow season by season.
For example, quarterback Jared Zabransky played limited minutes last year behind Dinwiddie, but he has picked up right where Dinwiddie left off. The 6-foot-2, 197-pound sophomore has completed 57-of-87 passes for 1,031 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions.
"We always have lofty expectations of our guys," Hawkins explained. "We want to make sure they are playing up to their potential. (Zabransky) has a lot of room to grow. He's getting there."
BYU coach Gary Crowton says the key to Boise State's success is its continuity, from the coaching staff to the system it runs.
"They remind me of Air Force. They know what they're looking for (when recruiting players) and the players in their system have seen guys ahead of them do it," he said. "They've got a very good football team. They've got things rolling."
Hawkins uses a host of players in his system. Even though Boise State had only three returning starters this season, there were other returnees who saw significant action in 2003 in a reserve role, Hawkins said.
"We have a bunch of guys who were major contributors last year who didn't start," he said. "The key is getting our guys to buy into what we're doing."
Obviously, based on the results, his players have bought into the system.
Though BYU is struggling again this season, Hawkins isn't taking anything for granted.
"I expect this game to be a dogfight," he said. "I have a lot of respect for BYU's program and their coaches."
He also expects 30,000 screaming fans to fill Bronco Stadium, a place BYU will visit for the first time.
"It will be crazy. It will be wild," Hawkins said. "Everybody recognizes BYU as one of those great programs, with a Heisman Trophy and a national championship. Having teams like Oregon State and BYU come here to play is a big deal for our fans."
Cougars on the air
BYU (1-2) at No. 21 Boise State (3-0)
Friday, 8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Radio: KSL 1160 AM
E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com