Boise State's Petersen just fine with No. 5

As a BSU grad and supporter, I couldn't be happier with the kickoff they gave (and everything following the kickoff!) to the New Year, and all of the talk of whether they should be playing for the national championship. Head coach Chris Petersen weighs in on the question:

By RALPH D. RUSSO
Associated Press Sports
Updated: 2:19 p.m. MT Jan 9, 2007

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Boise State coach Chris Petersen looked at the rankings Tuesday and loved what he saw.

There, tucked in among all the college football powerhouses - right behind LSU and Southern California and ahead of Wisconsin and Michigan - was Boise State.

Petersen's Broncos (13-0) finished fifth in the final Associated Press Top 25, released early Tuesday morning after Florida's 41-14 victory over Ohio State in the BCS national championship game.

"We weren't surprised,'' he said in a telephone interview. "I think it's a pretty fair ranking.''

<snip> -- "I think there are certain conferences that from top to bottom are very strong,'' he said. "Every game is a dogfight in the SEC, the Big Ten. I still think those conferences have the edge.''

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16548202/