Boise State and business

Yes it messed up my sleep schedule again. But late last night I couldn't help but revel in the miracle that was Boise State's Fiesta Bowl win. I've never hesitated to compare sports to business, mostly because I believe there are amazing parallels, but last night was such an improbable victory that even Michael Dell would be amazed from his college dorm room.

Sports, like business, allows us to dream. It gives us a medium to prove the doubters wrong. Most people would have said it's impossible for an autistic high school student to score 20 points in 240 seconds in the only game action of his life, or for a college football team to overcome a 31 point third quarter deficit, or for a small school from the CAA to upset the two previous national champions en route to a Final Four appearance, but they all happened in 2006.

Consider the story of Boise State. Before this year they were known more for their smurf turf than their football. Here's what they accomplished:

• They defeated a very good Oregon State team on the road (the same Oregon State team that beat USC)
• They went undefeated and won the WAC
• They were awarded a berth to a BCS game

Stop right there. That season is amazing. They became the only the second non-BCS conference team to land a berth (Utah with Alex Smith and Urban Meyer a few years back), mostly due to the new rules this year (adding an extra game and guaranteeing any team in the top 12 a spot in the BCS).

They were playing Oklahoma. Yea, that Oklahoma. The one with Adrian Peterson, arguably the next great NFL running back. The one with 7 National Championships and 40 Big 12 Conference Titles. They didn't have a chance. But they kept going:

• They jumped out to a 14 point lead
• When Oklahoma scored 15 points in 24 seconds to take a 7 point lead with 1:02 left, they overcame a 4th and 18 to force the game into overtime....4th and 18! With an amazing hook-and-ladder play
• When Adrian Peterson took the first play in overtime into the endzone, they battled back, earning first down after first down
• On 4th and 2, they motioned their QB out of the backfield and the RB threw a TD pass!
• Instead of tying the game with an extra point, they went for the win with a 2 point conversion.
• They won the game with a brilliant fake-bubble-screen-statue-of-liberty play (if that doesn't make sense, check the replay and it will). A play that was set up by a bubble-screen pass they ran months ago!
• They won the Fiesta Bowl, a BCS game, and finished undefeated....improbable!
  

And to top it off, Ian Johnson proposed to the head cheerleader on national television after scoring the winning 2 point conversion, and she said yes. Truly one of the most phenomenal things I have ever witnessed.

So what can we, as entrepreneurs take away from this? Here's what I take away:

Large goals don't really seem that large if you take them one step at a time. Believe in yourself and in what you do. Don't listen to critics or let them place an artificial ceiling above you. Hard work and teamwork can overcome a lack of resources and a lack of talent. Take risks to seize opportunity.

That's how sports miracles happen, and I'm pretty sure that's how business miracles happen too.