By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
© 2010 Idaho Statesman

The Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl likely will move to a pre-Christmas date this year — and perhaps for coming years as well.

The H-Bowl is close to a new four-year contract with ESPN, executive director Kevin McDonald said. ESPN has a huge role in determining the game date and could place the Humanitarian Bowl on the schedule as early as Saturday, Dec. 18 or as late as Thursday, Dec. 23. A post-Christmas date also remains a possibility.

The game also could be played at night instead of its usual afternoon time slot. It will be on ESPN, McDonald said.

“Pre-Christmas doesn’t really bother me,” he said. “As I’ve looked at the ratings history of bowl games, pre-Christmas and right after Christmas, it stays pretty strong. … We’ve been outrated the last two years by the New Mexico Bowl.”

The New Mexico Bowl was played on Dec. 19 and 20 the past two years, featuring teams from the WAC and Mountain West.

The H-Bowl expects to sign agreements with the WAC and Mid-American Conference for this year’s game. Idaho beat Bowling Green of the MAC last year, drawing a 2.4 rating to tie the bowl’s record.

The Humanitarian Bowl has been played between Dec. 27 and Jan. 3 during its 13-year run at Bronco Stadium.

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Boise State football coach Chris Petersen said Thursday that wide receiver Titus Young could be on the verge of a monster senior season.

“If Titus keeps working like he’s been working, he’s going to have a pretty special year,” Petersen said.

Young, who was suspended for most of the 2008 season, led the Broncos last year with 79 receptions, 1,041 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns. He scored 10 receiving touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and two kickoff-return touchdowns to earn first-team All-WAC honors as a receiver and returner. He could add punt-return duties to his role this year.

“I think he’s excited about this year,” Petersen said, “because I think he thinks like we feel — if he can take the next step in his game of being a very consistent and detailed player and person that he can do some very, very special things. … And I think he’s making a lot of progress toward that.”

Young hasn’t been available to the media since he was suspended early in the 2008 season. That likely will change this fall, Petersen said.

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Petersen likes what he has seen through two spring practices, both in helmets only. The Broncos put on shoulder pads Friday.

“I really feel like we hit the ground running in terms of effort and intensity,” he said. “We told them if we can keep this up for 13 more practices with not having any bad days, with just this type of effort and focus, we’ll be making the progress we need to make.”

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Petersen on Nate Potter’s possible switch from left tackle to left guard: “We’re seeing he might be a better guard. … Nate’s a big, physical guy.”

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Sophomore Raphiel Lambert moved from cornerback to tailback last fall while he was rehabilitating a torn knee ligament, Petersen said.

Lambert was a star tailback at Jesuit High in Portland. He practiced this week for the first time in nearly a year.

“That may be his most natural position,” Petersen said. “That was the whole idea behind it. … We are anxious to see him do something there. Even watching him go through drills, he has a natural feel for how he moves and hides behind things.”

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Offensive lineman Cory Yriarte has reinjured the knee in which he tore the anterior cruciate ligament last fall, Petersen said. The extent of the injury and Yriarte’s status for 2010 haven’t been determined.

Yriarte wasn’t expected to participate in spring ball regardless. He started one game at center and two games at guard as a freshman in 2008.

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Starting guard Kevin Sapien, who retired because of debilitating neck/shoulder injuries, was “miserable” last season, Petersen said.

“He was miserable in the Fiesta Bowl,” Petersen said. “It was hard for him. When you’re miserable in the Fiesta Bowl, you know something’s not right. … It’s just scary when you’re talking about your neck and nerves and those types of things.”

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Matt Paradis of Council, the scout defensive player of the year last fall, has moved to the offensive line at least for the spring.