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

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

Former Boise State wide receiver Vinny Perretta has retired from football, he said Thursday.

Perretta made the decision several weeks ago, he said, but the Minnesota Vikings didn’t release him until Thursday.

Perretta spent most of last season on the Vikings practice squad. He could have returned this year, he said.

“I’m excited to start the next chapter in my life,” he said. “… I just kind of want to start something new. I want to start a career that can take me a long way.”

Perretta, who grew up in the San Diego area, plans to make Boise his home. He has a history degree and wants to get into orthopaedic sales.

Perretta was a popular player who will be best known for throwing a touchdown pass in overtime of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

“I love Boise — it’s treated me so good,” he said. “I just want to thank all the fans who have followed me throughout the years. … I’m excited to be a big Boise State fan now myself.”

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If you want to place a friendly wager on the outcome of the Spring Game, here’s a bit of scouting from coach Chris Petersen:

“It’s been back and forth, but overall I think the defense has a little bit of an edge,” he said.

The Broncos wrap up spring ball at 3 p.m. Saturday. The offense battles the defense with a custom scoring system.

The first-team offense will square off against the first-team defense. The second-team offense goes against the second-team defense.

“A competitive match is really what we’d like to see — and hopefully not too sloppy of a scrimmage,” Petersen said. “I think those two things — and walk out with no injuries.”

•••

Speaking of injuries, the Broncos will be missing a few more guys for the Spring Game than were out at the beginning of spring. That group includes safety Cedric Febis, defensive lineman Darren Koontz, defensive lineman Matt Paradis and linebacker Matt Wilson.

Wilson and offensive lineman Cory Yriarte both have torn anterior cruciate ligaments and will miss this season. Yriarte re-tore the same ACL that kept him out for last season.

The Broncos have had 18 to 25 guys out on any given day this spring.

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Boise State is holding a football players reunion this weekend. They’ll get together with the coaches Friday night and attend the scrimmage Saturday. Petersen expects about 200 players and hopes to make it an annual spring event.

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Here is the Boise State feature written by ESPN.com’s Ivan Maisel, who traveled to Boise for a couple days of reporting.