Venable makes immediate impact; offensive line update
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 11:45am.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Junior nickel Winston Venable produced the Broncos' first interception return for a touchdown in more than two seasons last week, but it was the play on which he turned himself into a 223-pound projectile that got tongues wagging.
Venable launched himself at Fresno State quarterback Ryan Colburn on a fourth-down play just as a running back tried to cut-block him. Venable's helmet struck Colburn's shoulder pads as he threw.
Bowling Green expects sellout; Harsin expects Martin to make smooth transition
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 3:39pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Bowling Green expects a sellout crowd for Boise State’s visit Saturday night at 24,000-seat Perry Stadium.
Sellouts are rare for the Falcons, who have averaged about 16,000 fans per game in recent years, athletic director Greg Christopher said.
“It’s a great challenge for us, a chance for us to get on the map,” Bowling Green quarterback Tyler Sheehan said.
Boise State originally was scheduled to play at Bowling Green in 2006 and 2007. The Falcons pulled out of both of those games.
This year’s game was moved up from 2011.
Doug Martin eager for return to offense
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Tue, 09/22/2009 - 2:15pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Boise State sophomore Doug Martin is eager for the opportunity that comes his way this week — but also conflicted about how it happened.
Martin, who moved to nickel in the spring, will return to offense to take D.J. Harper’s spot in the two-man tailback rotation. Harper, who was part of the same recruiting class as Martin, likely will miss the entire season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
WAC reviews Boise State hits, won't suspend players
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 5:10pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Fresno State wasn’t happy about two high hits on quarterback Ryan Colburn in last week’s game.
WAC commissioner Karl Benson reviewed both plays — hits by Boise State linebacker Aaron Tevis and nickel Winston Venable. The Tevis hit was clean because the scrambling Colburn initiated the contact, but the Venable hit deserved a flag, Benson said. Neither player will be disciplined by the league.
Pendergast replaces Ames in starting lineup
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 4:00pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
FRESNO, Calif. — Sophomore Garrett Pendergast will replace Michael Ames at right tackle for tonight's Fresno State game, the Broncos announced before the game. Pendergast beat out Ames, a redshirt freshman walk-on who was given a scholarship this fall.
It's the first change in the offensive line this season after the Broncos used 11 combinations in 13 games last season.
Pendergast made a spot start at right guard last year in the Poinsettia Bowl. He has had a strong fall, too, and can play tackle and center.
Vote for a defense name; Pettis says he will fix holding woes
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Wed, 09/16/2009 - 2:20pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
OK, we’ve got to decide on this defense name this afternoon so we can design our Bronco GameDay cover. We’re leaning toward a couple of them, but I wanted to give fans one more shot to let us know what they think. So I’ve posted a poll on our Boise State football page with seven possible names.
You can vote here. The poll is a ways down the page on the right side.
•••
Junior wide receiver Austin Pettis will hold for scoring kicks this week.
Boise State defense needs a nickname; post your ideas here
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Mon, 09/14/2009 - 2:13pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Our Bronco GameDay cover this week is a tribute to the Broncos defense — a group that over the past 12 games has:
— Allowed 8.25 offensive points per game (we removed defensive touchdowns scored by the opposition from the equation).
— Posted two shutouts and held two other teams without an offensive touchdown. Only one team (Nevada) has scored 20 points on offense.
— Held seven opponents to fewer than 300 yards of offense.
— And forced 32 turnovers — including 23 interceptions against just four touchdown passes.
Broncos move up to No. 10 in both polls
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:05am.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
The Boise State football team cracked the top 10 in both major polls Sunday — the earliest the Broncos have ever been ranked that high.
The Broncos are No. 10 in the AP Top 25, up two spots from last week. BYU of the Mountain West is No. 7.
The top five are Florida, Texas, USC, Alabama and Mississippi.
Three other non-BCS teams are in the Top 25 — TCU (15), Utah (18) and Houston (21).
In the USA Today Coaches' Poll, BYU is No. 9, TCU is No. 15, Utah is No. 16 and Houston is unranked.
It looks like Percy will start, three backups will be out
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Sat, 09/12/2009 - 5:49pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Judging by pregame warmups:
-- Freshman linebacker J.C. Percy will start at weak-side linebacker. Sophomore Aaron Tevis started last week. They are co-starters.
-- Cornerback Jamar Taylor, tailback Matt Kaiserman and tight end Chandler Koch will be out again this week.
•••
Freshman wide receiver Kirby Moore made his college debut in the second quarter and will not redshirt this year.
Strausser wants dominant, 'downhill' running game
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Fri, 09/11/2009 - 9:40am.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Chris Strausser’s vision for the Boise State run game comes down to one word.
Downhill.
Strausser, the tight ends coach and run game coordinator, wants to turn the Broncos offense into something of a road grader.
