A quick look at the Ducks' stars; Herbstreit likes Wilcox, Harsin
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Mon, 08/31/2009 - 5:01pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
I’ve been rounding up quotes about the Ducks the past few days. Here are some highlights:
On T.J. Ward, the hard-hitting safety:
“He’s an intense football player. He’s got a tremendous respect from his teammates,” Oregon coach Chip Kelly said. “… He’s as physical of a football player as there is in the country, but the thing I love about T.J. is his dedication. When T.J. practices, it’s all out — every drill we do, everything we do.”
On Jeremiah Masoli, the dual-threat quarterback:
Chris O'Neill to rejoin Raiders, play Saturday
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 2:48pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Former Boise State tight end Chris O’Neill plans to re-sign with the Oakland Raiders and play in their preseason game Saturday in Oakland against the New Orleans Saints, he said Friday.
O’Neill, who moved to linebacker during the summer and then was cut early in training camp, has been in Boise for several weeks. He had a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings, but that didn’t pan out.
He isn’t sure what the Raiders have in mind. He isn’t even sure which position he will play, but he does expect plenty of work on special teams.
Acrey, Tevis, Venable win starting jobs
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 9:56am.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Junior Derrell Acrey and sophomore Aaron Tevis have earned the starting linebacker jobs for the Boise State football team, according to the depth chart released this morning for the opener against Oregon.
Also, junior-college transfer Winston Venable beat out sophomore Doug Martin at nickel.
Acrey will start at middle linebacker and be backed up by junior Daron Mackey. Tevis will start on the weak side and be backed up by freshman J.C. Percy.
Ducks star: "We owe that team a (butt)-whuppin' "
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 12:44am.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Another Oregon Ducks player has fired a shot at Boise State — this time in Sports Illustrated, according to reports in the Oregon media.
Oregon tailback LeGarrette Blount watched video of last year’s Boise State-Oregon game with a Sports Illustrated reporter. When he saw the late hits the Broncos took on quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and tight end Ed Dickson, Blount said: “We owe that team a (butt)-whuppin’.”
Blount didn’t dispute the quote.
Broncos set offensive line for Oregon game
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 6:22pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
The Boise State football team will enter the season with the same starting offensive line it had at the end of fall camp — Matt Slater at left tackle, Will Lawrence at left guard, Thomas Byrd at center, Kevin Sapien at right guard and Michael Ames at right tackle.
Backup left tackle Nate Potter still is competing with Slater and could play against Oregon, offensive line coach Scott Huff said.
Lawrence, a junior former defensive lineman, and Ames, a freshman former walk-on, will get their first career starts against Oregon.
Southwick enters season as No. 3 QB
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 1:22pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
True freshman Joe Southwick will enter the season as the No. 3 quarterback, Boise State offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin said.
Southwick separated himself from fellow true freshman Mike Tamburo during fall camp. The original plan called for them to share the third-string job. Instead, Southwick will practice with the offense and Tamburo will run the scout offense.
BSU-Oregon tickets still available in season-ticket packages, but individual tickets are gone
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Tue, 08/25/2009 - 12:31pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
All of the individual-game tickets for the Boise State-Oregon game have been sold, Boise State officials said Tuesday.
However, Boise State has held back some season tickets and those remain on sale. The school is approaching 21,500 season tickets (including the Stueckle Sky Club) — which would be a drop of 4 percent from last year.
Boise State is No. 14, Oregon No. 16 in AP poll; here's how the Statesman voted
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Sat, 08/22/2009 - 8:43am.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
The Boise State football team enters the season ranked No. 14 in The Associated Press Top 25 — its highest preseason ranking ever. Oregon is 16th in the poll that was released Saturday morning.
The Broncos are ranked 16th and the Ducks 14th in the USA Today Coaches' Poll. The Broncos and Ducks meet Sept. 3 at Bronco Stadium in a game that will air on ESPN.
Doug Martin stars in scrimmage; Ian Johnson gains 33 yards
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 9:52pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Some thoughts on tonight's scrimmage:
— Doug Martin looked very good at tailback (16 carries, 88 yards), breaking tackles and showing no signs of rust from playing defense most of the year. He took most of the reps with the first team because the top three tailbacks were all out with nagging injuries. Coach Chris Petersen expects all of the running backs to return for the season opener.
Another Minter at BSU; Gallarda could have breakout year
Submitted by Chadd Cripe on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 3:11pm.By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
Cedric Minter — one of the Boise State football program’s all-time greats — gave his son, Preston, a simple piece of advice when he joined the Broncos this month.
“Study.”
That’s no surprise considering the elder Minter is a school administrator. Cedric, the Boise State career rushing leader with 4,475 yards from 1977 to 1980, is the vice principal at North Junior High.
Preston, though, also is talking football with his dad.
