By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Boise State has changed its policies for distributing student tickets in the wake of complaints from many students about the way tickets to tonight’s Oregon game were handed out.

Starting next week, students will only be able to get one ticket per ID on the first day of distributions. Full-time students get their ticket free; part-time students must buy a ticket. Full-time students still can bring a maximum of three IDs with them.

By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

OK, folks, here's your chance to influence what's in the paper tomorrow. I'm trying to compile a list of the five biggest home games in Boise State history — based on pregame hype, not the result. This Oregon game will take over the top spot, of course.

After talking to several people who have been around the program for many years, here's our list. We think the top five is pretty solid, but the order certainly is debatable. Post your comments and if you convince us, we'll change it.

By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com

Boise State starting nickel Winston Venable talked to his brother, Will, the other day about what to expect from a big-game atmosphere. Will is an outfielder for the San Diego Padres.

Venable is a junior-college transfer, so Thursday’s game against Oregon will be his major-college debut.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.