Quotes before the UH-Boise State game 11/6/10

About how Boise State's offense attacks the weaknesses of the defense, Rich Miano said:
"They don't give you a lot of tendencies, like this formation means this or that. They don't attack you based on what they do well. They attack you based on what they think you don't do well. They attack weaknesses." (HSA)


About facing Boise State, Dave Aranda said:
"They're a real challenge." (HSA)


About how he's playing as a true freshman instead of their original plan to redshirt him so that he could gain weight, John Hardy-Tuilau said:
"Right now I'm trying to contribute.  During the offseason, I hope to get bigger." (HSA)


Praising Hardy-Tuilau, Aranda said:
"John is a real instinctive player.  He takes to coaching.  You tell him one time, he gets it.  Ever since he's (started), we've played better." (HSA)


About how Luke Ingram was able to snap the ball into a helmet when he was challenged to do so, Shane Austin said:
"The rumors are true.  He is the man.  One word: flawless." (HSA)


About how he rubs the artificial surface granules onto the football for added grip in rainy conditions, Luke Ingram said:
"Any kind of texture you can get helps." (HSA)


Praising FG holder Austin and punter Alex Dunnachie, Ingram said:
"Snapping isn't as hard as catching.  I'm lucky to have guys with great hands back there." (HSA)


About how they have been looking forward to this game since their offseason workouts, Kealoha Pilares said:
"We've been looking at this game for the longest time. In the summer, we were preparing for the (season-opening) USC game, but this was always in the back of our head. When you think about the important games -- the people you want to play, the good teams -- Boise State automatically comes up. It's a great opportunity." (HSA)


About facing Boise State, Chris Tormey said:
"We focus one game at a time. Every week, there's a new hump. This week, we have a big hump." (HSA)


About how they are approaching the game, Greg Salas said:
"It's a big game. We can't treat it like it's a different game. We have to treat it like it's another travel game. But we know what it represents." (HSA)


Asked about Boise State's strengths, Gordy Shaw said:
"Where do I begin?" (HSA)


Evaluating Boise State's DL, Rolo said:
"No weaknesses." (HSA)


About facing Boise State, Pilares said:
"It'll be a hard test. We'll keep doing what we're doing. As Coach Mouse (Davis) said, they might have athletes, but they can only play 11 (at a time)." (HSA)


When he and some of their other coaches went to the Texas home of a highly rated recruit and wondered if they could make a connection with him, Chris Petersen said:
"One of the first things we said was, 'Do you know anything about Boise State?'  And, he's like, 'Oh, yeah, you guys have been my favorite team for a long time.'  (So) we're thinking, 'OK, well, that's a first.' " (HSA)


HSA Note: "The player -- who they ended up signing -- eventually told Petersen, "I've seen you play on ESPN a lot and the blue turf is great.""


HSA Note: "Today's game is the fifth of an expected seven regular-season Broncos games the network will show this season and 46th in Boise State's decade in the WAC. By contrast, it will be UH's second on the network this year and 28th on ESPN in a decade."

And the Broncos have made it pay off with a 38-7 record on ESPN, including nine consecutive victories entering the UH game.
About how all of their exposure on ESPN (they are 38-7 on ESPN) has helped build their program, Petersen said:
"I think it has helped our program tremendously." (HSA)


About the importance of ESPN to their program, assistant AD Max Corbet said:
"We can't put a price tag on the national exposure we have received from having several of our games on ESPN each year." (HSA)


About how Boise State has been good for ESPN, ESPN spokesman Michael Humes said:
"Boise State has given ESPN and college football fans a lot of exciting games, outstanding finishes and memorable moments. This year's win over Virginia Tech on Labor Day still stands as the highest-rated (7.3) and most-viewed (7.25 million households) college football game this season across all (networks), broadcast and cable." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Boise State's attractiveness was one of the driving forces behind the most recent WAC TV contract that pays approximately $4.5 million per season and guarantees member schools at least 16 football appearances. Without the Broncos, who move to the Mountain West Conference in 2011, the contract will be open to renegotiation."


About the "spy" that videotaped their practice, Cal Lee said:
"If he's a spy, he's a bad spy." (HSA)

HSA Note: "Especially since the coach is Tommy Heffernan and the "spy" isn't very smart (except he knew to start packing up when Heffernan headed his way). The "spy" had set up his camera in the open and he wore a bright red shirt. He'd arrived late at Meridian High on Thursday, but did get some great shots of UH players milling around and working on their touchdown celebrations."


HSA Note: "More likely he's a TV guy just trying to gather some background footage for the 6 p.m. news"


About Boise State's blue field, Corey Paredes said during their walk-through at the stadium:
"Just another field, yeah Coach? The ground is blue, but we're not looking at the ground." (HSA)


Responding to Paredes, Cal Lee said:
"That's right. Don't look down. There's nobody there but our ancestors." (HSA)


About why they lost in 2006 in Boise, Spencer Smith said:
"Special teams." (HSA)


About how they didn't have problems playing on the blue turf, Smith said:
"Not at field level. On film it's hard to see, but not on the field." (HSA)


About how they will play Boise State anywhere, Mack pointed to the hotel parking lot and said:
"We'll play them right out there if they want. We don't care." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101106_Boise_State_is_built_to_deceive_and_defeat.html

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http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101106_Blue_turf_ESPN_just_a_part_of_Boise_States_popularity.html

http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/furtherreview/20101106_Turf_color_wont_matter_in_UHs_last_visit_to_Boise.html