IPT = Idaho Press-Tribune
About how they took a charter flight to Hawaii for the first time, BSU associate athletic director/chief financial officer Mike Waller said:
"This year, it was very comparable to charter versus not. Every year we looked into it. It was never close. It was like a joke." (IS)
IS Note: "In the past, the Broncos chartered to the West Coast and took a commercial flight to Honolulu. They did the same on the return trip to Boise. To fly commercial, though, the Broncos had to spend the night in Honolulu after the game and travel nearly all of the next day. By chartering, they save the cost of an additional night of hotel and expect to return to campus at about 9:15 a.m. Sunday - preserving the entire week of preparation the team usually has for the next game."
About how they flew on a charter flight after playing at Tulsa on Wednesday night, arriving back in Boise at 3am (enabling their players to attend class on Thursday), Chris Petersen said:
"Those are such precious hours that we're able to get back in the office and start working on the next week's plan. It would make it so much more difficult (to fly commercial), especially if it's week after week." (IS)
IS Note: "The Broncos didn't start traveling regularly by charter until after they joined the WAC in 2001. Flying commercial was a major complaint of former coach Dirk Koetter, who lobbied for a switch to charters after several travel delays in 2000, his last season at BSU. Now charters are such accepted practice that BSU doesn't even price out the commercial option for most of its trips."
About how the charter flights benefit their players, Waller said:
"When we first started down this road with the charters, it was so much better for the players to get back." (IS)
IS Note: "Prices vary depending on the destination. Last year, the Broncos were able to charter a plane for 110 people for less than $50,000 for many of their trips through a three-year contract with Frontier. This year, BSU has paid $69,000 for Fresno State, $99,000 for Bowling Green and $83,000 for Tulsa. The flight to Hawaii, on Alaska, cost $160,000 for a traveling party of 129. That put the total cost of the trip within $10,000 of flying commercial, Waller said."
About how he prefers to fly via charter, WR Austin Pettis said:
"It's a lot more relaxing. It's just one less thing you have to worry about. Traveling always is a little stressful, so when they have it all mapped out for us, it's a lot better." (IS)
IS Note: "Ironically, Hawaii moved the start time of its WAC home games up one hour this season to enable teams that fly commercial to catch a red-eye flight after the game. That happened after Boise State had made its decision."
About how their players will need to be focused on the game, Petersen said:
"I really hope as a staff we don't have to work too hard to keep these guys focused. I hope there's enough maturity around here that we don't fall into the trap of going to Hawaii to have a great time. ... We're not trying to go over there and not see anything, but it's a fine line that you walk.'' (IS)
IS Note: "Petersen plans to keep the team busy, but the players will have some free time to explore Waikiki. The schedule includes about 2 hours of free time Thursday evening and Friday afternoon."
About one of the limitations they set for their players, director of football operations Viliami Tuivai said:
"No one is to go into the water." (IS)
IS Note: "The Broncos stay in Waikiki, Oahu's tourist hot spot. Many other teams stay on the quieter North Shore where it's easier to avoid distractions. The Broncos have rooms set up at the hotel to study video, watch movies and play games."
About staying in Waikiki, Tuivai said:
"We believe our kids will make the right choices." (IS)
IS Note: "Tuivai, Waller, associate athletic director for operations Mike Sumpter and assistant athletic director for operations Lori Hays handle the planning and logistics for road trips. This trip is particularly difficult because the Broncos will spend about 24 more hours in Honolulu than most cities. The team left a day early to get acclimated. Waller travels ahead of the team to make sure everything is set for its arrival, but the reservations for hotel rooms, buses, food, drinks and other items were made months in advance."
About how they prepare well in advance for their road trips, Tuivai said:
"We have everything locked down for every away game by May." (IS)
IS Note: "Boise State has started nine players on the offensive line this year - three freshmen, three sophomores and three juniors. The group has been more effective than last year and has given offensive line coach Scott Huff a glimpse of the future."
About how they have no seniors on their OL this year and will be experienced next season, OL coach Scott Huff said:
"This is the thing we've been looking forward to. We've been so young for so long. Next year, it will be awesome." (IS)
IS Note: "By then, the Broncos might be able to start 300-pounders at every position but center, Huff figures. They have the lightest line in the WAC this year - a product of the Broncos' philosophy of recruiting lean, athletic linemen and putting weight on them incrementally. The Broncos are averaging 191.8 rushing yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry. That's much better than last year's production - 152.3 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry. The group has allowed just four sacks, too."
About how they are happy with the progress their OL has been making, Petersen said:
"We've made progress in the run game. We feel pretty good right now where we are." (IS)
About how they have talked a lot about how they lost their last 2 games in Hawaii, senior FB Richie Brockel said:
"We've talked about it a lot. I've never won over there, and I don't enjoy the trip because of that. I'd really like to go over there my senior year and get the 'W' and put those emotions to rest." (IPT)
IPT Note: "Hawaii has gone 171-110-4 in the 34-plus years of the stadium's existence. Boise State is 3-3 all-time there. With its isolation, hostile crowd and unique weather, Aloha Stadium is anything but a fun trip for opposing players."
About how it is hard to win in Hawaii, Chris Petersen said:
"It's another tough place, with a lot of distractions, not to mention a good team we're playing against." (IPT)
About not getting distracted in Hawaii, CB Kyle Wilson said:
"It's another day to grind some film, watch some college football, definitely stay busy and not get caught up in the sight-seeing or anything." (IPT)
IPT Note: "Brockel said when the Broncos lost at Hawaii on Nov. 23, 2007, they weren't quite ready for the rabid atmosphere as the Warriors were vying for a BCS bowl. He said in the Hawaii Bowl against East Carolina that the Broncos simply weren't too motivated."
About how they have reminded their players about their last two losses in Hawaii and how their players should be focused on the game, Petersen said:
"It's something we'll obviously talk about, and I really hope that we as a staff won't have to work to hard to keep these guys focused. I hope there's enough maturity around here where we don't fall into the trap that we're going to Hawaii to have a great time — we're going to have a great time in terms of playing a football game." (IPT)
About how it is hard for them when they go on road trips and hard for teams when they go to Hawaii, Greg Salas said:
"I think it can work in reverse, with the long trip and everything, but that shouldn't be an excuse. We're football players. It shouldn't matter what time or place you're in." (IPT)
About how he's heard that UH's travels East are harder on the team than the teams that have to travel to Hawaii, Petersen said:
"I've heard it's tougher to come this direction than that direction. I know how hard it is for us to go once there every two seasons." (IPT)
About how their fans make it hard on the opposing teams, Petersen said:
"Hawaiians are prideful people. They're pretty protective of us, so they make it tough on anyone coming in here." (IPT)
About how they should have their biggest crowd at Aloha Stadium so far this year, JD said:
"A lot of it probably has to do with Boise State being the No. 4 (BCS) team in the country and I think Hawaii fans are getting to see (the Broncos) as a rival." (IPT)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/boisestatefootball/story/946192.html
http://www.idahopress.com/sections/boisestatefans/page.php?action=article&cat=all&articleid=27220
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