"I am different … The thing is, being a football coach is just so hard on your family.’’
A big part of Petersen’s decision to stay was his three-year-old son Sam, a cancer survivor. He moved Sam to Boise a year ago.
"The thing with Sam, any time I get into his deal, it’s hard,’’ Petersen told the paper. "We just want to live normally for a while, for a long while.’’
Hawkins was elated to retain Petersen, who played quarterback for him at UC Davis in 1985. With Petersen in the fold, Hawkins was ready to build on the success of the 2001 season.
Last year, Hawkins succeeded Dirk Koetter, who left the Bronco program after three years to become the head coach at Arizona State. Hawkins inherited a team coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons. He also had the challenge of taking Boise State from the Big West, one of the weaker conferences in college football, to the Western Athletic Conference.
Hawkins met the challenges and pressures well, guiding Boise State to one of its most memorable seasons. The Broncos finished second in the WAC with a 6-2 record, and were 8-4 overall.
After losing their first two games to Top 20 teams South Carolina and Washington State, the Broncos finished 8-2 and almost earned a berth in their third straight bowl game. The Broncos picked up their first win over a nationally ranked team with a victory over No. 8 Fresno State on the road on national television.
Hawkins and the Broncos also picked up road wins at Idaho and Hawaii, and almost beat WAC champion Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La.
Hawkins served on Koetter’s staff as assistant head coach, special teams and tight ends coach. He joined the staff in1997 after serving as the head coach at Williamette University in Salem, Ore. From 1993-97, Hawkins led the Bearcats to a 40-11-1 record, including a runner-up finish for the NAIA Division II national championship in 1997.
QUARTERBACKS
Junior Ryan Dinwiddie (6-0, 196) returns to direct the Broncos’ powerful offense. He posted one of the best seasons by a quarterback in school history as a sophomore, completing 202-of-322 passes for 3,043 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Dinwiddie succeeded Big West Offensive Player of the Year Bart Hendricks and finished fourth in the country in passing efficiency with a rating of 164.7. He also finished sixth in the country in points responsible for (17.82 points per game), 10th in total offense (285.5 yards per game) and 29th in passing (18.27 completions per game).
Dinwiddie’s 3,140 yards of total offense in a season and 3,043 yards passing ranks him second in both categories in school history behind only Hendricks and his 3,633 yards in total offense and 3,365 yards passing during the 2000 season. Dinwiddie also ranks third in school history in touchdown passes with 29.
"
Obviously, one of our strengths on offense will be at the quarterback position,’’ Hawkins said.
Backing up Dinwiddie again this year will be senior B.J. Rhode (6-4, 239), who completed 19-of-42 passes last year for 277 yards and one touchdown. He started and led Boise State to a season-ending 26-10 victory over Central Michigan.
RUNNING BACKS
The Broncos return their top three tailbacks, including senior Brock Forsey (5-11, 203), who earned first-team All-WAC honors last season. He ranked ninth in the nation in all-purpose running, averaging 161.50 yards per game.
Forsey also ranked No. 30 in the country in rushing with 100.6 yards per game, and No. 1 in scoring (8.0). He finished his junior season with 1,207 yards rushing and 369 yards receiving, leading Boise State with 16 touchdowns. His 1,693 all-purpose yards was fourth best in school history.
Behind Forsey will be junior David Mikell (5-10, 204) and sophomore Donny Heck (5-10, 199). Mikell rushed for 604 yards last year on 107 carries and scored eight touchdowns.
"We’re looking at getting David in the backfield more this season,’’ Hawkins said. "We may even try David some at fullback. And Donny showed flashes of brilliance last year.’’
Heck ran for 123 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries.
The fullback will be senior Matt Strohfus (6-2, 241), who returns as the Broncos’ primary blocking back. He played some at tight end last year.
Backing up Strohfus will be junior Greg Swenson (5-10, 218). Strohfus and Swenson combined last year to carry the ball twice and catch three passes.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
The top four wide receivers return for the 2001 season, led by senior Jay Swillie (6-3, 214), an outstanding possession receiver. He led the Broncos last year with 48 catches, 34 of them giving Boise State a first down or touchdown.
During his career 86 of Swillie’s 111 catches have resulted in a first down or touchdown. He scored eight touchdowns last season.
Starting alongside Swillie will be either senior Lou Fanucchi (5-11, 190) or senior Billy Wingfield (5-10, 178). Fanucchi was fourth on the team last year with 30 catches. He has the speed to allow the Broncos to stretch the field and allow Swillie to work underneath. Wingfield had 27 catches last year for 340 yards.
The fourth receiver is junior Tom Gilligan (5-8, 162), who played well late in the 2001 season and finished with nine receptions.
Depth will be provided by sophomore T.J. Acree (5-10, 167), junior Jerry Smith (5-10, 171) and walk-on Nick Lewis (6-0, 192).
It will be tough to replace Putzier’s numbers at tight end. He caught 44 passes for 824 yards and 12 touchdowns despite being hampered by a severe flu during the first two games of the season.
The starter will be senior Rocky Atkikson (6-2, 237), who caught three passes last year for 34 yards. He will be backed up by senior Kevin Louwsma (6-4, 247), who had three catches for 14 yards and one touchdown.
OFFENSIVE LINE
After losing three starters, including Hill, the offensive line must be overhauled.
Returning are two of the WAC’s offensive linemen in senior center Scott Huff (6-2, 286) and senior right guard Rob Vian (6-4, 307).
"I feel good about quarterback, running back, obviously receiver and parts of the offensive line,’’ Hawkins said. "I think Scotter [Huff] and Vian are as good as they come.’’
Huff is back for his fourth season as the quarterback of the offensive line. Vian will be starting his third season.
Senior Matt Navest (6-3, 290) missed last season and all but two games of the 2000 season because of a knee injury. He will start at left guard if he can stay healthy.
At right tackle, the starter will be sophomore Russell Colburn (6-4, 300). The starter at left tackle will be sophomore Darryl Colledge (6-4, 269).
KICKERS
Senior Nick Calaycay (5-7, 171) will look to return from the form that earned him a spot as a Lou Groza Award nominee before last season.
Calaycay struggled last year, making only 5-of-10 field-goal attempts and 50-of-53 extra-point kicks.
Two years ago, Calaycay came to Boise State as a walk-on and earned first-team All-Big West honors. Before the 2001 season, he had connected on 29-of-33 field goals and 100-of-103 extra points.
Calaycay was the star of Boise State’s second football scrimmage of the spring. He made eight field goals, including five 42-yarders.
Sophomore Tyler Jones (6-0, 198) earned a scholarship last year as a kickoff specialist and will back up Callaycay.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Collins, the Broncos’ new defensive coordinator, will have plenty of strength at defensive tackle.
If senior Tony Altierei (5-10, 274) can return to the lineup after the neck injury that sidelined him during the latter part of 2001, the Broncos will return both starters and both backups at tackle.
Altierei is listed as the No. 1 left tackle, but did not compete in any contact during spring drills.
Senior Bobby Hammer (6-2, 266) will start at right tackle for the second straight season. He led all Bronco defensive linemen with 47 tackles last year, and added three sacks.
Depth at tackle will come from junior Paul Allen (6-2, 297) and junior Dane Oldam (6-2, 270). Allen had 20 tackles and one sack last year while Oldam added 26 tackles and a team-best four sacks.
At defensive end, the Broncos lost seniors Marcus Purkiss, Mike Phillips and Sky Dumont, who combined for 95 tackles and seven sacks.
The starters are expected to be sophomore Julius Roberts and senior Ryan Nelson (6-2, 237). Roberts has shown flashes of brilliance during his time at Boise State, and last year as a red-shirt freshman had five tackles and one sack. Nelson, a junior college transfer, had 17 tackles and two quarterback sacks in his first year with the Broncos.
LINEBACKERS
Gone are senior Greg Sasser and sophomore LaGary Mitchell, who left the team last winter.
Junior Travis Burgher (6-1, 214) has been moved from safety to linebacker and will compete against senior Kameron Merritt (6-2, 232) at the Sam position. Burgher was fourth on the team with 57 tackles last year despite being limited to spot action after breaking his wrist in the Rice game. Merritt is a hard-hitter who had 19 tackles last year.
The starter at middle linebacker will be senior Chauncey Ako (5-11, 222), who rotated in as a starter last season and made 31 tackles. Red-shirt freshman Chris Barrios (6-0, 212) will back up Ako.
At weak-side linebacker, a pair of players who were in the starting lineup at times last season will play a lot. Sophomore Andy Avalos (5-10, 213) is listed as the starter after making 49 tackles last year. The backup will be senior Kris Foster (5-11, 225), who will push Avalos for playing time.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The Broncos are blessed with depth at cornerback with five quality players battling for playing time.
Both starters from last year return in sophomore Gabe Franklin (5-10, 181) and junior Julius Brown (5-10, 182). Franklin made 50 tackles and led the team with three interceptions. Brown made 42 tackles and along with Franklin was considered a good cover back.
Sophomore Chris Carr (5-10, 176) played well last year and will be a major contributor at either cornerback or safety, and junior Machtier Clay (5-11, 181) could be the best of the foursome, Hawkins said. Clay sat out last season after transferring from Arizona State, where he played in nine games as a part-time starter in 2000.
Red-shirt freshman Lee Marks (5-9, 173) could also see playing time at cornerback or safety, and could play running back if needed.
A three-time all-league selection, senior Quintin Mikell (5-10, 206) is the leader of the defense. He led the Broncos last year in his fourth year as a starter with 87 tackles.
Mikell was the only Boise State defensive player to earn first-team All-WAC honors last year and should be a candidate for the league’s defensive player-of-the-year award this year.
The free safety will be junior Wes Nurse (5-10, 187), who moved from safety to cornerback last year before moving back to safety when Travis Burgher was injured. He finished with 72 tackles, second best on the team.
Carr will also see action at safety, along with sophomore Deshan Cabaong (6-1, 187).
PUNTERS
This is a position of concern because Keith Schuttler, who was expected to return for his second season, tore an Achilles tendon early in spring practice.
The injury leaves a battle between several untested punters -- red-shirt freshman quarterback-turned-punter Sean Steichen (6-0, 190) and sophomore Jesse Warner (5-6, 179).
Place-kickers Calaycay and Jones could find themselves in the mix at punter.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Broncos were 19th in the nation last year in kickoff returns, averaging 23.4 yards per return.
Mikell was seventh in the nation in kickoff returns with 28.4 per return. He has brought back two kicks for touchdowns in his career, including one against Hawaii last season. His 28.4 return average just missed breaking his record of 28 from the year before.
Forsey gives the Broncos a 1-2 punch on kickoff returns. He was No. 73 in the nation with a 21.3 return average last year.
Gilligan will be the punt returner. He is a fearless return man who refuses to call for a fair catch.
RECRUITING CLASS
Hawkins and his staff signed 24 players in their 2002 class. The 24 players announced in February brought the total for the signing class to 26. Offensive lineman Taylor Moore (6-3, 290) of Elk Grove High School in Wilton, Calif., and tight end Andy Weldon (6-3, 240) of Red Bluff, California signed in December. Weldon played last year at Shasta Junior College in California.
Linemen from both sides of the line of scrimmage topped the list at 13 (six on defense and seven on offense).
"Recruiting skill guys is a lot easier than linemen,’’ Hawkins told The Idaho Statesman. "You get this eye candy and it’s hard to pass on these electric players, but the reality is you win down in the trenches.’’
Boise State also signed three defensive secondary players and three running backs. The remaining numbers for each position signed includes two each at quarterback, tight end and wide receiver, and one linebacker.
Jones, Boise State’s kickoff specialist last season, will also be receiving a scholarship for 2002.
The class includes three defensive linemen who could make an immediate impact.
Daniel Zynn (6-4, 285) chose Boise State over several bigger schools. He made 90 tackles last year at South Pasadena (Calif.) High School.
Two junior college defensive linemen who could play immediately are Fresno City College transfers Loa Emmsley (6-4, 280) and Fernando Yanez (6-2, 265).
"Loa is a phenomenal player,’’ Hawks told the Statesman. "We look for those guys to give us some pop right away on the D-line.’’
Offensive lineman Kevin Worack (6-7, 300) from Aurora, Colo., had 64 pancake blocks last year and was the top lineman at summer camps conducted by Oregon, Colorado, Colorado State, Wyoming and Kansas.
"We recruited against every -- and when I say every, I mean every -- major conference in the country,’’ Hawkins said. "Every one of these guys we had to recruit ‘em and we had to re-recruit ‘em.’’
The Broncos signed two Gatorade Player of the Years in their respective states. Running back Jon Helmandollar (5-11, 215) from Eagle High School earned the honor last year for the state of Idaho, and safety Derry Jackson (6-0, 1959 was selected Oregon’s recipient.
The class also included potential replacements for Dinwiddie at quarterback.
BSU landed Legedu Naanee (6-2, 212), a quarterback from Franklin High School in Portland, Ore. He chose the Broncos over Oregon State and Colorado. The Broncos also signed quarterback Jared Zabansky (6-2, 185) from Hermiston (Ore.) High School.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
Heading into the 2002 season, Boise State is among the most successful programs in the nation. The Broncos are No. 12 all-time in winning percentage among NCAA Division I-A schools with a 65.9 success rate.
Boise State, with its 259-133-2 record, also has the highest winning percentage of any Division I-A reclassification team since 1989. The Broncos became a I-A school in 1996.
The keys for the Broncos this fall will be the development of some young linebackers and offensive linemen.
Boise State will be good enough to contend for the WAC championship and a bowl game. And with the recruiting class Hawkins and his staff brought in, the future is bright for the Broncos.
