Sports Briefs October 4, 2011
Football
Kellen Moore is about to get a big new downfield target.
Boise State coach Chris Petersen said Monday the NCAA has reinstated wide receiver Geraldo Boldewijn, one of three Broncos with Dutch ties who have missed games this season due to eligibility issues.
Boldewijn, the biggest and fastest member of the Bronco receiving corps, is practicing with the team this week and is expected to play Friday night when the No. 5 Broncos (4-0) travel to Fresno State.
For Boise State, the deep, vertical threat Boldewijn could open up new opportunities in the passing game. So far this season, Moore hasn't connected on many throws deep down field, and his longest completion so far is a 38-yarder two weeks ago against Tulsa.
"It'll be fun," Moore said Monday. "He deserves some opportunities. He brings some stuff that the other guys can't. He's got some talents that hopefully we can showcase."
In 13 games last season, Boldewijn had 11 catches for 160 yards, including a 48-yarder.
• New Mexico State quarterback Matt Christian, San Jose State linebacker Keith Smith and Idaho wide receiver Justin Hernandez were named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week, respectively.
Hernandez, a junior from Lapwai, blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown with 3:11 left in Idaho's game at Virginia. Idaho trailed 14-6 at the time and following the successful two-point conversion after the touchdown, the Vandals forced overtime before losing 21-20 after an unsuccessful two-point try in the extra period.
Idaho junior cornerback Aaron Grymes was among those nominated for defenseive honors.
• Montana State defensive tackle Zach Minter and Montana returner Jabin Sambrano are among the football players honored by the Big Sky Conference this week.
Minter, a junior from Phoenix, had four tackles, a tackle for a loss and a key fumble recovery in Montana State's 31-21 victory over Sacramento State. His fumble recovery came as the Hornets were threatening to score with 5:19 remaining.
Minter shares the defensive award with Eastern Washington's Anthony Larry, who recovered a fumble with 21 seconds remaining to seal EWU's first win of the season, 27-21 over Weber State.
Basketball
For the past year, Angel Rosado cheered for what LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were doing with the Miami Heat.
On Monday, the roles shifted.
When James and Wade tweeted their appreciation just past midnight Monday to fans who were camping out at Florida International with hopes of getting the best tickets to Saturday's South Florida All-Star Classic, it was Rosado they were talking about. The 23-year-old man and his wife were the very first to arrive at FIU to get in line, just over 16 hours before tickets actually went on sale.
"It's not just any exhibition game," Rosado said. "It's the biggest All-Star game in Miami since 1990. Since I was a kid, I always liked the Heat. It never got crazy until Dwyane Wade came in and I watching TV the other day and still can't believe we've got LeBron James on our team."
They'll be on separate teams Saturday at FIU, which figures to be the site of quite an NBA spectacle.
Auto racing
Jason Line collected his sixth win of the season and the second in NHRA's playoffs during a rain-delayed final round at the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway at Mohnton, Pa.
Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also collected victories at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Event.
- The Associated Press