Boise QB has sweet tooth to match sweet touch
| • | Jones dispels 'Net rumor he's thinking of leaving |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
There is little doubt that Boise State quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie throws some of the sweetest passes.
That is apparent after each practice, when the Broncos stage their version of the "Quarterback Challenge." From 30 yards, quarterbacks will try to throw footballs through six tire-sized holes cut into a large canvas. Losers are required to pay in candy bars.
Since training camp in August, Dinwiddie has had to pony up only once.
"I bought a round of Twix," said Dinwiddie, a sophomore.
Saturday's opponent, Hawai'i, soon will learn that the 6-foot, 192-pound Dinwiddie throws hard passes that melt into receivers' hands.
"He has a very good arm," Bronco coach Dan Hawkins said.
Dinwiddie leads the Western Athletic Conference in passing efficiency with a rating of 165.3. In nine games, he has thrown for 2,484 yards and 24 touchdowns.
The passer also is a good catch. As a senior at Elk Grove (Calif.) High, Dinwiddie was recruited by Fresno State. But the Bulldogs backed off, and Dinwiddie decided, "I wanted to get out of the state." Boise State's wide-open offense proved to be an irresistible lure.
"I wouldn't say we're 'lucky' to have him, but we are very fortunate," Hawkins said.
"It's nice here," Dinwiddie said of the Treasure Valley. "It never snowed where I was from. There are a lot of things to do here."
He said he often fishes for trout in a stream behind Bronco Stadium. "I like to catch them and release them," said Dinwiddie, adding the sport is "all about the chase."
Dinwiddie's patience paid off while serving a two-year apprenticeship under quarterback Bart Hendricks, who led the Broncos to consecutive Humanitarian Bowl appearances. Entering spring practice last March, Dinwiddie was asked to go through the formalities of a tryout. But, really, it was known that unless his skills took a knee, Dinwiddie would steer an offense that led the nation in scoring last season and returned the top two rushers, five of the top six receivers and seven offensive linemen.
"I knew I would be the guy," Dinwiddie recalled. The returning players, he said, "welcomed me. They stuck by me."
He also has bonded with Hawkins, who is in his first year as the Broncos' head coach.
"Coach Hawkins calls me 'Dime Widdie,' because he says I can drop a football on a dime," Dinwiddie said. "I like that. That's pretty good. Usually a coach wouldn't think of something like that."
• Injury update: It remains unclear whether weakside linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, defensive end Travis Laboy or cornerback Abraham Elimimian will play against Boise State.
Tinoisamoa, who has a strained lower right leg, said he is able to run straight ahead, but is struggling to move laterally.
"It's somewhat shaky right now," Tinoisamoa said. "If I can play, I will. I'm not really sure what will happen."
Laboy, who has a sprained ankle, limped noticeably yesterday. But he walked without the crutches he used Monday. He said he did not know if he would be able to play this week.
Elimimian, who did not play last week because of a sprained ankle, said the injury has improved considerably .
"It's a lot better than it was last week," he said. "I should be able to go. Right now, it's crucial to work harder than everybody else."
