Hedrick gets QB job to himself

Boise State quarterback Grant Hedrick left for Honolulu prepared to share playing time in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

After an unexpected departure, the job is all his.

Hedrick was slated to split snaps with senior Joe Southwick when the Broncos face Oregon State on Tuesday at Aloha Stadium. But Southwick was suspended and sent home for a violation of team rules shortly after the team’s arrival, leaving Hedrick to direct the Boise State offense.

"It’s a big distraction. I think all the guys were kind of just taken aback by it, especially when it’s one of your leaders, which is unfortunate," Hedrick told reporters on Sunday. "But we rallied and regrouped and had a great week of practice so far."

Hedrick grew up in Independence, Ore., not far from the Oregon State campus, and grew into the starting role at Boise State after Southwick suffered an ankle injury on Boise State’s first play against Nevada on Oct. 19.

Upon entering the game, Hedrick threw for 150 yards and ran for 115 and two touchdowns in the 34-17 win. The Broncos went 3-2 the rest of the regular season, with Hedrick completing 67 percent of his throws with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions since Southwick’s injury. He also enters the Hawaii Bowl as Boise State’s second leading rusher with 257 yards and six scores.

"It took a game or so," Boise State receiver Matt Miller said of adjusting to having Hedrick at the controls. "They’re different quarterbacks, Grant’s more of a runner. They’re both good passers, so that aspect didn’t change for the wideouts.

"I think the defense has to prepare for (Hedrick’s running ability), so as a wide receiver it makes my job a little easier."

Hedrick, a junior, appeared in relief of Southwick in eight games last year and completed 12 of 17 attempts. With the experience he’s gained this year has come greater comfort with the speed of the game.

"Just every rep I get it’s slowing down and that’ll only get better the more I play," Hedrick said.

Mannion stands out

At 6-feet-5, Sean Mannion stands out in the pocket as Oregon State’s starting quarterback.

On Saturday, he was planning to stand out in the waters facing Waikiki Beach.

Mannion said he was planning on jumping on a surfboard for the first time under the guidance of wide receivers coach Brent Brennan.

"I’ve been saying this whole time I want to at least be able to say I tried surfing," said Mannion, who had never been to Hawaii before. "I’ve done a little bit of swimming in the ocean, but now I want to try the whole surfing thing."

Mannion will have a good teacher in Brennan, who is the cousin of former University of Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan and a former UH graduate assistant.

Getting there

Aloha Stadium’s lower and upper Halawa parking lots will open at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The Salt Lake Boulevard main gate and the Kam lot gate open at 11 a.m. Stadium turnstile gates open at 1:30, with kickoff set for 3 p.m.