Boise State football notebook: Atkinson suspended, Kirby Moore injured

SALT LAKE CITY - The decision by Boise State football coach Chris Petersen means redshirt freshman defensive tackle Michael Atkinson will miss at least three games - leaving a hole in the Broncos' depth chart for two critical games.

Atkinson, who was expected to share time at tackle with starters Chase Baker and Billy Winn, will miss the season opener against Oregon, a home game against Miami (Ohio) and the WAC opener at Fresno State.

Atkinson was arrested earlier this month in Boise on a DUI charge after a car accident. He also was charged with leaving the scene of an accident. Both charges are misdemeanors.

Atkinson also has an ankle injury, unrelated to the accident, that will limit his practice time early in fall camp, Petersen said. He will remain with the team and can play Sept. 26 at Bowling Green if he meets Petersen's criteria.

"He's got some things to do along with being suspended," Petersen said. "If he takes care of what he needs to take care of for his team, for us, for the university, then we'll get him back after that."

KIRBY MOORE INJURED

True freshman wide receiver Kirby Moore sustained a foot fracture early in summer conditioning, casting at least some doubt on whether the much-hyped brother of quarterback Kellen Moore will be able to contribute this year. The injury isn't expected to be a long-term problem, but it's unlikely Moore will be ready to join the receiver rotation for the opener.

The Broncos likely will need one of their true freshmen receivers to play this year.

"I don't think he'll be ready to go right out of the gate," Petersen said, "but it will be kind of a week-to-week process to evaluate."

Other roster moves:

® Senior fullback Andy Silsby, who tore an ACL in a softball game, will be out for the year. He will help coach. That leaves the Broncos with just four seniors.

® Offensive lineman Garrett Pendergast, who had arthroscopic knee surgery, will be limited early in camp, Petersen said.

® Capital High offensive lineman Bryant Thomas will be the Broncos' only grayshirt out of this year's recruiting class. He will join the Broncos in the winter, using one of the five or six scholarships the Broncos expect to have available for the 2010 recruiting class.

LOOK OUT, BROTZMAN

The only significant rule change this year is the elimination of the roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker penalties when the kicker has exited the tackle box.

That means when Boise State punter Kyle Brotzman rolls out to punt, defenders can hit his leg legally.

"We've never even had an issue with that where a guy had to pull off," Petersen said. "Kyle's trained pretty well, when he feels pressure, to get it out. We don't think that's really going to affect us. Hopefully, we're right."

QUICK HITS

Former Oregon player Damon Griffin has joined the Boise State staff as the defensive graduate assistant. Griffin played for the Ducks when Petersen was there. É Game times have been added for the games at Bowling Green (5 p.m. MT) and Hawaii (10 p.m. MT). Boise State still is waiting for a time for the home game against Nevada. É The fall scrimmages are scheduled for Aug. 13, 21 and 26. The Aug. 21 scrimmage is the festive one; the Aug. 26 scrimmage is usually closed. É The Broncos' motto for this year: "Bleed Blue."