Boise State football players destroy coach's Hawaii Bowl ring; want more

SAN DIEGO - Boise State players have destroyed strength and conditioning coach Tim Socha's "participation" ring from last year's Hawaii Bowl.

Now they want to do something about his Hawaii BowlT-shirt.

The Broncos demolished Socha's ring with "The Hammer'' after defeating Nevada last month to secure the WAC championship. Socha called it a "participation" ring because the Broncos did not win last year's WAC title or the bowl game.

They got it for simply showing up.

"I was happy that we got rid of the Hawaii Bowl ring finally. I got my piece of the Hawaii Bowl ring," senior offensive tackle Andrew Woodruff said.

Socha, however, still wears a Hawaii Bowl shirt that has been modified to include the words "Always Finish" -Boise State's motto for this season. Socha wore it to practice Saturday.

"He's actually been wearing that shirt since the bowl game - summer, winter. It's getting so old the letters are peeling off, he's washed it so many times," senior safety Ellis Powers said. "It's just a reminder to us."

So what will the Broncos do with the T-shirt if they win the Poinsettia Bowl?

"I'm going to leave that to the guys for next year," Woodruff said.

WILSON TO GET NFL ADVICE

Boise State junior cornerback Kyle Wilson has asked the NFL draft advisory committee for an assessment of his draft status. College players are allowed to get their status from the committee once during their career.

Wilson, however, said he is planning to return to Boise State for his senior season.

"I know next year I can definitely get better," said Wilson, who was a first-team All-WAC selection at cornerback and a second-team All-American as a punt returner. "I still have goals that I want to accomplish that I can definitely accomplish in college."

Wilson is eager to see what weaknesses that committee comes back with. Wilson got a similar report last year through one of the Broncos' coaches.

"I hang it up in my locker," Wilson said.

TCU LINEBACKER WON'T PLAY

TCU senior linebacker Robert Henson, an All-Mountain West first-team selection and the team's second-leading tackler, will not play in Tuesday's Poinsettia Bowl because of academic issues, coach Gary Patterson said Sunday.

Henson, who started all 12 regular-season games at strongside linebacker, had 73 tackles including nine for loss and two interceptions. Henson had 272 tackles in his career.

Junior Daryl Washington will replace Henson in the starting lineup. Washington, who made one start during the regular season, had 57 tackles, fourth on the team.

Henson became something of a celebrity in Dallas this summer when he married Sarah Jakes, the daughter of Bishop T.D. Jakes, who founded the Dallas-area mega church, The Potter's House. Dr. Phil and former Dallas Cowboys Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith and Deion Sanders attended the wedding.

TCU freshman safety Tekerrein Cuba did not make the trip to San Diego because of an injury. Also, backup cornerback Greg McCoy, the Horned Frogs' fastest player, will not play because of injury.

IPOD AMONG GIFTSFROM POINSETTIA BOWL

Boise State and TCU players, coaches and staff members received a Poinsettia Bowl watch by Tommy Hilfiger, an iPod Touch, a $50 Best Buy gift certificate and a hooded Poinsettia Bowl sweatshirt from the game.

The NCAA allows bowls to give players gifts worth up to $500. The players also receive six complimentary tickets to the game.