What UNLV head coach Dan Mullen said about Boise State

‘The team that has set the standard in this league … probably since they joined the league,’ Mullen said

UNLV head coach Dan Mullen | UNLV Athletics

First-year UNLV head coach Dan Mullen had many positive things to say about Boise State entering Saturday’s Mountain West showdown at Albertsons Stadium.

The Rebels (6-0, 2-0) and Broncos (4-2, 2-0) have played in the last two MWC championship games, both of which went Boise State’s way. 

“We’ve got a very good football team we’re playing this week,” Mullen said on Monday. “The team that has set the standard in this league … probably since they joined the league.”

Here are the highlights from Mullen’s press conference:

On Boise State, head coach Spencer Danielson

“It’s a program that’s done it. Spencer is a really good young football coach, up-and-coming guy that has taken this program (to new heights), but it’s also the program, it’s the players. They have a certain buy-in, a certain belief in that. Because several different coaches have come, and the standard in that program never seems to drop.”

Boise State Broncos head coach Spencer Danielson. | Boise State Athletics

On Boise State’s first-down rushing struggles 

“For everybody, first down is a critical down. I think the one benefit for them when you look at them and the success that they’ve had, they have some explosive guys on the outside and they have a veteran quarterback. If you’re really successful on first down, your problems are pretty minimal offensively. If you’re not successful on first down but have some playmakers and a veteran guy pulling the trigger, making decisions, it’s a lot easier to overcome. 

“It’ll be really interesting because I think defensively, we’re going to have to be a lot better. Talking to (defensive coordinator Paul Guenther), that’s a big deal. We’ve got to be better on first-down defense. I guess that’ll be an interesting part of this battle.” 

On making second trip to Idaho

“Never been (to Albertsons Stadium). The states you’ve been to, my wife and I went over to Utah right before camp started a while ago, we weren’t even married yet. … But we went up to Yellowstone, and on the drive home you can come out the backside of Yellowstone in Wyoming, and you can kind of go through Montana and Idaho to come back through Utah, does that sound about right? I think it is.

Dec 22, 2017; Boise, ID, USA; General view of Albertsons Stadium. | Brian Losness-Imagn Images

“We had lunch at one spot and gas at another, so I can check them off that I’ve been to those states. But that was my experience. I don’t remember if Idaho was the lunch or the gas station, but I got out of my car and was like ‘Boom, I’ve been to this state!’ So this will be my second trip to Idaho.”

On Boise State’s famed blue turf 

“It is what it is. That’s their deal. They like it, and it’s kind of cool. We’ll see. I’ve never seen it, so I have no idea if it does anything.”