HONOLULU, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Three Boise State players will miss the Broncos' Hawaii Bowl game Sunday against East Carolina for violating team rules.
Coach Chris Peterson said wide receiver Jeremy Childs, backup cornerback and special-teams player Keith McGowen, and linebacker Ben Chandler were suspended and did not make the team's flight to Honolulu.
The Idaho Statesman reported Childs, a first-team all-conference selection in the Western Athletic Conference, will be the most significant loss. The 6-foot sophomore from Los Angeles scored nine touchdowns on 82 receptions for 1,045 yards this season.
"Initially, I was devastated," senior quarterback Taylor Tharp told the newspaper. "To not have him out there, I feel like a part of myself is missing. But like (Petersen) said, we have a lot of young talent on this team. A lot of guys have been stepping up. That's what we're going to need -- no hesitation and stepping right in there and doing the job we ask of them."
