Everything Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson said before facing Notre Dame football

Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson spoke to the media Monday for nearly half an hour in advance of his team’s first-ever trip to South Bend to play at Notre Dame. This is everything Danielson said in his Fighting Irish game week press conference, including detailed updates on the health status of former Notre Dame corner and current Bronco Jaden Mickey.

Opening statement

Well, guys, as always, appreciate you guys’ time on this lovely Monday afternoon in Boise, Idaho. We’re just, you know, fired up for another week. And thank you, Jesus, just for an opportunity to coach this team, man. Every time I drive into work, man, and I drive down and pray for our team and think about it, man, we’re so thankful to be here, be a part of this community. Moments like Saturday night with those helmets, with the front porch of Idaho, 208 on the back, just reminds you how thankful we are to be a part of this community and be a part of this team.

“Proud of our team and how we’ve been able to grow week in and week out. Still got a long way to go. But I really, truly believe we’re getting better, right? There’s still a lot of things on film, even after a win, there’s still a lot of things on film that, man, we got to get fixed and get fixed quickly. But proud of our team, continues to grow week in and week out. 

“Proud of how we were able to respond to some adversity in the game, continue to thrive and improve, feel like our defense, like we talked about last week, played better. Still a lot of meat on the bone there, even defensively, but played much better, played at a high level and were able to eliminate a lot more of the explosive plays that we had given up prior. And offensively, too, man, did a really good job. Still a lot of plays out there. We had way too many drop balls. Had some third downs that we need to execute. Had some missed run fits by our running backs and offensive line that can’t happen. But we’re able to be successful.

“And special teams wise, our guys are playing much harder on special teams. Man, so proud of Boomer being able to create touchbacks for us. We’re two for two on field goals, which is huge. Never take that for granted. Obviously, great job by App. State. They had the ghost returner play against us that we didn’t execute. We practiced it, but obviously have not done a good enough job with it. And that’s on us as coaches and hats off to them. It was a good scheme and they were able to get an explosive return. We got to field the ball cleaner. We had a couple of missed fields on kickoff and punt return that we need to get fixed and we will.

“So in all three phases, a lot of things to grow in, a lot of things that I’m proud of where our team is growing to, but we’re a process focused team and we got to get back to work and we got to focus on our best week of prep. 

“In regards to Jaden Mickey, he’s doing much better. Like I said, I saw him after he was released from the hospital on Saturday night. I was able to get some time with him and he was doing much better. And even talking to him about the moment itself, when the hit happened on kickoff and everybody saw kind of what happened on the field and he was just back and forth saying, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ I was telling him this and he started crying, chokes me up because he said my dad told me that every night before I went to sleep. And once again, this is a young man that, obviously an alum of Notre Dame, but I mean he’s lost his mom. He’s been through a lot. And seeing him even come back from that injury, like I said, he’s going through concussion protocols, but all tests and everything are negative for everything else, which, thank you Jesus for that. And so he’s going through concussion protocol still day-to-day in regards to if he’s going to be able to play this game or not. We’ll walk that path accordingly. Same with Roger Carreon. He’s going to be day-to-day on if he’s going to be able to play or not and we’re going to continue to walk that path with him. 

“So with that being said, obviously huge opponent this week, man. I think the world of Marcus Freeman was blessed to be able to meet him this offseason at an event. And I mean, obviously the success speaks for itself in regards to him as a coach and him as a defensive coordinator, him as a leader. But it was just from meeting him and just seeing him from afar seems also just like a phenomenal leader of men and that he cares about building young men to be champions in life. And obviously they’ve had a ton of success. They’ve got a great football team. But a lot of respect for Marcus Freeman and how he does it, not just the results on the field.

“In all three phases, they got a lot of different weapons. Offensively, I mean, their two running backs. Obviously, Jeremiyah Love, two of the best we’ll see all season, period. End of story. Two, in my opinion, first-round draft picks. And we got our work cut out for us stopping them. They got great schematics. Their offensive line is really good. They got receivers that can beat you consistently. So we got our work cut out for us defensively. It starts with tackling the running backs. And then CJ [Carr], their quarterback, man, he’s going to be a future first-round draft pick. I don’t think I’m the first one that will say that. He has that type of potential and he has that type of leadership, accuracy. That’s who he is as a quarterback. So offensively, they’re loaded. They’re coached extremely well. They’re not going to make mistakes. And we got our work cut out for us defensively.

“On the flip side, defensively for them, their front seven is one of the best front sevens we’re for sure going to see all year. Well coached. On number five, one of their edge rushers is a dynamic football player, 34 is a really good linebacker, fo them. Captain. And they’re able to rotate and play a lot of guys. Very physical at the point of attack. Can run. Very sound. And their back end, man, they don’t give up a lot of explosive plays because they play really well together. They can lock you down in man. They do a good job with some zone switch-ups. And they’re going to be really, really well coached. We know that going in. Obviously, Marcus Freeman does a phenomenal job holistically, defensive guy. Coach Ash has done, coached a lot of defense in his time. So we got a lot of respect for their coaches. Coach Denbrock, it’s funny, Coach Stockton, who is an alum of Notre Dame, said that Coach Denbrock was the offensive coordinator when he was there. Obviously, Jaden Mickey’s an alum, so able to just cool to see a lot of different connections. 

“And then I think the phase that needs to be talked about more, even with their team, is how good they are in special teams. I mean, they play relentless on special teams. I mean, it’s inspiring to me just to see how much, how hard they play on special teams. And they will fake it every opportunity they can. From punt to kickoff return to kickoff. I mean, they are going to find ways to steal possessions. And they do a really good job of it. So that is going to be a premium for us this week to make sure that we can align to everything and do a really good job stopping their fakes. Because it is going to happen, and we got to be ready for it. 

“So ton of respect for Notre Dame, ton of respect for Marcus Freeman and what he’s been able to build there and how successful they are. And they deserve a ton of credit. And so for us this week, obviously a lot of people will be talking about this game as they should. It’s a huge opponent. My biggest focus for our team is your best is enough and your best is required. That’s going to be my message for them all week. Your best is enough, but your best required. It’s your best in the meeting. It’s your best in rehab. It’s your best at practice. Like, doesn’t need to be perfect. I don’t need anybody, all right, we’re playing Notre Dame. I got to go be Superman. No. But I do need your best. No different from our coaching staff. And that’s the message of our week. So then when Saturday afternoon comes along, we’re in South Bend, and that place is rocking, which I know it will be, which is going to be an awesome time for our players, our fan base, our staff to be there. But we got to prep to play our best. And then on Saturday afternoon, we’re going to go cut it loose, and we’ll let the chips fall where they may. So with that being said, open up for questions.”

On what he remembers about the matchmaking for the Boise State vs. Notre Dame game

“I don’t remember when me and JD had the conversation about it, BJ. But it was somewhere in that March, April 2024, I think, somewhere in there. And I could be off maybe in the months. But I was fired up when JD brought the opportunity to go play Notre Dame. I mean, as a football fan, which we all are, and even me growing up in Southern California, I mean, Notre Dame’s a team that you watch consistently year in and year out. I mean, from Rudy to South Bend to Touchdown Jesus. I mean, there’s just so much amazing history attached to Notre Dame. And I’ve never been there, I’m fired up as a coach. Fired up as just a fan of college football, to be able to be a part of this game with our players. 

“And so, we’re gonna be able to see the stadium the day before and go through it. Because I want, by the time we get to kickoff, it’s time to go play football. And they got really good players, I believe in our players too. And at some point, the ball’s gonna get put down and it’s gonna be 11 on 11. And we gotta go work to play our best. But no, it was a no brainer opportunity for our program. I mean, it’s funny. I mean, this is that game, I think I’ve been open about this. We signed the contract somewhere in the summertime 2024. I don’t remember when it was. But I’m hanging out with my family in Salmon, Idaho, before we report for fall camp last season. And I’m wearing just normal street clothes, just kind of hanging out, we’re at a restaurant. And the waiter comes up and out of the blue, she probably recognizes me, she’s like, man, I can’t wait for the Notre Dame game. And I’m like, we got a whole season before we play Notre Dame. But these games for our fan base to be able to see, it creates a lot of excitement.

“For me as a coach, it’s game number five. It’s game number five. And our prep, our process, we just need to continue to grow. And I don’t need anybody to be Superman. I don’t need anybody to be perfect. But I do need our best from our staff and our players. No different playing Notre Dame or playing App State. I need that from our players. We’re process oriented and that’s what we’re gonna focus on.” 

On if Jaden Mickey ever lost his normal, functional abilities in terms of moving his limbs, etc.

“Yeah, he was. Obviously the hit happened where he was out of sorts, but I’m not the medical expert to give you that. But I know even in that moment, he was leaving the field putting his arms up and moving. So it was just we go, we do everything the right way. So we go to the hospital and he had all the scans and checks to make sure from skeletal, muscular, brain, everything is good and all that was clear. And so that’s why now we are in concussion protocols and he’s doing much better. He’s going through a lot right now in the training room and riding the bike and going through all of our concussion protocols that are mandated through the NCAA, which are a good thing to protect players.”

On how bad Jaden Mickey wants to play against Notre Dame

“Yeah, as an alum, he’s fired up to be able to go play this game. But I had a conversation with him and his dad, even the night after, like, we are going to protect you. We’re going to walk this path. We are going to always put our players’ health and care in front of them going to play football, right? Period, end of story. And so if that means he doesn’t play, that means he doesn’t play. We’re going to put the young man in front of him playing football. 

“Obviously, as an alum of Notre Dame, he loves Notre Dame. He loves, a lot of those teammates are still there of his, but he had an injury and we got to walk this path the right way.”

On if Mickey will make the trip to South Bend

“He’s coming with us no matter what. Yeah, absolutely. Good question.”

On if Boise State had an issue with their new helmets that kept coming off during the game

“Good question, BJ. We got to do both sides. I think we got to make sure they’re correct from an equipment standpoint. And then, obviously, I’m going to have a conversation with our players today making sure that they have the right air in them, they’re strapped up the right way, because we have five or six helmets pop out in the game that, that can’t happen. We got to keep our guys safe. 

On if the Mickey situation is a coach’s worst nightmare

“I mean, whenever a player gets hurt, man, I mean, your heart just drops, especially in the moment when you don’t exactly know what’s happening. All injuries are brutal, right? Even when you see that it’s a leg or something, it’s brutal. First off, because you care about the kid and you know how much they put into work and prep to play a violent game. I mean, that’s the reality of this. Especially in that moment with Jaden, you don’t know, right? I mean, you just don’t know. And not that my mind went negative, but I immediately started praying because outside of that, I couldn’t do anything. I believe that prayer works, but outside of that, that’s all I went to because those are scary moments. And my heart dropped because I love that young man. I know how much he’s poured into this football program to play. And in that moment, those are hard. Absolutely, Johnny. Those are hard moments.”

On stopping Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love

“Yeah. I mean, I was talking to a coach that played against him. He said, the second you think you got him, all of a sudden you look up and it’s first down again. Right? I think that speaks to who Jeremiyah Love is, right? I mean, he’s extremely hard. I mean, he’s going to be a top-ten football pick, top-ten draft pick, and that’s earned and deserved. Elite catching the football, too. An elite receiver. Had two catching touchdowns last weekend. He’s extremely hard to get down, very, very quick on his feet, strong, powerful, so he can go through you if you’re high, but he also can one-cut and he can get out. And it’s gone.

“So, I mean, we got to practice our tail off. I mean, it’s going to be really, really hard to simulate that in practice, but we got to do our best as a defensive staff, making sure we continue to work how we leverage these formations. Right? They’re going to give you a lot of different formations. In 11 and 12, we got to leverage formations. We got to do a good job tackling low and finding a way to get them on the ground. Jeremiyah Love’s going to get his, right? You go into a game with elite football players, there’s not a schematic call that all of a sudden is going to take Jeremiyah Love out of the game. It’s not. We got to play sound. We got to play disciplined. And we got to be relentless. This cannot be a one-tackle, one-tackler-type game. We got to gang-tackle Jeremiyah Love because he’s an elite football player.”

On Boise State’s experience playing in big-time environments like Notre Dame

“Every year’s a new year, though. You know, and I was thinking even yesterday and thinking about Oregon and Penn State, but we’ve got a bunch of guys that may watch that game on TV because they weren’t even a part of this team, right? So I’m going to pull on some of those, but every year’s a new year. This team is way different than last year’s team. And so more just for me as a coach, leading our staff and our players, just making sure that I don’t want anyone to—because sometimes when you have these big games, it’s, oh, now I got to be someone completely different as a coach or as a player. But I do want your best. Like, we need our best teaching this week. We need our best enthusiasm juice from our coaches. No different from our players. That’s really going to be my message because it is going to be an awesome game, awesome atmosphere, but it’s going to be no different when it’s game number six and we’re playing New Mexico on the blue, right? I’m so process-oriented that it’s all process over outcome that I believe that’s how you can be consistent. 

“Now, I don’t know, have any idea how Saturday afternoon is going to go in South Bend, but that’s my message. Not, because just the reality, there’s going to be, well, this week, coach, I’m ready to give you my all. It’s like, I needed your all last week, right? Like, I need your all two weeks ago. Like, no, I want your best. You come to Boise State, you are going to be held to high standard to give your best every single meeting, every single practice. And then when it comes to the game, go cut it loose. However the game goes on Saturday, we’re going to still learn and grow from however it happens because we’re going to be focused on our process.”

On if Boise State RB Jambres “Breezy” Dubar is close to returning

“He is. Yeah, he’s got, as of right now, he should be able to go through all of practice and be able to compete. What that looks like for him in the game, just even regards to reps, we’ll see with the three guys right now that have done a good job, but he’s worked his tail off to get back and get healthy, and as of right now, he should be able to practice and be available.”

On how well he knows his team through four games

“Yeah, I think I have learned a lot about our team, but still learning every single day. And I think that’s what I try to always be as a coach because I think the second you feel like this is who we are, it can change in a moment, right? Positive or negative, oh, man, we’re a team that is this way, and you just assume that, but don’t continue to uphold that standard or celebrate those habits. That can waver quickly, right? So, but I have learned a lot about our team. I’ve seen our team grow. I’ve seen our team play with high effort and high mentality. I’ve seen our team respond to adversity. I’ve seen us not, but I’ve seen us do those things, so who are we going to be week in, week out? That’s why so much, almost to BJ’s question, I’m just about our process and our growth, staff and players. That’s what I do. I don’t make calls during the game. I’m not a coordinator. I’m about our players, and are we growing every single moment we can. And I do feel like we have. We got a long way to go. We got a lot of things we got to continue to work and fix and fired up to do so.

On what Notre Dame has done in the last two weeks to improve

“Yeah, first off, I mean, they played two top five, top ten teams to start the year, right? I mean, Miami, I don’t look at the polls much, but they’re top five. I think A&M is somewhere around there. Both undefeated, so, I mean, first off, they played two of the top ten teams in the country. Both of them came down to the last play, and so, I mean, we’re playing a top five, top ten team in Notre Dame, and I think just like anything, when you watch the game, there’s some things that didn’t go their way in those games. That’s what happens when two top ten opponents play each other, and it could have gone either way in both those games. 

“Then you see how they played against Purdue and Arkansas, and they played elite. Obviously, even in those games, there’s some things that I’m sure their coaching staff are going to work to clean up. You talk about growing week in and week out, I mean, you see how they played against Arkansas. I mean, they have grown week in and week out. Hats off to Coach Freeman and their staff because they have. I mean, they are playing at an elite level offensively. They’re playing at an elite level defensively, and we talked about special teams. I mean, they are on the attack on special teams.

“So, what I’ve seen from them, and that’s what our heart and our goal is for our team, too, is for you to continue to grow week in and week out, and Notre Dame absolutely has.”

On if the plan is for Boise State defensive coordinator Erik Chinander to remain on the sideline during games

“It is, yeah. It’s something we’re going to look at every single week, and once again, the reason that we played better defensively wasn’t because he was on the sideline, but I think those are things that help. It helped bring more juice to our players, more focus, and in this landscape, like we talked about before, with iPads and the technology we’re using, I think it makes a lot of sense to have a coordinator that wants to be on the sideline being able to have them there. So, going forward, this game, he’s going to be on the sideline.”

On if Boise State made any other sideline-booth changes in terms of where the coaches were

“We didn’t. We kept everything the same because I just wanted to use it as an addition and not change any dynamic on the sideline in regards to players going to their coaches. I want our players to be able to go get confronted by their coaches in regards to things to fix, encouraging them. We are, I tell our coaches, every game, we’re like, our players are like boxers. We’re their ring manager right next to them. Right when they come by, man, we’re in the ring with them, and we’re giving them quick pointers, and then we’re getting them ready to go back out and get ready to fight. I wanted to keep that the same while still having our defensive coordinator on the sideline being able to, if he needed to bring all the starters or whoever’s going in up, hey, quick corrections, quick hitters. 

“And then I also wanted to be able to look into everybody’s eyes and know, like, this next drive, I’m going to need your best, and I think we’re getting better.

On if Boise State needs to find more ways for Boen Phelps to play

“Yeah, Johnny, I mean, so proud of Boen Phelps. I mean, so proud of Boen Phelps. I mean, Mountain West Player of the Week, earned, deserved. And we talked about Boen. Walk on, safety, put on scholarship, switched from safety to linebacker, and has had a huge impact on this team, defensively, special teams. Every week in and week out, he’s one of our best practice players, too. There’s no mystical formula of why he’s playing at a high level. He’s playing at a high level because he practices that way. And so as coaches, he’s earned more reps and more opportunities, and he’s going to play a lot on Saturday.”

On Boise State wide receiver Lattrell Caples

“Yeah, guys, so proud of Lattrell Caples. And a guy that I know I talked about a lot last season, especially with Ashton and the amount of times we ran the ball with Ashton and were really successful, the amount of clips that on these big runs, you see Lattrell Caples blocking his tail off downfield to get the touchdown block for Ashton. And then fast forward to this year, he’s grown even so much, not only in his play as a receiver and making people miss. I think he’s tough to defend, tough to guard, but his mentality with how he practices, how he blocks for his teammates, how he encouraged on the sideline.

“And I told him, like, I’ll remember clear as day, even in Air Force, where I think it’s a one-score game, and our defense needs to get a stop. The main guy that I heard on the sidelines saying, let’s go, D, let’s get the ball back, Lattrell Caples. Lattrell Caples. Because he cares about his team, and it always works this way. The guys that love and care about their team get a lot of individual recognition. Lattrell Caples, whatever, how many yards he had on Saturday, two touchdowns, earned and deserved.”

On the growth of Caples

“Yeah, no question. I mean, Lattrell Caples, I mean, my heart engulfed this program. Built different, our culture, means building champions on and off the football field. And I think Lattrell Caples is a perfect example of that. But that’s a two-way street, right? You have to want your life to be changed. You have to want to become the best version of yourself for it to work here. Lattrell Caples, that’s him. And a guy that pours into his team, pours into growing to be the best version of himself. 

“I mean, I backtrack to whatever it is two years ago where we’re going out to do a summer workout, and he tears his Achilles. Man, that’s hard. A young man, that football is everything to him, and it gets ripped from you, it’s hard. And seeing him battle back from the Achilles injury, find a way to go through spring ball, have a great season last year, coming into his senior year, continue to pour into his own development, his teams. I mean, I can sit up here all day because he’s earned me talking about him. He’s earned the accolades because he’s not only an elite football player for us. I believe whatever Lattrell Caples does after this, he plays the NFL, he doesn’t, he’s going to be an elite human being in this life, and that is what makes me so proud.”

On the plays the Boise State wideouts made vs. App State

“I think, obviously, the coach in me, we got to fix the drops, right? We got to, the details of my assignment, especially as we continue to grow, like, we can’t have those. Those are pivotal moments in the game. But proud of how our guys are making the contestant catch. We’re going to play Notre Dame. They’re going to play man coverage. They got really good defensive backs. They’re going to be able to lock our guys up if we don’t find a way to make contestant catches, and I’m proud of how they were able to do that much better on Saturday night.

“And so proud of Quinton Brown, man, true freshman, going out there, big-time catch, breaks his nose. I joke with him, like, he’s probably never going to have to buy another dinner in Boise, Idaho, as long as he lives. When he leaves and his face is bloody and he looks up and goes like this, the sideline’s going crazy, I’m like, legend, it’s already over, man. Where are we going to go from here now, brother? You know, I mean, he’s just, he’s a great young man. It’s been cool to see we got a lot of freshmen playing, right? And you’re going to continue to even see more. There’s some guys continuing to get better that we got to play and develop them.

“But I’m proud of that group as a whole. Obviously, as a coach, there’s still a lot of meat on the bone in regards to where we can get them to, and they got to play, they got to prep to play their best this weekend.”

On Boise State offensive tackle Kage Casey

“I mean, I’ve talked about Cage a lot. Cage is one of the few offensive linemen we’ve had here where he’s a captain, voted on by his teammates because it’s not just about, for Cage, it’s not just about him playing well, him being an NFL draft pick 10 months from now. It’s him helping the team, and that makes the entire team look up to him, respect him, yes, because of a skill set that he has, that he’s worked to achieve, but he’s an elite teammate. He loves his team. The amount of conversations that me and him have in my office about what he can do more, how he can lead better, how he can have an impact, it’s because he loves his team, and he’s playing at an elite level. I mean, I believe he’s going to be one of the top offensive linemen taken because I see him work every single day, and then I see him how he plays.”

On Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr

“Yeah, first off, he can make every throw. He’s extremely athletic, can run, can make every throw, but for a freshman, I’m extremely impressed with his decision-making. I mean, he gives the ball exactly where it should be, on time, where it should go. He runs a pro-style offense that has a lot of shifts and motions and complications to it, and he operates it at a very, very high level. He’s obviously played in big-time games and played really, really well, so I’m very, very impressed with C.J. Like I said, he’s going to be a first-round draft pick when he leaves college. I mean, that’s not just my opinion, and he deserves that.”

On Carr growing up around coaching

“Well, I think when you’re around it consistently like he was growing up, I mean, I think you fall in love with the game. You fall in love with what it takes to play this game, where it’s not just going out there and throwing the football. Like, he understands coverages. He understands how a defense is leaning, what you’re getting, and how to take advantage. He understands it, right? He’s hard to throw off, and I think a lot of that comes from, one, he loves football because he was raised in it.”