WOLF PACK NOTES: Ault says 2010 Broncos best team he's ever faced

Chris Ault said Monday that the Boise State Broncos are the best team his Nevada Wolf Pack team has ever faced.

"No question," Ault said. "They are the best team that I've ever coached against."

The unbeaten (10-0) Broncos, ranked fourth in the Bowl Championship Series standings, will come to Mackay Stadium Friday night to meet the No. 19 Wolf Pack (10-1).

"They don't have a weakness anywhere on their team," said Ault, who has 216 victories in 26 seasons as Pack head coach. "That is the most complete, best team we've ever faced."

The Wolf Pack has played a lot of high profile teams from BCS conferences since moving to Division I-A in 1992, including Nebraska, Texas Tech, California, Oregon,  Missouri, Arizona State, BYU, Washington and Notre Dame.

"Nebraska, Notre Dame any of them," Ault said. "This Boise State team is the best we've ever had to face."

Boise has won 10 consecutive games against the Wolf Pack. The Wolf Pack last beat the Broncos in 1998, 52-24 in Reno.

BOISE-PACK KICKOFF PUSHED BACK

ESPN announced Monday that the kickoff on Friday night at Mackay Stadium has been moved to 7:21 p.m.

The kickoff was originally scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

ESPN also has the option of pushing the kickoff back another five minutes (to 7:26 p.m.) if the Arizona-Oregon game, which the cable television network is televising before the Boise-Nevada game, runs late.

RENO ARCH TURNS BLUE

The famous Reno Arch in downtown Reno will feature blue light bulbs this week in honor of the Wolf Pack football team.

The blue bulbs were installed Monday afternoon.

"Mayor (Bob) Cashell cares dearly about this university," said Ault of his long-time friend. "For him to do this is pretty special. Nobody pulls for this university more than Mayor Cashell."

MOCH, KAEPERNICK REMAIN ON AWARD LISTS

Wolf Pack defensive end Dontay Moch and quarterback Colin Kaepernick remain in the running for prestigious post-season awards.

Moch has been named as one of the final 28 players on the Ted Hendricks Award watch list. The award is given to the top defensive end in college football.

The winner of the Hendricks Award will be announced on Dec. 8. Past winners include TCU's Jerry Hughes, Virginia's Chris Long, Arizona State's Terrell Suggs, Louisville's Elvis Dumervill and Texas' Brian Orakpo.

Kaepernick is one of five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the top senior quarterback in the nation. Also in the running for the award are TCU's Andy Dalton, Florida State's Christian Ponder, Wisconsin's Scott Tolzien and Iowa's Ricky Stanzi.

The Unitas Award winner will be announced Dec. 10.

BOISE WEEK FINALLY HERE

Ault admitted on Monday that his Wolf Pack might have been looking past New Mexico State last week in anticipation of playing Boise State this week.

"The players have been excited about this game since last Monday," Ault said. "Our whole deal last week was just trying to keep their emotions in check and not overlook New Mexico State."

The Pack whipped New Mexico State 52-6 last Saturday night. But they were thinking about Boise State.

"It definitely has been hard to not focus on this game," Kaepernick said. "But it's finally here and we can finally focus all of our attention on it."

PACK WANTS TO AVOID SLOW START

The Wolf Pack has found itself trailing Boise State by huge margins early in its last three meetings.

The Pack fell behind 27-3 last year before losing 44-33. They were down 24-3 in 2008 before losing 41-34 and fell behind 21-7 in 2007 before losing 69-67 in overtime.

"Our starts have been ugly," Ault said.

"We need to come out fast," Kaepernick said. "We have to avoid another slow start."