The Boise State football team will get a do-over when it plays East Carolina in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl Sunday at Aloha Stadium.

And the Broncos will be doing it a bit short-handed.

Boise State leading receiver Jeremy Childs, reserve cornerback Keith McGowen and reserve linebacker Ben Chandler didn't make the trip because of separate violations of team rules, head coach Chris Petersen announced at a press conference yesterday at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.

"It's unfortunate, but we'll move forward," Petersen said.

Childs, a sophomore, had a school-record 82 receptions for 1,045 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

True freshmen Titus Young and Austin Pettis, both second on the team with 37 catches, will be relied on more heavily against East Carolina.

"Jeremy has come out this year and been the go-to guy," said Broncos quarterback Taylor Tharp. "We'll need some of the young guys and even some of the older guys that haven't gotten to play as much to have no hesitation and step right in there and do the job for us."

Hawai'i beat Boise State, 39-27, for the outright Western Athletic Conference title Nov. 23 at Aloha Stadium. It was the last time the Broncos played.

"We all kind of didn't play our best game and that's what got us into trouble," Tharp said. "We've got to learn from our mistakes and move forward. This is definitely a chance at redemption as far as ending the season the right way because we still have that bitter taste from the last loss in our mouth."

This time things will be different for the Broncos, who have played in five bowls in as many years.

First, they will get to do some sightseeing in the week leading up to the game. Boise State (10-2) arrived here late Monday.

"We were just here a few weeks ago, but didn't really get to enjoy much of this beautiful scenery and this island," said Petersen, in his second season as Broncos head coach.

Tharp has already experienced bowl week in Hawai'i, but it was a while ago. His father, Dick Tharp, is a former athletic director at Colorado. The Buffaloes played in the Aloha Bowl in 1993 and 1998.

"At Colorado, with my dad, I got to come to a couple of Aloha Bowls when I was younger and got to experience it as just a little kid running around," Tharp said.

Another thing that might be different for Boise State is the fan support at Aloha Stadium.

Fans from here likely will support the Broncos since they, like Hawai'i, are members of the WAC. East Carolina (7-5) is with Conference USA.

"Those Hawai'i fans were certainly loud a few weeks ago and it would be awesome to have them on our side," Tharp said.

THE PIRATES' SKIPPER

East Carolina head coach Skip Holtz introduced himself to Boise State counterpart Chris Petersen — with a huge smile and hand extended — prior to yesterday's press conference.

Holtz talked about how excited his team was to be in the bowl game, representing Conference USA and here in December.

After he completed his opening remarks and no one applauded, he jokingly asked: "No golf clap when I'm done?" Those in attendance quickly put their hands together.

Holtz, in his third season with the Pirates, is a bundle of energy and he hopes it rubs off on his team.

"The only way we're going to be able to line up and play is to be upbeat, excited and enthusiastic about what we're taking on right now," he said.

"Such a big part of this game is the mental approach and the mental aspect. I'm a big believer that if you're going to take on any challenge, especially the one facing us with Boise State, you have to take it head on, roll your sleeves up, line up and you have to compete."

Holtz's father, Lou Holtz, is a former NFL and college head coach who currently is an ESPN college football analyst.

"He knows we're going to have to play well," the younger Holtz said. "He said you'd better protect the ball and play great defense because you're about to face a great football team. He understands the challenges we're going up against."

TICKETS SALES

More than 25,000 tickets have been sold for the bowl as of Monday, according to Hawai'i Bowl executive director Jim Donovan.

It is 5,000 more than the 2005 Hawai'i Bowl involving Central Florida and Nevada — the last time Hawai'i didn't play in the game.

Last season, Hawai'i faced Arizona State before 40,623 at Aloha Stadium.

Donovan said Boise State and East Carolina will each bring about 500 fans.

Some Pirates fans who couldn't make the trip have also purchased 2,100 tickets for local military members. Those tickets will be distributed soon, Donovan said.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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