Boise State Broncos College Football Pregame Quote, 12/28/2024

DENISE SEOMIN: On behalf of all Fiesta Sports Foundation staff, Board of Directors, committee members, ambassadors and volunteers, it’s my pleasure to welcome Boise State to the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, the first-ever Quarterfinal in the new CFP playoff era.

Winning their sixth Mountain West championship with a 21-7 victory over UNLV, the Broncos clinched a first-round playoff bye into the quarterfinals, as one of the four highest-ranked champions. Boise State owns a 3-0 all-time Fiesta Bowl record ‚Äì along with its New Year’s Eve opponent, Penn State, and Oklahoma State — to have an undefeated record in at least three appearances.

Tuesday’s game will mark Boise State’s first Vrbo Fiesta Bowl appearance since 2014. The Broncos defeated Arizona 38-30 that year; following a 2010 victory over TCU; and a dramatic overtime win in 2007 versus Oklahoma. The first-ever Quarterfinal matchup will also be the inaugural meeting between Boise State and Penn State.

AHMED HASSANEIN: First and foremost, my opening comment, just thank Jesus Christ. We wouldn’t be here today if not for Him. He did so much for us that I just want to give Him all the glory and all the praise in everything I do. This team wouldn’t be here unless Jesus Christ did everything for us, so that’s all I want to say.

Q. Have you guys ever imagined to be doing a press conference on the side of an airport strip lane?

MADDUX MADSEN: No, I never thought that was in the cards. But it’s awesome to be in this position. I know we’re very both grateful for every little bit of it.

Q. Stepping out to a huge crowd, I saw both of you guys signing autographs for the kids right off the bat. What’s the support been like for you guys?

AHMED HASSANEIN: It’s a great opportunity to just give back and to have the young fans look at us and want to have a signature. It means the world to me to be able to do that somebody and make somebody’s day.

Q. How does this feel different than a regular bowl game? You guys have more business at hand than normal.

AHMED HASSANEIN: It feels different because I can keep going. The last previous bowl games, it was one and done. But no, our goal is just to win this one and go again. I don’t want this to be the end. I want to keep winning. I want to just keep going.

I love this team so much and I want to just do everything in my ability just to have one more week with this team; two more weeks with this team and just take it all the way.

Q. Ahmed, love the shirt. (“Please Count Us Out”). Other players are wearing it as well. How much has the team embraced that mentality in the lead-up to this bowl game? You want people to count you out. You want to prove them wrong Tuesday night.

AHMED HASSANEIN: If you look at Boise State history, we’re always being counted out. We want to play in these types of games. We’ve always been counted out. When we come here, every single one at BSU has been counted out. They already counted us before: We’re not going to win this game. You already have the favorite. You already have all that.

We just want to prove them wrong. Because when we step on that field, he’s just a human being just like me. He eats just like me. He sleeps just like me. So, might as well just stick it to them.

Q. Maddux, I’m just going to ask you to build off that. When was the first time you heard that (“Please Count Us Out”)? It sounds like fans also delivered the shirts to you guys, obviously. What was that reception like?

MADDUX MADSEN: Personally, I’ve dealt with this my whole life, so to kind of have the team, obviously getting the 3-seed and a bye is where it initially started. A lot of people didn’t feel like we deserved it. But really what did we do to not? Is kind of the way I put it.

I know this team is going to take on this underdog mentality. That’s what Boise State is built on. You heard that all week. But these shirts, it was kind of cool to get this, just because it’s the truth. Everyone is counting us out. So the acceptance of, like, do it, is a big deal.

Q. Ahmed, what was Spencer Danielson’s message to you guys today before you stepped on the plane? You haven’t been here in 10 years. This is a special opportunity for you guys.

AHMED HASSANEIN: Coach D’s message was having passion and desire to excel. You want to play in these types of games. We come to Boise State just to play in these types of games. To have passion out there and to have fun and to win, to take it all the way. We truly believe that we’re going to go all the way.

I don’t want this to be the end of the road for me. I want to play with my guys. I love this team, so the desire to excel and just to have fun and have passion and to go out there and do our thing.

DENISE SEOMIN: Boise State has an undefeated record here at the Fiesta Bowl with 3-0. How much does that legacy play in for you as you prepare for this game? What does that mean for you and for this team as you come in undefeated in the Fiesta Bowl?

MADDUX MADSEN: It is a cool tradition that Boise State was built on. I mean, the Fiesta Bowl is a stamp on the Boise State football tradition. So to be in the position to uphold that tradition and that standard is something I’m not taking lightly, nor do I think this team is taking lightly. I know we’re all going to be ready for the challenge that we got and every little bit of us is excited for it as well.

DENISE SEOMIN: Thank you so much, everyone, for attending today. Congratulations to Boise State, coming to the Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.