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Bill Blankenship took a moment to recollect about the three stellar quarterbacks Tulsa faced in the first four weeks of the season: Landry Jones, Brandon Weeden and Kellen Moore.
That's a pretty formidable trio for any team to play against.
''If there are even two more (quarterbacks) in the country better than the three we have seen I would be shocked,'' Blankenship said.
Tulsa completed its brutal early season run on Saturday night watching Moore throw four touchdown passes, leading the foruth-ranked Broncos to a 41-21 win over the Golden Hurricanes.
The Broncos led 27-0 at halftime, took a 34-0 lead on Moore's final play of the night - a 10-yard TD pass to Mitch Burroughs early in the second quarter - and then coasted to their 33rd consecutive regular-season home win.
Tulsa tried to make a game of it late, but the hole dug by an ineffective offense for the first 2 1/2 quarters was too much to overcome.
''It just took us way too long to get going,'' Blankenship said.
Tulsa (1-3) started the season at No. 1 Oklahoma and last week lost a wacky 59-33 game at home to No. 7 Oklahoma State that didn't kickoff until after midnight early Sunday morning.
Tulsa was one of just two teams in the country to play three AP top 10 teams in the first four weeks of the season. And they had to serve as the Broncos home opener on one of two nights this season where Boise State was allowed to wear blue helmets, jerseys and pants on its famous blue rug.
Quarterback G.J. Kinne played despite a left knee injury suffered in last week's loss to Oklahoma State. His status was in doubt all week, but Kinne played into the fourth quarter. He finished 14 of 24 for 123 yards and was intercepted four times.
Jerrell Givens picked off Kinne twice in the first half, Aaron Tevis made a diving pick on a screen pass and Cedric Febis intercepted Kinne late when Tulsa was trying to rally.
''It's something that you know, unfortunately it happened,'' Kinne said. ''I just have to get better, and I will get better. It was more physical then mental, which is good.''
Kinne wasn't helped by awful field position most of the night and a spotty running game. A week after rumbling for 365 yards against Oklahoma State, the Hurricanes managed 155 yards rushing on the Broncos.
Trey Watts had 60 yards on 15 carries, but Ja'Terian Douglas was held to 45 yards after running for 173 against Oklahoma State.
Tulsa finally broke the shutout on Watts' 3-yard TD run with late in the third. Kinne threw an 8-yard TD pass to Willie Carter on the first play of the fourth quarter and backup QB Kalen Henderson threw a TD pass late for the final margin.
Tulsa simply couldn't make up for a miserable first half where they ran just one play in Boise territory in the first 38 1/2 minutes.
''You get caught up if you start listening to all the things that this team has had to go through,'' Blakenship said. ''It's pretty extensive and yet in the third quarter I saw a team pulling together and fighting and there was great leadership in that locker room.''
Moore picked a part the Hurricanes' secondary - as he's done to many - and finished 23 of 29 for 279 yards and now has 12 touchdowns against two interceptions in three games.
Through three games, Moore is 83 of 105 for 995 yards. But his early checkout was partly due to a sore right knee that was banged up against Toledo. Moore wore a brace on the knee and was noticeably limping at times.
Shoemaker continued to be Moore's security in the red zone. A week after catching three TDs against Toledo, Shoemaker hauled in TD passes for 26 and 6 yards in the first quarter. His six TDs this season is already a career high.
Moore later hit tight end Kyle Efaw on a 1-yard TD. Doug Martin added a 33-yard touchdown run in the second quarter as part of the Broncos' 34-point blitz. But the run game remained a significant concern for Boise State coach Chris Petersen. Tulsa held Martin to 75 yards rushing and 14 carries of three yards or less.
''They have done a better job protecting the passer,'' Petersen said of his offensive line, ''but we have to get better running the ball.''
There were also injury concerns with Boise State defensive linemen Tyrone Crawford and Billy Wynn getting helped off the field in the first half, only to return in the third quarter. Receiver Chris Potter and offensive guard Jake Broyles also left with injuries.
Center Thomas Byrd also saw his string of 36 consecutive starts snapped.
''I think we're OK,'' Petersen said. ''It's football season and you have to play with some bumps and bruises.''
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Follow Tim Booth on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ByTimBooth
