Boise St. proves worth in switch to WAC
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
If the Boise State football team is finding recognition to be elusive, maybe it is because some people outside of Idaho do not know where to look.
During a road game in Louisiana last week, defensive back Quintin Mikell recalled being asked, "Are you from Boise, Iowa?"
A newspaper reporter for the Idaho Statesman was asked how far Boise was from Des Moines, Iowa.
"They get mixed up," said Mikell, whose team plays Hawai'i tomorrow at Aloha Stadium. "They don't know where we're from or what we're about."
Bronco coach Dan Hawkins said, "I think in America, a lot of people, in general, don't know geography."
Or current events. Although the Broncos joined the Western Athletic Conference July 1 and are in contention for a postseason bowl, "I think people still think we're in the Big Sky Conference," Hawkins said. "Even people familiar with the WAC say, 'Oh, you're in the WAC?' That's what happens when you're on the move."
Boise State indeed has a fluid history. Founded in 1932 as Boise Junior College, the school received four-year status as Boise College in 1965. The Broncos competed on the Division I-AA level until 1995. In the past seven years, they have held memberships in the Big Sky, Big West and the WAC.
Ryan Dinwiddie, who was a record-setting high school quarterback in California, found Boise to be "a great place" with a wide range of outdoor activities.
Business analysts have rated Boise as the fourth fastest-growing city in the West. Boise is home to one of Hewlett-Packard's largest factories and the corporate headquarters of Micron Technology, the country's largest maker of computer chips.
"It's a gem," Hawkins said of Treasure Valley, adding, "It's a football-crazy town. We're the NFL team here."
Before and after home games, fans crowd into The Boise River Ram, a microbrewery where Bronco fans wash down "Bubba Burgers" with "Buttface Ale." On game days, manager Jennifer Rhodes said, "we offer $3 pints of Big Horn Beer."
"There are a lot of fans in here," she said, noting the restaurant and bar have 20 large-screen television sets.
The enthusiasm is displayed at Bronco Stadium, where fans often brave the chill and swirling winds to root-root-root for the home team. Hawkins said there are plans to expand the weight room, build luxury boxes and install FieldTurf at Bronco Stadium.
"When I first got here," said Mikell, a junior, "there wasn't much going on for football. We kind of built the program. There used to be three computers for the whole coaching staff. Now, every coach has his own computer."
The Broncos, who were limited to offering 65 scholarships when they competed on the I-AA level, now offer the I-A maximum of 85 scholarships.
"We're getting bigger and better athletes," Mikell said.
Hawkins said the WAC stamp will help boost recruiting in the Broncos' targeted areas of the Northwest and California.
"Things are looking up," Mikell said. "We feel we can compete with the teams in our league."
Notes: Although cornerback Abraham Elimimian appears to be fully recovered from a sprained ankle that kept him from playing last Saturday, Hyrum Peters likely will start. Peters has received more work preparing for Boise State. Still, Elimimian is expected to play.
