There’s a wise saying, a basic rule of life that should never be broken: “Don’t tell anyone how to spend their own money.’’
Time to break the rules.
Boise State football is in trouble.
Boise State football desperately needs your help.
Mike Prater
NIL – three simple letters that have dramatically changed college football forever – turned into a dirty word Monday when star wide receiver Eric McAlister left the team. The NFL prospect presumably left for a Power Five roster spot, six-figures in cash and a car. That’s the going rate these days, the starting point to entice elite college football talent into “better’’ opportunities.
Don’t blame McAlister. Most of us would do the same, Don’t blame Boise State coaches. Don’t blame whatever school that lured him away from Boise. Don’t blame the system.
Name, Image and Likeness is a lightning-rod issue with negative byproducts, but it’s here to stay – and now is the time for the entire Boise State/Boise/Treasure Valley community to respond. So says head coach Andy Avalos, who made an impassioned public plea after McAlister’s departure.
“We’ve done a great job recruiting, we’ve got some great young talent, we’re going to continue to recruit great, young talent. … By the nature of it, the NIL space is going to need to take care of Boise State and that’s just the nature of what college football is,’’ Avalos said.
“I think it is appropriate, in the right framework, that student-athletes get to earn, get to receive money and get to be a part of that space. I think that’s pretty cool. How Boise State football moves and is able to use that space, as a lot of other people are in college football, it’s going to be a big deal for our success.’’
I agree with Avalos. Many of you don’t. His football program is 4-5, with drama all over the place, facing its first losing season in 25 years, and his once-proud status in the community is fragile.
The point is, we’re not very good about NIL around here. One Boise State fan asked me the other day what NIL stands for. Not a good sign.
We live in a beautiful city, in a growing market, but Boise will always be one of the most isolated cities in America. Population, or lack of it, is not Boise State’s best friend. The same, sad situation is happening in Pullman and Corvallis, where Washington State and Oregon State have been left behind because of geography.
Boise State, Washington State and Oregon State are in the public fighting for financial security, a must for football success and relevance. We live in a conservative community. From Mountain Home to Ontario, we value a blue-collar lifestyle and personal pride. Combined as a community, we have limited dollars and we like to keep them to ourselves.
That’s not the NIL way.
That has to change immediately.
The Boise State athletic department has done fantastic work in the NIL game, creating a strong foundation and a culture that could one day blossom. The Horseshoe Collective is a separate non-profit that raises money to help support Boise State by pairing student-athletes with local charitable causes. Executive director Joe Nickell said there has been a “small uptick’’ of support since the McAlister news.
Businesses are getting involved. Individuals are chipping in.
It’s not enough.
Boise State is losing the NIL game – and football games. Bad combo.
A small handful of athletes have car deals. Some get free food and other limited services. T-shirts and beers are sold, and pennies on the dollar are doled out to help support 350-plus athletes.
Remember, McAlister is leaving for life-changing money. The departures will continue to happen – without additional money to keep Boise State athletes in Boise.
Athletic director Jeramiah Dickey finds himself in the middle of this pickle. He is raising money like crazy, millions and millions, but that money is being used to upgrade outdated infrastructure and the new north end-zone project, which still hasn’t broken ground.
Dickey isn’t allowed to blatantly raise NIL money, so every dollar he asks for to help fund his athletic department, is a dollar that can’t be given to athletes. That’s a tough reality – splitting the pot, when the pot isn’t that lucrative in the first place.
The good news is, NIL support can come in many layers. Billion-dollar corporations. Million-dollar businesses. Fans with a lot of money, or just a little.
There is no shortage of ideas, big or small. There could be a preseason picnic on the blue with the football program. Fans could get pictures, autographs, trading cards, all for a small fee, with money going straight to student-athletes. There could be business or vendor representation. Maybe a spring social. The Summer Softball Classic has always been a good idea.
One easy no-brainer: Support the NIL ecosystem by doing business with companies who publicly support Boise State and its NIL initiatives, such as Bronco Brew Coffee.
“If I have to have 10,000 conversations over the next two years, I’m willing to do that,’’ Nickell said.
Here’s the harsh reality, what we’re learning this season about the relationship between a fanbase and a broken football team: You can’t have it both ways. There’s no respect in whining about failure when you aren’t willing to help with success.
College football has established new rules.
We don’t have to like them.
We definitely have to embrace them – or there will be plenty more Eric McAlister-type headlines in the future.
RESPECT? OR DISRESPECT?
My support for Avalos and embattled offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan continues, despite the obvious issues of this season. Genuine character and hard-working loyalty go a long way for me.
The Broncos are having one frustrating season and they’ve lost one player to the transfer portal. Those aren’t fireable offenses, not even close, even in a warped world of impatience.
If facts change, so can opinions.
There is one issue that bugs me about Avalos and Hamdan: The way they’re disrespecting quarterback Taylen Green.
I’m fine with Maddux Madsen being the dominant quarterback – because he is the better quarterback for what Boise State is trying to accomplish on offense. I’m not fine with Green starting a game, for one scripted zone-read play, then heading to the bench as he did last Saturday at Fresno State.
That’s not smart strategy – that’s cheap charity, a courtesy play, a pity move – despite what Avalos and Hamdan continue to say.
Said Hamdan this week: “Sheer honesty, I mean so much respect for what Taylen’s done, for what he represents. … I’m not trying to avoid that question, by any means, but there’s so much respect for Taylen that we really feel they’re both going to be out there and they’re both going to be in on the opening drive.’’
Madsen should be the starting quarterback.
Green should be the change-up quarterback.
Anything else is disrespectful.
Mike Prater is the Bronco Nation News columnist who co-hosts Idaho Sports Talk (KTIK 95.3 FM on Monday-Friday from 3-6 p.m.) and the Boise State football postgame show (KBOI 670 AM). He is on Twitter @MikeFPrater and can be reached at mikefprater@gmail.com
