Boise State Football Is Outgrowing Their Fans: Who Will Support the Broncos Now?

Boise State University has been going through growing pains and it seems to be affecting the fans. BSU has had a consistent reputation for winning football games ever since they were a junior college.

Being a winning program has brought them to Division I standards, but it does not end there. Being a Division I school requires continued effort by every facet of the academic endeavor.

For example, now that Boise State is able to play football (or all other sports) against the NCAA's elite, they must be able to recruit more talented kids in order too persevere.

In order to motivate the elite players (or anyone for that matter), the school needs to offer high standards of academics. The school must be a home like atmosphere. Also, for game sake, the coaches and staff need to be professional, friendly, and personable. Boise State is all of that.

To date, BSU has managed to maintain an extremely efficient football team, winning virtually every year in double digits. The Boise State Broncos were able to accomplish that feat with a high number of two and three star athletes.

In 2004, 2006, and 2008 the Broncos ended those seasons with perfect undefeated records. The '04 and '08 seasons were blemished only by narrow Bowl losses. Albeit, the '06 season ended with a BCS Bowl win.

Since the Fiesta Bowl win, Boise State has gravitated towards an upscale appearance of success. Bronco Stadium has added on to the stadium a modern sky structure that allows the royalty of BSU to look down on the game in style.

That amenity was achieved with out the charging of Boise State fans. But that was short lived. This 2009 season, all holders of season tickets have the luxury of paying an additional 17 percent per game, plus they are allowed to pay the cost of being a BAA member (whether they wanted to or not).

Ordinarily it would be a blessing for the fans to support their schools teams. But it is said the United States is in a recession. It seems people are losing their jobs and money is hard to come by.

Indeed those people who are trying to pay rent and feed a family cannot afford to donate an extra $700.00 to be in BAA status. These people just want the luxury of watching their home team play football.

Some fans consider this an honor, and by all intent and purpose it is. However, when the end result is more seats and fewer fans, who is going to be the winner in the long run?

Still, many teams apparently fear Bronco stadium? The few who are willing to gamble on defeating the Broncos on their "blue turf" field are minute. Certainly, the elite (Notre Dame, UCLA, etc) are not willing to place their bet.

Thus the fans become outraged wanting more for their dollars than Bowling Green and/or Cal Davis. Truth be said, the fans are right about this one. Boise State fans are deserving of seeing BCS caliber teams on their tickets, if only twice a year.

The bottom line is high caliber teams do not want to play BSU because the Broncos have one of the best home winning percentages since entering Division I ball. The previously sold out stadium and extremely noisy crowds have much to do with that.

Will the Broncos continue to win at home when the fans begin to dwindle? Will it be harder for Boise State to recruit the same quality of players that have been providing winning seasons? One thing for sure BSU is going deep.