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XXI, NO. 4 SUMMER 1996 FEATURES MAGIC MOMENTS 14 A look back at BSU's top 10 sports moments during the Big Sky era. TRAILBLAZERS 22 A group of determined women paved the way for today's female athletes. OUT OF THE LOOP 24 BSU'S AD has big plans for the Broncos as they leave the Big Sky years. P.J. THE DEUAY 26 The radio voice of the Broncos had a fun ride during the Big Sky years. MEDIA MEMORIES 28 Boise sports reporters, past and present, recall their favorite Big Sky stories. DEPARTMENTS FIRST WORD 7 CAMPUS NEWS 8 SEARCH 32 ALUM NOTES 36 FOCUS is published quarterly by the Boise For Prevention .. State University Office of News Services. PRESIDENT: Charles Ruch PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS: Daryl Jones VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND Keep Your ADMINISTRATION: Buster Nee! VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS: David S. S11ine In Taylor EDITOR: Larry Burke STAFF WRITERS: Bob Evancho, Edie Jeffers, Amy Stahl and Melanie Threlkeld McConnell ~~~Lllte. ' PHOTOGRAPHY: Chuck Scheer TYPOGRAPHY: Tamara Beach SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR: Glenn Oakley EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Brenda Haight AD fANrlA ALUMNI NEWS: Donna Conner Dr. Jeffrey A. MaJor• TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS: Erin Burden, John Practice of Chiropractic WALK-IN CHIROPRAcnC Kelly, and Mike Spencer ADVERTISING SALES: P.V. Quinn & Co., 1520 W. Washington Street, Boise, Idaho 83702 Co111J2_rehensive Care For: Phone: (208) 385-0338 2 2 2 5 1611 Monroe Ave. PUBLISHING INFORMATION: FOCUS' address is • Auto Accidents BSU Education Building, Room 724, 1910 University Boise, ld 83704 Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725. Phone: (208) 385-1577. Fax (208) 375-2276 • Spirts Injuries Letters regarding editorial matters should be sent to the editor. Unless otherwise specified, all articles may K!NC " • Work Relnted Injuries be reprinted as long as appropriate credit is given to EJ 1-- w+ the author, Boise State University and FOCUS magazine. Diverse views are presented and do not g 11 necessarily reflect the opinions of FOCUS or the ~ f FAIRVIEW '-ADVANTAGE ""LK-IN CHIROPRACTIC IMPROVES official policies of Boise State University. CHIROPRACTIC Q]'l 1611 MONROE ..WE ADDRESS CHANGES: Send changes (with address & RESTORES HEALTH" label if possible) to the BSU Alumni Office, 1910 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725. If you receive duplicate copies of the magazine, please notify the Alumni Office at the above address. Friends of the university who wish to receive FOCUS may do so by submitting their names and addresses to the Alumni Office. 1-MAIL:Readers can contact FOCUS electronically at [email protected] Make sure they have the staff and capabilities to produce your entire magazine, catalog or brochure entirely in-house, from start to finish. Next, be sure to choose a printer that you can view as your partner. Because as your partner, they will be just as concerned as you with quality, price and delivery. At Century, we not only have what it takes to do the job from start to finish, but eagerly accept the responsibilities of being your printing partner. For quality in printing and service, call: Century Publishing Company PO Box 730 ABOUT THE COVER: BS U took a new road when Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814 the Broncos left the comfort and coziness of the Big Sky conference for the bright lights of the (208) 765-6300 Big West. The move means a whole new audience for the Broncos as they play before (800) 824-1806 crowds in New Mexico, California and Texas. Sandy Marostica illustration. 6 FOCUS/SUMMER 1996 II a ll D I] THE BIG WEST: BIG OPPORTUNITIES, BIG RESPONSIBILITIES By Charles Ruch, President ith this issue of FOCUS we known by the company you keep, our move terns. Here again, with the Peterson-Preco celebrate a 26-year associa­ to the Big West and opportunities to com­ Learning Center, our students and student­ tion with the Big Sky Con­ pete with Division I-A institutions in confer­ athletes have a premier facility and talented W ference as we change con­ ences beyond the Big West will put us in very support personnel to assist them in their ference affiliation and join the Big West. good company. academic careers. Our move, over two years in planning and As is always true, with greater opportu­ Boise State has the responsibility to preparation, brings to the fore wonderful nity comes greater responsibility. First is the graduate as many of our four-year student­ new opportunities for our university. Of impact on the greater university. It is not athletes as possible. Here we have work to course with each new opportunity comes do. While our most recently reported gradu­ additional responsibilities. A word about ation rate for student-athletes (37 percent) each. exceeded the overall BSU student gradua­ However, before highlighting what I con­ tion rate (25 percent), we have a responsibil­ tend are the new opportunities and respon­ ity to improve both. Incidentally, for stu­ sibilities afforded by our move to a Division dent-athletes who exhaust their athletic I -A conference, a note of appreciation is due eligibility at BSU, 76 percent graduate. To to all who have contributed to the develop­ this end, I have appointed a universitywide ment of our program. Certainly this move task force to consider additional strategies would not have happened without the strong needed to improve both the retention and leadership of athletic director Gene graduation rates of our student-athletes. Bleymaier. Our university also is well-served During this year, the task force will examine by a talented cadre of coaches, assistants, what we are doing, what other Division I-A and staff. Under the leadership of Bob Mad­ schools do, (where the national average is 59 den and many volunteers, the Bronco Ath­ percent) and make recommendations for letic Association has grown into an effective improvement. Ideally, what we learn about booster organization, providing support - our student-athletes will transfer to our tangible and personal-to our athletic pro­ broader student population. gram. Of course, our student-athletes have Third, as we learned to our embarrass­ and will continue to perform at a high level. ment last fall, a higher profile athletic pro­ Clearly, as we "step up" to a Division I-A gram brings with it a higher expectation for program, Boise State has all the ingredients exemplary student-athlete conduct off the for success. Our facilities are first-rate and field as well as on. Our experiences of a year improving. Our athletic department is solid. ago have reinforced the need on all our parts Our boosters and the greater Boise commu­ enough to participate with other institutions to expect solid citizenship of all student­ nity are most supportive. All at the univer­ only through athletics. Our academic pro­ athletes who represent Boise State Univer­ sity take pride in our achievements on the grams must also compete, both to success­ sity. Happily the vast majority of our stu­ playing field or courts, as elsewhere across fully recruit and retain outstanding students dent-athletes are wonderful role models and the institution. The Big West Conference is and to build a faculty of excellence. Both are make significant contributions to the com­ the next logical step in the development of central to institutional prestige. Athletics munity. the Broncos. may open the door, but the balance of the Finally, as we move into this new athletic Membership in this new and more de­ institution will also need to "step up" and be configuration, we all have the responsibility manding athletic conference provides our measured successfully against these new com­ to understand that development takes time. university with a new set of opportunities. petitors. This is true now more than ever. Success on First is the opportunity to become better Second, we have an even greater respon­ and off the playing field, while our constant known beyond the northern mountain sibility to provide a successful academic ex­ goal, may not be achieved immediately. Each states as a quality institution of higher edu­ perience for all students, including our new phase brings both the athletic program cation. Our presence in California, Texas, student-athletes. Clearly, each student-ath­ and the university closer to our goal of excel­ and New Mexico will enable us to communi­ lete has the responsibility to commit the lence. All the ingredients are in place. Time cate about the many programs and activities same intensity and energy to the classroom and experience are all that remain. of Boise State University. Clearly, athletics as he or she does on the playing field. All As always, I welcome your comments. I brings institutional visibility, and our move involved, coaches, faculty and staff, have a can be reached at (208) 385-1491 or by e-mail to the Big West opens several new windows.