Beginning in fall 2013, Mountain West football membership will include Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, Utah State and Wyoming in the Mountain Division, and Fresno State, Hawai’i, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State and UNLV in the West Division.

Each of the 12 schools will play five intra-divisional games and three cross-divisional games annually, including four home and four road conference games each season. Each institution will play every Mountain West opponent at home and away during each four-year cycle.

The 2013 league schedule will conclude Saturday, Dec. 7, with the inaugural Mountain West Football Championship game, to be played at the home stadium of the divisional champion with the highest BCS ranking.

The Broncos’ first two league games in 2013 will be played on a Friday. Boise State will open the conference slate at home against Air Force on Sept. 13 and will play its first Mountain West road game at Fresno State on Sept. 20.

The remainder of the Broncos’ Mountain West schedule will be played on Saturdays, including conference home games against Nevada (Oct. 19), Wyoming (Nov. 16) and New Mexico (Nov. 30), and league road games against Utah State (Oct. 12), Colorado State (Nov. 2) and San Diego State (Nov. 23).

As announced earlier, Boise State’s nonconference game against BYU will be played at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, giving the Broncos three non-Saturday games in 2013. The match-up with the Cougars will be nationally televised by ESPN. Broadcast information and kickoff times for the three remaining nonconference games have yet to be announced.

The Broncos are coming off of an 11-2 season in 2012, which included a tie for the Mountain West Championship and a 28-26 victory over Washington in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas. Boise State concluded the season ranked No. 14 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll, No. 18 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 19 in the final BCS Standings.

The Boise State football team will hold its annual Blue and Orange Spring Game at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Bronco Stadium.

General admission tickets are $9 and gates open at 4 p.m. To purchase tickets, go to www.broncosports.com/tickets.

A complete look at the 2013 schedule can be found by clicking here.

• Beat Coach Pete gets under way at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Rec Center on University Drive. Register at rec.boisestate.edu/beatpete. Show you runner’s bib for free entrance into the spring game.

• Check out classic hot rods during a free car show from 9:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m. in the East Stadium parking lot.

• Browse and buy unique Bronco merchandise not available in stores, including apparel, jewelry, toys, games and more, at the craft fair from 9:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m. in the East Stadium parking lot.

•Optimist youth football sign-ups will take place from 12:30-4:30 p.m. in the Caven-Williams Sports Complex. Sign up for both youth football and cheerleading.

• Come to the St. Luke’s Children’s Be Well Festival from 1-4 p.m. in the Caven-Williams Sports Complex to learn fun and easy ways to create a healthy lifestyle for your kids, meet Buster Bronco, learn Zumba, see the Summerwind Skippers and more.

• Collect points by attending the day’s events and submitting photos to win prizes in the Social Media Scavenger Hunt. Prizes include four tickets to the football home opener, gift certificates to the Bronco Shop and a Coach Pete autographed helmet.

• The annual Blue and Orange Spring Game gets under way at 5 p.m. in Bronco Stadium. Tickets are $9 at broncosports.com.

Visit broncosports.com for more information.

In the seven-year agreement, a minimum of three Boise State home games per year must be televised nationally on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC, with the possibility of all Boise State home games being nationally televised.

When Boise State announced on Dec. 31, 2012, that it would remain in the Mountain West, a key factor was the agreement with the league that ensured Boise State’s home football games would be offered separately to the media by the Mountain West Conference in order to fully realize their value to the conference and Boise State.

While CBS will continue as the primary rights holder of Mountain West games and have the first selection of men’s basketball and football games other than Bronco home football games, today’s announcement of the new ESPN agreement will significantly increase media revenues and national exposure for Boise State and the league.

Under the new agreement Boise State will be paid a bonus of $300,000 per game broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, with an additional $200,000 for a Saturday game. Boise State can only be required to play a maximum of three non-Saturday games per season. This means a minimum of $900,000 in annual media bonus revenue for the Broncos. The amount could be higher than the $900,000 minimum if there are more national broadcasts from Bronco Stadium than the three required, or if those broadcasts are aired on Saturdays.

“I know I speak on behalf of Coach Petersen and Bronco Nation in saying we are thrilled that ESPN secured the rights to our home games. ESPN offers unparalleled national exposure with its broadcasts,” stated Boise State Athletic Director Mark Coyle. “While the back-and-forth football conference membership was taxing on everyone involved, including our fans, this agreement with ESPN and the Mountain West will prove it was well worth the effort. We appreciate the leadership of Dr. Kustra and Vice-President Kevin Satterlee, who played vital roles in the negotiations on conference realignment.”

Following the three required national television broadcasts, the remaining home games could be broadcast on any channel in the ESPN family, but no more than two Boise State games per year may be on ESPN3, a web-based platform.

Included in this unique agreement, ESPN and CBS have agreed to a potential swap of games. While ESPN owns all the Bronco home games, and CBS the Bronco conference road games, the two networks have agreed to possibly swap one game per year. Thus, a conference road game might be on ESPN in exchange for a home game on CBS.

Guaranteeing Boise State’s home games on ESPN is already appearing to provide an incentive for other teams to schedule the Broncos. In the past month Boise State has announced home-and-home series with the University of Virginia (2015 and 2017) and Florida State University (2019 and 2020), the first time schools from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) have agreed to play regular season games at Bronco Stadium.

The release of “Wise Beyond Your Field: How Creative Leaders Out Innovate to Out Perform” was announced during a press conference on the Boise State campus this afternoon that featured the authors along with Boise State President Bob Kustra. Published by Boise State’s CCI Press in the Centre for Creativity and Innovation, it is available for $15 at the Boise State Bookstore, Bronco Shops and online at Amazon.com. A portion of the book proceeds will go to scholarships for Boise State University students.

The book is authored by Nancy Napier, professor of business and executive director of the CCI, along with Boise State head football coach Chris Petersen, Jamie Cooper from Drake Cooper, Mark Hofflund of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Don Kemper of Healthwise, Bob Lokken of WhiteCloud Analytics, Gary Raney of the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and John Michael Schert of Trey McIntryre Project. The group is known collectively as “The Gang.”

“Many books talk about creativity — mostly for individuals, some for companies and a few for countries,” Napier said. “Some try to transfer lessons from one field to a very different one; the sports-to-business transfers are likely the most common. But almost none looks at how leaders from several wildly different fields can learn from one another to improve leadership and boost organizational performance.”

“Wise Beyond Your Field” provides an inside look at what leaders in selected high-performing, highly creative organizations across diverse fields have learned, and continue to learn, from each other in order to push their organizations to ever higher levels of performance. Chapters are authored by various members of The Gang.

Napier first began working with members of The Gang in 2006. The group meets regularly to share insights and has gained notoriety and attention in the national media, including USA Today and The Washington Post, and has done radio interviews and speaking engagements with groups such as the American College of Physician Executives and NASA.

Each organization in The Gang epitomizes the qualities of outstanding creative learning organizations: constant curiosity, non-defensiveness in examining their successes and mistakes, relentless attention to building and preserving strong cultures, and a disciplined approach toward creativity and innovation. Some of The Gang members’ achievements include:

• Ada County Sheriff Raney has taught in Northwestern University’s leadership program and is developing new approaches to problems such as inmate housing and communication.

• The Boise State University football program consistently ranks in the top 25 programs nationally, often in the top 10, despite its often much lower level of financial resources than competitor schools.

• Drake Cooper frequently wins regional and national advertising awards and has built a powerhouse of creative output for a range of clients.

• Healthwise is a nonprofit health information provider that has led the industry in helping people take responsibility for their own health decisions and was named by the Wall Street Journal in 2007 as one of the best small businesses to work for.

• The Idaho Shakespeare Festival has been the focus of a Yale Drama School case study evaluating the theater’s unusual business model, which brings unique financial and creative benefits.

• Trey McIntyre Project is a renowned contemporary dance company that spends half the year touring worldwide and receives rave reviews in such publications as The Washington Post, Le Monde and The New York Times.

• WhiteCloud Analytics focuses on helping the U.S. health care industry use its data to dramatically reduce waste and increase the constancy and quality of patient care. Its CEO sold an earlier firm he founded, ProClarity, to the world’s largest software company — Microsoft.

“We guarantee we will take you out of your field, whatever it may be, and put you squarely into places you never expected to be,” Napier said. “You’ll find ways to apply ideas that may be routine in one field but out of the blue for yours. And you’ll realize that many of the concerns and challenges facing leaders from wildly diverse areas may in fact be more similar than you thought.”

Boise State University will play in the Mountain Division, and will be joined by Air Force, Colorado State, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah State. The West Division comprise Fresno State, Hawai’i, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State and UNLV.

Boise State will play each team in its division and three cross-division games, which will rotate annually. The rotational sequence and matchups will be developed by way of computer scheduling models.

The divisional champions will play in the inaugural Mountain West Football Championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at the home stadium of the highest-ranked Bowl Championship Series (BCS) team.

Boise State recently completed its second season in the Mountain West and captured the 2012 league crown along with San Diego State and Fresno State. The Broncos went on to defeat the University of Washington in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas to end the season with an 11-2 record, a No. 14 ranking in the USA Today Coaches’ poll and a No. 18 ranking in the final Associated Press poll.

The Broncos were the highest ranked team in the BCS from the Mountain West in the final 2012 standings at No. 19.

The Mountain West also announced there will be no divisions for men’s and women’s basketball.  Teams will play an 18-game league schedule, which will include home-and-home games with eight opponents and single-play games against a rotation of the two remaining teams in the conference.

The league’s athletic directors also discussed various format options for the postseason men’s and women’s basketball championships and scheduling formats for 2013 and beyond in all other sports. The Olympic sports scheduling formats are currently being reviewed by the respective coaches’ groups, who will then provide recommendations via the Mountain West governance structure.

Visit www.broncosports.com for more on all Boise State Athletics news and updates.

Bryan Douglas

Part of the excitement and hype that comes with playing at a bowl game is the opportunity to interact with communities away from home.

Players from both Boise State and University of Washington volunteered their time and gave autographs today at a Goodie Two Shoes Foundation event at Opportunity Village in Las Vegas. The Goodie Two Shoes Foundation is a charitable organization providing disadvantaged children and children in crisis with new shoes and socks, as well as other items deemed essential for good health and positive development.

Broncos’ Bryan Douglas, Gabe Linehan and Mike Atkinson took part in the outreach and helped distribute and fit shoes to children in need from CP Squires Elementary School. The shoes were donated by local partners and corporate sponsors of the foundation.

Later this evening the Broncos will enjoy a performance by the Blue Man Group. On Friday the Broncos will celebrate with Boise State fans at the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas Pep Rally from 6 – 7 p.m. at Fremont Street Experience.

Learn more about the first-day experience at Bowling with the Broncos: Welcome Reception.

Click here to read about the official Maaco Bowl Pep Rally.

Photos by Carrie Quinney.

Gabe Linehan

Mike Atkinson

Return to Las Vegas with the Broncos for the MAACO Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 22. Tickets to the game and the VIP Bronco Brunch Tailgate Party are available at idahotickets.com beginning Wednesday, Dec. 5.

MAACO Bowl Football Game

All tickets for the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas game are $62. Kickoff is 12:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. Mountain Time). Stadium parking is available for $10 at the gate on game day, including RV parking. Lots open at 8 a.m.; no overnight parking is allowed. For more information, visit www.broncosports.com/bowlcentral.

Bus, air and land packages are available. Harmon Travel is the preferred travel company for Bronco Sports. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is the official Bronco Hotel for the Maaco Bowl.

Additional Featured Events

Friday, Dec. 21, Pep Rally at Fremont Street: 6-7 p.m.

Fans and alumni are invited to this kickoff event under the historical lights at the Fremont Street Experience the night before the game. This event is one of a kind and features both Boise State and University of Washington representatives, cheerleaders, bands and mascots. The event is free.

Saturday, Dec. 22, Tailgate at Sam Boyd Stadium: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

This tailgate extravaganza will be located at the north end of the stadium at the Star Nursery Field. Attend the Bronco Brunch VIP Tailgate Party inside the Tailgate Extravaganza area. Join fellow Bronco fans and watch the Boise State Cheer Squad, Maneline Dancers, and the Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band.

The VIP Bronco Brunch Tailgate Party costs $45 per person (purchased online in advance) and features a deluxe menu including Denver scrambled eggs (with peppers, onions, ham and cheese), biscuits and gravy, applewood-smoked bacon, sausage patties, country-style breakfast potatoes, Danishes and rolls, plus a full no-host bar. The event is co-sponsored by the Boise State Alumni Association, the Bronco Athletic Association, Boise State Athletics and the Office of University Advancement. Space is limited.

Sunday, Dec. 23, Men’s Basketball at the MGM Grand: Noon

Boise State men’s basketball will face the University of New Orleans at noon (Pacific Time). For tickets, visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/2E00496292F32AF6.

Game Day at the SUB invites you to bring your friends and family to the first-floor dining area for large-screen football action. Come early for a good seat and some great giveaways presented by the SUB and Coca Cola. Parking is available in the Lincoln Avenue Parking Garage and food will be available for purchase.

The official Bronco Bash is from 8-9 p.m. but the Stadium Bar is open all day. Fans are welcome to hang out with fellow Broncos and use their Bronco Buddy Buttons, available only from the Bronco Athletic Association. Call 426-3556 for details. A no-host bar will be available for those without Bronco Buddy Buttons.

The game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time (1:30 p.m. Mountain Time) at Mackay Stadium in Reno.

Check http://alumni.boisestate.edu/programs/bronco_bash.php for more details.

Game Day at the SUB invites you to bring your friends and family to the first-floor dining area for large-screen football action. Come early for a good seat and some great giveaways presented by the SUB and Coca Cola. Parking is available in the Lincoln Avenue Parking Garage and food will be available for purchase.

• Football vs. Colorado State, Bronco Stadium, 1:30 p.m.
• Volleyball vs. Colorado State, Bronco Gym, 7 p.m.
• Ballet Idaho and Philharmonic Master Chorale, Morrison Center, 8 p.m.
• Private Event, Taco Bell Arena, 7:30 p.m.

Street Closures

Euclid and Grant Avenues

To provide a staging area for game day operations, Grant Avenue between Belmont Street and University Drive will be closed on Saturday, Nov. 17 beginning at 12:01 a.m. through the end of the game. The closure will include the entire block. Violators will be cited and/or towed, at owner’s expense, to the Lincoln Hall dirt lot (the dirt lot on the west side of Lincoln Avenue between University Drive and Belmont Street).

Permit Parking

Brady Street Parking Garage 

All valid Boise State parking permit holders will be able to park in the Brady Street Parking Garage, pending availability. An accessible-equipped Boise State shuttle will be available from 11:30 a.m. until kickoff and again until one hour after the game.

T Reserve Lot

This lot will be restricted to Morrison Center events. All Boise State permit holders will be directed to park in the Brady Street Parking Garage.

Landscape Services

Parking will be available free to valid Boise State parking permit holders based on availability.

Liberal Arts and Library Lots

There will be limited availability in the Liberal Arts and Library lots for permit holders.

Temporary Game Day Lot at Belmont Street and Oakland Avenue

Temporary game day parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to all valid Boise State parking permit holders in the vacant lot located west of the Lincoln Townhouses. This lot is located between Belmont and Beacon Streets and can be accessed from the east side off of Oakland Avenue.

Yanke Research Park 220 E Parkcenter Blvd General Permit Areas

Parking will be available to all valid Boise State parking permit Holders pending availability. Shuttle service will not be provided to and from this lot. Those parking in these lots are encouraged to walk to the game along the Greenbelt.

Michigan and Belmont Streets

Portions of Michigan and Belmont streets will be available only to Boise State permit holders, as these are privately owned Boise State streets.

Hourly Parking 

Hourly paid parking will be available in the Brady Street Parking Garage and Administration visitors lot until 11:30 a.m. Public Affairs & Arts West will have hourly meter parking for the day.

Restricted Parking Areas

Stadium Lots

West Stadium, East Stadium, Bronco Circle and Cesar Chavez Lane will be closed to all vehicles starting at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17. All vehicles must vacate the lot by 12:01 a.m. pm game day or they will be cited and towed to the Lincoln Hall lot at the owner’s expense.

Loading Zone 

A drop-off area for patrons and equipment is provided on the north side of University Drive, near the intersection of Grant Street and University Drive. Additional drop-off areas are located by Bronco Gym on Bronco Circle, as well as meters located in front of the Bronco Shop/Ticket Box office, but are limited to one hour prior to the game with a stay limit of 15 minutes. Vehicles must display a loading zone permit, available at the entry to the stadium lots from event parking personnel. 

Lots South of University Drive 

The Denver, Denver and Beacon, Norco and Manitou lots are reserved for Bronco Athletic Association parking and game day management. These south lots will be closed to the public and all permit holders starting at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday. All vehicles must vacate the lot by 12:01 a.m. on game day or be cited and towed to the Lincoln Hall lot at the owner’s expense. These lots will open to game day permit holders at 8 a.m.

Residential Parking Lots 

Parking is not allowed in the residential areas on campus without a proper residential permit. 

Accessible Parking — Lots Open to the Public at 8 a.m.

Restrictions

There will be a $10 fee charged per space for all game day accessible parking. Boise State accessible permit holders will be able to utilize available game day accessible parking spaces at no charge.  Please have your valid Boise State accessible permit properly displayed. The vehicle must display an ADA license plate or placard and the person to whom it is registered must be in the vehicle in order to purchase accessible parking. There are no in-and-out privileges; vacated spaces will be resold.

Stadium Lots

Accessible spaces in the Stadium lots are available on a first-come, first-served basis at a game day rate of $10, or at no charge to Boise State accessible permit holders displaying their decal. No in-and-out privileges; vacated spaces will be resold. Accessible spaces in the Stadium lots are designated by numbers; vehicles must park in the correct numbered accessible space as designated on the permit issued by event staff at the entrance to the lot.

ET Reserved Lot, Euclid Avenue and University Drive

Available on a first-come, first-served basis at a game day rate of $10, or at no charge to Boise State accessible permit holders displaying their decal. Accessible plates or placards are required in order to purchase game day accessible parking. No in-and-out privileges; vacated spaces will be resold.  An accessible-equipped Boise State shuttle will provide transportation to and from the game from noon until kickoff and again for one hour after the game.

Lincoln Avenue Garage

Accessible parking is available for $10, or at no charge with a valid Boise State accessible permit.  The ground floor will be reserved for accessible parking patrons. An accessible-equipped Boise State shuttle will provide transportation to and from the game from 9:30 a.m. until kickoff and again until one hour after the game.

On-Campus Parking Details – Lots Open to the Public at 8 a.m.

Administration Visitor Lot

Game day rate is $10 per space, per vehicle. Accessible-equipped Boise State shuttle service will be provided two hours prior to kickoff and again for one hour after the game.

Lincoln Avenue Garage

Game day rate is $10 per space, per vehicle. The entrance to the garage is located off of Belmont Street between Lincoln and Michigan avenues. Accessible-equipped Boise State shuttle service will be provided from 9:30 a.m. until kickoff and again for one hour after the game. 

Brady Street Garage

Game day rate is $10 per space, per vehicle and will be available to the public beginning at 11:30 a.m. Accessible-equipped Boise State shuttle service will be provided from 11:30 a.m. until kick-off and again for one hour after the game. Those looking for hourly parking will be directed to the meters in the Public Affairs and Arts West lot.

Liberal Arts and Library Lots

Access to these lots are restricted due to other scheduled events on campus. Limited parking will be available for valid Boise State reserved permit holders only.

Yanke Family Research Park Lot

This location is the only RV parking available on campus for non-Bronco Athletic Association members. Restrooms will be available onsite and security will be present. No shuttle service will be provided to and from this lot; those parking in this lot are encouraged to walk to the game along the Greenbelt. All Boise State permit holders may park in the Yanke lot on a space available basis.

Bicycle Parking

The Bike Corral will not be available for this game due to expected colder weather conditions.  Those biking to and from the game are encouraged to use the permanent bike racks located near the Student Recreation Center and the Student Union Building.

Bronco Athletic Association Reserved Parking

Those with pre-purchased parking permits through the Bronco Athletic Association will be allowed to enter their designated parking lots starting at 8 a.m. and are required to exit one hour after the game. BAA lots include Stadium, Manitou, Denver, Denver and Beacon, and Norco lots, as well as the Lincoln Avenue Garage.

Relocated Vehicles on Campus

Vehicles relocated for any reason, such as not displaying the proper permit, parking in an incorrect location, or vehicles that have been abandoned, will be towed to the Lincoln Hall lot (the dirt lot on the west side of Lincoln Avenue between University Drive and Belmont Street).

Off-Campus Parking Details

Downtown Public Garages

Attendees are encouraged to park in downtown public parking garages and ride the Boise Shuttle to the game. The cost is $5. For more information, call Downtown Boise Association at 472-5251 or visit http://www.downtownboise.org/index.cfm/getting_around/bronco_shuttle.

URS Parking Garage, 720 Park Blvd.

URS Parking Garage opens at 10:30 a.m. Cost is $5. Free shuttle service will be provided to and from the game, from 11 a.m. until kickoff and again for one hour after the game.

Residential Street Parking

Boise State discourages parking on residential side streets. For those who choose to park on city streets, remember that vehicles are not allowed to be parked along portions of University Drive from 2-5 a.m. Vehicles cannot be parked longer than 24 hours, no parking is allowed 30 feet from stop signs or 20 feet from an intersection. No parking in alleyways, driveways, or vacant yards and all vehicles must be within eighteen inches of the curb. A portion of Grant Street will be closed from midnight through the end of the game by the Alumni Center. See www.cityofboise.org/Departments/City_Clerk/CityCode for city parking rules.

Julia Davis Park

Overnight parking in Julia Davis Park is prohibited. City parking enforcement commences at 1 a.m. on game days. For a park map and guidelines, visit www.cityofboise.org/parks and click on “Parks & Facilities.” You also may call 608-7600 for additional information.

University Drive

Parking on University Drive is restricted from 2-5 a.m. Violators are subject to a $47 citation and may have their cars towed.

Following the game, Taco Bell Arena will host an extra-large private event with an estimated attendance of 12,000. To assist in accommodating those attending the private event, fans are encouraged to exit parking lots within one hour after the game. Parking lots will re-open to patrons attending the Taco Bell Arena event at 6 p.m.

In order to ensure the safety of participants for the Taco Bell Arena event, Cesar Chavez Lane south of the Boise River will be closed to public traffic from 1:45-3 p.m. The Greenbelt will remain open at all times for pedestrian access.

Boise State has partnered with the Ada County Highway District and the Boise Police Department to make the exit of football traffic and the entry of traffic for the Taco Bell Arena event as safe as possible. Those coming to Boise State are encouraged to be patient during this time of high demand for parking and traffic.

For additional details on where to park for the football game, visit http://transportation.boisestate.edu/.

Have parking or transportation questions?  The Department of Transportation and Parking has a new text message system to help serve you: (208) 953-1681, from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7 a.m.-8 p.m. this Saturday.