Boise State University

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Hallmarks and Quirks

Football. Blue and Orange till I die, baby. My football team is awesome—like three-undefeated-seasons-in-five-years kind of awesome—and has a pretty huge fan base up here. And don't even get me started on Albertson's Stadium, my home turf. Between 1999 and 2011, we only lost three games at home. Three. So yeah, football's a pretty big deal up here.
College of Business and Economics. COBE, my business department, is the go-to place for all those aspiring entrepreneurs, marketers, and accountants. I offer COBE students incredible research opportunities, including current efforts to help develop the Idaho economy. There's more to me than potatoes, I swear…
College of Engineering. As a research university, I have a strong and impressive school of engineering. I offer seven majors in subjects such as computer science, mechanical & biomedical engineering, and construction management. Students in the College of Engineering also get the hook up with internships in local industry and governmental agencies—there's no better way of learning than by doing.
School of Nursing. If you're medically inclined but have no interest in going to med school, have no fear—I offer an amazing nursing school. It's located in the appropriately titled Norco Building on campus.

Blue and orange everything. Even the grass on my football field is blue. Bronco fever spreads fast here in Boise.
Quick feet. You'll need these skedaddle when the parties get shut down—noise complaints are one of the biggest downsides of going to school in the middle of town.
Patience. If you're from out of state, you're going to have to explain where Boise is located to pretty much everyone you meet. Idaho, not Iowa.
A taste for country music. Or at least the tolerance to listen to it occasionally.
A love of the outdoors. Boise may be the biggest city in Idaho, but it's still Idaho. I'm surrounded by amazing wilderness and impressive mountains. That means you'll have plenty of chances to get out hiking in the summer and skiing or snowboarding in the winter.

Smurf Turf. I have a blue football field—the first non-green football field in the United States. Bet you haven't seen something like this before.
Football. My Division I football team is consistently ranked among the best in the nation and has a huge and extremely dedicated fan base. What more can I say? There's nothing better than being a Bronco.
Albertson's. The grocery store got its start not too far from my campus and has become pretty cozy with me over the years. In fact, Bronco Stadium—home to my beloved football team and famous blue AstroTurf—was just renamed Albertson's Stadium back in 2014.

Downtown Boise. It's only a five-minute walk from campus and has a ton of different bars, each with its own personality. That's the best thing about Boise—there's something for everyone.
House parties. Just like at any college, my students like to party. While huge ragers aren't the norm, you can normally find some good ones if you know who to ask (or where to listen).
Football games. Pretty much the entire state of Idaho comes to my games. On these days, Boise literally turns blue and orange.
Adventuring in the surrounding wilderness. Many of my students are proud mountain-folk. Camping, hiking, and anything outdoorsy isn't just a hobby—it's a way of life for these guys and gals.

The Quad. The epicenter of campus life at Boise State and home to the occasional angry preacher exercising his or her First Amendment rights. Ah, free speech.
The SUB. The student union is the perfect place to unwind indoors and run into some familiar faces. It's pretty much the campus living room and even features a game center. Pretty cool, if you ask me.
The Rec. This is my on-campus gym. I have a pretty active and athletic student body, and this is the best place to work out and catch up with friends. Talk about hitting two birds with one potato.
Downtown. Downtown Boise is located right across the river from campus. It features restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops galore—all the perks of city living within walking distance.
The Library. Going to the library is more of a social experience here. If you actually need to study…well, good luck.

Smurf Turf. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I have a blue football field. Does your school have a blue football field? I didn't think so.
Unfair advantages. In 2011, my football team was banned from wearing their all-blue uniforms during home games. This is thanks to my blue field, which opponents said blended with the uniforms too well, giving my team an unfair advantage. If you ask me, this is just a case of sore losers getting their way. It's hard being so awesome.
Taco Bell Arena. My basketball stadium is named after Taco Bell. If that's not chill, I don't know what is.
Buster Becomes a Bronco. There's a children's book all about my mascot, Buster Bronco. Gotta teach 'em young.

Torrie Wilson. You may remember her as a World Champion Wrestler named "Samantha," or as a WWE Superstar. Her signature move? The springboard elbow.
Byan Harsin. He's the current head coach of my football team. I like to keep things in the family.
Butch Otter. The thirty-second governor of Idaho. He definitely has the most awesome name of any governor ever.
Michael Hoffman. A film director, whose credits include The Best of Me (2014), The Last Station (2009), and A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)
Trevor Powers. He's an indie musician more commonly known by his stage name, Youth Lagoon. His music is dreamy and very, very chill.