Boise State University is a public university located near downtown Boise, the capital city of the U.S. state of Idaho.
Boise State was originally founded in 1932 as Boise Junior College by the Episcopal Church. After two years the school was independent, and in 1940 it moved to its present site, along the south bank of the Boise River between Capitol Boulevard and Broadway Avenue.
In 1965 it gained four-year status as Boise College with creation of baccalaureate degrees, and in 1969 joined the state system of higher education and was renamed Boise State College. In 1974 Boise State gained university status to become the third university in the state, the present Boise State University.
BSU offers 201 degrees in 190 fields of study - from doctoral programs to technical certificates. With 19,540 students, a new Idaho state enrollment record, Boise State University currently has the highest enrollment of any institution of higher learning in the state of Idaho.
History
- 1932 - founded as Boise Junior College by the Episcopal Church.
- 1933 - first season of football
- 1934 - Episcopal Church ends its affiliation and board of directors after assumes leadership.
- 1940 - campus moved from its original location at St. Margaret’s Hall to present site on south bank of Boise River
- 1947 - after a year as an assistant, Lyle Smith is elevated to head coach of the football team. Will accumulate a record of 156-26-8 (.848) with five undefeated seasons, 16 conference titles, and a national JC championship; steps down after 1967 season to become athletic director
- 1958 - football team wins the NJCAA national championship
- 1965 - baccalaureate degrees introduced; becomes Boise College
- Alumni Association is formed
- Enrollment reaches 5,000
- 1967 - final football season as a two-year school
- 1968 - football team begins competition as a four-year school, competing as an independent in Division II (then the "college division"); new athletic director Lyle Smith hires Tony Knap to replace himself as head coach
- 1969 - state system of higher education assumes control
- name is changed to Boise State College
- 1970 - BSC joins the Big Sky Conference for men's athletics
- Bronco Stadium opens with a capacity of 14,500 and a green astroturf field
- 1974 - university status granted, becomes Boise State University
- 1975 - Bronco Stadium adds upper deck to east side: 20,000 capacity
- 1976 - Jim Criner is named head football coach after Tony Knap moved south to UNLV
- 1978 - Big Sky (& BSU) moves up to newly formed Division I-AA
- 1979 - enrollment reaches 10,000
- 1980 - construction of BSU Pavilion begins in February
- baseball is dropped as a varsity sport in June.
- football field at Bronco Stadium dedicated as "Lyle Smith Field" on November 8th.
- football team wins the I-AA national championship on December 20th
- 1981 - Lyle Smith retires after 35 years at BSU, last 13 as AD.
- 1982 - BSU Pavilion (multi-purpose arena) opens in late May
- 1984 - Velma V. Morrison Center opens on April 7th
- 1986 - Blue Astroturf field installed at Bronco Stadium, the first -- and only -- turf of its kind
- 1992 - first doctoral degree approved: Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction
- enrollment reaches 15,000; the state's largest
- 1994 - football team reaches the I-AA national championship game
- 1996 - athletic program moves to Big West Conference and NCAA Division I-A
- wrestling remains in the Pac-10, as an affiliate member.
- 1997 - Bronco Stadium expansion increases seating capacity to 30,000
- 1999 - football team wins first Big West title and the Humanitarian Bowl against Louisville
- 2000 - football team wins second Big West title and Humanitarian Bowl against UTEP
- 2001 - athletics moves to the Western Athletic Conference
- wrestling remains in the Pac-10
- 2002 - football team wins first WAC title and Humanitarian Bowl against Iowa State
- 2003 - football team wins second WAC title and Fort Worth Bowl against TCU
- 2004 - enrollment reaches 18,456
- BSU Pavilion renamed Taco Bell Arena in June ($4 million for 15 years)
- football team goes undefeated in regular season for the first time as a four-year school, wins its third straight WAC title and finishing 9th in the nation in the BCS rankings, but loses its bowl game vs. Louisville. It was considered a match up of two of the best non-BCS Conference teams that year.
- 2005 - football team wins fourth straight WAC title, but loses MPC Computers Bowl to Boston College.
- 2006 - BSU wins the WAC Commissioner's Cup for the 2005-06 academic year.
- senior Ben Cherrington wins NCAA national championship in wrestling - 157 pounds
- Ben Cherrington and Tyler Sherfey are named the 2006 Pac-10 Conference Wrestler of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, respectively.
- football team goes undefeated for the second time in three years, wins its fifth straight WAC title, and earns their first BCS berth in the Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma Sooners in January 2007.
- 2007 - football team wins the January Fiesta Bowl 43-42 in a thrilling overtime finish. BSU finished the 2006 season as the only undefeated team in the nation (after Ohio State lost to Florida in the National Championship game), and placed #5 in the final AP poll, with one first place vote, BSU's highest ranking ever.
- State of Idaho approves funding for a $35.9 million addition to Bronco Stadium. Expansion will replace the aging press box (1970) and add luxury suites, club seats and loge boxes in time for the 2008 season. The new capacity is expected to be 32,000.
- BSU sells the film rights of the 2006 football season to Michael Hoffman and Iron Circle Pictures, who will produce a documentary and later a feature film based on the story of the football program.
- 2006 football team wins two ESPY Awards in the categories of "Best Game" (2007 Fiesta Bowl) and "Best Play" (Game-winning Statue of Liberty play).
- senior QB and Fiesta Bowl MVP Jared Zabransky appears as the cover athlete of the popular EA Sports video game NCAA Football 08.
- junior Luke Shields is one of four male tennis players representing the United States at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Boise State celebrates its 75th anniversary and announces "Destination Distinction," a campaign to raise $175 million.
- 2008 - Broncos join the "10-20-20" club (10 football wins, 20 men's basketball wins, 20 women's basketball wins) for the 2007-08 season, only the 20th school since 1980 to achieve the feat.
- BSU announces NASA Teacher in Space Barbara Morgan will start her full-time position as a Distinguished Educator in Residence
Read the full entry on Wikipedia
Boise State University is a public university located near downtown Boise, the capital city of the U.S. state of Idaho.
Boise State was originally founded in 1932 as Boise Junior College by the Episcopal Church. After two years the school was independent, and in 1940 it moved to its present site, along the south bank of the Boise River between Capitol Boulevard and Broadway Avenue.
