BSU hoping for BCS boon

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Dec 12, 2006 | by Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho -- The president of Boise State University wants to parlay the football team's success on the field to greater academic prestige and an increase in money donated to the school.

"The opportunity we have here by this trip to the Fiesta Bowl is to present ourselves as the metropolitan university of distinction that we aspire to be," Bob Kustra told the Idaho Statesman. "Not just in athletics, but across the board in everything we do."

The Western Athletic Conference champion Broncos (12-0) play Big 12 champion Oklahoma (11-2) in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 in Glendale, Ariz.

The Broncos are only the second team from a conference that doesn't get an automatic berth into a Bowl Championship Series game to qualify for such a game, following Utah in 2004. It will be Oklahoma's fifth BCS appearance.

Boise State is already seeing more money being spent at its bookstore from Fiesta Bowl clothing and souvenirs.

The school is also looking for the team's success to help increase donations toward a $35 million research facility. The school needs another $15 million.

"I'm confident that with this Fiesta Bowl fervor among donors it will be easier for me to make the connection that funding that building is every bit as critical to the future of Boise State University as a second bowl opportunity next year," Kustra said.