This weekend Boise State will be honoring its Distinguished Alumni and Alumni Service award winners for 2011. In addition to being recognized at the annual Presidential Gala Friday night, they will also be recognized on the Blue at halftime of the Homecoming game against Air Force. One of the Distinguished Alumni is Steve Decker, who recently retired from teaching fifth grade at Highlands Elementary in Boise. Prior to retiring Steve earned the Red Apple Award from the Boise School District for outstanding teaching, and also earned KTVB’s Seven’s Heroes award for his work with the Interfaith Sanctuary in Boise. Steve earned a Master of Arts in Elementary Education -Curriculum and Instruction in 1981, and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education –Reading in 1987. We were fortunate enough here at Blue Turf Nation to be able to ask some questions of one our newest Distinguished Alumni.
Selected Topic: BTN Interviews
A Conversation with Distinguished Alumni Steve Decker
Bob Kustra: His Own Words On Realignment
Sunday evening I went to Edwards to catch Moneyball. As an avid Oakland A’s fan I was sure it would be a great movie. While on my way into the theater I ran into Dr. Kustra. I stopped and introduced myself and asked him a couple of questions. I first asked where we might fall in the realignment landscape. His answer was one of uncertainty with all of the changes. “I don’t know, It’s hard to tell right now”. This pretty much was what I would have assumed his answer to be. Continue Reading
Catching up with The 2007 Defensive Player of the Year – Marty Tadman
Recently I had the chance to catch up with Marty Tadman. This is the latest in the BTN Interview Series.
BTN: You’ve been gone a few years from the program. How often do you look back and reflect?
MT: I look back daily. Every day someone in my daily life brings up football, especially since I wear my championship rings quite often.
BTN: The Broncos first Fiesta Bowl (2007) you were the Defensive MVP. Share the experience of that magical game.
MT: You know its funny, the game itself was fun, but not much more memorable then any other game…honestly. I know for fans that is very hard to believe but for me its true. However, what made that game magical and memorable was the aftermath or the game. None of us could have guessed that day how big of an impact that game would be for our lives, our school, our state, and for college football as a whole as well. It allowed me to be remembered for a special moment in college football history which is an amazing honor I will always remember and cherish.
Blog Swap with Rocket Nation
I had a chance to ask Brian Nowicki of Rocket Nation 5 questions about the Toledo Rockets. Finding out about an opponent that Boise State has never faced what pretty interesting. I also found out that Rocket Nation will soon become a rivals.com affiliate, which is also something I did not know. Below is the Q&A session. Enjoy.
How did Toledo come up with the Name “Glass Bowl” for their Home Stadium
The city of Toledo was once known as one of the world’s largest manufacturers of glass. Glass Bowl Stadium was built in 1936 as part of the Works Progress Administration project as the country was coming out of the Great Depression. It was mostly paid for by a grant from the federal government, with the city of Toledo and the University of Toledo paying for a smaller portion of the project. The Glass Bowl Stadium name was selected to honor the city’s known popularity as the “Glass Capital of the World.”
What is the Peace Pipe all about?
BTN Interview Series – Bob Behler, The Voice of the Broncos “Off The Mic”
I had the pleasure of working directly with Bob for his first two years in Boise. I caught up with him the other day and this is the net result. This is number two in the BTN Interview Series. Bob Behler and Pete Cavender can be heard on 670 KBOI and 96.9 KKGL “The Eagle” every Boise State Football Game.
Bob Behler and Pete Canveder
BTN: This is the third season as The Voice of the Broncos, do you feel like you are “settled in”?
BB: Very much so. Feel like I am really in tune with the coaching staff and team after doing two full seasons. On the football side working with the same partner again (Pete Cavender) gives me a lot of comfort and we can improve on things because you don’t have to go back to start when you get a new analyst. Same thing for basketball, Abe Jackson will be with me for a third year and that is a big help.
BTN: How are you adjusting to having a new assignment with Learfield – Citadel – Bronco Sports trio?
BB: Biggest adjustment is getting up early to do the morning sports on KTIK on my Citadel assignment. I’m just really not a morning person. Everyone at Citadel has made me feel really welcome and working with the crew at Learfield/Bronco Sports Properties (they really are one entity) has been smooth too.
New stuff for BTN – More Interviews
I have removed the boy from the radio, but I can’t remove the radio from the boy. After nearly a decade in radio, doing a wide variety of on-air interviews including Boise State pre-game and post-game. The interview is in my blood, so I will continue the interview here on BTN.
You may have noticed the first interview with Greg Sims. Outside of the Blog Swap we haven’t done much in the way of an interview and that will change. You can expect to read many more interviews with a focus on relevance to the program. Ex-Players, personnel and just about any angle that carries a connection to the BTN.
Interview with Greg Sims – Photog of The Boise State Broncos
I had the chance to catch up with Greg Sims of Tri-Digital Group. He is an amazingly “Epic” photographer (I think the word “Epic” is very overused but I know he loves it so I threw it in). Check out the interview and some of his work. You’ll definitely recognize his work.
BTN: Greg you work has been seen everywhere from the side of Bronco Stadium to billboards around town, yet no one knows the man behind the lens. Can you give us a quick bio and tell us what you are all about?
GS: Well I am tall for one thing, so it is difficult for me to hide in a room. I was born and raised in So. Cal and received all my formal photography training there. I moved to Boise with my wife and daughter in 1991. I had a portrait studio on Bannock for about 10 years. Loved the work but I wasn’t crazy about retail. After shooting portraits for so many years, and feeling like I pretty much did everything I wanted to in that genre, I left the portrait industry and teamed up with my business partner Jim Armstrong around 2000 and formed Tri-Digital Group. I have been shooting commercial imagery ever since. We began shooting for National clients primarily food, tons of it, which is still a big part of our business. After a few years of mostly food photography I started exploring other techniques and genres that were visually interesting to me.
