Saturday November 6th Boise State marked the passing of its annual rivalry game with The Hawaii Warriors. Boise State has a long history of playing Hawaii and that days game was special. A day I will always remember.
Saturday we were given a new one time special assistant coach. He was a young man 12 years of age from Texas. He came to Boise State through the Make A Wish Foundation.
A few years ago this kid lived in Oregon and was flipping through channels looking at different football games, he came across a Boise State game and fell in love with the Blue Turf. See not everyone dislikes our Blue.
He became and instant fan of Boise State, even after his family moved to the Dallas area of Texas, he remained loyal to Boise State.
The boy has been diagnosed with cancer and probably has little time left. He was granted a wish through the Make a Wish Foundation and he asked to see the Boise State Broncos play in real life.
Boise States Coach Petersen`s wife is a volunteer at the local Make a Wish Foundation, when she saw the request she took it to her husband to make it happen. When Petersen was told he asked don't you think he meant the Denver Broncos.
Like any coach in any league Petersen reached out to the kid and said it would happen and that he would make it very special for the young man. That is where this story becomes as special like when the USC Trojans adopted a young man who lost his eyes to cancer and Pete Carroll and the Trojans made him one of theirs.
When the Broncos come onto the field at home games, a young lady rides a horse out onto the field followed first by the Boise State player carrying the sledge hammer and the rest of the team.
Saturday was different after the horse came out the Broncos walked out instead of running. Leading the team onto the field was the player with the sledge hammer in one hand and the hand of the young boy in his other hand. As they walked onto the field with the team behind them, hand in hand, the fans and both benches gave them a standing ovation. For me it was difficult to see, its hard to see clearly when the eyes are fogged over with tears.
The boy was an honorary coach and was even given a working head set. Coach Pete said it would be special for the boy and it was not just for him but for us as fans. Both teams and all the fans present at the game got to part of this young mans special day. Pete shared it with us all.
Also special was Pete getting to go full circle with the Make a Wish Foundation. See a few years ago when one of Pete's boys was around 12, he was diagnosed with brain cancer, fortunately his son is ok. Pete and his son were beneficiaries of a wish through the Make a Wish Foundation. Pete got to give more than being a coach, he was able to give back as a father that had been through the same thing.
I know I did not give this story justice, it is the best I can do. Some things are bigger than the game. Saturday we as fans got to participate in it. Thanks Coach Pete for the way you did it, thanks to the boy for choosing my team and allowing us all to open our hearts to you and keep you in our prayers.
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