Time to Embrace the Idaho State Bengals
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“Black? You mean blue, right? Boise State is orange and blue.”
That’s the typical response I get when I tell people I am excited to see orange and black during football season. Orange and black are the colors of the Idaho State University Bengals.
You see when I talk to people out-of-state about college football and they hear I’m from Idaho, all they want to do is ask me about Boise State University. I was at a family reunion recently when an uncle who lives in Utah, and is a die hard Brigham Young University fan, started asking me about the Boise State depth chart. When I didn’t know the inner workings of Boise State football’s day to day operations, he was genuinely surprised.
“I thought you liked college football,” he said.
I told him “I do, very much, I just don’t follow Boise State that closely.”
Even more baffled, he inquired, “who else is there?”
What he meant was, who else in Idaho is there? My dear uncle seemed as lost as BYU is without their Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Taysom Hill. To him, there was Boise State in Idaho and nothing else. And there are many people in Idaho that share his sentiment.
I’m not one of them. I’m a Bengals fan.
It’s always frustrated me that you can go into any big box store in eastern Idaho and find a sea of blue/orange hats and shirts. You go to a sports apparel store in the mall and find plenty of Boise State, plenty of Idaho Vandals, even plenty of Wyoming Cowboys paraphernalia. But, good luck finding any Bengal gear. You can find some in Pocatello, but it’s pretty sparse once you leave the Gate City.
Eastern Idaho is actually a pretty good place to be for college football fans. We have some really good choices within a decent driving distance away. Whether you prefer Cougars, Vandals, Utes, Aggies, or Broncos, there is some pretty good football in these parts. Don’t get me wrong. I get it. Idaho State isn’t the top level of the sport like Boise State, University of Idaho or others in the region. Also, considering that there have been lean years at Idaho State, it is easy to see why the Bengals get lost in the shuffle.
However, ignore the Bengals at your own risk. This year’s Bengal team will begin the season ranked 13th in one pre-season poll and 18th in another. This is a Bengal team that will be returning nine offensive starters and six defensive starters from an 8-4 team last year. This is a Bengal team that has a Big Sky best six players on the pre-season all-conference team. You don’t have to drive to Provo, Salt Lake City, Logan, or Boise to see some good college football. You now have it right here in Pocatello.
So, Eastern Idaho. It is time to embrace the football team in your own back yard. College football in Idaho isn’t played on blue turf only anymore. There is some one else. It is time to give the Idaho State Bengals some of your attention. It is time for the orange and black.
No, I did not say blue. I said black.