Waiting for the next Boise State bobblehead? You’re not going to like this.
For about a decade, it was a fall tradition: Boise State University football bobbleheads.
Three to five bobbleheads were released per season, starting in 2006. They weren’t just former BSU players, but also coaches and mascot Buster Bronco.
Last year, there was just one — legendary Coach Lyle Smith, who turned 100. Turns out, that was the last.
Jacksons isn’t releasing any this season.
“We feel like bobbleheads, as a whole, has become less of a desirable item,” said Katrina Lemmon, advertising and promotions manager for Jacksons. She didn’t want to discuss sales numbers over the years.
It was always clear that some bobbleheads were more popular than others. Fans queued up in the wee hours of the morning to get the Kellen Moore bobblehead in 2012.
Crazy!!! 4:00AM and I am 10th in line for the Kellen Moore Bobblehead! #BoiseState #whoneedssleep
— Debbie Kaylor (@DebbieKBoise) October 26, 2012
Jacksons released 40 Boise State bobbleheads in all from 2006-2016. They also expanded into offering other university bobbleheads in Northwest cities where they have stores (University of Oregon, Oregon State and University of Washington).
Last year, the fun, relatively inexpensive collectibles were sold for $12 each or $8 with purchase of two 20-ounce Coke products.
Some fans collected all of the BSU trinkets, and one worried last year about how much space they were taking up in her home.
“I am very happy there is only one this year — I’m running out of space for them — lol! So glad they are honoring Lyle!” Statesman reader Arlynn Smith Anderson wrote last year.
I broke out the one and only BSU tchotchke I possess. Hopefully Shea's bobblehead can cause night terrors in Provo. pic.twitter.com/pYhlwQv4RF
— John Zsiray (@zsiray) September 13, 2015
Jacksons has no plans to release BSU bobbleheads in the future but that doesn’t mean they won’t.
“I don’t want to presume what the future holds,” Lemmon said. “You never know.”
Jacksons hopes to engage more Boise State fans this year with a giveaway called The Ultimate Game Day Experience. The grand prize is four game tickets, a hotel suite for four, meals for the weekend, BSU apparel and more.
Katy Moeller: 208-377-6413, @KatyMoeller
Here’s the full list of Bronco bobbleheads released:
2006: Daryn Colledge, Ryan Dinwiddie, Brock Forsey, Jeb Putzier
2007: Gerald Alexander, Korey Hall, Chris Petersen, Jared Zabransky
2008: Ryan Clady, Chris Carr, Quintin Mikell, Legedu Naanee
2009: Vinny Perretta, Jerard Rabb, Ian Johnson, Alex Guerrero
2010: Kyle Wilson, Richie Brockel, coach Chris Petersen
2011: Buster Bronco, Ryan Winterswyk, Titus Young, Austin Pettis
2012: Billy Winn, Tyler Shoemaker, Kellen Moore, George Iloka, Doug Martin
2013: Jamar Taylor, Buster Bronco, Shea McClellin, D.J. Harper
2014: Kirby Moore, Matt Paradis, Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, coach Bryan Harsin
2015: Grant Hedrick, Jay Ajayi, Matt Miller
2016: Coach Lyle Smith
This story was originally published August 28, 2017 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Waiting for the next Boise State bobblehead? You’re not going to like this.."