‘Did I really just play my last game?’ Boise State athletes grapple with lost season
No spring sports in the Mountain West Conference? It doesn’t sound real, but it is.
To help limit the spread of the coronavirus, the Mountain West Board of Directors canceled all remaining spring sports competitions and championships Thursday night in conjunction with a similar announcement earlier in the day from the NCAA canceling all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships.
As Boise State student-athletes and coaches worked to process the new reality, many took to social media to express their feelings. Most were sad, others angry, and many simply dumbfounded.
The NCAA then announced Friday that some form of “eligibility relief” would be provided to spring athletes, although the specifics were not clear.
“Council leadership agreed that eligibility relief is appropriate for all Division I student-athletes who participated in spring sports,” the statement reads. “Details of eligibility relief will be finalized at a later time. Additional issues with NCAA rules must be addressed, and appropriate governance bodies will work through those in the coming days and weeks.”
We’ve compiled the reactions of some of Boise State’s spring athletes and coaches in baseball, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s track and field and beach volleyball. We’ve also included comments from the men’s and women’s basketball teams, which had their postseasons canceled.
▪ “This is the weirdest day of my softball career. I owe so much to these seven seniors and am forever grateful for them. I hope somehow there’s something greater in store for all of us through all of this. Hug a student-athlete today, they need it. Love you all,” softball coach Maggie Huffaker.
▪ ”So much uncertainty, like did I really just play my last game?” senior softball pitcher Kelsey Broadus.
▪ ”I’m never taking anything for granted ever again. Thank you to the seniors who have shown me, and the other freshman, how to handle ourselves in a D1 environment, and how to be stand up men. You have had a bigger impact on me than you can ever imagine. Thank you,” freshman baseball pitcher Brayden Spears.
▪ “I can’t believe that it actually happened. Season just got officially canceled, and I can’t describe with words how I feel for our own two seniors who won’t get to play one last time as a Bronco! So much love for those two and our team!” junior women’s tennis player Vanessa Timm.
▪ “Why couldn’t this happen in July? Just had to be March,” senior men’s golfer Connor Johnstone.
▪ “I feel like all senior spring athletes should get a fifth year of eligibility,” former women’s basketball player and current graduate student Joyce Harrell.
▪ “I want to call out and honor all our spring sports (at Boise State) in the wake of the conference, (national), and regional cancellations. I know how talented our athletes are and how hard they work. Sorry you have this painful loss: the loss of the chance to compete,” Boise State President Marlene Tromp.
▪ “Bittersweet ending. Thank you Boise for everything these past four years. Gonna miss playing here,” senior men’s basketball guard Justinian Jessup.
▪ “Man I’m sick. Heart goes out to all my fellow Bronco seniors and all seniors who won’t get to compete anymore. Especially the ones whose seasons just started, or in the middle of season or were about to start. Student-athlete world needs some love right now man for real,” senior men’s basketball guard Alex Hobbs.
▪ “Honestly, it’s unreal and hard to fathom. Our team has gone through so much this season, and for it to end up this way is unfortunate to say the least. At the end of the day, I’m beyond thankful for the memories created with these girls, this staff and others who have helped us on and off the court. We are truly blessed with the way we ended our season. Championship and a win. Not every athlete gets that opportunity,” senior women’s basketball guard Braydey Hodgins.
▪ “I would do anything to play with my girls one more time. To get coached by Cariann (Ramirez), (Heather) Sower, and coach (Gordy Presnell) just one more time. It’s an indescribable feeling to have your season end like this. I just love them all so much,” senior women’s basketball guard Riley Lupfer.
Notes: College of Idaho announced Friday that it has canceled spring sports seasons and suspended practices for other sports. “Our hearts go out to all of our wonderful students,” C of I co-president Jim Everett said in a press release. “Many are losing their opportunity to perform in plays and musical performances, athletic events, trips and research and the fellowship we have on this campus. This is especially difficult for our seniors. The health and well-being of our campus community is and always will be our top priority and that caused us to end all of these activities for the remainder of the spring term.” … The Big Sky, home to Idaho and Idaho State, has suspended spring sports. ... NNU and its conference, the Great Northwest, have suspended spring sports competitions, too.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 4:34 PM.
