Boise State’s Horseshoe Club gives players a voice. ‘We have to set the example.’
Boise State football coaches have been doing their best to keep lines of communication open with players who are riding out the coronavirus pandemic at home.
Thanks to a program Boise State football coach Bryan Harsin instituted four years ago, they get some help from leaders in the locker room.
Boise State’s Horseshoe Club Leadership Council is a collective of about 15 players that are selected by the coaches to speak for the team and lend an ear if a teammate has an issue or needs advice.
“They’re basically your leaders and a voice for the rest of the team,” Boise State offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau said. “If issues come up or Coach wants insight into the pulse of the team, he’ll gather those guys.”
Assistant coaches nominate players and Harsin whittles the list in the spring, selecting players from each position group who he feels are succeeding in the classroom and on the field.
Harsin said he got a text message from recruiting coordinator Darren Uscher about a Horseshoe Club member about a week after the Broncos suspended all team activities on March 17. Linebacker Benton Wickersham, who the coaches say is one of the strongest students on the team, was concerned about some teammates who were struggling academically and offered to reach out and offer assistance.
“It’s not just the coaches,” Harsin said. “It’s the players taking care of the players.”
Senior John Bates represents the tight ends this year, and it’s not a responsibility he takes lightly.
“Leadership is a really important role, and it’s something everyone should strive for,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to use our platform to help guys get better.”
Former defensive lineman Chase Hatada was in the Horseshoe Club as a senior. He got a text last spring inviting him to what turned out to be the club’s orientation meeting. Membership comes with a T-shirt and commemorative sticker, and the group isn’t just made up of seniors. Hatada said it’s for players of any age who demonstrate the ability to be a leader.
“As Horseshoe Club members, we have to set the example,” Hatada said. “It’s a group of guys who hold themselves to a certain standard that the younger guys can follow.”
Hatada’s favorite part of being in the club was having a say in the jerseys the team wore each week. Other common issues ranged from what meals players preferred and advice on techniques and drills, to classwork, home life and any topic that was easier to talk to a teammate about than a coach.
“People are just trying to figure out life in college, especially the young guys,” Hatada said. “A lot of it was things that weren’t that big of a deal to bring to a coach, but it’s just easier to talk to a teammate.”
Harsin said last week that he was optimistic about football season beginning on time this fall, but the way many of his players have taken ownership of the team has him even more optimistic about the Broncos repeating as Mountain West champions.
“We’ve built a culture and set a standard here, and these guys know who the leaders are in the locker room,” Harsin said. “Leaders are maybe the most important component to a successful team, and we have plenty of those.”
This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 4:00 AM.
