Boise State Football

Poinsettia Bowl notebook: Broncos and a beluga

Boise State senior wide receiver Shane Williams-Rhodes was one of four Broncos who got to meet a beluga whale Monday at SeaWorld in San Diego. Williams-Rhodes also was in the group that met a sea lion Sunday at the San Diego Zoo. Most of the extracurricular activities are out of the way now as Boise State begins its final preparations for Wednesday’s game with Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia Bowl. For Williams-Rhodes, it’s his final appearance in a Boise State uniform after signing in 2012 as a return specialist and multi-faceted offensive weapon.
Boise State senior wide receiver Shane Williams-Rhodes was one of four Broncos who got to meet a beluga whale Monday at SeaWorld in San Diego. Williams-Rhodes also was in the group that met a sea lion Sunday at the San Diego Zoo. Most of the extracurricular activities are out of the way now as Boise State begins its final preparations for Wednesday’s game with Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia Bowl. For Williams-Rhodes, it’s his final appearance in a Boise State uniform after signing in 2012 as a return specialist and multi-faceted offensive weapon. John C. Kelly Boise State Photo Services

Four Boise State football players were able to interact with a beluga whale Monday at SeaWorld. The participants were junior offensive lineman Mario Yakoo, sophomore quarterback Tommy Stuart, senior wide receiver Shane Williams-Rhodes and sophomore wide receiver David McKinzie.

The whale rose to meet the players’ hand and came in to peck them on the cheek. It also waved goodbye when the session was over.

Yakoo, in particular, seemed to bond with the whale.

“I think it’s because I’m so big, it felt comfortable with me,” said Yakoo, who is 6-foot-4, 329 pounds. “... It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. Those things are cool, the way they can train them.”

Stuart was chosen as part of the group because he’s an animal buff.

“You’d never see one of those in real life,” he said.

Said McKinzie: “When they said ‘whale,’ I was like, ‘How big is this thing? Am I going to get bit?’ It was fun. ... The whale was gentle.”

Chadd Cripe: 208-377-6398, @IDS_BroncoBeat

This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 11:51 PM with the headline "Poinsettia Bowl notebook: Broncos and a beluga."

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