Boise State Athletic Director Speaks on Joining the Pac-12 | Jeramiah Dickey

[Music] Boise State director of Athletics Jeremiah Dicky what a day it's been Boise State and of course a pretty good football team with our great friend and Aston jenty who's joined us Jeremiah what does today I know it's down the road but what does and thanks for your time today mean for Boise State athletics well one guys thanks for having me on um you know we every day is a great day to be a Bronco and and today was special you know this is something that I think many Broncos will remember for a very long time and you know uh I'm bullish on on the direction we're headed and and it it's just been I I can't even put words to it um the number of student athletes that have stopped by my office the donors that have come by the donors that have called um people in the industry uh it's it's it's exciting and and you know you're you're grinding to the end you know when you have these type of opportunities and it happens quickly and and so it just makes me very grateful to to be leader here and and and to hopefully take us to the next level uh uh you know as we look ahead so um this obviously was is a process that happened really fast for the rest of us how long I mean was this really in the water for you guys so you know there's always conversations that are taking place and and you know I think you all know me well enough I'm not one to sit back and let things happen you know we're going to make them and and so you're always you know intrigued by what potentially could be and you know we have plan A through Z and you know as we're running out these ground balls um and as these conversations continued to take place you know it just kept escalating and you know you get to a place that at the start of this week I said earlier on some some of my media here um at the start of this week you know I'm not sure I could have told you yeah I would be doing a press conference on Thursday um but that's just sometimes how these things happen and it happens quickly you're trying to keep confidential um there are a lot of moving pieces and and ultimately there is you know risk and reward but in this case I felt the reward was worth the risk you know uh my job is to play the hand to the best of my ability that I've been dealt and uh and we're continuing to do that and and I'm I'm just really excited for the feedback and and you know and and how everyone is is talking about it and and ultimately D it there's still a lot of unanswered questions you know which I get but uh it's been a good day so far Jeremiah was there ever a time even though you have unbelievable faith and and belief in in what you guys are doing what you're doing it boys you stayed along with everybody else was there ever a time we just kind of felt like that door would not open you know I think there Deeds of doubt that that get planted and and ultimately spring up probably at the worst possible moments and you know I'm human you know I hold myself to a highest standard and and I have a a tremendous responsibility here leading not just our student athletes our staff institution um but Bronco nation and we are the front porch of Idaho and and so yeah there's there's Peaks and valleys to to all this um you know but at the end of the day you know I'm always going to control what I can control and and we continue to put our best foot forward and and I knew it sometimes you know I'm not very patient but you know uh um sometimes you got to be patient and and we were and you know and I think it's paid dividends for us and and now I'm just really excited for what's that my in my mind this is done you know now it's on to who you know who what are the other two to however many teams that that we're going to add and and what are the potential Revenue opportunities and how can I start investing now and knowing that I need to hit the ground running or we need I should say I we need to hit the ground running come July 1 2026 and and that's where my mindset is now and and uh and I think that that I'm you know I know I'm really grateful for people like Cody you know and and others on my team team that's you know uh even in those moments where maybe there's a little bit of doubt you know it's why you have teammates you know he lifts me up and and many others on my team does do the same and you know some of those days they'd come in here and say JD we got this we're gonna we're gonna find a way and let's keep going and and that means we're making an impact here and and I'm just really grateful Jeremiah they don't you guys don't know exactly what the playoff situation will be for you and what guarantees you're getting there but do you feel like this gives you a better Avenue and path into the playoff because the strength of schedule will go up what's the what what are the the the benefits for it on the field when it comes to football 100% you know uh our goal was to improve our competitive excellence and and locking arms with like-minded uh institutions athletic directors Etc um I think you know I I don't think it gives me a lot of Hope in in what this could become and you know when you think about football and and strength the schedule and and viewership matters and and the number of people tuning in and obviously there's human components the cfp and and you know even the polls that are taken um you know I want to tell our story and and I want to do it on a national basis and and you know uh looking at the teams we have and potentially some that we could add um I think we could do epic and I think that will Domino not just into the cfp but I think it's going to impact every sport I that we sponsor all 18 and you know and I think that that's important and um you look at men's and women's basketball you know especially will basketball potentially getting units or getting units now and and I don't remember it's been a long day fellas you have to forgive me but I don't remember when that comes in if it's this year the next but um that's I'm looking to monetize every single aspect of our department I'm not saying NASCAR it but we have to we don't have what everyone else has we never have you know but we're Broncos and we're going to find a way and and that's what's next initiative and and you know it's always going to be what's next Jeremiah congratulations first of all I know that the times especially the last handful of times we've talked to you this has always been kind of looming just not this specifically but just something always looming and and you guys waiting for an opportunity so I just I think it's a beautiful thing for for you guys that we know at Boise and then others from from the other schools as well I was just curious of how much of a relationship or did did you have much of a background with Teresa gold and just what does that process been like uh in in terms of I that's going to be the the commissioner of of your new conference moving forward but uh just Impressions or backstory or is this all kind of brand new as well uh all very brand new obviously I I know of her I've not necessarily crossed paths with her as much as maybe other conference Commissioners um but you know since she really joined some of these calls and um I've just been nothing but impressed you know I have a lot of empathy for what she's and organ state in Washington state what they've had to go through it's been a really difficult you know what 13 14 months and you know and and I understand you know uh or I really don't I probably have never gone through that but but but I understand how how uncomfortable that could be and for her to step into that role as as a leader of of those two and ultimately the Pack 12 and and and say it's going to be okay and we're going to find a way um that aligns with who I am and and so I'm I'm really grateful for her leadership and and obviously the pack 12's interest in us and you know I'm excited to see what this could become and and you know and we're uh obviously there's still a lot of lot to to be determined you know I was a little bit late for this call because you know we're on the phone and and we're trying to you know think about what's next and and and our next steps and and it's not five or 10 steps it's probably 200 um but you know this was you know I'm trying to keep my energy level up because I can't drink any more coffee at this point um you know haven't slept for a while and you know it's all adrenaline but you know this is this is just the beginning we're not even close to the end and you know and I need to get some rest this weekend so I can hit the ground running Jeremiah uh well uh how much sleep did you get when did you go to bed and how did people keep this under WRA because that doesn't happen anymore it doesn't and and I was actually really impressed you know we were joking I mean I think Ross ended up getting it from someone you know late last night and and uh uh um it's it's really impressive but I also think guys that shows you how much the people in that room cared you know the mount West 4 we call us myself and the three other ads and and you know obviously we were having conversations and talking through every step of the process and what this could potentially be um but it's because we cared so much we knew the impact it could have that um you know I talk a lot about risk reward it was too much risk for it to get out you know we needed to keep it close to the vest and make sure that that we were doing our due diligence and and that you look it as of yesterday in sell that term sheet was signed um I there was still this in the back of mine like it you know what if and could it fall apart and um and so I think that held everyone accountable to the process and and the confidentiality and I appreciate it because um you know I'm I'm transparent it's probably hard for me you know I'm a bad liar you know and so I was trying to avoid every conversation that potentially someone could ask me you know uh and and uh but the way this timing went and as I said before as of Monday you know we hav't seen terms you know and so I I didn't really have anything to say all right this is this is best and it really escalated over the last 48 hours and the timeline got moved up and and you know but I also think there's value in that you know we we're in a very bureaucratic industry and especially within higher education and and sometimes it's ready aim aim aim and and the fact is is is because of that timeline it was able to to get done and and I feel that it's we're much better today than we were yesterday and and that's always my goal and and I'm I'm I'm proud of my team and everyone else who's been involved with it do you ever think like when you say how how things move slow and then this moves fast do you ever like get on the phone with people go look we uh made a conference reignment deal this quick go back to 2020 we're making scheduling deals overnight like can we move faster people yeah I mean it's it's something that I believe we can I think inherently we're in a we're an outlier to to um College athletics as an outlier to to maybe higher education that's and please do not take that is it's not important academics is absolutely a priority um but I'm having to become a CFO or a CEO apologies um a CEO I I we're operating a business and and in business you it's ready aim fire and you don't always have the details you don't always have the the information at hand and and you know if I can get to 51% confidence in a decision I make like I'm having a really good day you know because most decisions you don't have all the information and and you're having to navigate God knows what and and so uh yeah I think it's part of just what the industry is and um and and I think that's a challenge but you know I'm I'm I look at our campus and and our office of general counsel and the number of calls I had and how they stepped up and helps you know I'm not an attorney and helps me through you know the process and and and I asked them for advice you know because you know I don't know everything and um and so it takes a team I say that a lot it takes a team you got to lock in and and you got to make sure you have the right people on the Foxhole that they can get the job done and and we were able to do it this time Jeremiah I can only imagine I mean how huge this week was but had y'all been able to pull off that game last weekend I'm not trying to bring the mood down but that was just an incredible I'm gonna bring it back up I'm gonna bring it back up in just a second but like that was such an incredible showing and you guys I mean I think showed the nation that you're a team to to pay attention to but uh if there was a bright spot it was Ashton Genty just the attention that he's receiving everybody's talking about him I remember talking about him last year and like maybe here and there people were were saying but now it seems like any podcast any college football TV show they're talking about Ashton jenty Heisman Contender uh can you put into words just kind of the boost that gives the football program and what that's meant to have that kind of attention on the program it's Priceless um it's hard to put even a value on it you know I think last year we were talking about or last time I talked to you guys you know we were talking about Ash is the best running back right he is the best player in the country and and I'm obviously biased but you know uh I've never been a part of a game guys where you know we lost and it cuts you I hate losing you know I'm still pissed you know uh and and not in a not at our team please don't take that it's like I love our guys and they they fought they kept swinging and they kept coming back and um I felt for them because you know those locker rooms are hard and you know you see it in their faces and the emotion and you know they they had earned that moment and and you know sometimes their best isn't isn't good enough and and that's something life you know they kept swinging though and they kept coming back and um and I I still feel if we you know if there was another minute on the clock we're winning that game um but coming out of that game and I said i' I've never experienced that um based on the social media and based on on the media in general um you would have thought we won yeah um you know we gained votes and and obviously you know I think people are paying attention I mean with Ash and that offensive line that I can't say it enough I mean we we were down a starter you know uh at the end of Georgia Southern and and so down a starter going into Oregon and then we're down two starters you know I think sometime in middle of the first quarter or whatever the time was um and and guys just stepped up that's what it means to be a Bronco that's what it means to be a part of a team that's what it means to lock arms with your brother and and God it it just it gives me chills um I'll never forget it you know and and there's not many losses that that I'll I'll sit back and say you know I'm proud or whatever you know um we're an industry that winning matters and and you know and I'm a competitor but man I'll never forget get that game be just to see how those guys kept fighting and um and it didn't matter what was thrown at them you know they found a way and and to to take you know the home team you know down to a a field goal that ends the game you know um it's there's no more victories but you know I I feel just unbelievably proud of of how they responded and and I'm excited you know that energy level and the adrenaline and going that how that game was it was roller coaster and as a fan our first game it's giving me a heart attack but fans should love it um and to see Ash and and how that team's performing um you know uh I'm glad we have a buy this week you know just to get get back to neutral it's always what's next you get 24 hours to to whatever be upset and um and it there's so much more head this season and and Spencer you know I can't say enough about Spencer just how he's handled it and how he handled the locker room and you know um I I just he's the most authentic person that you can ever meet um what you see reminds me I think I told you last time it reminds me of Scott J like what you see in the hallways is what you see you know driving his car with him is what you see out in front of the media like the guy is just consistent and that's Spencer you know win or lose he's consistent how he treats people he's consistent his message is consistent um it's always what's next and you know and and I I just really appreciate that as as an athletic director and um football is such a big deal for us you know financially and and our brand has been established on that but how I see it Domino into our other sport programs you know we have high Ambitions and you know I want all of our sport programs to be viewed like our football program that means I need to do more as an ad and a leader of this department I need to fundraise more I need to monetize more I need to find a way and there's always a way there's always the solution we're not going to stop our capital projects everyone else may talk about well we're not sure we're going to find a way you know we are going to do Revenue share at a certain level we are going going to find we are going to switch conferences like there is always a path forward and and I'm just happy and and grateful as a leader of this department to have people around me like that your media relations department set us up with you I know you have local radio to do on this big day uh they've El helped us get uh a lot of you know access to Aston and others at Boise State when I saw the news I was thrilled for you and everybody else a part of your staff and the university and those fans too thanks for your time I know you won't take long to go to sleep when you finally get in bed so get get some rest in-laws my in-laws are coming this my out the window I yeah I may go to a hotel yeah so we'll see thank you Jeremiah great thank you guys go Broncos yes sir Jeremiah dicki a Boise State director of Athletics with us on 365 Sports