The Boise State Broncos are far from a bashful bunch, choosing to stand out from the crowd by playing on a trademarked blue artificial turf field since 1986 known simply as “The Blue.”
A polarizing but memorable choice, Boise State has an equally unique mascot with Buster the Bronco, which may have triggered the school’s pension for trademarks after another school may have adopted its likeness for its own mascot.
What is the history behind the Boise State Broncos mascot, Buster Bronco?
Who (or What) Is the Broncos’ Mascot?
Initially a junior college, Boise State students voted on the Broncos as the school’s official mascot in 1932, settling on Buster Bronco as the name after a few variations, including Elmer.
Buster Bronco has remained the university’s symbol for over 90 years. A live horse began representing the school as Buster Bronco at athletic events in the 1960s before a costumed version was adopted for the 1974 season.
The live version of Buster Bronco returned in the late 1990s, along with a female version that was introduced by the Boise State cheerleaders.
Buster’s popularity reached its peak in the 2000s, with a children’s book called “Buster Becomes a Bronco” hitting the shelves in 2008 and a third-place finish in Sports Illustrated’s Power Mascot Rankings in 2007.
Why Is Bronco the Mascot?
Chosen because of the wild horses that wander the Owyhee Mountains in Idaho, the Broncos have been the regional symbol for Boise State since the school’s inception. Buster Bronco has been used by the school since the 1930s.
Another school, Western Michigan, also goes by the Broncos, a name taken on by the school in 1939 after going by the Hilltoppers for the 36 years prior.
However, Western Michigan didn’t start using the name Buster Bronco name until 1981, well after Boise State had established its mascot as Buster Bronco.
Western Michigan’s costumed version is even remarkably similar to Boise State’s, with both horse costumes featuring open mouth smiles.
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