‘Extraordinary gift’ to have major impact on Boise State football. Think big numbers

As Boise State moves forward with the renovation of the north end zone of Albertsons Stadium, the athletic department announced another record donation Thursday.

The Broncos received a $25 million estate gift from Allen and Billie Dee Noble. Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey said the investment would be used to “benefit Bronco football,” according to a news release, per the wishes of the estate. The previous largest one-time gift in BSU history was a $5 million donation given by the Miller family in December 2022.

“We are extremely grateful to Allen and Billie Dee for this extraordinary gift,” Dickey said. “We choose to believe in epic at Boise State, and this transformational gift represents the belief Allen and Billie Dee had in us and Bronco Nation. Our goal is to take this incredible legacy and continue to positively impact the lives of present and future Broncos.”

Boise State’s $65 million north end zone project has been filed with the city, and construction is scheduled to begin early next year. The renovation will add 1,600 seats, including 12 field-level suites, 44 loge boxes, 148 ledge seats, and 882 club seats with all-inclusive food and beverage amenities on game days, according to previous Idaho Statesman reporting.

The Nobles previously helped fund Boise State’s stadium expansion in conjunction with the football team’s move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision (then Division I-A) in 1996. Part of that expansion included the creation of the Allen Noble Hall of Fame.

In July, Boise State announced it had raised $20.8 million in donations and commitments in fiscal year 2024, marking the third consecutive fiscal year the department surpassed $20 million. The athletic department raised $24.1 million in fiscal year 2022 and $26.1 million in fiscal year 2023.

Boise State athletics has now received 15 donations of at least $1 million since Dickey was first hired in 2021.

“Allen and Billie Dee were an integral part of Bronco Football since the Lyle Smith era,” former Boise State quarterback Bart Hendricks said in the release. “They have already done so much for the university, and making a gift like this through their estate just cements their generational impact and legacy.”