Why Boise State Is Practicing for Lightning Delays and Rain Before Facing USF

Boise State’s football team knows a little bit about southern weather after the Broncos’ trips to Georgia Southern, UCF, and Florida State in recent years.

They know the weather forecast is basically the same thing every day: It’s gonna be hot. It might rain.

So, guess what? The forecast for Thursday’s opening game at Raymond James Stadium between USF and Boise State is 89 degrees, 72 percent humidity, and a chance of late afternoon storms for the 5:30 p.m. kickoff.

Broncos coach Spencer Danielson has even game-planned for that.

Sports Illustrated reported that even though a recent practice began under sunny skies, Danielson called a timeout and informed his team that practice was delayed because of lightning.

Well, we know that can and does happen here, and it can throw off a team’s timing. That was smart coaching by Danielson.

His team headed back to the locker room during the “lightning delay.” When they returned, coaches were ready with water hoses. They soaked the players and the field.

“At the end of the day, the environment is the environment, and that's my biggest message to our players,” Danielson said. “The environment is the environment. Nobody controls that. Jesus is the only one who does, right?

“I don't, but we do control how prepared we are. And regardless of where you play game one, we see guys cramping in pregame just because the emotions are so high. My goal as a coach is to make sure our guys are not thrown off by whatever it is, if it's a fill-in-the-blank weather, the game South Florida is playing, the exact same deal we are, and whatever they're from down there.”

Danielson is starting his second full season as the Broncos’ head coach; he coached the team’s final four games in 2023 after Andy Avalos was fired.

Danielson is 15-3 since taking over and, of course, took the Broncos to the playoffs last season. Boise State is used to the big stage.

Even with that, the moment of Thursday’s game is not lost on him. The 5:30 p.m. scheduled kickoff (lightning permitting) means it’s 3:30 p.m. in Boise.

“It's an interesting time, obviously, 5:30 Eastern on ESPN. Huge moment for our program. Huge moment for South Florida's program,” he said.

“It's a college football game, game one, that, as a fan, you want to watch and be a part of,” he said.

“And if I'm a betting man, I know Bronco Nation is going to find a way to be watching this game at 3:30. I'd be hard-pressed to find any corporation in this state that's not going to be okay with their workers watching this game.”