BOISE, Idaho — The Boise State Esports program has been up and running for a few years now, pioneering this new phenomenon through innovation.
The Esports team is a group of students who play video games together. Boise State competes against other schools from all over the country without ever having to leave the BSU campus.
“A lot of people are following our model, it’s a very 'blue turf' kind of thinking and it shouldn’t surprise anybody to see Boise State in early," said professor Doc Haskell, the team coach and the man who started the program. "This is the greatest scam I’ve ever perpetrated, I am a professor of video games.”
6 On Your Side caught up with the team as they played Rocket League, a soccer-style game that uses cars instead of human players.
“You can’t win by yourself, so you have to have a very solid team," said Boise State Esports player Matt Ness. "Communication is key. You have to know where your teammates are passing. it’s all super important.”
The students also produce a broadcast of every match with content producers, writers and a whole team dedicated to Esports.
A match on Friday Night streamed live on Twitch TV with 200,000 people tuning in to see Boise State compete.
Esports, like other varsity sports at Boise State, require students to maintain good grades and represent the university in a positive way.
"You have to work really hard," said Haskell. "The Bronco Code, which applies to every student athlete, applies to our Esports players.”
