Bronco football players visit Nampa students

NAMPA — Boise State University Bronco football players and coaches are bringing their stories to Nampa elementary schools and encouraging students to take their education seriously. As part of the Nampa Optimist football program, coaches such as Chris Petersen and Viliami Tuivai along with some Bronco players are visiting Central, Snake River and Lincoln elementary schools this week to talk about life “beyond football.” On Monday, Tuivai and a few Bronco players visited Central Elementary. He will visit Snake River Elementary today, and Petersen will visit Lincoln Elementary School with players on Wednesday. Nampa Optimist Football executive director Noe Rodriguez said the Broncos tell children what it takes to be a Bronco and how to succeed in the classroom. “It's a program utilizing their talent to get the message to kids that there is life beyond football,” Rodriguez said. The coaches and players are encouraging students to work hard in school and to behave themselves inside the classroom and at home. But Rodriguez hopes kids can learn from the Bronco players and coaches' mistakes too. The goal is to show students that “just because they're football players doesn't mean they're perfect,” Rodriguez said. The Nampa Optimist football program is also beginning a program this year called Beyond Football that will enable economically disadvantaged 7- to 12-year-olds to participate in football or cheerleading free of charge. Typically, tackle football and cheerleading cost $75 a season, while flag football costs $45. Beyond Football will ask teachers at schools with a lot of low-income families to determine which students might want to play and are eligible. Rodriguez said the program hopes to register 100 students who might not otherwise be able to participate in the youth football program.
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