Boise State Athletics

Investments from committed donors directly benefit Bronco student-athletes

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State Athletics has received a $25 million estate gift from longtime Broncos champions Allen and Billie Dee Noble. The investment will be used to benefit Bronco football, athletics director Jeramiah Dickey announced Thursday. It is the largest one-time gift in Boise State University history.

“We are extremely grateful to Allen and Billie Dee for this extraordinary gift,” said Dickey. “At Boise State, we choose to believe in epicness, and this transformative gift represents the belief that Allen and Billie Dee had in us and Bronco Nation. Our goal is to embrace this incredible legacy and continue to positively impact the lives of current and future Broncos!” “

Noble was a legendary local businessman and farmer and developed a passion for Boise State football in the late 1960s.

Over the next 40 years, he made a variety of contributions to Boise State's athletic department and university. He was a constant presence on the Bronco football sidelines or in the locker room. He helped finance Boise State's stadium expansion in conjunction with the program's transition to FBS football in 1996. This expansion also included the creation of the Allen Noble Hall of Fame Gallery. He also served on the Bronco Athletic Association Board of Directors and was a recipient of the Bronze Bronco Award, Boise State Athletics' highest honor. Prior to the estate gift, Allen and Billie Dee's philanthropic giving exceeded $5 million.

Former Bronco quarterback Bart Hendricks (1997-2000) saw firsthand the impact Noble had on the Bronco student-athletes.

“Allen and Billie Dee have been an integral part of Bronco football since the Lyle Smith era,” Hendricks said. “They have already done so much for the university, and such a gift from their estate only solidifies their generational impact and legacy.”

St. Luke's Health System also received a $25 million gift from the Noble family estate, resulting in a $50 million impact for its communities.

In October 2023, the university announced “Unbridled”: The Campaign for Boise State University, which aims to raise $500 million and runs through 2028. The Unbridled Campaign is the most ambitious charitable and alumni engagement campaign in the University's history and focuses on three key pillars: Student Access and Success, Faculty Innovation, and What's Next for Athletics? The Athletics Pillar's priorities include modernizing facilities and an enhanced program to support the entire student-athlete.

In May 2024, the department announced next steps for the North End Zone project, with an estimated cost of approximately $65 million and an expected construction period of 16 months, subject to approval by the Idaho State Board of Education. The new end zone project would include additional restrooms, an open-air sports bar, a club and patio area for use on non-game days, and a nutrition center for all of the Bronco's 350-plus student-athletes.

In July, the department announced that it was exceeding $20 million for its third consecutive fiscal year, following increases in fiscal years 2022 ($24.1 million) and 2023 ($26.1 million ) had achieved record-breaking amounts.

About Unbridled: The Campaign for Boise State University

From groundbreaking research to expanding opportunities for the best and brightest students, Unbridled: The Campaign for Boise State University advances key priorities at the university level and for every college, school, unit and athletics to address the unique challenges of our time to do justice. The Unbridled campaign aims to raise $500 million by 2028 and focuses on three key pillars: student access and success, relentless faculty innovation and positioning athletics for the future. For more information about Unbridled: The Campaign for Boise State University, visit boisestate.edu/unbridled.

-BroncoSports.com-