Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009

Boise State players' families travel all over the country to watch the Broncos play

By BY CHADD CRIPE

Jack and Gail Winterswyk take about a dozen vacations a year. They're quick trips, though. And most of the destinations - like Ruston, La. - aren't exactly tourist hot spots.

Their son, Ryan, is a junior defensive end on the Boise State football team. All three will be in Ruston on Friday night when the No. 5 Broncos battle Louisiana Tech.

"We're wondering what we're going to do when it ends," Jack said. "I'm going to have to get back to hunting and fishing."

The Winterswyks, who live in La Habra Heights, Calif., are part of a tight-knit community of Broncos parents who follow the team all over the country. The Broncos have played in five different time zones this year.

At least three parents have attended every game - cornerback Kyle Wilson's father, kicker Jimmy Pavel's father and the mother of quarterback Kellen Moore and wide receiver Kirby Moore.

Many more have been to all but one or two games. The Winterswyks skipped the Hawaii trip this year - the only game they've missed in two seasons.

Players requested 100 tickets for this week's game.

"It's awesome to see them go clear across the country to help support their sons and this team," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said.

The parents become friends with each other and form bonds with their sons' teammates. They also provide a vocal cheering section in hostile environments.

"They all get to be your kid," said Jim Pavel, who is semi-retired and promised his son he would attend every game if he made the travel squad.

Gerry Wilson probably gets the most-traveled award. He lives in Piscataway, N.J., and plans to attend every game of his son's senior year. His wife, Carrie, attends most games, too. They've made so many friends in Boise that they plan to attend Bronco games even after Kyle's career ends.

"This is an emotional experience for us as it comes down to senior day because the friends we have made in Boise are like family to us," Gerry said.

Kyle's oldest brother, also named Gerry, has driven to most of this year's games in a motor home that features Kyle's picture and a blue-and-orange color scheme. His other brother, Vincent, also has watched Kyle play this year.

"I definitely appreciate them," Kyle said. "That's why I work so hard - to have a smile on their faces and for them to be proud of what we're doing as a team."

Maurice Gallarda, father of tight end Tommy Gallarda, arranges business meetings in connection with Bronco games. He is a company president in Southern California.

This week, he scheduled a meeting in Raleigh, N.C., and will stop in Ruston on the way home. He has missed one game in Gallarda's three seasons - he missed a connection in Atlanta because of a hurricane and couldn't get to this year's game at Bowling Green.

Maurice passes through the Boise Airport so often that he's on a first-name basis with the guy who runs the Hertz counter. He and Tommy have a routine for home games - lunch at Bardenay before the game, dinner afterward and breakfast at Goldy's the next morning.

On the road, the players have less free time. They see their parents briefly the night before the game and in the parking lot after the game.

"He's always waiting right outside the buses," Tommy said of his dad. "I always see him talking to my friends."

That group includes two of Gallarda's roommates, linebacker Derrell Acrey and offensive guard Kevin Sapien. Both are from Southern California so Maurice, who usually flies commercial, plans to bring Sapien's parents and Acrey's mother to Boise on his company jet for the Dec. 5 game against New Mexico State.

Weekends in Boise are a treat for the parents because the players rarely go home.

"This is our chance as parents to see our boys," Maurice said.