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PROSSER -- Tom Moore, the man who built the powerhouse Prosser High School football program, has noticed the change in colors around this small central Washington town of 5,138 people.
For years, it's always been red and white, the colors of the high school Mustangs.
"But there's a lot of blue and orange around town, even at the high school," Moore said. "My wife Kris is the principal at Prosser Heights Elementary, and she really sees a lot of it."
The change of colors has to do with the Moores' sons, Kellen and Kirby, who play for the Boise State Broncos. And the townspeople are just nuts about the young men.
"The Moore brothers are such great representatives of the youth in Prosser," said Jim Milne, the executive director of the Prosser Chamber of Commerce. "They're fabulous football players, but they're better human beings."
Richard James, who is a member of the Valley Theater Company -- a group that manages the local Princess Theatre -- agrees.
It was his idea last summer to put the Broncos' games up on the big screen at the theater, then invite the town to watch the games together. It doesn't cost anyone to come in, but James will take a donation to help offset costs for the electricity.
"Kellen and Kirby are such nice young men," said James. "I thought it would be great to do something like this."
Attendance, he said, varies.
On most Boise State game nights, half of the 250-seat theater is filled.
"For the first year, that's pretty good," said James. "It all depends on whether the game is on national television. We're expecting a large turnout for the Fiesta Bowl. We're working on giving out prizes whenever Boise State scores."
And the Valley Theater Company is sending one lucky local to the Fiesta Bowl, thanks to selling raffle tickets all season long at the games in the theater.
The worst nights were Friday nights, where only about 50 people attended the games at the theater. That's because the high school team was playing over at Art Fiker Stadium.
"High school football," said Milne, "is still king around here."
What's been interesting is that while Prosser has supported the Moore brothers, the Moore brothers have been good for Prosser business.
Milne said not a week has gone by during football season that at least a couple of BSU fans have stopped in his office asking about Prosser High and the wineries -- of which there are 30 of them in the vicinity.
"Just the other day, some folks came in wearing Boise State clothing and I asked them if they came from Boise," said Milne. "They said 'We've got to see where our quarterback and wide receiver grew up.' They drove from Boise to do that. They did some wine tasting too."
Earlier this season, Milne said, some people came in on a Friday afternoon from Boise with the sole intent of watching a Prosser High game just to get the feel of what it was like for Kellen and Kirby.
Milne said the town wants to keep track of the Moore boys, and after the first of the year the chamber will have a new website, Mooretomoore.com, up and running. It'll be all about the Moores and their exploits.
Prosser will be there at the Fiesta Bowl, too.
"I know numerous people who are headed to the Fiesta Bowl from Prosser," said Milne. "One thing you'll find in a small town: people are loyal to their student-athletes.
"We refer to Kellen and Kirby as our kids. We just ask Tom and Kris to share them."
NOTES: The Princess Theatre will show the Fiesta Bowl on the big screen Monday. Doors open at 4:15 p.m.; pre-game show is at 4:30 and the game begins at 5 p.m. Pizza and concessions will be available. Admission is free, although the VTC will appreciate donations to help offset its operating costs. Call 509-786-2180 for more information. ... Reserve your copy of Deja Blue, an 80-page color commemorative book celebrating the Broncos' 13-0 run through the 2009 regular season. Order online at idahostatesman.com/dejablue or call (208) 377-6333.
