I feel like I have hit the football lottery once again.

The first time, I was 7 years old, and I drew up a fake punt for the Seattle Seahawks in a contest. I won and got to fly to Los Angeles to see the Seahawks face the Raiders.

They didn’t use the play, which required a punter to have an abnormally strong arm. But I knew then football was forever meant to be a passion.

Seventeen years later, the very first time I covered Boise State football away from the blue turf, a few more trick plays ensured that college football would be a major part of my life.

You know that game: Jan. 1, 2007 in the Fiesta Bowl. Hook and ladder. Wide receiver pass. Statue of Liberty. Pandemonium. Proposal. A win for the little guys.

I spent the crazy final minutes and overtime among the fans for a story, and seeing their emotional swings in reaction to those moments that can only happen in this sport, I was sold.

Which brings me to today, when I finally get to announce I am joining The Athletic to cover Boise State. This is an incredible opportunity for me, and a huge statement about the Broncos.

This company is dedicated to providing the utmost quality, and now the team with the most wins and the most points per game since 2000 has a dedicated beat writer.

I hope a fan base that has embraced me covering their team for more than a decade continues to do so. The outpouring of kind words when I announced I was leaving the Idaho Statesman truly humbled me. Interacting with fans, knowing they look to me for information on their beloved team, is part of what made me love being in Boise.

Boise State has never been afraid to do things differently, and The Athletic is the same way.

I’m looking forward to writing the quirky stories that make Boise State unique — it is a school that has a tee-fetching dog on blue turf, after all. I’m excited to tell players’ stories that make you cheer for them every game day, dive into the reasons a game is won or lost, and hit recruiting like never before.

This year’s team should provide plenty to make your subscription worth it. From one of Boise State’s most intriguing quarterback battles in a long time, to a near-total overhaul of the defensive staff, to the search for a running back who can give the program 11 consecutive seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher, there will be no shortage of topics for us to talk about.

And after my last experience covering a Boise State game, I’m eager for the season to get started.

I never thought I’d be part of history like that first Fiesta Bowl, then be a part of it again last December covering my last bowl game for a newspaper. In that monsoon that was the First Responder Bowl, I was challenged to find a story in a game that kind of happened but technically didn’t. Having an actual game would have been nice, but it forced me to get creative, the exact sort of writing I will be able to do here.

And you will get full access to all of our writers, the cream of the crop not just in college football, but every pro team. No ads, no popups.

The Broncos have often been the trend-setter and the standard-bearer of the Group of Five. It makes sense that it continues, entering a new avenue with The Athletic.

Not subscribed yet? Join now for 40% off with this special deal: theathletic.com/ cfbexpansion

(Photo: Loren Orr / Getty Images)