Canzano: Boise State making no small plans
Part of a series on the new-world Pac-12.
BOISE — The walls of the athletic department offices at Boise State make the place feel like a blue maze. It was here on Wednesday that Allie Lepori was charged with a duty that is best described as “the power of a compliment.”
The special assistant to the athletic director held small group meetings in the building. They included department staffers who often work at arm’s length with each other, sometimes passing each other in the halls with a nod.
Neuroscientists have shown that the brain processes verbal affirmation similarly to financial rewards. Gratitude makes people feel valued. Lepori’s mission was to underscore the tangible impact of an unsolicited compliment.
This is part one of a series on the new-world Pac-12 schools. Boise State will join the 109-year-old conference officially on July 1, 2026. A giant crane towers over the north end of the football stadium. It’s part of a $65 million renovation scheduled for completion in time for the Broncos’ first Pac-12 football game.