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53 Years Later: Player Returns to Boise as Commentator
18 Sep
Summary
- Gary Culver returns to Boise 53 years after playing for USD.
- He will commentate the USD vs. Boise State game on Saturday.
- The 1973 game was USD's first NCAA Division II playoff appearance.
Fifty-three years ago, Gary Culver traveled to Boise, Idaho, as a young defensive back for the University of South Dakota. This Saturday, he will make the same journey, but in his 14th season as a football analyst and commentator for the Coyote Sports Network. The upcoming game against Boise State marks only the second time the two programs have met in their history.
Culver vividly recalls his 1973 trip to Boise, which was for the inaugural NCAA Division II playoffs, a thrilling first for the Coyotes. Although he was primarily a special teams player then, he remembers the game vividly, noting how quickly momentum shifted after an early lead. Boise State ultimately won that matchup, 53-10.
The landscape of college football has dramatically changed since Culver’s playing days. Both USD and Boise State competed at the Division II level in 1973. Boise State has since ascended to become a prominent FBS program, while South Dakota transitioned to FCS football in 2008. Culver has witnessed much of this evolution from the sidelines.
This return trip holds significant personal meaning for Culver, reconnecting him with his past as a player and his present as a broadcaster. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to remain connected to the program and anticipates a nostalgic experience, regardless of the game's outcome.
