Family of Bronco Football Player Dan Paul Expands Legacy and Impact
12/5/2024 9:59:00 AM | Football, General
Department announces endowed student-athlete scholarship for future Broncos
BOISE, Idaho – The family of former Bronco football fullback Dan Paul will endow an annual scholarship for student-athletes, Boise State Athletics announced Wednesday. The Paul family is already a special member of Bronco Nation, as their late son is honored at each football game when the "Dan Paul Hammer" is carried out of the tunnel prior during team introductions.
"We are so grateful to Scott, Peggy, Joey and Margaret for their continued commitment to Bronco athletics," said athletic director Jeramiah Dickey. "The example and spirit displayed by Dan during his life grows even deeper with this impactful gift that will continue to inspire our student-athletes. To see future Broncos who embody Dan's spirit and earn a degree from Boise State University with the help of a scholarship that bears his name will be powerful."
Earlier this fall, Dan's parents, Scott and Peggy Paul, raised the team's Blue Chaos flag prior to the Washington State football game.
"Establishing an endowed scholarship in Daniel's name is our way, as a family, to give back to the school and its future athletes," said Scott Paul. "Daniel embodied team, blue collar, excellence, loyalty, selflessness…he was a champion of the underdog and loved all things about all sports at Boise State. His years on the Fiesta Bowl winning team will forever be remembered by us all as some of our most treasured moments."
Paul, who played for the Broncos from 2008-12, passed away in July 2019 at the age of 30. He was known for perfectly embracing the blue-collar mentality that the program emphasizes, both through his relentless work ethic and his ability to connect with his teammates and coaches.
His legacy lives on through the Dan Paul Hammer, symbolizing the power of a collective force and representing the foundations of Boise State Football. Each week, the Dan Paul Hammer is awarded to a player who embodies the blue-collar spirit that Paul displayed, and the recipient leads the Broncos onto the field each game.
"Daniel was a force of nature – he lived big, he loved big, and he played big," said Peggy Paul. "It's our hope to continue to grow his legacy at Boise State, and give back to the place he lived, loved and played with his big and mighty heart."
Paul came to Boise State as a linebacker, but switched over to fullback early in his career. During his time with the Broncos, Paul caught 14 passes for 95 yards and totaled four touchdowns. His top performance came in 2009, when he hauled in three touchdowns and 22 yards in a 44-33 win over Nevada on Nov. 27. Paul finished his career with a 51-5 career record in the Blue and Orange and was a member of the 2010 Fiesta Bowl team.
Learn more about the scholarship or make a contribution by visiting the Dan Paul Scholarship.
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