Those Who Helped Make Us Great
Nash Balinton
- Sport:
- Football
- Years:
- 1975-78
- Hometown:
- San Francisco, Calif.
- Current Residence:
- Oakland, Calif.
Graduation Year: 1978
Career Status and/or Accomplishments:
Married, eight children and eight grandchildren.
How did Boise State impact your life?
I was able to meet people in a new environment that led to lifelong friendships. I also earned my degree from Boise State which led to a successful professional career.
Do you have any special memories or moments?
My biggest memory was meeting Coach Knapp. That was followed by two Big Sky Championships, signing as a free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1978, being honored with former BSU player Fred Goode in 2008 and becoming a believer and follower of the Messiah.
How do you stay in contact with Boise State?
I attend the yearly alumni gathering and stay in contact with many former teammates and other athletes that played in the 70s. I have also donated to various academic programs and the athletic department.
Athletic Accomplishments:
Career Status and/or Accomplishments:
- Retired as a decorated SFPD Narc/Gang/Homicide Task Force investigator and street cop
- Started my criminal justice and law enforcement career in 1979
- Started working juvenile probation in San Francisco, adult probation in Marin County
- While assigned to the SFPD homicide division in 1992 the homicide inspectors put together an elite task force called CRUSH (Crime Response Unit to Suppress Homicides)
- The elite task force was unrivaled nationwide and received numerous SFPD, district attorney, state and national awards for our dedicated work
- Actor Don Johnson based his TV series Nash Bridges from the work of the task force
- My partner and I signed a contract with Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who went on to produce several movies off our history: Bad Boys movie series and the TV series CSI
Married, eight children and eight grandchildren.
How did Boise State impact your life?
I was able to meet people in a new environment that led to lifelong friendships. I also earned my degree from Boise State which led to a successful professional career.
Do you have any special memories or moments?
My biggest memory was meeting Coach Knapp. That was followed by two Big Sky Championships, signing as a free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1978, being honored with former BSU player Fred Goode in 2008 and becoming a believer and follower of the Messiah.
How do you stay in contact with Boise State?
I attend the yearly alumni gathering and stay in contact with many former teammates and other athletes that played in the 70s. I have also donated to various academic programs and the athletic department.
Athletic Accomplishments:
- All-Big Sky Conference Second Team, cornerback, 1978
- All-Big Sky Conference Honorable Mention, safety, 1977
WBB | Highlights vs Nevada
Monday, March 10
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Thursday, February 06
