Two hours up the road from Boise, there are a lot of Denver Bronco fans. In the small town of Council, everybody loves Matt Paradis.
"We all knew he was going to be destined for great things," David Howe, Council high school athletic director said.
"He is just a good, good person," Dan Shumway, Council high school head football coach said.
The town celebrates him. On Michigan Street there’s a giant banner of him overlooking his old stomping grounds on the side of a building.
The former Boise State player has given up the Bronco blue and orange for Bronco blue and orange, in Denver that is. He’s now the starting center for the Super Bowl bound Broncos, and though he may be on top of the world now, nothing is taken for granted by this big time football player. Paradis truly started from the bottom of the football world to get to the top.
The town’s population in Council sits around 800. The high school is too small to fill all the spots needed for regular football so they play 8 man football.
"He knew that he had to work harder coming from a small school like this," Shumway said.
Shumway coached Paradis during his high school years. They won a state championship together in 2006.
"Never conceited, never cocky just a good hard working kid," Shumway said.
Playing for Boise State University was always his goal but even with the talent he showed on the field, no division 1 school offered any football scholarships.
"Matt had a scholarship to go to Ohio State, but it wasn't for football it was because of his grades," Howe said.
Ultimately Paradis took a chance with BSU, he walked on to the team and after one season started the next 26 games for the Broncos.
"He will push through the circumstances he’s given and I mean it showed all the way through," Shumway said.
He would need that commitment in the NFL as well. In 2014 after being drafted by Denver, he was cut and put on the practice squad. Only one year later, he beat out everyone in camp and was given the most important job on the team, protecting Peyton Manning as the starting center.
Back at home, a town couldn’t be prouder.
"Wherever Matt is playing, whenever Matt is playing I think Council is for him," Julie Wilson, a Council resident said.
All eyes will be glued to the TV come Sunday, hoping a new banner goes up on Michigan Street, one that reads Super Bowl champion.
