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Long time Sports Editor calls it a career

Posted at 10:26 PM, Apr 16, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-17 10:59:29-04

He has been a part of the Boise sports scene for decades, and now things are changing for a sports writer who has seen it all.

Idaho Statesman Sports Editor Mike Prater called it a career on April 14, 2017.  Don Nelson has the story.

“August of 1994 I went on vacation when I came back the boss called me into the office and said do you want to cover Boise State football,” said, Former Idaho Statesman Idaho Sports Editor, Mike Prater.

Pretty good timing for a young sports junkie looking to cover a college football program full time.  From Pokey Allen to Bryan Harsin, Prater has had a front row seat to the Boise State Broncos rise in the polls.  I asked him besides the obvious Fiesta Bowl answer what one Bronco game sticks out.

“Dirk Koetter versus John L. Smith.  It was not even a perennial bowl team at the time, but you had two Idaho Coaches both born and raised in Eastern Idaho.  Boise State won that game 34 to 31.  I really believe between Bart Hendriks and Dirk Koetter it really set the table for that Fiesta Bowl run.  It really set the table for we know of Boise State Football now,” said, Prater.

Prater also had high praise for former and longtime manager Tom Kotchman of the Boise Hawks.  He says Kotchman was a baseball genius and he can’t wait for the Hawks to fly into their new proposed Hawks nest downtown.

“We have a great carrot in front us with this baseball stadium, and soccer stadium downtown with a downtown buzz.  I think it’s good I think it’s going to be a difference maker downtown,” said, Prater.

But it’s no secret covering the Broncos, Hawks and other sporting events things have changed.  With the dawn of social media,  Prater saw things changing some good some bad.

“It’s very corporate it’s very big time and the industry has changed.  People think I’m getting out of the business because the newspapers are dying and that couldn’t be farther from the truth,” said, Prater.

But don’t expect Mike Prater to ride away into the sunset.  These days he’s very comfortable sharing a radio booth with longtime partner Jeff Caves and he believes the best is yet to come.

“I promise you this we are going to evolve into something new and exciting maybe my role expands here at the radio station.  I’m going to continue to do the radio show.  I’m going to continue to be involved with media I’m going to dive into Boise State athletics even more.

Not bad for a guy who came to town over 25 years ago just looking for a place to tell his stories.