22 2021 Big Sky Conference Summer Football Kickoff
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he 2021Big Sky Conference Summer Football Kickoff was held July 24-26 in Spokane, Wash. The event, which for the first six years was held in Park City, Utah, began with meetings and media interviews Sunday and wound up with Root Sports production shots, video components and more media interviews Monday. Offensive lineman Wade Willet and linebacker Aaron Cooper, both seniors this fall, represented Cal Poly. Player and head coach interviews were video streamed live on ESPN+. The players also participated in a clinic for Spokane area youth the afternoon before the Summer Kickoff began. The Big Sky Conference preseason coaches and media polls as well as the preseason all-conference team were released on the final day and Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill gave a :”State of the Big Sky” address to wrap up the two-day event. The Spokane Sports Commission assisted in running the Big Sky Summer Football Kickoff. Andre Broadous represented Cal Poly at the 2012 Big Sky Summer Football Kickoff, held in Park City, Utah, while Sullivan Grosz attended the 2013 event, Nick Dzubnar in 2014, Chris Brown in 2015, Joseph Gigantino in 2016 and Joe Protheroe in 2017. The Big Sky Summer Kickoff was moved to Spokane in 2018 and two players were invited from each school. Cal Poly was represented by Khaleel Jenkins and Harry Whitson. In 2019, wide receiv-
At top, Wade Willet (left) and Aaron Cooper (right) offered instruction at a Spokane area youth clinic. Above, Mustang head coach Beau Baldwin answers questions in an interview with ROOT Sports. At right, Mariluz Cook chats with Cooper and Willet on ESPN+.
er J.J. Koski and defensive back Kitu Humphrey represented Cal Poly. The event was held virtually in 2020 with linebacker Matt Shotwell representing Cal Poly. The Big Sky had a different look in 2019. The conference welcomed back Idaho, a member of the Big Sky in football from 1965-95. Departing the league after the 2017 season was North Dakota, but the Fighting Hawks still played a Big Sky schedule through the 2019 season. Their results, however, did not count in the league standings as they were an independent, but the opponents counted the result. North Dakota became a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2020. The Big Sky will drop back to 12 teams next season with the departure of Southern Utah to the Western Athletic Conference. After 23 years in Ogden, Utah, the Big Sky Conference moved its offices to Farmington, Utah, closer to Salt Lake City International Airport, in August 2019. “Ogden has been a wonderful home to the Big Sky since 1995,” said Wistrcill. “We are grateful to the city of Ogden and would like to thank the community for welcoming us with open arms and joining us in rooting for Big Sky sports teams over the years.” Farmington is the fourth home in the league’s history, as the league office was located in Pullman, Wash., from 1963-71 and Boise, Idaho, from 197195.
