Benching the Friendship for a Few Hours

They both hoped Saturday could have been a bit more, but they'll take what they can get.

Prior to kickoff, Jackson Brousseau and Maddux Madsen will embrace the opportunity to catch up, put the regular texts and phone calls aside and have the conversation face to face. The competition aspect they both thrive on will have its place at Albertsons Stadium once 5 p.m. strikes, but there's always room for a couple of kids who grew up in Utah and have known each other since fourth grade to talk about life, their families and how the other is doing.

Brousseau, Colorado State's quarterback, will want to congratulate his friend on his recent engagement. Meanwhile, Madsen, Boise State's quarterback, will get advice from his friend about being married.

"No doubt, you kind of just get to see them and check up on them, make sure they're doing good, family's good," Brousseau said. "You know, he had some big news; he got engaged recently, so I'll get to talk to him about that. I'm just excited to see him and kind of just check in on your buddies and family, so it's good.

"Probably every week, maybe every other week we text, just to check in. He's a guy I look up to because I was in my junior year, he was in his senior year, and he helped me make some big decisions when I was in that time. I really got to just pick at his brain when I was going through that process. He's a big mentor for me."

Madsen is also someone Brousseau considers to be one of his favorite teammates of all time, the two experiencing the joy of winning a state baseball championship together at Lehi High School. Madsen, named the top player in the state as a senior, moved midyear to Lehi when his father, Eric, took a job with the baseball team. Having already signed with Boise State, he wasn't sure he was going to play his senior year.

Then he filled a spot for the team in a tournament, which they tore up. At that point he figured why not enjoy the rest of the ride.

"I was playing at American Fork, which is like the crosstown school, and then my dad ended up deciding he was going to be on staff for baseball," Maddux said. "So, we went down. It was like a moratorium tournament, so coaches couldn't be involved. Lehi needed a catcher. I had two brothers on the team at the time, and so it was like, hey, can you come down and just catch for us because they didn't have one. I thought it'll be good for me to catch and get at-bats and stuff, and so we go down there, and I actually just had a freaking blast.

"And then that's when I was, all right, let's just go play some ball. And then it ended up being the funnest year of baseball I've ever played."

Winning a state championship has that kind of effect on a person. Maddux was the primary catcher, but also the ace of the staff. Brousseau was the No. 2 arm and the primary first baseman, and they sat 3 and 4 in the batting order. They both raked, both mowed down hitters and, losing just three games that year, of course it was fun.

Particularly for their coach.

"When that guy joined us it was a dream come true. I mean, as a head coach, you've got two quarterbacks ... Obviously, the leadership was huge for us," said Jason Ingersoll of the addition of Maddux. "It was awesome. If I needed anything as far as finding out anything about the team, I could go to those guys. The kids rallied around those guys.

"When those two stepped on the field, our whole team just elevated, and it was awesome."

Earlier this year, Boise State coach Spencer Danielson defended his quarterback after a loss to Notre Dame, calling the redshirt junior a "warrior" and adding there wasn't another quarterback in the country he would want to guide his offense.

Brousseau knew exactly what he meant.

"There's just a confidence that comes with him that when things are stressful and things are on the line. There's just so much confidence coming from him that you just know that he's going to get the job done," Brousseau said. "So, we're going to try and mess him up this weekend and make him have a bad day if he's playing, but it's always at the end of the day, he's family to me, so we're rooting for him."

The state title really was a family affair. While Eric was in the dugout coaching, McGwire, who was in the same class as Brousseau, was on the team. So was Mays, who was one of Brousseau's top receivers in football and also patrolled center field. Both of them are playing baseball at Utah Tech.

Ingersoll has been a huge fan of Maddux and Brousseau since they've graduated, knowing both of them were destined to play quarterback in college. Even still, they were dedicated to his team when the time came. Ingersoll has a batting cage in his back yard, and looking back, he figures he should have charged Brousseau admission as he found him there taking swings more often than not.

For his money, the young men are perfect examples of not only the best Lehi has to offer, but that area of the state, as well. Coaches love gamers, and with those two, he had double the dose. He remembers Brousseau playing through a tight back in the state tournament and still playing well. He recalls the celebration even more.

"When we won the state championship, we were running out to do the dogpile, and Jackson full-on clipped me and about broke my back," Ingersoll said with a laugh. "But he was so excited because he knows how hard we work. You know, I'd been there about nine, 10 years, and he knew what it meant to me, so he picked me out and instead of being a quarterback, he was a linebacker on that play. He had one goal, and that was to blast me."

True story, one Brousseau will not deny. In fact, refreshing the memory brings a mischievous smile to his face.

In his defense, he said he told Ingersoll to expect the knock.

"That's the truth. I told him I was going to. I was waiting for it, and we won," Brousseau said. "He came running out of the dugout, and I went and took him out. I actually had to chase him down because we had a walk-off hit. A guy bot hit up the middle, and one of my receivers was on second base, scores and we dogpiled on the field. I took down the coach, so we actually missed the beginning of the dogpile. That's a big memory for me, and I always think about it.

"I just had to take him down and let him know I loved him."

Saturday, when the two meet, those stories will serve as the backdrop for the moment they share. Brousseau – who won multiple state titles in football, baseball and basketball and was named Utah's Athlete of the Year as a senior -- will remember waving off his catcher, and his catcher will recall throwing down a very special No. 1 sign for his petulant pitcher.

"He just wanted to throw his splitter so it would bounce up in my chest," Maddux said. "He tried to shake me off one too many times. I was about ready to kill him."

The bonds run deep. When Brousseau went back home during a bye week and attended a high school game, all the sudden he found himself in a chokehold from behind. It was Eric. And in the stands Saturday, there will be a collection of friends and family from both sides.

Back home, Ingersoll will be sporting a split jersey. A competitor to his core, all he wanted to see was a good game where they both performed well. But that's the thing they'll all miss as it's been announced Maddux will miss his second consecutive start and Brousseau's availability is very much up in the air after sustaining an injury against New Mexico.

They'll still talk this week in the leadup, with Brousseau saying he'll ask his buddy where to DoorDash from while he's at the hotel. And, at least before the game, they'll have a chance to meet up with someone from the past who is still very much a part of their present.

"He was also one of my favorite teammates of all time. Just the humor that he brought, but he was also extremely competitive," Maddux said. "And it was really good for me because it was like a little safe, funny, laughing space, but also knowing that the job was going to get done."

It would have been complete if they could lead their respective teams on the field that day, but that's a story they won't be able to add to their collection, an additional chapter those from Lehi and the surrounding area will miss out on this time around.

Maybe one day in the future. For now, the two will take the time they get together, enjoy it all they can and, as always, wish one another the best in what comes next. On the field, but especially in life.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Players Mentioned

Jackson Brousseau

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Colorado State University Athletics