For two years, thousands of Boise State fans knew Matthew Duffy only as the person inside the Buster Bronco mascot suit.
This summer, the 2025 finance graduate traded the Blue Turf for a different stage when he competed on Season 18 of NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior,” representing the university on one of television’s most demanding obstacle courses.
Duffy said the opportunity came unexpectedly after he submitted an audition video featuring clips of himself as Buster Bronco around campus and training at Bodies in Motion, a Boise gym with a full American Ninja Warrior course.
“I got a call later in the summer, and honestly, I thought it was one of my friends pranking me,” Duffy said. “And they were like, ‘No, we’re going to have you on the show. We’re going to fly you down, pay you for your hotel and your travel.’”
Preparing for the competition requires far more than general athletic ability. Contestants must navigate a series of obstacles that test grip strength, balance, agility and endurance, leaving little room for error.
After receiving the invitation, Duffy began training four days a week at Bodies in Motion under the guidance of gym owner Duncan Richardson. He is a Boise State alumnus who also wore the Buster Bronco suit during his time as a student before competing on the show in 2016.
Richardson said Duffy’s background stood out immediately.
“We have a lot of people who come to Bodies in Motion to train because they got called to be on the show,” Richardson said. “Sometimes they’re from out of town, or they don’t have anywhere else to train. And oftentimes I’m the one who gets pegged to meet them once or twice. But [with] Matthew, I was like, ‘Okay, I’ve got to take this guy under my wing and meet with him several times.’”
Throughout the training process, Richardson watched Duffy transform from someone learning Ninja Warrior fundamentals into a competitor capable of taking on one of television’s toughest obstacle courses. Among the biggest improvements was his grip strength, a skill many first-time athletes struggle to develop.
“That’s a big one,” Richardson said. “If people come to us and they haven’t done any sort of rock climbing or any sort of Ninja Warrior training, that’s the hardest part to develop. He was dedicated.”
After months of training, Duffy packed his bags for Las Vegas.
The familiar Blue Turf was soon replaced by bright lights, television cameras and a course known for ending competitors’ runs in a matter of seconds.
Wanting to represent Boise State beyond simply wearing a jersey, Duffy received permission from the Spirit Squad to bring the Buster Bronco costume to the set and film promotional videos before revealing himself beneath the mascot head.
Just before stepping onto the course, he received one final surprise.
Former Boise State running back and current Las Vegas Raiders star Ashton Jeanty appeared in a prerecorded video wishing him luck.
“Heard you’re about to do your thing, ‘American Ninja Warrior,’ and hoping to see you go hit that buzzer,” Jeanty said.
Although Duffy’s qualifying run ended on the roller bags obstacle before he could advance, the experience gave him something he hadn’t expected. Behind the scenes, he found himself surrounded by athletes, entertainers and creators from around the world, each bringing a different story to the competition.
“I think the guy that ran before me was in the WWE. The person after me was a world boomerang champion,” Duffy said. “There were even some pretty famous influencers who I became friends with, which was kind of fun.”
For Duffy, competing on “American Ninja Warrior” became about more than completing obstacles. It was an opportunity to represent Boise State on a national stage while embracing a challenge he never expected to face wearing the Buster Bronco suit.
Beginning this August, Duffy will spend a year overseas serving for his church before returning to pursue a career in business or ministry. While his time on the course may be over, the experience reinforced a lesson he plans to carry into whatever comes next — sometimes the biggest opportunities come from taking a chance.
