Boise State "hiding" in all blue uniforms on a blue field

Word filtered out tonight from Chadd Cripe (via @murphsturph) that part of the deal with Boise State moving to the Mountain West was that they could not wear blue uniforms at home for conference games. That reminded me of a old, hidden Pink Floyd song called “Green is the colour” with the first two lines that go:

Heavy hung the canopy of blue
Shade my eyes and I can see you

For years, opponents have come up with all sorts of excuses as to why Boise State has been able to win so many games at home, with the most popular reason being that the all blue uniforms on the blue field is blinding to the eyes. I think that is exactly the type of advantage that Boise is trying to gain — a mental one — and they have succeeded for so long that the “urban legend” of it being too hard to see the players all-blue-on-blue that it is now spouted as fact.

Personally I find the blue, or red, or purple and grey fields to be eye-sores, but I just don’t see how all-blue-on-blue is any different then all-green-on-green that teams like Michigan State and Colorado State have worn. It isn’t like Boise State is painting their legs and arms in blue trying to blend in and be all camouflage against the field.

Colorado State in all-green uniforms on a green field versus Boise State in all-blue uniforms on a blue field

But, while I find the Mountain West request that Boise State change their field to green, a move that was declined by the school, and subsequent requirement that Boise State not wear blue at home to be petty; please remember that it is something that Boise State agreed to. Sometimes to move ahead, such as getting out of the quickly dying WAC, you have to make concessions to help your program in the long run. Just like Nebraska being willing to forgo their full share of B1G money until 2017, Boise State willingly traded their home blue uniforms for grey (according to @tbhawkes) during Mountain West conference games. So, Boise State gets more money and a more stable conference in exchange for buying and wearing a different colored uniform a few times a week. Doesn’t sound so bad to me if I am a fan.

Note: The above referenced article has plenty of quotes from Boise State coach Chris Petersen so please give it a click, but this quote pretty much sums up my thoughts in one sentence.

“I thought it was ridiculous,” Petersen said of his reaction. “… That’s our colors. That’s who we are. That’s who our fans have wanted us to be since I’ve been at Boise State. That’s what it’s been through and through.”

Note 2: The grey uniforms will not look like the one’s worn against Virginia Tech last year according to reports.