By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
© 2013 Idaho Statesman
Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson on Tuesday sent a letter to the NCAA on Boise State’s behalf stating its opposition to the proposed rule change that would prevent the Broncos from wearing all-blue uniforms on the blue turf.
The Mountain West required Boise State to wear a contrasting color for conference home games the past two years as part of the Broncos’ membership agreement. However, the league agreed to allow the blue uniforms beginning in 2013 as part of the school’s renewed commitment to the league.
The NCAA Football Rules Committee on Feb. 13 proposed a rule change requiring either pants or jerseys be of a contrasting color to the color of the playing field. The proposal goes to the Playing Rules Oversight Panel on March 6.
Here is the Mountain West letter:
Mr. Ty Halpin
Associate Director of Playing Rules Administration
National Collegiate Athletic Association
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6222
Ty:
Following the recommendation of the NCAA Football Rules Committee and in advance of the meeting of the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) next month, the Mountain West Conference would like to provide feedback related to the proposed change to Football Playing Rule 1-4-4 in advance of the March 1 deadline for comments (which was also provided via the online submission process).
The MW, on behalf of member institution Boise State University, is strongly opposed to the suggested change which states “either the uniform pants or the jersey must clearly contrast with the color of the surface of the field of play”. As you know, Boise State Football is known for its signature blue turf. For a majority of their history, they have worn blue pants and blue jerseys when playing at home.
The proposed rule is not related to any student-athlete safety concerns. Furthermore, this regulation could have a significant negative marketing impact for the Broncos. It will also likely result in undesirable publicity for the NCAA, and would most certainly be damaging to the Boise State University brand. Whatever upside might result from this change is not worth the harmful impact it will have on this institution.
Thanks for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Craig Thompson
For once I’m on the NCAA’s side on an issue. That blue turf can be headache-inducing as it is, let alone trying to spot players in all blue uniforms playing on it.
The only time the blue on blue makes any difference is when it’s on film. It makes no difference on the field. As for your opinion of the blue field, that is irrelevent.
As for your opinion of his opinion, that is what is truly irrelevant.
I think this is a bogus rule!
I thought that when the MWC implemented it two years ago.
It has nothing to do with seeing the players on the field. If it was hard to see players with the same color as the field, it would have a negative impact on the offense as well as the defense. The QB’s would not be able to pick out their receivers!
I don’t know if any of you have actually been to a game, but it is not hard to spot a player in all blue uniform on the field. Like Kirk says it matters on film that’s it. So if we can’t wear all blue then we will wear all orange like we did when the MWC made the rule and Boise won that game too, I guess because they couldn’t see our boys in the orange endzone, dang we cheated again.
a head ache? you must have a brain tumor or a anurisiom about to blow out!dont watch no headache!and please for your families sake get that head thing checked out.
This has never been an issue until “The Blue” Marshall, Oregon, Colorado State and several have worn all green at home and nothing was ever brought up about it. This all started because of the Whiner from San Diego State bringing it up.
Uh, I think you mean “winner” — as soon as the donks were forced to NOT wear blue/blue someone beat them at home (by the team that said it was a problem)…. fancy that?
I’m sure the uniform color won that game for SDSU. It had nothing to do with good execution on special teams/offense/defense, good coaching, or talented players on SDSU’s team, or a breakdown on kick coverage on the opening kick-off by BSU. It was a good game, SDSU executed better when it counted and they got the win. To say the field color/uniform color contrast had anything to do with it is a discredit to the players and coaches of both schools.
What he said. Well stated. SDSU won that game fair & square. And I am a Bronco fan, living in San Diego.
A Vandull writing with “winner” in a sentence…..Wow!!
Enjoy the Big Sky
Gummy you just a Vandal you will never have this problem!
Guess this will impact numerous other schools that have Green uniforms as well, no more pure green for the ducks and others.
Little do you know “Lou P” It obviously isn’t that hard to see the players or else the Offensive and Defensive Coordinators would have serious problems in calling plays. “Hey where’s our players.” As stated by High School quarterbacks who have played on the field, players are seen easily because the quarter back has a horizontal plane view as opposed to a more vertical view. I for one, who have been attending games before Boise became a FBS team, have never had problems seeing the players nor has my dad who only has 15% vision.
No one ever said that it made a bit of difference to the players on the field, it was always said that it makes it much harder to break down tape (by Pat Hill at FSU, long before Rocky Long said it).
I think the real point the letter should address is if it really makes no difference, why did your conference specifically ban bsu from doing it for the last two years, and only rescinded as a method to get them back in the conference?
Better yet, your conference should write a letter stating… oh. never mind…
When KTVB was broad casting our games, I will admit it was rough. Now, with HD cameras (even KTVB has one of those now… I think) there is no problem seeing these guys on film.
The NCAA is a joke. When the 4 super conferences (16 teams apiece) finally happens, I fully expect them to give the NCAA a shove off the gangplank and start their own organization. They make inane rules to punish teams for being successful and wink when other teams bend or break the rules. Look at the Cam Newton debacle as an example. Anyway, I am fine with Boise State wearing the all black uniforms or the all orange uniforms at home. The all black uniforms are easily the best looking football uniforms at any level. Yahoo Sports proclaimed just that last season when the black uniforms were first seen. I agree with them.
Pretty weakly worded IMO. The final sentence is puzzling: “Whatever upside might result from this change–”. There is no upside whatsoever since the purported camouflage advantage of blue-on-blue doesn’t exist, and never has. Furthermore, in the history of college football green uniforms on a green field has never been an issue until now, and would require teams with long traditions like Michigan State to change uniform colors.
BSU needs to stop whining and just play football. Mountain west banned it at one time now they cater to bsu every need so they dont almost lose them again its getting pathetic. im a die hard BSU fan but seriously move on. I almost agree with the vandal guy on this… now im going to be sick lol
you are no fan!
I will comment as I have before. There is no scientific evidence that the blue uniforms on blue turf cause an advantage for Boise State. Without that evidence, there is absolutely no compelling reason for the NCAA to pass the “Boise State Rule.” A rule of this nature needs to have more behind it than coaches from opposing schools disliking the uniform/field color combination. It is arbitrary and capricious in the extreme and another example of the NCAA making rules to hurt the little guys because the big guys are afraid of their programs.
Meh? This does not sound like a passionate letter supporting the continuance of blue jerseys on a blue field. It ONLY addresses financial consequences for BSU, and does not elude to the imagined competitive advantage so many people erroneously believe exists. And why not include other MWC teams I.e. Colorado State, who has a green field, and wears green jerseys, or countless other teams around the country. There is no competitive advantage whatsoever. Perhaps he should have cited the fact that Boises W/L record is better on a green field than the blue turf! Who knows what other reasons the NCAA has imagined to even consider this rule change?!
New guy on the block. Boise State had done a remarkable job of making thier team marketable. What bothering a lot of coachs around, that have them on thier schedules. There within its self alone,how do you create a game plan. There have others that have done a lot of things to prepare for Boise. Including painting part of thier practise fields Blue. Sometimes with only three or four days that may be a problem. So I guess if you have to play on the Blue turf. You might end up thinking the color may be a problem. From play on grass alone, I thought that field turf may be an issued. You get use to it, I think its a better playing surface. So why don’t we just on with it. Play ball and leave the markeking to someone else.
So what happens when opposing teams that have blue in their color scheme come play on the blue? Can they wear all blue? And why is this the NCAA even worrying about this when there is so much worse to be dealt with? Jokes.
Um….apposing teams coming to play BSU will never have an opportunity to wear all blue…..visiting teams wear white jerseys.
Banning thet garish blue turf at the FBS level would have been preferable. A contrasting uniform rule, while not as good as a non-green turf ban, is an acceptable substitute.
Why does banning anything but green turf make any sense? Boise State has used the blue turf to build a brand. Maybe beer bottles should only be allowed to be brown. Maybe all cars should be black, all houses white, etc. Where does it end? Football was played on grass and it happened to be green. What if it had been played on dirt, which is what it ended up being in a lot of cases by the end of the season, should only brown fields have been allowed? The field color makes no difference at all. Basketball is mostly played on floors that are the color of the wood but not always. Does a different colored basketball floor make any difference in a three dimensional environment? I don’t think so. There is no science behind the proposed rule, only emotion. It makes no sense.
Hey, the black-out unis should become the Broncos standard home look anyway. BLACK OUT unis are AWESOME!
Totally agree. Love the black unis. All Blue on the road. For the love of Pete,(no pun intended) please get ride of the cream sickle white top/orange pants unis. Never have liked those but maybe i’m in the minority…..
A stupid rules proposal from a group we all know as stupid – the NCAA. Maybe they should check the Broncos’ record: BSU wins no matter the color of the field or the uniforms. If the NCAA wants a rule that will make Boise State less a power in college football, the rule should mandate that all other colleges and universities get better at playing football. (I probably shouldn’t have written that last; the idiots at the NCAA will probably pick it up and go with it.
Anyone who has played a competitive team sport realizes that peripheral vision plays an important part in most any game. I can see blue on blue creating a disadvantage to opposing teams that do not regularly play in a blue on blue environment. Especially for an opposing quarterback. And yes the Boise quarterback has to find the blue receiver but a good quarterback will know their routes and can probably easily pick out the defense with their contrasted colors
I’ve spent significant time on the blue turf during State Track every year from 1980 to 2012. Anyone who’s done so soon realizes that, from the perspective of players and coaches, the background isn’t the turf… they’re seeing players outlined against the stadium, advertising signs, crowd, etc. This background is NOT predominantly blue.
The point of view of most TV cameras makes the “blue-on-blue” thing seem like an issue, when in fact, it’s not. It won’t affect any player at any position, home or visitor. The fact that the NCAA is pushing this ridiculous rule is just further evidence that they’ve long outlived their usefulness and need to be disbanded.
For the record, I’m not a BSU fan, particularly. I’m just really against powerful entities acting stupidly.
If the nay sayers about the blue field issue want credibility, they would provide win/loss data that shows the Boise State road record is significantly worse than the home record. How is it that Boise State wins on the road and at neutral sites just as frequently as it wins at home? Maybe it’s due to the players in the uniforms.
Does anyone proof-read comments before posting?
NCCA is right on this one.
The only reason why people are making an issue out of this is because the Broncos continue to win. It’s crab mentality: “if I can’t have it, neither can you.” This is an example of what is wrong with society, trying to “level the playing field.” If they really want to level the playing field, they could always try pushing the powers that be to play BSU. But no, that would be considered as “socialism.”
you are no fan
Just get rid of your stupid gimmick field, didn’t help you when SDSU broke your nose up there last year
Idaho fan? LOL
Who cares if BSU is allowed to wear blue uniforms for home games, in my opinion that look is played out, plus there was a time when BSU didn’t wear all blue uni’s and they were still successful. They should start a new tradition of wearing the all black uni’s (from last year) for home games as those look tighter than the blue ones anyway.
I hate the blue turf. I have NOT been able to finish watching one single BSU game when they play at home because the blue turf makes my eyes start watering and I can’t be the only person with that problem. They need to change it.
Debby, I suggest that you not go to BSU games if something there is causing your eyes to water. I seriously doubt it has anything at all to do with the color of the field. Perhaps the tears are coming while you are watching your team lose there. Who knows? You should contact a medical professional about this problem immediately. In the meantime, I would consider avoiding going outside on sunny days because, well you know, the sky is blue!
I just had a wonderful thought. Rob Spear should change the color of the field at the Ho Dome to Gold. It would spawn another urban legend when stories started circulating about the “nasty and innebriated” students diving into it when mistaking it for a large rectangular pitcher of beer! Now that is branding and marketing. LOL!
Good grief. What a bunch of crybabies. And I don’t mean the NCAA. Well, I don’t mean JUST the NCAA, but I really mean all the whiny bags that are making whiny comments. If you think that I mean you, then yes, I mean you. For years I have heard how this is a real man’s sport and you crybabies are throwing fits about the color of fields and uniforms? Wow.