Uniform Ban Has Boise State Singing the Blues

Picked by media to win the Mountain West Conference in its first season in the league, Boise State University's football program has already gotten some pushback from its new MWC rivals. The Broncos were allowed to join the Mountain West on the condition that they didn't wear blue jerseys with blue pants while playing on their home field - which, unnaturally, is blue.

"What we had heard from our coaches is 'a competitive advantage,' " said MWC commissioner Craig Thompson, as reported by Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman. "It's as simple as that."

boise-state.jpg

"I thought it was ridiculous," said BSU coach Chris Peterson. "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."

The Broncos, who open their conference home schedule Oct. 22 against Air Force, have worn all-blue uniforms for years, but they do have options. They debuted an all-orange look last season against Fresno State. They also have white, orange and blue pants, and white, orange, blue and gray jerseys. "Nike has saved us by giving us a bunch of different combinations," Peterson said.

Boise State can still wear blue top to bottom during non-conference home games. A complaint among Mountain West members was the difficulty in watching game film of blue-clad players running around on blue synthetic turf - a problem Peterson says will be cleared up once schools switch to high definition.

That said, Colorado State, a MWC member that wears green and plays on a green field, has not been targeted by the rule.