Bronco Stadium
Encyclopedia
Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise
, Idaho
, the home field of the Boise State Broncos
of the Mountain West Conference
. Since 1997
, it has hosted the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Humanitarian Bowl from 1997–Jan. 2004 & 2007–10; MPC Computers Bowl from 2004–06), the longest-running outdoor bowl game
in a cold-weather venue.
Opened in 1970, Bronco Stadium is also a track & field stadium; it has hosted the NCAA track & field championships twice, in 1994 and 1999. The stadium is used extensively for local high school football
.
Bronco Stadium is widely known for its unusual blue playing surface, installed in 1986 as the first non-green playing surface (outside of painted end zones) in football history and remains the only one among NCAA Division I FBS schools.
to the north. The elevation
of its playing field is 2695 feet (821.4 m) above sea level.
football (photo - 1940s). In the 1950s it became the baseball
field, until right field was displaced by the construction of the Student Union Building, which opened in 1967. The baseball field migrated slightly east, then north, until it was eliminated in 1980 by the construction of the BSU Pavilion
and the relocation of the tennis courts. (The baseball program was dropped following the 1980 season; the Broncos played their home games at Borah Field
during their final season.)
at the east end of campus, with wooden grandstands, a natural grass playing field, and a cinder running track. It was in approximately the same location as the present stadium, but aligned northwest to southeast. (photo - 1964) Through 1968
, the University of Idaho
Vandals
usually played one home game per season in Boise, at the original Bronco Stadium. After Boise State joined the Big Sky
in 1970, Idaho discontinued its practice of scheduling home games in Boise. (Idaho did use the new Bronco Stadium for a "home" game in 1971
, but it was against Boise State in the first football game ever played between the schools. Idaho's new stadium
on campus in Moscow
was behind schedule so the university rented Bronco Stadium for its opening game. The underdog "visitors" of Boise State built a 28-7 lead at halftime and won handily 42-14 and a rivalry game
was born.)
The Boise College football program upgraded from junior college to four-year status in 1968
and competed as an NAIA independent for two seasons. The school became Boise State College in 1969 and the Broncos were accepted into the NCAA
in October. A month later they were voted into the Big Sky Conference
, effective July 1970. Following the 1969 football season, the first Bronco Stadium was razed and the new concrete stadium was ready for play in less than ten months.
in Division II ("College Division" prior to 1973) in a brand new venue. The first game at the new Bronco Stadium was on September 11th, a 49–14 victory over Chico State
. The $2.2 million concrete stadium opened with a seating capacity
of 14,500 and a green AstroTurf
playing field, configured in the traditional north-south direction, and an all-weather running track. For its first five seasons, the stadium consisted of two sideline grandstands, the west side having an upper deck and the press box. (photo - 1971) Boise State became a charter member of NCAA Division II when the NCAA reorganized the former College Division in 1973.
Following the 1974 season, the school's first as Boise State University, an upper deck was added to the east side (photo - 1971) - (photo -1975), adding 5,500 seats as well as symmetry to the stadium. The permanent seating capacity grew to 20,000 for its Bronco Stadium's sixth season in 1975, with up to 2,600 temporary seats available in the north end zone seating for bigger games. The original green artificial turf was replaced with the same in 1978 as the Big Sky Conference
and the Broncos moved up to the newly formed Division I-AA. (photo - mid 1980s) The Broncos moved to the Big West
and Division I-A in 1996
, which resulted in another stadium expansion. The two-tier grandstands were extended around the corners of the south end zone, raising the permanent seating capacity to 30,000 in 1997
. The latest stadium expansion was completed in time for the 2008
season, with the addition of the Stuekel Sky Club press box, luxury suites, loge boxes, and club seating; raising the capacity to 32,000. In the summer of 2009
, 1,500 additional bleacher seats were added to the south end zone to bring the stadium's capacity up to 33,500.
. Ceremonies during halftime of the 14–3 victory over Nevada
on November 8 marked the event. It honors Lyle H. Smith
, the head coach
from 1947–67 and athletic director from 1968–81, overseeing BSU's rise from the junior college ranks to Division I-AA champions in 1980. Smith led Boise, as BJC, to multiple post-season bowls, including the 1958 national junior college championship, and compiled an overall record of 156–26–8 (.848), which included five undefeated seasons and 16 conference titles. He was also the baseball
coach for 17 seasons and served as basketball
coach for a season at the school. Smith hired Tony Knap
to replace himself as football coach in 1968, and Jim Criner
to replace Knap in 1976.
Bronco Stadium's current attendance record is 34,196, set on October 22, 2011
against Air Force
.
The field was used by video artist Matthew Barney, in the first of his "Cremaster" videos.
Chris Berman of ESPN
has also called Boise's turf "The Blue Plastic Tundra," a joking reference to "the frozen tundra" of Lambeau Field
. Another nickname for the surface is "Smurf Turf." Players refer to it simply as "The Blue."
After 16 seasons of playing on standard green AstroTurf
, athletic director Gene Bleymaier came up with the idea to install the blue turf. He decided that, if BSU was going to spend $750,000 on a new surface, he didn't want to see BSU install yet another green field, and that a blue field might provide some national notoriety for the school, then a member of the Big Sky Conference
. Bleymaier gained the support of BSU President John Keiser, and on September 13, Bronco Stadium introduced its unique playing surface to the world with a 74-0 victory over Division II Humboldt State. (BSU was 4-2 at home in 1986, but managed just one road victory and posted their first losing record in four decades, resulting in the resignation of fourth-year head coach Lyle Setencich
.)
BSU replaced the first blue AstroTurf with the same in 1995, then with blue Astroplay (a grass-like synthetic surface that is more forgiving than traditional AstroTurf) in 2002
. The AstroPlay field lasted just six seasons and was replaced in the summer of 2008
with blue FieldTurf
surface. Due to complaints by fans that the reflection and glare off the field gave the new field a dull and uneven shade of blue, FieldTurf agreed to replace the field free of charge. The fifth blue turf was installed in the summer of 2010
.
The unique blue turf has spawned several myths. The most prevalent is that the NCAA subsequently banned playing surface colors other than green, but allowed Bronco Stadium's field to remain blue under a grandfather clause
. In reality, the NCAA has never adopted such a rule. Any school may color its playing surface (or any part, mainly the end zones) any color it wishes. Indeed, other schools have non-green football fields including the University of New Haven (blue) and Eastern Washington University
(red). On April 1, 2011, the University of Central Arkansas
announced that they would install a purple and grey striped field to Estes Stadium
. Nine high schools also have non-green fields: Barrow High School in Barrow, Alaska
, Lovington High School in Lovington, New Mexico
, West Hills High School
in Santee, California
(alternating royal and sky blue every five yards), Hidalgo High School
in Hidalgo, Texas
(navy), Chaminade College Preparatory School
in the Los Angeles
neighborhood of West Hills, Oxford High School
in Oxford, Michigan
, New Braunfels (Texas) Canyon High
(red) and Canutillo High School
in El Paso, Texas
.
Another myth is that, mistaking the blue field for a large body of water, birds have flown into the blue turf and to their deaths. Although Broncos coach Chris Petersen
claimed to have found a dead duck on the field in 2007, the origin of the duck on the field has never been confirmed.
In 2011, the NFL
banned any playing surface color other than green naming the rule the "Boise Rule" in reference to the university, though this was more a reaction to sponsor influence as no team had ever proposed a different turf color for their field. Also in 2011, the Mountain West Conference banned Boise from wearing their all-blue uniforms during home conference games, after complaints from other Mountain West coaches that it was an unfair advantage.
The practice facility, named the Caven-Williams Sports Complex, officially opened in February 2006, is located immediately northwest of Bronco Stadium.
Construction began on the Stueckle Sky Club on February 11, 2007, and it officially opened on August 27, 2008
with a gala for ticket holders prior to the first game on August 30. Additional temporary seating of 1,500 was added prior to the 2009
season. The removable bleachers increased Bronco Stadium's capacity to 33,500.
In late August 2010, new expansion plans were revealed for Bronco Stadium. The first stages will include adding a new facility to the north endzone, which will house the football offices, weight room, training room, equipment room and locker room. This would also include a 13,200 seat grandstand. The later stages of the expansion plan include: removing the track, lowering the field, and adding 3,300 seats in front of the first deck of the stadium; completing the south endzone horseshoe; building an east side skybox; and renovating the east side concourse. The expansions may be divided up into as many as six phases. The total cost for all planned expansions is around $100 million. The total seating capacity for a fully expanded Bronco Stadium is estimated to be around 53,000. The Boise State athletic director aims to have the north endzone complex open in time for the 2013 season.
During Boise State's recent streak of conference championships, Bronco Stadium has proven to be a tough place for opponents. As of November 26, 2011, the Broncos are 81–3 at home since the 1999 season with the only losses being to Washington State
in 2001
, AP
#18 Boston College in the 2005 MPC Computers Bowl
and to TCU
in 2011. The Broncos won 47 straight home conference games from 1999 to 2011 and were undefeated in conference during their 10 years in the WAC
(40–0). The Broncos are 77–2 in regular season home games since 1999
. They had a winning streak of 65 regular season games from the 2001 to 2011 seasons.
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, the home field of the Boise State Broncos
Boise State Broncos football
This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West...
of the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
. Since 1997
1997 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season, play of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I-A level, began in late summer 1997 and culminated with the major bowl games in early January 1998. The national championship was...
, it has hosted the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Humanitarian Bowl from 1997–Jan. 2004 & 2007–10; MPC Computers Bowl from 2004–06), the longest-running outdoor bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
in a cold-weather venue.
Opened in 1970, Bronco Stadium is also a track & field stadium; it has hosted the NCAA track & field championships twice, in 1994 and 1999. The stadium is used extensively for local high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
.
Bronco Stadium is widely known for its unusual blue playing surface, installed in 1986 as the first non-green playing surface (outside of painted end zones) in football history and remains the only one among NCAA Division I FBS schools.
Location
Bronco Stadium is located at the east end of the BSU campus, bordered by Broadway Avenue to the east, University Drive to the south, and the Boise RiverBoise River
The Boise River is a tributary of the Snake River in the northwestern United States. It drains a rugged portion of the Sawtooth Range in southwestern Idaho northeast of Boise, as well as part of the western Snake River Plain...
to the north. The elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of its playing field is 2695 feet (821.4 m) above sea level.
History
Bronco Stadium is the third venue and second of the same name at Boise State; the stadiums were built in 1940, 1950, and 1970, respectively.College Field
The original stadium was "College Field" near central campus, which opened in 1940. It was used for a decade for junior collegeJunior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
football (photo - 1940s). In the 1950s it became the baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
field, until right field was displaced by the construction of the Student Union Building, which opened in 1967. The baseball field migrated slightly east, then north, until it was eliminated in 1980 by the construction of the BSU Pavilion
Taco Bell Arena
The Taco Bell Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena, on the campus of Boise State University, in Boise, Idaho. The arena is located on the east end of campus, between West Campus Lane & Cesar Chavez Circle, immediately northwest of Bronco Stadium....
and the relocation of the tennis courts. (The baseball program was dropped following the 1980 season; the Broncos played their home games at Borah Field
Borah High School
Borah High School is a three-year public secondary school in Boise, Idaho. It is named after William E. Borah, a prominent U.S. Senator from 1907-40.-History:...
during their final season.)
Bronco Stadium (I)
The first "Bronco Stadium" opened in 19501950 college football season
The 1950 college football season finished with the unbeaten and untied Oklahoma Sooners being the overwhelming choice for national champion. On New Year’s Day, the 9-0-0 Sooners were upset by the 10-1-0 Kentucky Wildcats in the Sugar Bowl. The #2 team, the United States Military Academy had been...
at the east end of campus, with wooden grandstands, a natural grass playing field, and a cinder running track. It was in approximately the same location as the present stadium, but aligned northwest to southeast. (photo - 1964) Through 1968
1968 college football season
In the 1968 college football season, the system of "polls and bowls" changed. The Associated Press returned to its pre-1961 system of ranking the Top 20 rather than the Top 10, and voted on the national champion after the bowl games, rather than before. During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no...
, the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
Vandals
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
usually played one home game per season in Boise, at the original Bronco Stadium. After Boise State joined the Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
in 1970, Idaho discontinued its practice of scheduling home games in Boise. (Idaho did use the new Bronco Stadium for a "home" game in 1971
1971 Idaho Vandals football team
The 1971 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1971 college football season. The Vandals, led by second-year head coach Don Robbins, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played three of their five home games at the new Idaho Stadium, an outdoor facility on...
, but it was against Boise State in the first football game ever played between the schools. Idaho's new stadium
Kibbie Dome
The William H. Kibbie-ASUI Activity Center is a multi-purpose indoor athletic stadium in Moscow, Idaho, on the campus of the University of Idaho...
on campus in Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
was behind schedule so the university rented Bronco Stadium for its opening game. The underdog "visitors" of Boise State built a 28-7 lead at halftime and won handily 42-14 and a rivalry game
Boise State – Idaho rivalry
The Boise State–Idaho rivalry is a college football game between the Boise State University Broncos and the University of Idaho Vandals, the only two Division I FBS programs in the state of Idaho. The game had been played annually from 1971–2010, and with the exception of the 2001–04 games, the...
was born.)
The Boise College football program upgraded from junior college to four-year status in 1968
1968 college football season
In the 1968 college football season, the system of "polls and bowls" changed. The Associated Press returned to its pre-1961 system of ranking the Top 20 rather than the Top 10, and voted on the national champion after the bowl games, rather than before. During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no...
and competed as an NAIA independent for two seasons. The school became Boise State College in 1969 and the Broncos were accepted into the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
in October. A month later they were voted into the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
, effective July 1970. Following the 1969 football season, the first Bronco Stadium was razed and the new concrete stadium was ready for play in less than ten months.
Bronco Stadium (II)
Boise State began NCAA competition in 19701970 college football season
The 1970 college football season was marked by tragedy, due to two airplane crashes. On October 2, one of the planes carrying the Wichita State football team crashed on the way to a game against Utah State, killing 31 people on board, including 14 players...
in Division II ("College Division" prior to 1973) in a brand new venue. The first game at the new Bronco Stadium was on September 11th, a 49–14 victory over Chico State
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
. The $2.2 million concrete stadium opened with a seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 14,500 and a green AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
playing field, configured in the traditional north-south direction, and an all-weather running track. For its first five seasons, the stadium consisted of two sideline grandstands, the west side having an upper deck and the press box. (photo - 1971) Boise State became a charter member of NCAA Division II when the NCAA reorganized the former College Division in 1973.
Following the 1974 season, the school's first as Boise State University, an upper deck was added to the east side (photo - 1971) - (photo -1975), adding 5,500 seats as well as symmetry to the stadium. The permanent seating capacity grew to 20,000 for its Bronco Stadium's sixth season in 1975, with up to 2,600 temporary seats available in the north end zone seating for bigger games. The original green artificial turf was replaced with the same in 1978 as the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
and the Broncos moved up to the newly formed Division I-AA. (photo - mid 1980s) The Broncos moved to the Big West
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
and Division I-A in 1996
1996 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the Florida Gators crowned National Champions, but not as unanimously as the Bowl Alliance would have hoped....
, which resulted in another stadium expansion. The two-tier grandstands were extended around the corners of the south end zone, raising the permanent seating capacity to 30,000 in 1997
1997 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season, play of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I-A level, began in late summer 1997 and culminated with the major bowl games in early January 1998. The national championship was...
. The latest stadium expansion was completed in time for the 2008
2008 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2008 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2008 college football season. The Broncos played their home games at Bronco Stadium, most famous for its blue artificial turf surface, often referred to as the "smurf-turf". The blue turf was new for the 2008...
season, with the addition of the Stuekel Sky Club press box, luxury suites, loge boxes, and club seating; raising the capacity to 32,000. In the summer of 2009
2009 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2009 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2009 college football season. The Broncos played their home games at Bronco Stadium, most famous for its blue artificial turf surface, often referred to as the "smurf-turf"...
, 1,500 additional bleacher seats were added to the south end zone to bring the stadium's capacity up to 33,500.
Lyle Smith Field
During its eleventh season, the playing field at Bronco Stadium was named Lyle Smith Field during the I-AA national championship season of 19801980 Boise State Broncos football team
The 1980 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The Broncos were led by fifth-year head coach Jim Criner...
. Ceremonies during halftime of the 14–3 victory over Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack football
The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA...
on November 8 marked the event. It honors Lyle H. Smith
Lyle Smith
Lyle H. Smith is a former American football and basketball player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the Untied States. He served as the head football coach at Boise Junior College—now Boise State University—from 1947 to 1950 and from 1952 to 1967, compiling a record of...
, the head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
from 1947–67 and athletic director from 1968–81, overseeing BSU's rise from the junior college ranks to Division I-AA champions in 1980. Smith led Boise, as BJC, to multiple post-season bowls, including the 1958 national junior college championship, and compiled an overall record of 156–26–8 (.848), which included five undefeated seasons and 16 conference titles. He was also the baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
coach for 17 seasons and served as basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach for a season at the school. Smith hired Tony Knap
Tony Knap
Anthony Joseph "Tony" Knap was a college football head coach and former player. He was the head coach at Utah State , Boise State , and UNLV , compiling a career college football record of 143–53–4.-Biography:The oldest son of Polish immigrants, Knap was raised in Milwaukee,...
to replace himself as football coach in 1968, and Jim Criner
Jim Criner
Jim Criner is a former American football player and coach in the United States. He served as the head football coach at Boise State University from 1976 to 1982 and at Iowa State University from 1983 to 1986, compiling a career college football record of 76–46–3...
to replace Knap in 1976.
Bronco Stadium's current attendance record is 34,196, set on October 22, 2011
2011 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2011 Boise State Broncos football team represents Boise State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos are led by head coach Chris Petersen, winner of the 2010 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award, and play their home games at Bronco Stadium...
against Air Force
2011 Air Force Falcons football team
The 2011 Air Force Falcons football team represents the United States Air Force Academy in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Falcons will be led by 5th year head coach Troy Calhoun and will play their home games at Falcon Stadium. They are members of the Mountain West...
.
The field was used by video artist Matthew Barney, in the first of his "Cremaster" videos.
Blue Artificial Turf
Bronco Stadium is best known for its distinctive blue playing surface, the only non-green football playing surface among Division I FBS programs.Chris Berman of ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
has also called Boise's turf "The Blue Plastic Tundra," a joking reference to "the frozen tundra" of Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
. Another nickname for the surface is "Smurf Turf." Players refer to it simply as "The Blue."
After 16 seasons of playing on standard green AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
, athletic director Gene Bleymaier came up with the idea to install the blue turf. He decided that, if BSU was going to spend $750,000 on a new surface, he didn't want to see BSU install yet another green field, and that a blue field might provide some national notoriety for the school, then a member of the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
. Bleymaier gained the support of BSU President John Keiser, and on September 13, Bronco Stadium introduced its unique playing surface to the world with a 74-0 victory over Division II Humboldt State. (BSU was 4-2 at home in 1986, but managed just one road victory and posted their first losing record in four decades, resulting in the resignation of fourth-year head coach Lyle Setencich
Lyle Setencich
-External links:...
.)
BSU replaced the first blue AstroTurf with the same in 1995, then with blue Astroplay (a grass-like synthetic surface that is more forgiving than traditional AstroTurf) in 2002
2002 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2002 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2002 college football season. Boise State competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference , and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho...
. The AstroPlay field lasted just six seasons and was replaced in the summer of 2008
2008 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2008 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2008 college football season. The Broncos played their home games at Bronco Stadium, most famous for its blue artificial turf surface, often referred to as the "smurf-turf". The blue turf was new for the 2008...
with blue FieldTurf
FieldTurf
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
surface. Due to complaints by fans that the reflection and glare off the field gave the new field a dull and uneven shade of blue, FieldTurf agreed to replace the field free of charge. The fifth blue turf was installed in the summer of 2010
2010 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2010 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos were led by fifth-year head coach Chris Petersen and played their home games at Bronco Stadium. They entered the 2010 season with winning streaks of 14 games...
.
The unique blue turf has spawned several myths. The most prevalent is that the NCAA subsequently banned playing surface colors other than green, but allowed Bronco Stadium's field to remain blue under a grandfather clause
Grandfather clause
Grandfather clause is a legal term used to describe a situation in which an old rule continues to apply to some existing situations, while a new rule will apply to all future situations. It is often used as a verb: to grandfather means to grant such an exemption...
. In reality, the NCAA has never adopted such a rule. Any school may color its playing surface (or any part, mainly the end zones) any color it wishes. Indeed, other schools have non-green football fields including the University of New Haven (blue) and Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington Eagles football
The Eastern Washington Eagles football team represents Eastern Washington University in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
(red). On April 1, 2011, the University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
The University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of Conway, the seat of Faulkner County, north of Little Rock and is the fourth largest university by enrollment in the U.S. state of Arkansas, and the third largest college system in the state. The school is most...
announced that they would install a purple and grey striped field to Estes Stadium
Estes Stadium
Estes Stadium is a 8,035-seat multi-purpose stadium in Conway, Arkansas. It is home to the Central Arkansas Bears football team, representing the University of Central Arkansas in the NCAA's Southland Conference. The facility opened in 1939. In 2007, university President Lu Hardin announced that...
. Nine high schools also have non-green fields: Barrow High School in Barrow, Alaska
Barrow, Alaska
Barrow is the largest city of the North Slope Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is one of the northernmost cities in the world and is the northernmost city in the United States of America, with nearby Point Barrow being the nation's northernmost point. Barrow's population was 4,212 at the...
, Lovington High School in Lovington, New Mexico
Lovington, New Mexico
Lovington is a city in and the county seat of Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 9,471 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lovington is located at ....
, West Hills High School
West Hills High School
West Hills High School is a public, comprehensive high school located in Santee, California, and serves students in grades nine through twelve...
in Santee, California
Santee, California
Santee is a suburban city in San Diego County, California with a population of 53,413 at the 2010 census. Although it is a part of the East County region, Santee is located just from the Pacific Ocean. The city is connected to the coastline by State Route 52, a six-lane freeway that runs from...
(alternating royal and sky blue every five yards), Hidalgo High School
Hidalgo High School
Hidalgo High School is a public high school in Hidalgo, Texas. It is the only high school in the Hidalgo Independent School District.Hidalgo High School has an enrollment of 810, and the ethnicity is 100 percent Hispanic origin....
in Hidalgo, Texas
Hidalgo, Texas
Hidalgo is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 11,198 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Rio Grande Valley Magic of the Southern Indoor Football League, the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League, and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA...
(navy), Chaminade College Preparatory School
Chaminade College Preparatory School (California)
Chaminade College Preparatory is a private Catholic preparatory school with two campuses in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California...
in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
neighborhood of West Hills, Oxford High School
Oxford High School (Michigan)
Oxford High School is a coed public secondary institution located in Oxford, Michigan within the Oxford Community Schools district. The school draws from an area of The Village of Oxford and Oxford Township, as well as portions of Oakland Township, Dryden Township, and Metamora Township...
in Oxford, Michigan
Oxford, Michigan
Oxford is a village in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,436 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Oxford Charter Township. The village occupies one square mile and is both politically and geographically a part of the township. The village calls itself...
, New Braunfels (Texas) Canyon High
Comal Independent School District
Comal Independent School District is a public school district based in New Braunfels, Texas .The district covers in five central Texas counties - Comal, Bexar, Hays, Kendall, and Guadalupe. Incorporated communities in the district include Bulverde, Garden Ridge, and portions of New Braunfels...
(red) and Canutillo High School
Canutillo High School
Canutillo High SchoolCanutillo High School is a public high school in Canutillo, Texas on 6675 South Desert Boulevard. It is part of the Canutillo Independent School District. This is the second campus that has been Canutillo High School the original high school was built in the early 1960s...
in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
.
Another myth is that, mistaking the blue field for a large body of water, birds have flown into the blue turf and to their deaths. Although Broncos coach Chris Petersen
Chris Petersen
Chris Petersen is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He is currently the head football coach at Boise State University, a position he has held since the 2006 season. Peterson has guided the Broncos to two BCS bowl wins, in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl and the 2010 Fiesta...
claimed to have found a dead duck on the field in 2007, the origin of the duck on the field has never been confirmed.
In 2011, the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
banned any playing surface color other than green naming the rule the "Boise Rule" in reference to the university, though this was more a reaction to sponsor influence as no team had ever proposed a different turf color for their field. Also in 2011, the Mountain West Conference banned Boise from wearing their all-blue uniforms during home conference games, after complaints from other Mountain West coaches that it was an unfair advantage.
Current/future expansion
As the Boise State football program rose to national prominence in the early 2000s, Bronco Stadium became increasingly insufficient. The school completed a new 3-story complex on the stadium's west side, the Stueckle Sky Club , that features levels for a new press box, luxury suites, loge boxes, and club seating (in descending order) and which increased seating capacity to 32,000.The practice facility, named the Caven-Williams Sports Complex, officially opened in February 2006, is located immediately northwest of Bronco Stadium.
Construction began on the Stueckle Sky Club on February 11, 2007, and it officially opened on August 27, 2008
2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 28, 2008, progressing through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009, where the #2...
with a gala for ticket holders prior to the first game on August 30. Additional temporary seating of 1,500 was added prior to the 2009
2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on September 2, 2009, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2010, featuring the...
season. The removable bleachers increased Bronco Stadium's capacity to 33,500.
In late August 2010, new expansion plans were revealed for Bronco Stadium. The first stages will include adding a new facility to the north endzone, which will house the football offices, weight room, training room, equipment room and locker room. This would also include a 13,200 seat grandstand. The later stages of the expansion plan include: removing the track, lowering the field, and adding 3,300 seats in front of the first deck of the stadium; completing the south endzone horseshoe; building an east side skybox; and renovating the east side concourse. The expansions may be divided up into as many as six phases. The total cost for all planned expansions is around $100 million. The total seating capacity for a fully expanded Bronco Stadium is estimated to be around 53,000. The Boise State athletic director aims to have the north endzone complex open in time for the 2013 season.
Home dominance
2001 Washington State Cougars football team
The 2001 Washington State Cougars football team represented Washington State University in the college football season of 2001-2002. The team's head coach was Mike Price. It played its home games at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington.-Schedule:...
in 2001
2001 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the University of Miami winning the national title for the fifth time.The Hurricanes were led by Larry Coker, who was in his first year as head coach after five years as Miami's offensive coordinator under Butch Davis...
, AP
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
#18 Boston College in the 2005 MPC Computers Bowl
2005 MPC Computers Bowl
The 2005 MPC Computers Bowl was the ninth edition of the bowl game. It featured the Boise State Broncos and the Boston College Eagles. Though playing at home on its blue "Smurf Turf", where it held a 31-game winning streak, WAC co-champion Boise State was unable to get its usually potent offense on...
and to TCU
2011 TCU Horned Frogs football team
The 2011 TCU Horned Frogs football team represents Texas Christian University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Horned Frogs will be led by 11th year head coach Gary Patterson and will play their home games at Amon G. Carter Stadium. They are members of the Mountain West...
in 2011. The Broncos won 47 straight home conference games from 1999 to 2011 and were undefeated in conference during their 10 years in the WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
(40–0). The Broncos are 77–2 in regular season home games since 1999
1999 Boise State Broncos football team
The 1999 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1999 college football season. The Broncos competed in the Big West Conference and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The Broncos were led by second-year head coach Dirk Koetter.The Broncos...
. They had a winning streak of 65 regular season games from the 2001 to 2011 seasons.
External links
- Bronco Sports.com – History of Bronco Stadium
- World Stadiums.com – Bronco Stadium