DMN ARTICLE: BLUE TURF FACTS

[MrMustang1965]

How it was made: The blue Astro Play turf Boise State plays on was dyed at a fiber plant in Dalton, Ga. Leander, Texas based Southwest Recreational Industries, manufactured the turf.

A myth of the turf: Flying birds crashing into the football field thinking it's a lake or pond. Boise State officials say a story in Sports Illustrated a few years ago created the myth that birds go looking for a drink at Bronco Stadium. "I can neither confirm or deny that report," Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier said.

In 1986 Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier had to get new turf installed at Bronco Stadium. Bleymaier wanted his university to be different than most, so he toured the country – Nebraska, Oregon, Georgia Tech and even Texas Stadium in Irving – looking at different fields and colors.

Bleymaier wanted his upstart football program to make a splash. He decided blue not green would be the color of his new field as a marketing ploy to get people to notice. The first turf cost $750,000.

"If I spend that type of money, I don't want it like everybody else's," Bleymaier said.

The Broncos have emerged as the only college football program to have a blue turf. It's the third such blue turf in Boise State's history and officials have no plans on changing it.