[July 29, 2011] WAC coaches: Boise State gained little edge from blue-on-blue uniforms Tweet LAS VEGAS, Jul 29, 2011 (The Idaho Statesman - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- WAC football coaches largely scoffed at the idea of Boise State deriving an advantage from wearing all-blue uniforms for home games on the blue turf of Bronco Stadium. The Broncos won't be allowed to wear their traditional uniforms for home games in the Mountain West, beginning this year. The prohibition was part of the Broncos' membership agreement with the league after Mountain West coaches expressed concern about the "competitive advantage," Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said this week. Boise State was 40-0 in home conference games in 10 years in the WAC. "I don't think we've ever lost to Boise's uniforms," Nevada coach Chris Ault said at WAC media day. WAC commissioner Karl Benson said he heard occasional complaints about the blue-on-blue effect but it was never discussed in any official way. The biggest problem is that coaches have a more difficult time studying video of Boise State home games -- and that issue will remain because the Broncos plan to wear blue for their two non-conference home games. Benson, like several coaches including Boise State's Chris Petersen, mentioned the video problem. Team videographers stand far from the field, at the top of the Stueckle Sky Center. New Mexico State coach DeWayne Walker estimates that preparing for the Broncos required an extra half-hour because of the video challenges. "It kind of escalated once they built the new press tower," Benson said of complaints. "It was more of a direct sight line (down) vs. a flatter sight line." Idaho coach Robb Akey, like many coaches over the years, dismissed the uniforms' role in the Broncos' remarkable home success, which includes a school-record 32-game home winning streak. "I don't know if it's a problem," Akey said. "There's a $5 fine for whining, right? I will say this -- when you're looking at video as a coach, breaking it down, there's a reason that they wear the same color uniform as the turf is. It gives you headaches. It's hard to identify some guys on film. Is that why they're winning? No. It's the guys they're putting in those blue uniforms -- that's why they're winning." To see more of The Idaho Statesman, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.idahostatesman.com Copyright (c) 2011, The Idaho Statesman, Boise Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]