# MWC bans Boise from wearing all Blue Uniforms at Home

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mwc-bans-boise-from-wearing-all-blue-uniforms-at-home/590642>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [July 28, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mwc-bans-boise-from-wearing-all-blue-uniforms-at-home/590642 "2011-07-28T17:16:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mwc-bans-boise-from-wearing-all-blue-uniforms-at-home/590642/1 "2011-07-28T17:16:04Z")

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[Story](http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/mwest/2011-07-27-boise-state-no--blue-uniforms-for-league-games_n.htm).

> [@](#):
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> Boise State players will no longer sport their all-blue uniforms for conference games on Bronco Stadium’s iconic blue turf, the result of a concession school officials say they made last year as part of the team’s entrance into the Mountain West Conference.
> 
> League Commissioner Craig Thompson said Tuesday during the league meeting that coaches believe Boise State gets a competitive edge when players wear blue helmets, jerseys and pants at home.

Yes, I think it is an advantage. Unfair? Not really so sure. I think Oregon has just as much of an advantage when they wear there all green uniform on dreary days in Eugene. I think it is part of the home field advantage.

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**Author:** ![Stringer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Stringer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringer)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mwc-bans-boise-from-wearing-all-blue-uniforms-at-home/590642/2 "2011-07-28T18:15:32Z")

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I’m surprised the reason cited is that Boise State has a competitive advantage. When I heard this story I assumed it was because it looks like shit on TV and Boise State is the MWC flagship school.

Does it even matter at field-level?

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**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mwc-bans-boise-from-wearing-all-blue-uniforms-at-home/590642/3 "2011-07-28T18:28:52Z")

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To players on the field, probably not. The opposing team primarily sees Boise State’s all-blue players against the background of the stands and the sidelines, not the turf. Where it does matter is when you’re scouting Boise:

> [@](#):
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> But opposing coaches and players for years have complained about difficulties \*watching game film \*and tracking nuances in Boise State’s pre-snap movements.

Since game films are from an overhead perspective, then the blue-on-blue scheme would be difficult to see. Since this is also the perspective of many TV shots, having the premier school in your conference’s games being unwatchable is not a great idea. So the MWC probably had both motivations in mind.

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**Author:** ![Stringer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Stringer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringer)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mwc-bans-boise-from-wearing-all-blue-uniforms-at-home/590642/4 "2011-07-28T18:32:58Z")

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Oh that’s interesting, thanks!