BSU turf gives foes the blues

RUSTON, La. (AP) - Boise State's blue turf at Bronco Stadium isn't just a gimmick that makes games look strange on television.

Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Dykes says it really does have an effect on the opposition - and not just when the game is being played.

Dykes, whose squad visits the No. 2 Broncos tonight (5 p.m., ESPN2), says the blue turf makes film study much more difficult.

"You can't see any numbers (on players' jerseys) at all," Dykes told the News-Star. "You watch the film and you can't tell who anybody is. After two or three days of watching you can kind of learn who the players are by just their body type, and their size and their posture, and that kind of stuff."

Tech quarterback Ross Jenkins got a few snaps at Bronco Stadium when the Bulldogs (3-4, 2-1 Western Athletic Conference) visited Boise State (6-0, 2-0) two years ago and lost 38-3. He said the blue turf becomes less of a factor as the game progresses.

"The blue turf is a little bit different, but I didn't notice that after a few minutes," Jenkins said. "We did our walkthrough there the day before the game, but after a little while you just start playing ball. It all kind of blends in."

Oregon State painted its practice field blue the week before its Sept. 25 game in Boise. The Beavers lost 37-24. Tech won't be making any changes to adjust to the blue turf.

"I think Oregon State probably did that because they're a little further along with their program than we are," Dykes said.

Dykes is far more concerned with the Broncos themselves than the turf they play on. Boise State's players and coaches have far more to do with the team's current 58-game home winning streak than the blue turf.

"The big thing with us is we've just got to go play well, and we've got to treat this game like we do any other, just in terms of trying to prepare well and practice well," Dykes said.