LITTLE ROCK — Beavers get blue for Boise
To prepare for Saturday’s game at No. 3 Boise State, No. 24 Oregon State has painted one of its practice fields blue.
Boise State has gained national attention for its Smurf Turf at Bronco Stadium. While the Broncos have earned more attention in recent years for their play on the field, the blue turf is what put the Idaho school on the map.
This week, though, it’s Oregon State that’s feeling blue.
“We understand the hardest thing about playing Boise State isn’t the blue field,” Oregon State Coach Mike Riley told The Oregonian.
The idea to paint the Beavers’ practice field blue came from Athletic Director Bob De Carolis, who said he had been thinking about the idea since the Beavers’ 42-14 loss at Boise State in 2006.
“It’s not like it’s a secret plan or a play or anything,” De Carolissaid. “I think it’s a matter of just having some fun with it. But if you’re into superstition, sometimes coaches will change hotels or they’ll change bus companies. ... We decided to change the color of the field and whether it works or not is irrelevant.”
The cost of the paint was between $7,000 and $8,000 and was paid for by a donor, according to The Oregonian.
The Pacific Northwest climate has not been a factor this week for the Beavers, but it is on Riley’s mind when it comes to the field.
“If we get any rain, we’ve got a problem,” Riley said.
Oregon State is a 17-point underdog against Boise State, which went undefeated last season and beat Virginia Tech at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. on Labor Day. The Broncos have won 27 consecutive regular-season games.
Boise State is 71-2 at home since the beginning of the 1999 season and has not lost a home game under fifth-year Coach Chris Petersen. The Broncos have won 56 consecutive regularseason games at home. Boise State’s last loss at Bronco Stadium was to Boston College in 2005 in the MPC Computers Bowl.
Seeing red
The red zone is typically known as the area inside the 20-yard line.
At Eastern Washington, the red zone could be considered the entire field.
Last Saturday, Eastern Washington christened its red Sprinturf surface with a 36-27victory over Big Sky Conference rival Montana at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash. Roos Field is named in honor of former EWU star Michael Roos, now a star offensive tackle with the Tennessee Titans. Roos donated $500,000 toward the university’s red turf project.
John Blanchette of The Spokesman Review in Spokane, Wash., had the 1998 motion picture The Big Lebowski on his mind when it came to the red turf at EWU.
“Like the new rug, it’s the game that can tie the season together,” Blanchette said.
Toss up
Reggie Hayes of The News-Sentinel in Fort Wayne, Ind., on New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs throwing his helmet into the stands Sunday at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis.
“An Indianapolis Colts fan caught New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs’ thrown helmet during the game Sunday and tried to keep it as a souvenir, but security forced him to relinquish it. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis made up for the lost memorabilia by giving the fan a few leftover pieces of Eli Manning.”Quote of the day
“Big players love big games, so I’m sure he’s thriving on this game as well.” Alabama running back Mark Ingram on how he and Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett are approaching Saturday’s game
Sports, Pages 20 on 09/22/2010