In brief: Boise St. must play MWC games without blue uniforms

College football: 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.

MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson said Tuesday during the conference meeting that coaches believe Boise State gets a competitive edge when players wear blue helmets, jerseys and pants at home.

The Broncos have worn all blue at home for several years and built a 77-2 record and a 32-game winning streak on their home turf since 1999.

Coach Chris Petersen (pictured above) says his team intends to wear the signature all-blue uniforms for nonconference games against Tulsa and Nevada, but he finds the restriction for MWC games silly and an erosion of the team’s identity.

“It’s a tragedy of college football,” Petersen told The Idaho Statesman. “I thought it was ridiculous. That’s our colors. That’s who we are. That’s who our fans have wanted us to be since I’ve been at Boise State. That’s what it’s been through and through.”

Petersen noted that the rule doesn’t apply to schools that wear all green uniforms and play on green turf or natural grass, such as Colorado State or Hawaii.

Associated Press

Lagat honored for 5,000 record

Track and field: Former Washington State runner Bernard Lagat was named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after improving his American record in the 5,000 meters at last week’s Herculis Monaco Diamond League meet.

Lagat finished second to Mo Farah of Great Britain in 12 minutes, 53.60 seconds. Lagat ran 12:54.12 in Oslo, Norway, in 2010.