Football: What UL is saying about Boise’s blue turf

Louisiana, The Advertiser, September 19, 2014

 

Boise state coach Bryan Harsin walks on the blue turf at Albertsons Stadium. (Photo: Associated Press)

 

 

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State has been famous for its blue artificial turf, a.k.a. "Smurf Turf" to some, since it was first installed for supposed attention-getting purposes in 1986. UL will be playing on the blue for the first time Saturday night, prompting these thoughts from the Ragin’ Cajuns:

"Turf is turf, grass is grass. That football is still brown at the end of the day, if you ask me. So I’ll be alright."

– Linebacker Dominique Tovell

"I haven’t kicked on any blue turf. So I’m not sure how that will go. But I’m not too worried it. I mean, give me a football and you can put me on sand, dirt, grass, whatever, and I’m gonna love what I’m doing."

– Punter Daniel Cadona

"Growing up, you always heard of Boise as being BCS busters and the Smurf Turf. You wonder how strange it would be to play on it. But, if you think about it, they’ve got to play on it too. … If they can play on it, I feel like we can play on it. I mean, green, blue – both of them are in the color spectrum, so it shouldn’t be too bad on my eyes."

– Linebacker Trae Johnson

"At the end of the day it’s football, and that’s how I’m gonna treat it. Blue turf, red turf, green, white – it really doesn’t matter. I’m just gonna go out there and try to do what I can do."

– Receiver James Butler

"In high school we played on brown grass – late in the season, when it dies. … (The blue) is unique. We’re gonna give them that. But, still, you play the game the same."

– Coach Mark Hudspeth

– Compiled by Tim Buckley