Boise State's football field is blue because in 1986, the school's athletic director, Gene Bleymaier, decided to install a blue artificial turf instead of the traditional green. He believed that since the field was artificial turf—nobody thought it was real grass anyway—there was no reason for it to be green. Choosing blue, which is one of Boise State's school colors, would set the team apart and create national recognition. The blue turf also complements the orange track surrounding the field, further tying into the school's colors. This unique choice was originally seen as a gimmick but has since become a symbol of Boise State's football program and a notable home-field advantage known as "The Blue" or "Smurf Turf".