Boise State is giving its home opener a special look next month, and the centerpiece is a helmet built to salute the school’s most recognizable landmark.
When the Broncos face Memphis on Sept. 12, they’ll do it in hand-painted helmets created to mark the 40th anniversary of Boise State’s blue turf. The game will also be the first time Boise State plays on brand-new turf that was installed this summer.
Artist Armando Villarreal handled the design, continuing a run that already included last year’s “Front Porch of Idaho” helmets for Boise State.
The school’s athletic director, Jeremiah Dickey, tied the tribute directly to the field that changed the program’s identity.
“Forty years ago, Gene Bleymaier made a bold decision that forever changed the trajectory of Boise State Athletics and created one of the most iconic symbols in all of sports,” BSU AD Jeremiah Dickey said in a news release, referring to the blue turf.
“... It has welcomed thousands of fans from all 50 states and around the world to experience Boise State, Boise and Idaho on gamedays and non-gamedays. We look forward to honoring The Blue and all that it represents with these unique anniversary helmets to be worn by our football program.”
The design is packed with references to that history. The helmet uses a textured blue-turf backdrop with painted blades of grass layered over it.
On the right side, there’s a large “40” styled the way it would appear on a football field, using the font from Boise State’s original 1986 turf. Seven hashmarks run across the top to represent the seven times The Blue has been installed over the past four decades.
The left side carries the retro Boise State logo that was painted at midfield in 1986. That mark was the university’s main emblem from 1982 through 2002.
Even the bumpers carry the theme: “The Blue” appears on the front, while the back reads “EST. 1986” beneath the Pac-12 logo and an American flag.
Villarreal said he wanted the helmet to do more than just look good.
“I wanted every brushstroke and every detail to tell the story of how one bold idea transformed Boise State into a brand known around the world,” Villarreal said in the release. “My hope is that when fans see this helmet, they don’t just see artwork, but see the history, pride, innovation and the generations of Bronco fans who made The Blue legendary.”
Fans can already find merchandise tied to the helmets and the 40th anniversary logos at stores around the Treasure Valley, including T-shirts, hoodies and hats. A limited number of the hand-painted helmets will also be available for purchase to Bronco Athletic Association members, based on priority ranking.
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