At Eastern Washington, the Field Will Run Red With ... Red

↵↵Beyond having a very good football team, Boise State has gained notoriety for its home field’s bright blue playing surface. Copying that would be a heinous bit of cribbing, but running with the same concept only with a different color? That’s inspired thinking, at least to the folks at Division I-AA school Eastern Washington, who yesterday announced plans to install a bright red field. I know where I’m seeing my next bull fight.↵

↵↵⇥“There is no doubt that one of Boise State’s claims to fame has been their blue turf and like it or dislike it, it has certainly brought them a tremendous amount of notoriety,” EWU athletic director Bill Chaves said. “In a similar vein we have a tremendous opportunity at Eastern to do the same by differentiating ourselves with the red turf while providing a superior playing surface.” ↵⇥↵⇥EWU football coach Beau Baldwin said the red field will provide significant advantages to his program.↵⇥

↵⇥↵⇥“It’s huge for recruiting because potential student-athletes can see the progress we are making and the positive direction of our program,” he said. “With all the different events that can take place at Woodward Field and a stronger game-day experience, it’s bound to bring more exposure to our program. We already feel proud about the great things we are doing, but hopefully this project will help us be even bigger and better.”↵⇥

↵↵↵Yes, I am certain that the new red field will help you land all the prize prospects. I can see it now: “Nah, Dad, I was thinking about committing to Florida, but then I saw this school with the big red field on TV. Tell the recruiters I’m sorry.”↵

↵↵But who knows? Studies have found higher rates of success for teams that wear red. Maybe the effect is doubly strong when it comes to the playing field.↵

↵↵(H/T to Dr. Saturday)↵

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