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Home installation of Boise State’s blue turf sells for $25,000

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Not to take anything away from the success of Boise State’s football team, but there’s one unmistakable identifier connected to the program known across the country outside of the wins. And it’s that the Broncos play their home games on blue “Smurf” turf. Even a sports TV channel flipper immediately recognizes when Boise State is on the field thanks to its signature playing surface.

Given that, there might not be a better piece of Boise State memorabilia than a portion of Broncos game-used Smurf turf. With the school tearing up the current turf at Albertsons Stadium in June, why not turn the old surface into one of the more unique collectible pieces in college football.

The university, in collaboration with college sports focused collectibles company Collect U, is selling off pieces of the blue turf in all shapes and sizes to allow fans to literally own a piece of the football program’s history while putting money back into the athletic department’s pockets in the ever expensive college football landscape.

CollectBSU.com capped off its first blue turf drop by selling a 400-square foot sheet of playing surface, which will be professionally installed in the winner’s home, for $25,000 via auction on Tuesday night. A 6×12 foot 40-yard line turf marker (signifying the 40th anniversary of the program’s implementation of the blue turf) sold for $4,000, while the 6×4 foot “2” in the 20-yard line also sold for $2,000.

Boise State athletic director Jeramiah Dickey watched the Broncos challenge national powerhouses in the College Football Playoff two seasons ago, but to do so more regularly, with the program moving into the revamped Pac 12, it takes money to compete for players and maintain and enhance facilities.

“How much the industry is changing, it’s my job to continue to invest in our program and to do that, I need resources,” Dickey said. “You’re going from a place of stretching dollars to how do you make more and how do you set up your infrastructure in your department to do so to take advantage of opportunities. …

“This is low hanging fruit. We know that every 7-9 years, we’re going to have to change out the blue (turf). 
We know the blue has power.”

The larger pieces of turf may present a “wow” factor, but the university and CollectBSU made a concerted effort to present a variety of blue turf items at different price points. They range from $40 for a 6-by-4 inch swatch to a $300 turf ring for men and women where the band will contain pieces of the soon-to-be removed turf.

“We’ve sold some unique items. I think one of the things that’s fun in this is listening to the market and what they want,” said Jay Sharman, founder and CEO of CollectU. “And so one of the things that Boise State was insistent upon was having price points to make it available for everyone.

“As for the turf, this is by far the most comprehensive approach to it. In the past, and I don’t want this to sound disparaging, but it was more of a garage sale feel. The world has changed, people’s lens around it has changed, revenue generation has changed. Those confluence of factors have Boise State and us looking at this through a completely new lens.”

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Chicago Bears 27-7 Philadelphia Eagles: Case Keenum drives Bears to three touchdowns in first NFL game since 2023 | NFL News

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Case Keenum passed for two touchdowns in his first NFL start in almost three years as Chicago Bears shut down Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles for a 27-7 victory on Monday night.

Stepping in for Caleb Williams, Keenum starred completing 24 passes from 34 attempts to make 247 yards. He also scored his first rushing touchdown since 2019 on a one-yard plunge with seven minutes and 19 seconds left to play, capping a 13-play drive that took more than eight minutes off the clock.

It was Keenum’s first action since he started for Houston in a 36-22 loss to Cleveland in December 2023.

“To get a shot again like this? You dream of it,” Keenum said. “That’s why I’m still here doing this when I get knocked down.

“I got knocked down my whole career. I just keep getting up, coming to work, just keep bouncing back.”

Williams was sidelined by a right hamstring injury, and Tyson Bagent backed up Keenum after he cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol on Sunday.

“He [Keenum] knows where everyone is supposed to be on every single play and so he is really quick to recognise coverage,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said.

“He knows why we’re calling the play and what we’re looking for and if we’re not getting that he’s accelerating through it really quickly. That’s what you get when you’re 15-plus years playing that position in this league.”

Kalif Raymond had six receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown as Chicago, who have won two and lost one game this season, bounced back after an ugly 9-3 loss to Minnesota.

Philadelphia, who also hold a record of 2-1 this season, turned the ball over three times and failed to record a takeaway for the third consecutive game to begin the season.

Hurts successfully threw 16 passes out of 25 attempts for 153 yards, but conceded an interception, and Saquon Barkley rushed for 82 yards from 15 carries.

“We all have to own that loss right there,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said.

“I don’t think anybody coached well. I don’t think anyone played well. It was a true team loss. And when it’s a true team loss, you know I have to look at myself first.”

Stats leaders:

Chicago Bears

Passing: Case Keenum, 24/34, 247 yards, two touchdowns

Rushing: D’Andre Swift, 20 carries, 84 yards

Receiving: Kalif Raymond, six carries, 90 yards, one touchdown

Philadelphia Eagles

Passing: Jalen Hurts, 16/25, 153 yards, one interception

Rushing: Saquon Barkley, 15 carries, 82 yards

Receiving: DeVonta Smith, six carries, 65 yards

Keenum capped Chicago’s first drive with a shovel pass to Luther Burden for an eight-yard touchdown, and he connected with Raymond open out wide on a 41-yard touchdown in the second half.

Trailing 7-0, Hurts drove Philadelphia deep into Chicago territory in the second quarter before he absorbed a late hit by linebacker D’Marco Jackson along the sideline.

Hurts was pulled off the field to be checked for a concussion, while backup Andy Dalton was intercepted by rookie Dillon Thieneman in the back of the end zone with just over six minutes to half-time.

Hurts said he was waiting for clearance to go back in when Dalton turned it over.

“I was just waiting for the thumbs up,” Hurts said. “I felt fine, we already checked it. I don’t know the extent of the process. Obviously, I wish we could have expedited things. I know I felt fine.”

Hurts scored on a quarterback sneak as time expired in the first half, but Chicago controlled the final two periods.

Hurts was picked off by linebacker TJ Edwards late in the third quarter. Edwards dropped a potential interception on third down on Philadelphia’s first drive of the second half.

Chicago finished with 24 first downs and 128 yards rushing. The Bears had 28 first downs and 281 yards on the ground in a 24-15 win at Philadelphia last season.

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Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears

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Highlights of the Philadelphia Eagles at the Chicago Bears from Week 3 of the NFL season.

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Chicago Bears 27-7 Philadelphia Eagles: Case Keenum shines on first start since 2023

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Veteran quarterback Case Keenum starred on his first start for almost three years as the Chicago Bears handed the Philadelphia Eagles their first defeat of the season.

Starting his first NFL game since December 2023, the 38-year-old threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another as the Bears won 27-7 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

It is the first time he has thrown multiple touchdowns in a game since October 2019, while he is also the oldest player to score a rushing touchdown for the Bears.

Keenum, an NFL journeyman playing at his eighth franchise, was called into action because of a knee injury to Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent’s concussion.

Wide receiver Kalif Raymond, who scored a touchdown, said: “He was like, ‘I may not be a cowboy, but this is definitely not my first rodeo – a lot of confidence in him; a lot of confidence in himself.

“He practises, preps every week, but particularly this week. We didn’t expect anything different from him.”

Keenum’s first drive resulted in a touchdown for Luther Burden III, and Cairo Santos added a 29-yard field goal before Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts rushed for a touchdown to cut the Bears’ half-time lead to 10-7.

Santos added a second field goal early in the third quarter before the Bears scored two touchdowns among 17 unanswered points.

The Bears defence limited the Eagles to 248 yards and picked off an interception off Jalen Hurts and replacement Andy Dalton.

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