Boise State Helmets: Sleek Design Fitting for Strong Program

Chris Petersen has established a strong football program at Boise State.

That's why the sleek new black helmets that will be worn against UNLV are fitting.

The new helmets, which will be showcased for the first time at Bronco Stadium on Saturday, feature a fierce, fiery-eyed bronco that looks like something you'd see in a nightmare.

That nightmare may come to fruition for 1-6 UNLV on Saturday, faced with the challenge of trying to score points against a defense that is allowing just 12.8 points per game (12th in the nation). This is the same defense that held its only ranked opponent this season, Michigan State, to 17 points in the season opener.

Boise State is currently No. 22 in the BCS rankings, riding a 5-1 record. The Broncos have won 10 or more games in every season Petersen has coached, dating back to 2006. They rose to national prominence during the 2009 season when they went 14-0 and defeated a 12-0 TCU squad led by Andy Dalton in the Fiesta Bowl.

Nobody takes Boise State lightly anymore, and the new helmets give the team a better look fit to resemble the program.

So when UNLV takes the field on Saturday, expect a black cloud to be hanging over its head in the form of thousands of raucous Broncos fans. You can also expect Boise State not to disappoint the home crowd, given its 3-0 record in Boise this season.

Petersen and the coaching staff have worked hard to build a reputation for Boise State, and the new helmets exemplify the persona the Broncos have taken on since Petersen arrived: don't back down from anyone and take no prisoners.