Northwest Notes July 21, 2022

New LED lighting system installed in Kibbie Dome

MOSCOW — The University of Idaho has replaced the lights in the Kibbie Dome with a new state-of-the-art Musco Lighting LED system.

The new system will be significantly brighter, whiter, eliminates the buzz from the old metal halide lights and most importantly will be significantly more energy-efficient to operate.

The new LED lighting system, using just 92 fixtures and 163,116 watts of power, is replacing 264 light fixtures that consumed around 264,000 watts of power.

Another factor in the upgrade is the growth of TV in sports, including the Big Sky's contract with ESPN. The new system will exceed ESPN's lighting requirements for linear TV. With the old lighting system, any linear ESPN games, including FCS playoff games would have required supplemental lighting to be rented.

Fan and student-athlete experience will also improve, officials said. Gone will be the yellow color and loud buzz that comes with the decades-old lighting system. The new lights will also be able to blackout and turn on immediately for an improved run of show. The lighting system can also be synced with music as part of the Show-Light entertainment package.

"This new system will remove any barriers that might have held us back from hosting an FCS playoff game in the future," Idaho deputy athletic director Tim Mooney said."

Installation of the new system was completed earlier this summer and is already in use. The project is part of ongoing improvements to the Kibbie Dome, which also included the installation of the new Lauren McCluskey Track and tennis surface which was completed last week.

Boise State favored to win Mountain Division football title — again

For the 10th consecutive season, Boise State is predicted to top the Mountain Division in the Mountain West’s preseason poll.

This marks every campaign since joining the conference in 2011 that the Broncos were voted on by the media to claim either the conference or the division crown.

The Broncos received 14 of 28 first-place votes with a Mountain-Division best total of 151 points. Air Force received 10 first-place votes and 136 points. Utah State registered three first-place votes and 122 points, while Colorado State claimed the remaining first-place vote and 90 points. Wyoming (60 points) and New Mexico (29) finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

Fresno State topped the West Division poll, garnering 20 first-place votes and 160 points. San Diego State received the remaining eight first-place votes and 148 points, followed by San José State (105), Nevada (66), UNLV (58) and Hawaii (51).

Since joining the Mountain West, the Broncos have claimed four conference titles, tied for the most in league history despite being a member for just 11 of the conference’s 23 seasons.