Jack Trice’s natural grass on its last leg???

[butlercy]

Maybe this has already been discussed on a different thread but I was wondering if anyone knew what the future of the turf at JTS was? I was talking to a friend this week who used to work for the Athletic Department and he said that on a recent trip back to Ames he heard JP and others may be considering replacing the natural grass with synthetic turf when the current grass turf needs to be replaced, which may be as soon as after this season. I don’t know how anyone else feels about this but I would defiantly rather see the natural grass and I hope this is a just an idea that is being kicked around and will never actually happen.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Maybe this has already been discussed on a different thread but I was wondering if anyone knew what the future of the turf at JTS was? I was talking to a friend this week who used to work for the Athletic Department and he said that on a recent trip back to Ames he heard JP and others may be considering replacing the natural grass with synthetic turf when the current grass turf needs to be replaced, which may be as soon as after this season. I don’t know how anyone else feels about this but I would defiantly rather see the natural grass and I hope this is a just an idea that is being kicked around and will never actually happen.

I'd prefer they stayed with natural grass, but if the switch to FieldTurf I wouldn't be too upset. Back when I was still at ISU kNebraska switched to FieldTurf, and the players actually liked it better than playing on grass. However, there's something romantic about the history of the game and playing on grass. Whatever the case, at least artificial turf has come a long way from the Astro-tear-up-my-knee-ligaments-and-my-career-is-over-Turf...

 

[ISUboi12]

Well... It would be less expensive... I think we need to wait until our speed is on par with other teams in the big 12 before we make this shift though...

 

[Hawk4Life24]

Would a turf management school like ISU really make the switch? I find it hard to believe but if it makes more sense financially I can't see why they wouldn't cut costs somewhere to improve the bottom line.

 

[cytech]

Would a turf management school like ISU really make the switch? I find it hard to believe but if it makes more sense financially I can't see why they wouldn't cut costs somewhere to improve the bottom line.

That is what I was thinking with ISU having one of the best Horniculture schools around, it would seem foolish to make the switch

 

[Cyclonepride]

Call me old school, but I would really prefer the old style grass field, that turns into a huge mudpit in the rain. I'll take the good old days where you couldn't read the numbers after a good game. But I would prefer our natural grass field to turf.

 

[brianhos]

Why would the grass need to be replaced. Don't they re-sod it all the time? There is no way they can get a field all torn up one week and then have it look like new the next week without new sod being added.

 

[EggMcClone]

ISU is six-time defending Turf Bowl champions. I don't think it's too early to call them a dynasty or the Turf Team of the 00's.

It would be a shame since I think ISU has one of the best natural surfaces of anywhere.

Edit: Found another link, ISU's turf manager is currently president of the Sports Turf Manager Association.

 

[CYdTracked]

I'm no turf expert but to the naked eye I think our field always looks great and if you've ever stepped onto the field after a game it's some really comfortable stuff to walk on.

 

[wonkadog]

No offense to butler but this sounds like one of those "friend of a friend's ex-wife's son" stories...I didn't know that natural turf has an expiration date. :baffled5wh:

 

[HILLCYD]

It's been a pretty dry spring....:rolleyes5cz:

 

[Hawk4Life24]

Isn't there a life on the turf in a stadium. Obviously it can vary from stadium to stadium but when Iowa went through the turf problems a few years ago they were trying to get one more year out a surface that needed to be replaced.

Even at the end of the year the surface is still in great shape.

 

[ISUclones33]

our natural turf is beautiful.. Ive played on the field turf in memorial stadium on a 90 degree day and that burns the bottom of your feet it gets so hot.. it also stinks and gets all sorts of rubber compound in football shoes.. Natural turf is soft and smells fresh and ours has looked fantastic the past couple years

 

[CyForPresident]

I highly doubt this ever happens. Undergrad and grad students get the oppourtunity to work on that field and a lot of stuff goes into it. And with ISU having the best turf program and Agriculture school on the planet, odds are better that we land a man on the sun.

 

[ketelmeister]

If my memory serves me, we had artificial turf at JT Stadium and spent lotsof money to switch to natural grass for a variety of reasons. Most importantly is the injury issue. I doubt they would make an about face not.

 

[LindenCy]

Watching Troy Davis slip a few times on the old artificial turf is reason enough not to go back to it (although plenty of progress has been made in the turf industry). I think we can thank Troy for a big part of why we now have a grass field.

 

[SlyCy]

I think an Ag based school should stay natural but I can also see Jamie (big picture) Pollard saying it would be expensive up front but over all low maintenance, (no mowing, chemicals, painting, unpredicatibility of quality, durable) and a better buy in the long run.

Chizik would be happy because he could practice longer on it during the year and wouldn't have to "baby it" when it rains.

It would definetly keep the Hawkeye cheerleaders from grazing every other year.


Ohio State is switching from grass to artificial turf this year.
The university newspaper, The Lantern, reports that the University is spending about $975,000 to replace the grass field and the underground drainage.

LINK

 

[Cyclonepride]

Wow, this thread brought up ads for synthetic grass for your home! And no, democrats, they can't advertise that kind of grass. This is for your lawn. Greatest invention ever! I am going to go set my mower on fire.

 

[ISUclones33]

Chizik doesnt or wont practice much in JTS anyway, thats why we have Bergstrom and the practice fields, Chizik can practice as long as he wants. And by the way, Coach Shepherd is rigorously working the team that stuck around for summer workout. He has a power clean circut that the players claim to be the hardest sh*t ever. So we are in good hands :biggrin9gp:

 

[CyBobby]

I would rather have natural grass than the artificial stuff too!! If anyone happens to remember when the FIRST era of artificial turf came along some schools never changed. Notre Dame stayed with grass along with Purdue and Penn State. The first artificial turf was way oversold and schools bought the stuff so they could practice on it and it was supposed to last fifteen years as I recall and none of the stuff made it that long.

Also if the artificial turf does NOT dry out you can get a real bad staph infection out of it. How do I know this? A good friend of mine played for Kansas back then and he got the old staph infection from the stuff.

I think that the good old natural turf is a lot better and safer for the players!