BG will be the last MAC school with a grass field!!!!
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:37 pm
After looking over the post about the current ongoing MAC stadium upgrades, it hit me, BG will be the last MAC stadium with a grass playing field after this season!!! When Temple comes in, that will make two. But right now in the MAC, out of all the schools that already have turf - coupled with all the ones who have recently added or are about to convert to turf - grass playing fields will nearly be eliminated in the MAC. In 2005, only BG and Ball State will play on grass, and Ball State will be replacing its grass with FielfTurf after this season.
I know some people hate artificial surfaces. I would say I used to agreed with that 100 percent and was in support of grass only. However, my perception has drastically changed with the invention of FieldTurf (and the other brands similar to it). The old Astroturf, I think it's absolutely junk!!! I can't stand the stuff and wish it were never made. Other brands like the NeXturf that Toledo and WMU use, it's better than Astroturf, but not nearly as good as the FieldTurf (or types such as it).
With more and more schools going to FieldTurf from grass, you can see why as it has many benefits. It's very cost effective once you install it. You don't mow it, you don't water it, you don't fertilize it, you don't tarp it, and you don't have to paint it that often. It can drain a ton of water, it doesn't tear up in chucks like grass in inclement weather, it provides much better cushioning in hot and cold weather. And the best part of it is, you can use the field over and over. You can practice on it (such as a game field), you can have other events on it like high school football, camps, etc., and it always has a nice appearance and doesn't get tore up. Yes, it does require some work from time to time, but overall, it's a very nice investment.
I'm still a grass fan, but if BG ever went with FieldTurf, I could certainly understand why. If we ever went to some of those junk turfs, it would be a mistake.
Here's a look at each school's surface in the MAC and what its last surface was.
BG - Grass
BSU - Grass, but replacing with FieldTurf
Miami - FieldTurf (replaced grass)
Ohio - FieldTurf (replaced grass)
NIU - FieldTurf (replaced Astroturf)
Kent State - FieldTurf (replaced Astroturf)
EMU - FieldTurf (replaced Astroturf)
CMU - FieldTurf (replaced Astroturf)
Akron - AstroPlay (like FieldTurf, replaced Astroturf)
Buffalo - Momentum 46 (like FieldTurf, replaced grass)
Toledo - NeXturf (replace Astroturf)
WMU - NeXturf (replaced grass)
I know some people hate artificial surfaces. I would say I used to agreed with that 100 percent and was in support of grass only. However, my perception has drastically changed with the invention of FieldTurf (and the other brands similar to it). The old Astroturf, I think it's absolutely junk!!! I can't stand the stuff and wish it were never made. Other brands like the NeXturf that Toledo and WMU use, it's better than Astroturf, but not nearly as good as the FieldTurf (or types such as it).
With more and more schools going to FieldTurf from grass, you can see why as it has many benefits. It's very cost effective once you install it. You don't mow it, you don't water it, you don't fertilize it, you don't tarp it, and you don't have to paint it that often. It can drain a ton of water, it doesn't tear up in chucks like grass in inclement weather, it provides much better cushioning in hot and cold weather. And the best part of it is, you can use the field over and over. You can practice on it (such as a game field), you can have other events on it like high school football, camps, etc., and it always has a nice appearance and doesn't get tore up. Yes, it does require some work from time to time, but overall, it's a very nice investment.
I'm still a grass fan, but if BG ever went with FieldTurf, I could certainly understand why. If we ever went to some of those junk turfs, it would be a mistake.
Here's a look at each school's surface in the MAC and what its last surface was.
BG - Grass
BSU - Grass, but replacing with FieldTurf
Miami - FieldTurf (replaced grass)
Ohio - FieldTurf (replaced grass)
NIU - FieldTurf (replaced Astroturf)
Kent State - FieldTurf (replaced Astroturf)
EMU - FieldTurf (replaced Astroturf)
CMU - FieldTurf (replaced Astroturf)
Akron - AstroPlay (like FieldTurf, replaced Astroturf)
Buffalo - Momentum 46 (like FieldTurf, replaced grass)
Toledo - NeXturf (replace Astroturf)
WMU - NeXturf (replaced grass)
