Time for a Change?

[Class of 61]

No, this thread ISN"t about what you guys probably assumed. I know that many on AZZ have said that "football is to be played on grass" etc....but I think, after nearly drowning Wed. nite, watching the giant mudbath take place, that it's time for BG to seriously consider a switch to field turf. Watching the UT and OU games before and after our game, was like watching night and day(and yes, I know they didn't have to deal with the same weather we had)...a few people I know, not BG connected, were very surprised that we had a grass field, at least one that USED to be grass..... I'm more convinced than ever that this would be a positive change for the Doyt....and I'm NOT saying it necessarily would've made a difference in the outcome...but I did get tired of watching guys trying to catch passes and slip in the mud while trying to adjust routes etc.

Biggest surprise to me was how well MU "controlled" our run game, which has been the prime feature of our offense to this point. Perhaps running out of the shotgun all the time in muck isn't that effective?

[Jacobs4Heisman]

In a word -- No.

[Rightupinthere]

a few people I know, not BG connected, were very surprised that we had a grass field, at least one that USED to be grass.....

The statement of assumption here is obtuse - and I'm not speaking to you specifically, 61. I'm more stating to the culture of people who just because it exists and makes things "prettier" we should automatically get it.

There may be performance enhancement on that type of surface, but there is also performance enhancements with anabolic steroids and I doubt you would find too many people wanting that.

[humming America the Beautiful]I don't find women with implants appealing. I don't like flavored martinis. I despise beautily looking food that tastes like crap. I don't want sprouts on my burger. I hate people who rank your humanity based on the sticker price of a car.

I want honesty. I want tradition. I want purity. I want football played on grass.[/humming America the Beautiful]

[Falcon52]

Here is the #1 reason why we should switch to the new style turf.

Recruiting! Period.

Regardless of how I feel or the traditionalists for natural grass, when a 17 / 18 year old watches TV or visits each of the MAC schools, particularly the skilled position guys, they will pick the faster field.

I promise you it is and will be hurting our ability to land talent.

It puts us at a disadvantage.

[Schadenfreude]

If grass was good enough for Jim Brown, its good enough for us.

Say NO to plastic!

[Tech83]

I am throwing my hat in the ring......... let's install FieldTurf. I'm as old school as the next guy..... but.

I was on the field after the 2003 MAC Championship game. It was trash. The turf was thin, hard (frozen), chuck full of divots and bear surfaces. This is not how the game should be played and I don't think spending $300,000 a year in re-sodding, as some unnamed school in Columus did this year, is the answer.

<humming the national athemn from a communist country>
By the time we would install the proper drainage (sand, tiles, and pumps) we would be ahead of the game to just install FieldTurf. Having been on Miami's field a number of times, I would never want to play on grass again. It is my understanding that it reduces injury. It is a very resilient surface.<humming the national athemn from a communist country>

[orangeandbrown]

Geez, our local high school has field turf. It might be time. If Jim Brown was playing now, he might want field turf, too.

[Falcon52]

I hate to say it, but I think Miami has one of the nicest fields I've seen. Jealous of it actually.

[Schadenfreude]

[quote="Tech83"] This is not how the game should be played [quote]

Setting aside, of course, the fact, that this is how the game was played since the Canton Bulldogs were the pride ofthe NFL...

[Warthog]

I'm a traditionalist and love football on a grass field. But the reality is that we live in a climate where the grass stops growing about mid-October. Once you play on a grass field after this time, there is no way for it to recover. What would we do if the UT game was at the Doyt this year? It could be sunny and 75 for the next week, but that field would still be a mud bog come game time. I think I am ready to succumb to the dark side and say we should get fieldturf.

It hurt to admit that.

[CapitalFalcon]

Come with the whole "tradition" mumbo jumbo. I agree that Football should be played in the elements (I hate domes) but there is no reason to keep playing on grass, especially in NW Ohio. If you all want to be so traditional, why don't you start advocating to get rid of the plastic helmets with faceguards and we can go back to leather and get rid of the forward pass.

[Falconfreak90]

Well, as much as I hate to admit it, I think it may be time as well. I love our field when it's healthy. But....

Actually, I'm 50/50 right now.

[bgbill]

If we go FieldTurf, we might as well make it distinctive. If Boise State can have blue, we could have an orange/brown/white shag.

[transfer2BGSU]

If we go FieldTurf, we might as well make it distinctive. If Boise State can have blue, we could have an orange/brown/white shag.

Not according to the NCAA.

Keep the grass. Let TU and Miami complain about the condition of the field. It lets them know they have to be prepared to play on a real football field when they come to BGSU.

[factman]

I am also, about as traditional as you can be, but they don't play with leather helmets anymore either, and that is for the good of everyone.
I think it is time for a change!

p.s. We don't have Ken Schoeni around anymore either, and the guy now in charge of that kind of stuff, doesn't know corn from Kentucky Bluegrass!