DirtyTurf??

[Class of 61]

Got to thinking about the field usage issue....after seeing Grant's pix in the endzones...wonder if that's one of the biggest reasons for having two HS games played on the field BEFORE BG gets a chance to actually play a game on it...work out whatever "kinks" there are...perhaps kick up a little Nike grind so that the field groomer has something to work with ..and from. Just a thought.

[Schadenfreude]

Grant-
I noticed in one of your pictures that the chair seats have been replaced on the east side, and they look darker brown than the old ones. Did they paint them or something? I had not noticed that when I was out there.

I was out two weeks ago, on the east side, and I didn't notice that the chairs had been painted.

They had moved them up from down closer to the field. But, as of two weeks ago, they looked like they same old weather-beaten things.

But I do agree -- some of them look like they have been painted now.

[BGDrew]

It just looks like the Grind has been thrown up a bit, but I have no idea to be honest. I know that they have a grooming attachment that they can push around the Grind with.

It's actually part of the maintenance that you're supposed to periodically water the field.

[Tech83]

We were at the stadium one of the days the regrind (chopped Nike soles) was being spread on the field. Most of the regrind was black, but there was also some lighter stuff. It was sitting up in the turf and looking about like the picture above. I imagine there's a grooming device that will rake the blades and get the chop back down below "grass" level. Either that, or it gets worked down over time and doesn't come up as much as we're seeing it now.

Edit: I just found some interesting videos. Check out "Infill Segregation"
http://www.fieldturf.com/product/techInfo.cfm

Great find bgb - My boys have played a lot of indoor soccer on this stuff. Some of the rubber ballast always ends up in their shoes. But I wonder if that is trye Fieldturf or the early incarnation of FT's product as they worked out the mechanics and forumlas to keep the ballast where it belongs.

FWIW - Nicholas does not come home with ballast in his shoes from practicing on Centerville's FieldTurf. However he does say his feet burn after working on the turf in this heat. The coaches mentioned the varisty players say their legs are tired after working on the turf. They think that is due to the softer, giving surface.

I hope the Falcons can get on this stuff quickly and get some full workouts on the turf.

[factman]

They have been practicing on it and were on the field again this morning.

[Freakling1]

I took this picture last evening after the team was done with their walkthroughs.



I assume a rake and some rain will make everything look fresh and crisp again, but it was a little concerning to me.

More pics and some shots of Saddlemeier being destroyed are here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/pepperguy/BGSU868807

At least it's brown!