Will artificial turf be brought back to Neyland.

[UT_Dutchman]

I heard the talkers on the Ainge show saying that the field has been getting beat up pretty bad and the powers that be may bring back artificial turf. What do you guys think. I personally hate it, hated to play on it and it seems to cause more injuries than natural grass. Would've liked to started a poll couldn't find where to do that.

 

[JohnMarxism]

I could be wrong but I believe UT was one of the first to use artificial turf, and also the first team to take it back up. I don't see how the aesthetics of the turf outweighs the increased health risks (concussions)

 

[bamacheats]

New stuff is pretty nice. Nothing like the old astroturf that ruined Chuck Webb.

 

[bamacheats]

I could be wrong but I believe UT was one of the first to use artificial turf, and also the first team to take it back up. I don't see how the aesthetics of the turf outweighs the increased health risks (concussions)

Completely different product now.

 

[Dave1967]

I thought Neyland looked better with astroturf. I wouldn't mind seeing it return.

 

[Vol in]

New stuff is pretty nice. Nothing like the old astroturf that ruined Chuck Webb.

You are right about the new stuff, heck, some of it is probably better than grass really. I still like a natural playing surface though, but that's just my personal preference.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

I could be wrong but I believe UT was one of the first to use artificial turf, and also the first team to take it back up. I don't see how the aesthetics of the turf outweighs the increased health risks (concussions)

This isn't your granddaddy's Astroturf. The newer turf fields are EXTREMELY nice. There are several local high schools where I live that now use it and I've stood on the UTC Mocs turf field.

Personally I like the idea because I think it just looks nicer. For years I have thought our field hasn't looked very good and it frustrates me that the paint on the field looks faded and transparent. A nice turf field would be more visually striking and I think the Power T at the 50 and the checkerboards in the end zones would be more bold and stand out more.

 

[bamacheats]

You are right about the new stuff, heck, some of it is probably better than grass really. I still like a natural playing surface though, but that's just my personal preference.

I agree. But if I was paying the maintenance costs I might change my preference.

 

[orangeluvr]

If the playing surface is changed they gonna have tah buy a truck load ah nike turf shoes. :yes:

 

[Vol in]

I agree. But if I was paying the maintenance costs I might change my preference.

The upfront cost would be substantial to install, but it would more than pay for itself in a few years. If I could afford it, I would field turf my yard in a heart beat.

 

[Boca Vol]

The indoor practice field looks sweet! I wouldn't mind if they put an artificial field back in Neyland.

 

[ItsAllVols]

I heard that when Stokley is gone there will be an outdoor turf field added because we dont have a turf to practice on in the weather elimates.

 

[JohnMarxism]

This isn't your granddaddy's Astroturf. The newer turf fields are EXTREMELY nice. There are several local high schools where I live that now use it and I've stood on the UTC Mocs turf field.

Personally I like the idea because I think it just looks nicer. For years I have thought our field hasn't looked very good and it frustrates me that the paint on the field looks faded and transparent. A nice turf field would be more visually striking and I think the Power T at the 50 and the checkerboards in the end zones would be more bold and stand out more.

I was wrong. After researching the products more, I'm much more open to the idea of artificial turf now

 

[CMcEver]

New stuff is pretty nice. Nothing like the old astroturf that ruined Chuck Webb.

Yeah, I work for FieldTurf. We have some pretty nice products that NFL uses. The restitution and friction of fields are much improved, it isn't like playing on carpet covered concrete anymore. Because of the improved restitution, head injuries and impact-related injuries are much improved. The biggest problem now is maybe a user-related issue, as the fields play faster and allow for harder cuts, it's only natural the players use this to their advantage, but this can lead to ligament and ankle injuries. They do make cleats that help this, though. I think, as of now, all studies show no increased amount of injuries on artificial fields vs natural, only different kinds of injuries.
Also, I doubt, if Tennessee moves to artificial, they get turf from Fieldturf, probably Astroturf, mainly because Tennessee is(or was, not sure anymore, haven't heard anything since they built the practice facility and installed Astroturf), pretty much a Tencate(fiber manufacturer for turf) test-bed. We used to use Tencate until we discontinued business with them because of fiber durability and fail-rate, and bought our own extrusion company.

 

[cwbytruckers]

I heard Notre Dame is going back to turf. Coaches like the ideal because they practice in turf.

 

[DeerPark12]

I heard the talkers on the Ainge show saying that the field has been getting beat up pretty bad and the powers that be may bring back artificial turf. What do you guys think. I personally hate it, hated to play on it and it seems to cause more injuries than natural grass. Would've liked to started a poll couldn't find where to do that.

They are not going to bring back artificial turf.

UT is in the process of getting some outside opinions on why the turf has not held up as well in recent years as in the past.

The weather has been a big part of it, lots of places in this area, including Smokies Park and local golf courses have had significant grass issues the last two summers.

Dave Hart feels pretty strongly that football is played on grass, not turf.

 

[GAVol]

This isn't your granddaddy's Astroturf. The newer turf fields are EXTREMELY nice. There are several local high schools where I live that now use it and I've stood on the UTC Mocs turf field.

Personally I like the idea because I think it just looks nicer. For years I have thought our field hasn't looked very good and it frustrates me that the paint on the field looks faded and transparent. A nice turf field would be more visually striking and I think the Power T at the 50 and the checkerboards in the end zones would be more bold and stand out more.

If you've ever stood on the new stuff, it's hard to even tell the difference between turf and grass. It's definitely not the thin green carpet over a parking lot that it was back in the day.

 

[Aerie Vol]

Rhea County High School (southeast TN) got a new turf field a year ago as part of the package for building a new school. I have a daughter and son who both play soccer on it and march in the band. I have personally refereed many soccer matches on the field and I can unequivocally say:

Bring this stuff to Neyland!

Several Chattanooga area schools (mostly private) have recently upgraded football and soccer fields to manufactured turf (artificial doesn't even sound right due to the stigma of the patio carpet of yesteryear.) The stuff is a dream to ref and play on: perfectly true bounces, no worries about stepping in a hole or falling on a sprinkler head.

And it's downright beautiful - year round. Bring it on!

AV

 

[GAVol]

Dave Hart feels pretty strongly that football is played on grass, not turf.

Isn't that kind of an antiquated view at this point? Turf has evolved light years in the past 10-15 years.

 

[ChiroVol]

FieldTurf or something like that is the absolute best option now-a-days. They do take some maintenance but the operating cost compared to natural grass is extremely lower. My alma mater has a FieldTurf field....and let me tell you..IT DOES NEED MAINTENANCE. They have neglected to rake and redistribute the rubber pellet bedding and now it has holes everywhere in it and the graphics now look distorted. No doubt the grounds crew at UT will keep it in tip top shape. Just sharing my experiences.

 

[ChiroVol]

Looks great though..UT MARTIN

 

[UT_Dutchman]

They are not going to bring back artificial turf.

UT is in the process of getting some outside opinions on why the turf has not held up as well in recent years as in the past.

The weather has been a big part of it, lots of places in this area, including Smokies Park and local golf courses have had significant grass issues the last two summers.

Dave Hart feels pretty strongly that football is played on grass, not turf.

Actually the commentators were saying that the high school jamboree has been destroying the natural grass and they are not going to let them play on it anymore. As well as they believe CBJ wants to bring in artificial turf.

 

[ChiroVol]

They are not going to bring back artificial turf.

UT is in the process of getting some outside opinions on why the turf has not held up as well in recent years as in the past.

The weather has been a big part of it, lots of places in this area, including Smokies Park and local golf courses have had significant grass issues the last two summers.

Dave Hart feels pretty strongly that football is played on grass, not turf.

I guess you and Dave Hart be like...

 

[fade route]

I was on the field last Thanksgiving with my son and it looked pretty beat up. I like the new field turf, wouldn't mind it at all.

 

[DeerPark12]

Isn't that kind of an antiquated view at this point? Turf has evolved light years in the past 10-15 years.

It has evolved and is very good, but I would hardly call playing on grass "antiquated."

Currently, only Arkansas, Missouri, Vandy and Ole Miss have turf in the SEC.

The actual money savings is virtually nil.

At a college stadium, you have to replace the surface every 5 years, and it can run as high as $2 million to do that. It also has to be maintained, cleaned and raked after every game.

Additionally, the University still has to employ a grounds crew and maintain their equipment because they also take care of the practice fields, baseball, soccer and softball. The total savings just isn't there.

High schools aren't doing it to save on groundscrew costs, they're doing it to have more events on the fields.