Will artificial turf be brought back to Neyland.

#301
#301
Deerparks post --- There are many reasons why this is the case, suffice to say that there is significant enough pressure on UT that they need to do everything they can to keep a natural surface.

That said, I expect someone else to be in charge of the football field next year. The closed-door meeting on the turf that was mentioned in the media this week? The current groundskeeper was not invited.

UT has one of the top turfgrass programs in the country. The current groundskeeper uses their students as basically free labor, but does not follow many of the methods that are taught. I also expect that to change and for the AD to rely more on the resources present on campus.
 
Last edited:
#306
#306
508mikey said:
Deerparks post --- There are many reasons why this is the case, suffice to say that there is significant enough pressure on UT that they need to do everything they can to keep a natural surface.

That said, I expect someone else to be in charge of the football field next year. The closed-door meeting on the turf that was mentioned in the media this week? The current groundskeeper was not invited.

UT has one of the top turfgrass programs in the country. The current groundskeeper uses their students as basically free labor, but does not follow many of the methods that are taught. I also expect that to change and for the AD to rely more on the resources present on campus.
Click to expand...



He will probably be gone. The quality of natural turf on the field was never a discussion until after the previous grounds keeper retired.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#308
#308
UT_Dutchman said:
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.
Click to expand...

First of all, the poll switch is overused, so I am glad you couldn't find it.

I hate artificial turf. Always have, always will. Hated the older types, and hate the newer type more. I would rather see a field of mud than turf. Football, and for that matter all outdoor sports, were meant to be played on God's green grass. Just the smell of standing on a freshly mowed field of kentucky bluegrass, bermuda, and fescue still stirs my blood.

Indoor stadiums and artificial turf are to me abominations. And even though I saw many a game at Neyland with the turf, I will always remember the first time I walked in there with real grass on the field. Nothing more beautiful.
 
#310
#310
The answer is simple. Take a season where the field was good. See what they did then. DO THAT.
 
#311
#311
After watching several games this weekend, it is clear we have a turf issue no other team has!

Remember someone posting a pic this summer of the field being all dirt. Wonder if the roots of the sod grew deep enough?? Would explain alot! JMO

As far as the "surface" goes, this is from Wiki...



"The artificial surface was used through the 1993 season, the last game on the surface being a 62-14 win over Vanderbilt. Afterwards the surface was ripped up and sections were auctioned off to raise funds for the university. The turf was replaced with natural grass the following year, with the checkerboard end zones and midfield logo retained. In 1998, the interlocking "UT" was replaced with the same Power T logo as seen on the football helmets. Since 2007, the entire surface gets re-sodded annually with Tifway bermudagrass, which rests on a 12-inch bed of sand to enhance drainage."



The old fake turf, as told to me by a former player, was like poker table felt over concrete!

With the advancements since the 90's, It might very well be time to consider artificial again?!





.
 
Last edited:
#312
#312
I don't know what they do now but when they originally went back to grass the field was sprigged instead of sodded. I don't ever remember our field being a problem until this year. With the sand base I do know that drainage isn't the problem as some have suggested.




.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#313
#313
MT LeConte said:
I don't know what they do now but when they originally went back to grass the field was sprigged instead of sodded. I don't ever remember our field being a problem until this year. With the sand I do know that drainage isn't the problem as some have suggested.
Click to expand...

Got a new keeper who thinks he knows it all. Shoud've listened to the old keeper...ain't it the way.

GO VOLS!
 
#314
#314
Chilmonty said:
The old fake turf, as told to me by a former player, was like poker table felt over concrete!

With the advancements since the 90's, It might very well be time to consider artificial again?!
Click to expand...

The old stuff would be more like trying to play football on a Putt-Putt course, and it trapped and retained heat like you wouldn't believe.

Then the worst part would be having to shower and use iodine soap to stave off bacterial infections from the playing surface.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#315
#315
Didn't Knoxville have a fair amount of rain a week or so ago? No doubt part of the problem, but the field should be designed to drain better than it appears that it does.

Sounds like it's time to bring in someone knowledgeable and start over with an up to date drainage base.

Don't we have an engineering college? :eek:hmy:
 
#317
#317
Never thought id say this but with todays advancements in artificial turf, I think it's time we go back to artificial turf. Cant believe I just said that. No reason it cant get done by next year. I think better conditions suit better players. Faster and quicker is easier on a good suface. JMO
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#318
#318
Yeah same here, always been a natural grass guy (no pot jokes :birgits_giggle:), but artificial might be the way to go!




.
 
#320
#320
Didn't Knoxville have a fair amount of rain a week or so ago? No doubt part of the problem, but the field should be designed to drain better than it appears that it does.

Sounds like it's time to bring in someone knowledgeable and start over with an up to date drainage base.

Don't we have an engineering college? :eek:hmy:
 
#322
#322
Chilmonty said:
Yeah same here, always been a natural grass guy (no pot jokes :birgits_giggle:), but artificial might be the way to go!




.
Click to expand...

Not happening - as posted in the other threads -- the current goober is getting let go and they will not change to field turf ever
 
#323
#323
Probably been said before but I'll point it out again:

Jalen Hurd hardest hit. You simply cannot get a 240 lb body stopped and turned the way he's capable of with our current field conditions. It's been obviously hindering his performance the last two weeks. Kamara, being lighter on his feet, hasn't felt the impact as greatly, but I do feel he had a couple he could have went the distance on had he not "bogged down" while cutting.

Must get this fixed. I'm actually glad to be heading to Mizzou's turf.

AV
 
#325
#325
I was doing some work in the area for the Worlds Fair site in the summer of 80 or 81 and they were replacing the artificial surface with a new one. The original surface was carpet on top of asphalt. They were using a road grader to peel up the old surface. I was kind of shocked when I saw that.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top