The latest [rumor] to gain momentum regarding UA football is that field turf, or some form of artificial turf, will be installed at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Not going to happen, according to Thad Turnipseed, UA’s director of athletic facilities
.
"Zero chance," he said. "It hasn’t even been discussed."
Tommy Deas: No field turf for Bryant-Denny
So much for the FieldTurf in Bryant-Denny in 2010 rumor. I still find the entire matter to be an interesting question -- and regardless of what we do, the playing surface at Bryant-Denny does need to be dramatically improved -- but for now UA has shot down any and all rumors of FieldTurf being installed in Bryant-Denny any time soon.
4 months ago
outsidethesidelines
25 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
"Thad Turnipseed"...
I mean, if there ever was a more appropriate and fitting name of someone that would run your facilities and groundskeeping department.
If so, then I’d hope one of the slogans he has contains derivitives of the, “didn’t fall off the turnip truck” saying my grandmother always gave me.
We’re not going to mention what I was getting into all the times she said it to me.
It's not what you've done but what you are doing that matters.
by AlabamaJammer on Mar 16, 2010 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes..in his "ABOUT" section, he has posted...
I currently serve as Director of Athletic Facilities, Capital Projects and Events with the University of Alabama Athletic Department. I also serve as Director of Football External Affairs with the UA athletic department. I am also owner of Turnipseed Enterprises, a local homebuilding company. I joined the University of Alabama Athletic Department in October 2002. Prior to joining the staff at Alabama, I was owner of Calvary Construction and Calvary Flooring in Jefferson and Tuscaloosa Counties for seven years.
I hope we never go to an artificial surface
As crap as Legion Field is, it’s even more crap because of the artificial surface.
RollBamaRoll.com - Also check out my music blog: Hear the World
and the Blazers...
"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"
by Stuck in the Plains on Mar 16, 2010 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Good news
I prefer my Heisman winning tailback with 3 good ligaments in each of his knees.
Auburn and Tennessee fans are a lot like Slinkys...neither are worth much but you do get a sense of satisfaction from pushing them down a flight of stairs
Mark Ingram is missing a ligament?
"Yeah, it's Tennessee, that's the way it is sometimes." - Corey Zickefoose, Pulitzer Prize winner and robbery victim
"This is not the end. This is the beginning." - The Great and Powerful Saban
by Thomas Walker Esq on Mar 16, 2010 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions
ooooh, being all fancy with your medical knowledge...
"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"
by Stuck in the Plains on Mar 16, 2010 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions
He only needs 3
FWIW, All I know is Anterior, Posterior and Medial. (ACL, PCL, MCL). I are not Doc-tor, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express a couple of years ago.
Auburn and Tennessee fans are a lot like Slinkys...neither are worth much but you do get a sense of satisfaction from pushing them down a flight of stairs
Pop the LCL, and it will remind you
Proud owner of a rebuilt LCL (Oct 2009).
"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"
by Stuck in the Plains on Mar 16, 2010 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions
From the Proud owner...
…of a rebuilt ACL and MCL, thank you for adding a wee bit of knowledge to my overstuffed brain. I never hear about football injuries involving the LCL, so did not know it existed. I tore my ACL and MCL playing football(the end of my career).
Auburn and Tennessee fans are a lot like Slinkys...neither are worth much but you do get a sense of satisfaction from pushing them down a flight of stairs
BTW
My football career also ended because by the time I recovered, I was too slow and too small. I was 5’11" in 8th grade, played WR/FS. Got my knee blown out as I made a catch. Safety hit me below the knee on backside and LB hit me above knee on frontside, at the same time. By 9th grade, I was still 5’11", 115lbs and slower than everyone on the field. I ended up leaving HS at 6’0", 185lbs, a cross country and tennis star. I am now 6’0", 215lbs and falling apart rapidly. heh
Auburn and Tennessee fans are a lot like Slinkys...neither are worth much but you do get a sense of satisfaction from pushing them down a flight of stairs
A few points
First of all, “Field Turf” is a brand name. The correct term is third-generation artificial turf. UA presently has two such fields. One is in the indoor facility (it was replaced fairly recently and I’m not sure the brand name used – it was at one point the AstroTurf brand of third-generation material) the other is the new outdoor field within the complex closest to Bryant Drive. It was installed just prior to the 2004 season. It is a Sportexe material.
Second, the third-generation product differs not only in the material it is made of polypropylene/polyethylene vs. nylon in earlier versions but also that it incorporates ground up rubber (tires and tennis shoe soles) as a padding. If you watch feet or balls hitting it you will notice the rubber fly. The new blend does not burn like the nylon did when you slide across it.
Third, Alabama not only practices on it, often, but played three games on it this season. Georgia Dome twice and at Ole Miss.
FInally, what are the problems with the present field? It doesn’t meet your definition of what a football field should look like? The problems, as far as I know, are fan perceptions and not performance related. This is pretty simple actually, Bermuda grass (which is what BBS is) does not actively grow once the temperature drops below 60 at night. It certainly does not grow well when you paint over it, like in the end zones. When the season starts the temps are up, the grass has little use and when it is used and damaged, it grows well. By October when the temp starts dropping it does not rebound as quickly. Typically, facilities will use seasonal Rye grass, which does grow well in the cool of fall, to supplement when that happens. Coach Saban does not like Rye because he believes it creates a more slippery surface. Without the Rye grass and with the extra sand that UA places on its field it might not look as good as the fields at Jordan-Hare or Davis-Wade, but answer me this: would you rather have a great looking field or be winning? The bottom line is this: if and when Saban is unhappy with the playing surface at Bryant-Denny it will be changed.
by PictureMeRollin on Mar 16, 2010 3:50 PM CDT reply actions
Agree
I never felt like there was any issue with the field this past year. Even looked back at some pictures in the LSU and UTC games and it looked like it was holding up very well. The Capital One Bowl in Orlando, now that was a field that needed to be dramatically improved.
by montoyamadden on Mar 16, 2010 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Nothing was going to fix that problem in Orlando
It’d been raining for a week and they’d recently had other games on it. No field would’ve held up under that.
RollBamaRoll.com - Also check out my music blog: Hear the World
Holy. Shit.
First, thank you for the info.
Second, as an aside, is there any wonder the rest of the country thinks we’re batshit insane when our fanbase/bloggers/etc actively and passionately discuss the playing surface…in Mid-March?
"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"
by Stuck in the Plains on Mar 16, 2010 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
and, no, I wasn't being a dick...
I always thought that after the late 90s renovations we had much better drainage on the crown, even if the grass wasn’t as green as on the other side of the pasture…
"Hush now, let it go now. I know it's time to go. Time to let this fall from my hands" VNV Nation, "From My Hands"
by Stuck in the Plains on Mar 16, 2010 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Bryant-Denny Stadium
Well, while we are on the subject, does anyone have any new pics of the stadium expansion? I would imagine it is coming along nicely at this point.
Here's...
…a link to rolltide.com’s webcam….
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Mar 16, 2010 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Hasn't Saban
talked about lowering the playing surface to actually get the fans closer to the field? I imagine when the south endzone is complete, we won’t have any where to go but down.
I heard it was his idea to add the south field endzone suites section last year.
That’s where my season tix were and I really enjoyed it. It was tough to see the action when the ball was on the north side of the field, but worth it when the ball was near the south goal line. The main issue is the distance from the field to the stands along the east and west lines.
I wouldn't piss off the boys from Alabama . . . DBT
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
