Grass v Turf

[zooropa]

Re: Grass v Turf

3, 4 & 7 make field turf sound kind of gross.....

[mitchell]

Re: Grass v Turf

Even though NDSU has turf its crap, and your right when ND and SD High Schools and Concordia College in Moorhead are playing on new Field and Sprint turf!!

Here's an example of another issue with turf in that it has a shelf life. After you raise all the money to acquire it, you're going to have to do the same thing all over again in the not-to-distant future.

Look at NDSU's turf. It's faded out and hard as a rock. A couple years ago it seemed half their team had to miss games because of turf toe and I'm concussions are more prevalent on a turf field compared to a grass one.

I'm probably a bit biased though since I consider football to be a man's sport meant to be played outdoors in the elements. A sport about toughness (mental & physical) more than a sport based on speed and finesse as the game is transitioning to.

[SpeedRabbit]

Re: Grass v Turf

It depends what the word "it" means. Cant pass judgement on the the stupid idea until you define "it".

IT Brookings High School playing at Coughlin!!!

[NoVaJack]

Re: Grass v Turf

i've walked on local high school fields installed within the last five years and in both instances my sneakers came out dusted in some nasty looking vulcanized/rubberized/pulverized concoction reminiscent of walking through a dead campfire. A lot of the "studies" out there about it are done by industry organizations or the companies themselves.

[KUlawJack]

Re: Grass v Turf

I am a well-documented supporter of natural grass, so I'd like to take a moment right now to, once again, state that I support the continued use of natural grass as the playing surface at CAS and whatever the new stadium might be called. Thank you.

[slosho]

Re: Grass v Turf

I am a well-documented supporter of natural grass, so I'd like to take a moment right now to, once again, state that I support the continued use of natural grass as the playing surface at CAS and whatever the new stadium might be called. Thank you.

I echo these sentiments 100%

[jackrabit1]

Re: Grass v Turf

Ah yes, with Brookings and every other school district in South Dakota having to deal with over 6-percent in budget cuts this season... yeah, they should have a million-dollars or so in petty cash lying around... *sarc*

[SoDakJack]

Re: Grass v Turf

I am assuming that we will have natural grass for the next couple seasons. And, I also assume that BHS will continue to play their games in CAS as well. With those two assumptions, what needs to be done to improve the playing conditions? Is it a drainage issue? Perhaps use a different hybrid grass? Resod the center of the field mid season?

What options are really out there?

[SDSUAlum08]

Re: Grass v Turf

i've walked on local high school fields installed within the last five years and in both instances my sneakers came out dusted in some nasty looking vulcanized/rubberized/pulverized concoction reminiscent of walking through a dead campfire. A lot of the "studies" out there about it are done by industry organizations or the companies themselves.

Just like most medical/drug studies.

Coughlin needs turf whether people like it or not. The field can't make it through the fall with the high school team playing there. Hopefully the stadium can be built in the next 5-6 years.

[CatchEmAll]

Re: Grass v Turf

Some research stating cost is greater to maintain field turf than natural grass. I don't know the methodology or whether there is any bias. Here is the link.

http://turf.uark.edu/turfhelp/archives/021109.html

Maintenance
It is a myth that synthetic fields require less maintenance than natural turfgrass fields or to say that artificial turf fields are maintenance free. Synthetic fields require 1) additional infill, 2) irrigation because of unacceptably high temperatures on warm-sunny days, 3) chemical disinfectants, 4) sprays to reduce static cling and odors, 5) drainage repair and maintenance, 6) erasing and repainting temporary lines, and 7) removing organic matter accumulation. In a recent presentation by the Michigan State University, Certified Sports Turf Manager, she cited that the typical annual maintenance costs of her artificial turf fields ranged from $13,720-$39,220, while the typical annual maintenance costs of her natural turf fields had a similar range of $8,133-$48,960 (1).

So after reading this I'd be more inclined to stick with the natural stuff. I loved the grass at CAS, but then again, we were the only team playing on it. If $1M or more is going to be put into the surface, why not look at some of the higher end grass installations - heavy on the drainage. That would solve a portion of SD's weather problems.

[2002jack]

Re: Grass v Turf

I would like to see us stay with sod, but invest more money in a good sand based sod with drainage. It seems like we could hire a consultant to help us build a respectable so grass field. I think it's pretty cool that we play outdoors and on real grass. I know a lot of others feel the same way.

[zooropa]

Re: Grass v Turf

I would like to see us stay with sod, but invest more money in a good sand based sod with drainage. It seems like we could hire a consultant to help us build a respectable so grass field. I think it's pretty cool that we play outdoors and on real grass. I know a lot of others feel the same way.

I agree---and paint the field more often.

[SoDakJack]

Re: Grass v Turf

I agree---and paint the field more often.

I imagine it is difficult to get paint to stick to dirt/mud

[jackmd]

Re: Grass v Turf

Without a doubt a properly maintained and not overused natural grass surface is much preferred over any form of synthetic field. There is no argument to the contrary. However, SDSU doesn't have a properly maintained not overused natural grass surface at this time. Solution in my mind is to make CAS excluseviley for Jackrabbit football and improve the natural grass surface as described in previous posts.

That will require some further dicussions with Brookings HS but perhaps something can be worked out. Perhaps it cannot. I don't want to see artificial turf at CAS, it's just not the right thing to do.

[SpeedRabbit]

Re: Grass v Turf

Without a doubt a properly maintained and not overused natural grass surface is much preferred over any form of synthetic field. There is no argument to the contrary. However, SDSU doesn't have a properly maintained not overused natural grass surface at this time. Solution in my mind is to make CAS excluseviley for Jackrabbit football and improve the natural grass surface as described in previous posts.

That will require some further dicussions with Brookings HS but perhaps something can be worked out. Perhaps it cannot. I don't want to see artificial turf at CAS, it's just not the right thing to do.

Agree- a nice grass field is awesome but we don't have that and if the bobcats are going to continue to play at coughlin then field turf is a must.