“I consider FieldTurf to be the most significant, important technological advancement in the modern game of soccer.”
Hank Steinbrecher, C.E.O. and Secretary General, United States Soccer Federation.
FROM THE GROUND UP
Aug 18, 2009
Indiana Statesman
d'ici le Trever Fehrenbach
Memorial Stadium is receiving quite the makeover these days.
After the last couple of years with a dilapidated field and archaic locker rooms, the Sycamore football team and women's soccer program will open their seasons playing on a brand new FieldTurf and newly constructed locker rooms.
"This is as good as is it gets," head football coach Trent Miles said. "The administration spared no expense, and both [the football program] and the women's soccer program are excited about playing on this field. The locker rooms and field are going to be top notch, and we now have the best field in the Missouri Valley Conference."
The FieldTurf is already completed with the teams already practicing on it.
The locker rooms are still in progress, but will be finished before the opening football game on Aug. 27. The renovations will cost the university $1.8 million total for both projects, with the field at an estimated final cost of $710,000.
"This is a sound commitment to both programs from the administration," Miles said. "[The football team] is seeing a commitment to upgrading from the university. This shows us leadership and the willingness to back our program. For too long, the players heard rumors of the football program being lifted and I think that got into their heads. But, with this field, we couldn't ask for a better upswing in the program."
FieldTurf is considered the best playing surface for athletes in this day and age. Currently, 50 NCAA programs have installed this turf along with 21 of 32 NFL teams, including the Indianapolis Colts. All in all, FieldTurf has installed 3,000 fields across the world.
FieldTurf also offers many green benefits to the teams that choose to install the field. With no watering necessary, FieldTurf has saved close to 25 billion gallons of water since 1996 and helped in the aid of recycling almost 68 million tires (which makes up the base of the field) in that time frame as well.
But with all of the amenities and positives that the turf offers, the most important aspect is the safety of players. With this new field, players will no longer have to worry about missing pieces and sections of AstroPlay, with a gap big enough on which to roll an ankle. Nor will they have to cringe each time they run out of bounds, chancing a slip or hard fall to the concrete, because the field was extended on each sideline to accommodate the extra width needed for the soccer field.
"I am excited to play on it," junior running back Darrius Gates said. "Our old field was beat up and just knowing this field is safer and better makes us excited to try it out. We will definitely be playing fast and hard on this new surface."
The Sycamore football team will be the first to host a game on the new field Aug. 27 against Quincy College, and the Lady Sycamores soccer team will take their turn with a home opener against IUPUI on Sept. 6 at 2 p.m.The following material was derived from foreign sources and is only available in its original language.
