New Turf on Cajun Field

[Cajun Express]

_ First, let me say that I am for Progress but I don't think we need a new turf for football before Baseball gets their new surfacing done. I mean, Coach Robe has been waiting for this for over 2 years. Why can't we reward our winning programs with much needed repairs before venturing into something this expensive. My questions is, How will this effect Coach Robe getting his new turf, drainage and sprinkling system.

Geaux Cajuns _

First of all, assuming it is coming, we don't know how it is being paid for or who might be funding the bulk of it. So it is not a given that it is successful but short changed baseballvs long suffering money wasting football. I agree this is not the project the university should pay 100% for vs doing what is an absolute need in baseball, only thing is I don't know the funding mechanism.

[levetsj]

Great news.

Check out www.fieldturf.com and watch the video about Ohio State replacing natural grass with fieldturf. And watch the video about Nevada’s baseball field being playable after a heavy rainstorm.


Also check out the list of programs that have the new turf.

[rhineaux]

_ Great news.

Check out www.fieldturf.com and watch the video about Ohio State replacing natural grass with fieldturf. And watch the video about Nevada’s baseball field being playable after a heavy rainstorm.


Also check out the list this of programs that have the new turf. _

Wow, after looking at some of those videos and so forth, I'm a lot more impressed now. i still stand firm on keeping the pepper away from this.

[ljr3721]

Personally I do not think artificial turf at Cajun Field is a good idea, or a wise use of money. In the early 90's the field looked GREAT for every game, and it could look that way again for a fraction of the cost of the turf. Mud is only an issue if it rains during or immediately prior to the game. After a few minutes the excellent drainage system does its job.

But, if the athletic department sees this as a priority, I have no problem with it.

However...one concern that I have is that Cajun Field is two feet below sea level, and relies on sumps and pumps to drain...those sumps are below the playing surface. Does artificial turf allow enough water to pass through its surface to keep up with a heavy rainfall? Remember on a normal field the water can drain off of the sides and everything is fine...not in Cajun Field.

[levetsj]

Wow, after looking at some of those videos and so forth, I'm a lot more impressed now. i still stand firm on keeping the pepper away from this.

And keeping the "Lafayette" out of the endzones.

[Turbine]

_ After a few minutes the excellent drainage system does its job.
_

As you pointed out the field drains very well.

However the sidelines are another matter, the players were stuck in mud most of the year. Sure they covered the sidelines with a mesh cloth but you could feel the mud underneath.

The sidelines close to the wall are another matter altogether, there can be a drain 5 feet away and the ground is pure SWAMP. Sideline reporters, photographers, sunbelt officials, player personnel, athletic equipment personnel, and the band all had to walk through ankle deep mud on the sidelines for more than half the home games this year.

What ever happens something needs to happen. ( profound huh )

[CajunAmos]

I heard there was a donor for baseball, and there will be some changes upcoming with the baseball field. I'm sure they can't do anything with the turf this year, but lighting may be in the works. Hopefully, we can start working on the field after Super Regionals.

[CajunDreDog]

And keeping the "Lafayette" out of the endzones.

You know we HAVE TO use it...so that is why in my previous post I said we put it in red, which will happen to be the EXACT same color as the endzone background...WHOOPS!

[DrumRoll]

_ The main problem with the grass at CAJUN FIELD is that it looks like $h|t!!! There are high school stadiums in the New Orleans area with better looking fields than we have. The fact is, the field turf they're putting out now is so much better quality than the "astro-turf"-type crap they were putting out just 10 years ago that virtually everyone wants it. Another advantage to the field turf is that it won't turn into one giant mud whole every time it rains. _

The entire stadium is being revamped, and the new turf allows for playing on the same surface that will be practiced on. The O-line will be indoors almost exclusively, as the softer surface is much more forgiving on the big guys shins and ankles. I read posts here and wonder why nobody seems to know what's happening, maybe you all do, but just rarely talk about it. If you think field turf is something to argue about, look at what else is going on.

The weight room will be completely overhauled with a new floor and all new custom equipment in January.

The old hotel floor is being renovated into new living quarters.

All of the stadium seating area will be refreshed and painted.

Terraced patio seating will be built into one endzone.

The pressbox structure on the stadium will be demolished and rebuilt for 2009, including end to end luxury skyboxes.

[rhineaux]

_ The entire stadium is being revamped, and the new turf allows for playing on the same surface that will be practiced on. The O-line will be indoors almost exclusively, as the softer surface is much more forgiving on the big guys shins and ankles. I read posts here and wonder why nobody seems to know what's happening, maybe you all do, but just rarely talk about it. If you think field turf is something to argue about, look at what else is going on.

The weight room will be completely overhauled with a new floor and all new custom equipment in January.

The old hotel floor is being renovated into new living quarters.

All of the stadium seating area will be refreshed and painted.

Terraced patio seating will be built into one endzone.

The pressbox structure on the stadium will be demolished and rebuilt for 2009, including end to end luxury skyboxes. _

Where did you get all of this info?