New Turf on Cajun Field

[CrazyCajun]

What the hell is wrong with people. People complain that we dont do anything for the program, then people complain when something positive happens for the program. Your not stuck with the way turf looks, they can change the design just like you do on grass. there is a chemical that removes the paint. the indoor practice facility had crap painted all over it and its no longer there. it does not matter if we like grass of turf, it matters if the players like it and it seems they all do. We are going to use it to take andvantage of our speed. I thought by bringing this up it would be a positive thing to talk about but i guess i was wrong. We dont spend money on football, then when we do its not how we want it spent. come on people think about where this thread ended up going.

[AstroCajun]

the indoor practice facility had crap painted all over it and its no longer there.

It most certainly did.

[Hardcore]

I'm with CC on this one! After watching the last home game and seeing the condition of the field after just one quarter....it's a no-brainer!

[rhineaux]

_ What the hell is wrong with people. People complain that we dont do anything for the program, then people complain when something positive happens for the program. Your not stuck with the way turf looks, they can change the design just like you do on grass. there is a chemical that removes the paint. the indoor practice facility had crap painted all over it and its no longer there. it does not matter if we like grass of turf, it matters if the players like it and it seems they all do. We are going to use it to take andvantage of our speed. I thought by bringing this up it would be a positive thing to talk about but i guess i was wrong. We dont spend money on football, then when we do its not how we want it spent. come on people think about where this thread ended up going. _

Come on Crazy...I don't think that people are truly upset about this, but this is a discussion forum, and that is what is happening. Everyone has different opinions and concerns, and often times, stating them in this forum allows for others to rebuke their claims and changes opinion for the better.

I will say that my beef, and beef is probably too strong a word, is not that we are spending money to help the program, but was the worry that we WOULD spend it WRONG. There's been plenty of evidence of things happening in the ath dept that are, often times, done half-asssed. I certainly think that football is a grass game, and that's probably just the traditionalist in me coming out. but like i said before, I can see the benefits of the turf, and I hope that they invest in a quality product that will not only look great, but will hold up over time, and not end up costing us more in maintenance and such, than just improving the grass would. If this is a project that's been in the works for a while, then I would worry about that. If its something that's just come about by our new regime, then I think that it will probably work out for the better. Just making a statement, not complaining.

I do, however, see Jim's point about the baseball team. We certainly need help in recruiting to football, and this could help. However, if it is at the expense of helping our baseball team potentially crossing the next level, then it may not be the best decision. Hopefully soon, we can have both, and all sports will get what they need so we won't have to have these discussions anymore.

[CrazyCajun]

_ Come on Crazy...I don't think that people are truly upset about this, but this is a discussion forum, and that is what is happening. Everyone has different opinions and concerns, and often times, stating them in this forum allows for others to rebuke their claims and changes opinion for the better.

I will say that my beef, and beef is probably too strong a word, is not that we are spending money to help the program, but was the worry that we WOULD spend it WRONG. There's been plenty of evidence of things happening in the ath dept that are, often times, done half-asssed. I certainly think that football is a grass game, and that's probably just the traditionalist in me coming out. but like i said before, I can see the benefits of the turf, and I hope that they invest in a quality product that will not only look great, but will hold up over time, and not end up costing us more in maintenance and such, than just improving the grass would. If this is a project that's been in the works for a while, then I would worry about that. If its something that's just come about by our new regime, then I think that it will probably work out for the better. Just making a statement, not complaining.

I do, however, see Jim's point about the baseball team. We certainly need help in recruiting to football, and this could help. However, if it is at the expense of helping our baseball team potentially crossing the next level, then it may not be the best decision. Hopefully soon, we can have both, and all sports will get what they need so we won't have to have these discussions anymore. _

i wasnt trying to point out anyone in particular, but it just seems like we are never happy. and if you noticed in my last post i said "WE" b/c i am guilty of it also at times. i promise you the football team did not take robes money for his field. We all know tony is pretty much self supportive and we have plenty of baseball donors that will get them what they need. Not to mention if we get football where it should be, then none of our sport programs will need to worry about money. First game of the year when monroe played tulsa on tv did you see how good their field looked. thats the first thing i noticed and i'm not a recruit. now i was with you forever on the whole football should be played on grass b/c thats the way we were brought up but if you have never been in the indoor facility you need to check it out. i promise that surface is way better than that crappy grass surface we play on every saturday. i don't know if you were at the game when souther miss and ark st. played in the lafayette bowl but thats what a grass field should look like. they planted rye grass before the teams played b/c our surface looked so terrible. And my rant earlier was really only b/c for once i would just like to hear people say something positive about what we are trying to do instead of always finding the negative. We have a new AD, a new asst. AD, and a new Pres, now we need to change into a new mindset. If we always think we are doing the wrong thing then it will never be the right thing and people will always see this university as ass backwards.

[CajunKahouna]

_ What the hell is wrong with people. People complain that we dont do anything for the program, then people complain when something positive happens for the program. Your not stuck with the way turf looks, they can change the design just like you do on grass. there is a chemical that removes the paint. the indoor practice facility had crap painted all over it and its no longer there. it does not matter if we like grass of turf, it matters if the players like it and it seems they all do. We are going to use it to take andvantage of our speed. I thought by bringing this up it would be a positive thing to talk about but i guess i was wrong. We dont spend money on football, then when we do its not how we want it spent. come on people think about where this thread ended up going. _

You can please all the people some of the time,..........blah, blah, blah, BS

[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 )