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Grass safer than Turf

  • I say plow the whole field under and lay some of that super bright, alternating colored turf that Oregon has. It looks so cool on TV.

    This post was edited by Jor El on 5/1/2012 at 7:01 PM

    Jor El ●

  • -PPTPW- said...

    I mean, there's a marked difference between traditional 'Astro' turf and FieldTurf.

    Astro turf is essentially a carpet on concrete and is awful.

    FieldTurf is great to me because you get the consistent traction of Astro turf with the more forgiving quality of grass.

    Natural fields can essentially feel like concrete when it's cold whereas FieldTurf does not.

    What's more, if there's a divot in grass, it can be just as bad to have a misstep on it as one on Astro turf.

    More traction (after a point) = less safe.

    Why?

    Because, if you get better traction when put your feet in positions that overextend ligaments instead of your foot slipping and you falling over, your foot stays put and you start to fall over, further pulling on and possibly tearing your ligaments.

    Beardy

  • Did MSU ever have artificial turf like UM has now or just the astro turf?

    MSUChip23

  • SpartanBoiler said...

    Yup. Purdue is the only Big Ten school never to have artificial turf.

    What about practice fields? The athletes probably spend more time on practice fields than in their own stadium.. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Purdue doesn't have natural grass practice fields (considering their ACL woes)..

    TheAxMan

  • Buffalo Spartan said...

    Penn State too, if you want to count them.

    I can't find anything on PSU having artificial turf, but Purdue's website says this:

    Ross-Ade Stadium carries the distinction of being the only stadium in the Big Ten Conference always to have featured "real grass."

    http://www.purduesports.com/trads/pur-m-fb-rosadestadium.html

    Anyone know anything about PSU's turf?

    This post was edited by SpartanBoiler on 5/1/2012 at 7:31 PM

    SpartanBoiler

  • TheAxMan said...

    What about practice fields? The athletes probably spend more time on practice fields than in their own stadium.. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Purdue doesn't have natural grass practice fields (considering their ACL woes)..

    They have an outdoor grass field and an indoor artificial turf field.

    Oddly, most of Purdue's ACL injuries have happened during games. I think Bolden's 2nd (of 3) tear and Henry's tear are the only non-game tears in the last few years. Bolden's third, Marve's second, and Smith's only tear came during games.

    SpartanBoiler

  • NEspartan said...

    Astroturf has improved their product line in the last few years, it is very comparable to Fieldturf now. The the new indoor field at Duffy that was installed last summer is Astroturf.

    This. There are several companiea that have systems comparable to FieldTurf now. There are also lots of companies besides Rollerblade making inline skates, but everyone still calls them rollerblades.

    Phil McCrackin ●

  • SpartanBoiler said...

    They have an outdoor grass field and an indoor artificial turf field.

    Oddly, most of Purdue's ACL injuries have happened during games. I think Bolden's 2nd (of 3) tear and Henry's tear are the only non-game tears in the last few years. Bolden's third, Marve's second, and Smith's only tear came during games.

    Injuries are far more likely during games, regardless of surface. Players simply do not go as hard during practices as they do during games.

    Phil McCrackin ●

  • well of course grass is safer than turf. grass is organic, while turf is made in a factory.

    signature image signature image signature image

    East Lansing- A Drinking Town with a Football Problem

    tLonelyStoner

  • MSUChip23 said...

    Did MSU ever have artificial turf like UM has now or just the astro turf?

    No, they had the Green carpet that was moved outside the stadium and used for field hockey in 2002. I think that was originlly installed in the 70's.

    Phil McCrackin ●

  • Illinois- Field Turf (have always had some artificial crap)
    Indiana- FieldTurf (apparently they had a sinkhole in 2008)
    Iowa- Field Turf (they've always had an artificial surface)
    Michigan- Field Turf (though I don't blame them, that field was atrocious in it's last years due to poor management)
    Michigan State- Grass
    Minnesota- Field Turf
    Nebraska- Field Turf (been artificial since 1970, and first major FieldTurf installation)
    Northwestern- Grass clap
    Ohio State- Field Turf (land-grant fail)
    Penn State- Grass
    Purdue- Bermuda Grass (invasive species technically)
    Wisconsin- FieldTurf

    Batesianmimicry

  • Phil McCrackin said...

    No, they had the Green carpet that was moved outside the stadium and used for field hockey in 2002. I think that was originlly installed in the 70's.

    The first season with carpet in Spartan Stadium was either 1969 or 1970. Duffy was enthusiastic about artificial turf in the late 1960's. Here is a quote from the late Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty courtesy of the January 27, 1969 edition of Sports Illustrated :

    "By 1973 nearly every major college will have artificial turf. They'll have to in order to survive."

    In that same article, players were already complaining about the artificial turf.

    Duffys Caddy939

  • SpartanBoiler said...

    I can't find anything on PSU having artificial turf, but Purdue's website says this:

    Ross-Ade Stadium carries the distinction of being the only stadium in the Big Ten Conference always to have featured "real grass."

    http://www.purduesports.com/trads/pur-m-fb-rosadestadium.html

    Anyone know anything about PSU's turf?

    I am almost positive they have never had artificial grass.

    Buffalo Spartan ●

  • Duffy's Caddy said...

    The first season with carpet in Spartan Stadium was either 1969 or 1970. Duffy was enthusiastic about artificial turf in the late 1960's. Here is a quote from the late Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty courtesy of the January 27, 1969 edition of Sports Illustrated :

    "By 1973 nearly every major college will have artificial turf. They'll have to in order to survive."

    In that same article, players were already complaining about the artificial turf.

    69 was the first year.

    Buffalo Spartan ●

  • LoneWolfSparty said...

    Grass safer than Coke.

    It's a gateway turf! panic

    CmdrNebula19863 ●

  • tLonelyStoner said...

    well of course grass is safer than turf. grass is organic, while turf is made in a factory.

    legalize it, man

    CmdrNebula19863 ●

  • Snowy Spartan said...

    Honestly I hated playing on field turf. The crumb rubber gets everywhere, the field was more sensitive to temperature (colder at cold temps, hotter at warm temps) and when it gets wet it gets slick.

    Give me a well groomed natural turf any day over field turf.

    I kind of agree. Field turf is a bit over rated IMO. Is it better than the cement turf of the 70s? Most definitely. But it's still nowhere near a well taken care of natural turf surface. Joints and muscles hurt twice as long after playing on field turf over natural turf. And yes those pesky rubber pellets are a nuisance. Ever get one in your eye? Not fun. And skin burns suck too.

    ByTor20084

  • Buffalo Spartan said...

    I am almost positive they have never had artificial grass.

    I'm almost positive too. Everything online says Beaver Stadium has had grass since it opened in 1960 and AstroTurf didn't exist until 1964.

    SpartanBoiler

  • By-Tor said...

    . Ever get one in your eye? Not fun.

    I remember this happened to Greg Jones his senior year

    Draymond Green, Magic Johnson, and Oscar Robertson are the only players to have two triple-doubles in the NCAA Tournament.

    red_cedar

  • So I'm studying for a CSS final, and I just read that field turf will be up to 70 degrees hotter than natural turf during summer conditions. (direct sunlight, warm/hot air temps, dry) This is due to the fact that natural turf has moisture in it, and uses some of the sunlight for growth. Field turf is dry and reflects sunlight, and the black pellets absorb heat.

    This post was edited by Snowy Spartan on 5/2/2012 at 1:24 AM

    attachment

    Snowy Spartan

  • Here's my counter-argument though. Field turf may be less safe on ACLs because it has worse traction during the warmer months, but Big Ten grass fields get torn to hell in November. I have to imagine that when you have large chunks of semi-frozen grass shifting under your feet the balance turns.

    It's also one of the reasons I think southern schools get quicker players - they can practice outdoors and maintain the speed all year. Big Ten speed slows down as the year goes on due to field conditions.

    /tin foil hat

    signature image signature image signature image

    40,000 posts strong.

    LegendAndLeader

  • When UM had natural grass it seems like we were constantly hearing how it was safer, less injuries.... now that MSU has grass and UM has plastic, I don't hear that argument anymore...

    /bluewall

    gdarb

  • The only reason I miss the artificial turf:

    attachment

    LoneWolfSparty

  • Snowy Spartan said...

    Give me a well groomed natural turf any day over field turf.

    he he he.

    Izzo Court ●

  • Legend&Leader said...

    Here's my counter-argument though. Field turf may be less safe on ACLs because it has worse traction during the warmer months, but Big Ten grass fields get torn to hell in November. I have to imagine that when you have large chunks of semi-frozen grass shifting under your feet the balance turns.

    It's also one of the reasons I think southern schools get quicker players - they can practice outdoors and maintain the speed all year. Big Ten speed slows down as the year goes on due to field conditions.

    /tin foil hat

    I think that players adapt to the conditions pretty well, no matter what the surface is. When it is frozen or the field is torn up, I think players don't cut as hard.

    My opinion on the "SEC Speed" is that it is partially just the style of play which attracts players suited to that style, and partially that it is tougher for B1G teams to run a high-tempo run and gun offense when it is 20 degrees with blowing snow. Even on fake grass, most teams are going to run the ball more and slow down a bit in cold weather.

    I'm not sure that practicing outdoors year round is all that big of a benefit to developing speed, but could be a factor. Also something to consider... if you are a high school coach in Louisiana, you're probably more likely to emulate the style of play that LSU uses and develop kids for a high-tempo passing/outside running offense at a young age. High school coaches in Nebraska are more likely to develop defense, running between the tackles and linemen because that is the style of play that the Huskers are known for.

    Phil McCrackin ●

Michigan State
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