Ever since the invention of AstroTurf in the 1960s, old-school coaching convention insisted football was meant to be played on real grass.
The three area Mountain West old-school coaches – Air Force’s Fisher DeBerry, Colorado State’s Sonny Lubick and Wyoming’s Joe Glenn – believed it, too, until they became converts to the practicality of their new synthetic fields.
“There’s no substitute for grass, and football was intended to be played on grass, but our kids love it,” DeBerry said.
The frozen-tundra era ended at Wyoming last season with a new surface by Desso Sports Systems. CSU has abandoned mud and muck for its new FieldTurf, which debuted Saturday at Hughes Stadium. Air Force must wait until Sept. 30 to show off its new FieldTurf.
“We’re not talking AstroTurf. That’s the Stone Age,” Glenn said. “You wouldn’t know whether you’re walking on grass or Desso Pro Turf.”
Almost as soon as the popularity of AstroTurf spread throughout college football in the early 1970s did the debate grow over safety concerns. Players complained the hard surface led to more injuries. A new movement back toward grass fields emerged in the 1980s, with many universities tearing up artificial turf to install grass over the ensuing decade.
Now, the pendulum is swinging back, with more and more collegiate and pro teams going to artificial surfaces, such as FieldTurf, because of its soft cushion, much like grass, and ease of maintenance.
CSU players rave about the FieldTurf. Defensive tackle Erik Sandie said the worst field he ever played on was the Rams’ old grass field. Now, he said, “this is the greatest one I’ve been on.”
Five of the nine Mountain West schools now have some type of artificial turf, and nine of the Big 12 schools do. More than two dozen Division I-A schools have installed FieldTurf on their playing surfaces. Twenty-two NFL teams use FieldTurf at their stadiums or practice fields.
Colorado has stayed with grass installed in 1999 after nearly three decades of synthetic turf but athletic director Mike Bohn is studying bringing back artificial turf as a cost-saving move.
“Real grass will always be our main competitor,” said FieldTurf marketing manager Darren Gill. “Some schools can afford to keep it going with limited use.”
New CU coach Dan Hawkins – a text-messaging, new-school coach – said: “Football is meant to be played at 1 o’clock in the afternoon on grass. The reality is a lot of places are doing away with the grass. There’s nothing better than the smell of the grass.”
CSU might dispute that, what with the deplorable state of its old grass field compared to its modern surface.
“It was obvious we needed some new surface, whether it was grass or the new surface we have,” CSU coach Sonny Lubick said. “It was so badly needed.”
Going into training camp, CSU senior offensive tackle Clint Oldenburg wasn’t thrilled he would be playing on artificial turf. He heard it would be tougher on his legs. He has changed his mind.
“I like playing on it,” he said. “I prefer grass over turf, but there’s nothing wrong with that turf. It’s probably one of the nicest surfaces in the conference.”
CSU wide receiver Dustin Osborn said: “I know that age-old thing that football is supposed to be played on grass, the mud and snow. But this is great. It allows for better cuts and more crisper routes.”
CSU spent $1.3 million (nearly $500,000 more than Air Force) because extensive work was required to excavate the dirt nearly down to ground-water level before installing the turf.
The current technology for producing artificial turf is light years removed from the low-pile bristle surface of first generation AstroTurf. At best, the wire brush surface caused severe abrasions. At worst it was blamed for ripping up knees when a player caught his spike in the turf.
Instead of a nappy putting- green surface, the new artificial turf has individual strands of “grass.”
Players like the surface because of the cushioning. The FieldTurf system uses a sand base and a few inches of seed-sized recycled rubber pellets. FieldTurf has a contract with Nike providing it with recycled sneaker soles. The rest comes from ground-up tires.
The upside of the cushion is also the biggest downside for the players. Especially with brand new turf, the pellets fly. CSU tight end Kevin McPeek came down with a reception during one recent scrimmage. When he got up, his face looked like he was dunked in a vat of poppy seeds.
“You get used to them,” McPeek said. “You wipe ’em off. Sometimes it get in your eyes. What’s worse is if it gets in your mouth guard. That’s when you start spitting them all out.”
CSU associate athletic director for facilities Doug Max said the stadium will now be available for other events without the need to hang a “Keep off the grass” sign.
A big benefit for Wyoming, Glenn said, is the ability for his team to practice in the stadium every day, giving players a perspective not available on an open practice field.
Another upside of the new carpets is that white hash marks and yard numbers as well as colored logos and end zone designs come in different colors from the factory, eliminating the need for paint.
But when fans see players spitting out something resembling tobacco chew, just remember it’s merely the rubber meeting the road to the end zone.
Staff writer Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
