Eastern Washington University is giving a whole new meaning to the term “red zone.”
Following the lead of the Broncos — the Boise State Broncos — the Eagles are planning to install a blood-red synthetic turf at its Woodward Field in time for the 2010 season.
“There is no doubt that one of Boise State’s claim to fame has been their blue turf and like it or dislike it, it has certainly brought them a tremendous amount of notoriety,” Eastern Washington athletic director Bill Chaves told Athletic Turf News. “In a similar vein we have a tremendous opportunity at Eastern to do the same by differentiating ourselves with the red turf while providing a superior playing surface.”
The red, fake-grass project sprouted when the Tennessee Titans’ Michael Roos, a former Eagles star, pledged $500,000 for the turf.
The red field will be the first of its kind in the entire country, according to the school’s press release.
Trivia time.
What was the first major sports stadium to use artificial turf? (answer below)
Polling.
Thursday’s “Lunch Special” poll asked if you would be watching Sunday’s NFL Pro Bowl. With nearly 500 votes cast, nearly 56 percent of you said you would surf the game on your TV, tuning in from time to time. A little more than 27 percent said they would watch in order to catch the Broncos on the AFC roster. About 17 percent said they would rather watch the X Games from Aspen.
Quotable.
“They always seem to play a boring trap game. They just want to keep it close and hope you make a mistake and capitalize. We let that happen tonight.” —
Reader’s rant.
“Sweet! That is what we need, some depth at those positions. This is perfect for the Rockies! Let’s go O’Dowd, he would look good in purple and black!” — Mathew G posting about the Rockies’ quest for Orlando Cabrera.
Blogspot.
Post baseball writer Troy E. Renck alerts us that Good for Fogg, one of the best guys around.
And there is a lesson here to all of you parents: Let your babies grow up to be major league pitchers and you’ll rest easy in retirement.
In case you missed it.
All of that talk that he was a postseason choker really got to Alex Rodriguez, baseball’s high-paid player.
In an interview with Yankees Entertainment and Sports’ Kimberley Jones, Rodriguez revealed how much the “choker” moniker bothered him.
“It was good because I was so tired of hearing that,” A-Rod said, relieved that his stellar appearance in the 2009 World Series lifted the gorilla off his back. “I mean, it was, it was exhausting, to be honest with you and, you know, it was so frustrating to go in every postseason with all the expectations and ambitions to do well, and three, four games (later) we were right back in Miami and to our prospective homes and it was frustrating, painful.”
Trivia answer.
The Houston Astrodome in 1966. They tried to grow real grass, but it died. Hence, the plastic stuff.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1720 or psaunders@denverpost.com
