Why Natural Grass When new Head Coach Chad Morris joined the Razorbacks in December 2017, he wasn’t shy about his preference for natural grass over synthetic. A few months later in March 2018, he told the Arkansas Democrat- Gazette, “I’m a natural grass type of guy. I love being on a grass field. Tere’s nothing better than that in college football, or football period.”
According to Berger, the shelf life of a synthetic field is generally an 8- to 10-year period. With the artificial surface aging out, a decision had to be made regarding a renovation. Berger researched the pros and cons of installing a new synthetic field vs. putting in a new natural grass field. He consulted with Dr. Doug Karcher and Dr. Mike Richardson, turfgrass scientists on staff at the University of Arkansas, to get their feedback on possible natural turf varieties. He created a presentation filled with applicable information to help Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek, Coach Morris and University elite make an informed decision.
Among the information provided were the advantages and disadvantages of natural grass vs. synthetic turf:
Natural grass advantages and disadvantages • Perceived Safer • Cooler Playing Surface • Environmentally Friendly • Cultivar with Cold Tolerance needed • Fertilizer/Pesticides • Water Usage-Plants • More Maintenance/Cultivation • Less adaptive to outside events • Cold Temp Discoloration - overseeding or painting needed
Synthetic turf advantages and disadvantages • Perceived less safe • Weekly Light Maintenance • Warmer Surface • Biochemical Apps • Water Usage-Stability and Flushing • Multi-functional Surface • Care taken in disposal • Color Resistant to Weather • Cold Tolerant
Berger expanded on the list, saying several factors played a role in the decision to convert to natural grass. Heat tests Berger conducted on the synthetic field yielded temperatures “up to 165 to 175 degrees” in the heat of the day which “takes the legs out of a player.” And, Berger adds, “Te coaches get more players who would rather play on natural grass than synthetic.” Player safety was a consideration. “Natural grass is more
TPI Turf News November/December 2019
forgiving on the body,” Berger says. “Tere are more injuries to ankles and lower extremities on synthetic turf.”
Pat Berger, CGCS, Director of Sports Turf Operations for the past 18 years at Arkansas.
A study published in January of this year in the American Journal of Sports Medicine titled “Higher Rates of Lower Extremity Injury on Synthetic Turf Compared With Natural Turf Among National Football League Athletes: Epidemiologic Confirmation of a
Biomechanical Hypothesis” confirms this: “Biomechanical studies have shown that synthetic turf surfaces do not release cleats as readily as natural turf, and it has been hypothesized that concomitant increased loading on the foot contributes to the incidence of lower body injuries.”
Even equipment costs were considered in the decision. Berger says although the stadium had been artificial turf for a decade, the University still owns turfgrass maintenance equipment used for other grass surface sports such as baseball and softball. Terefore, buying new equipment was not an issue.
Te Razorbacks’ record also tells a story. “We were a better team on natural grass then we are on synthetic,” Berger says. “I’m happy we’re going back. Te AD and the coach and the people of Arkansas are overwhelmingly excited about going back to natural grass.”
Why Tahoma 31 With Coach Morris, the self-proclaimed natural grass guy, the verdict to replace the plastic surface with natural grass came as no surprise to Razorback fans. Te selection of Tahoma 31 bermudagrass came, in no small measure, on the enthusiastic recommendations of Drs. Karcher and Richardson, which were based on the results of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) studies in cold and drought tolerance, as well as the wear-tolerance research conducted by Dr. John Sorochan at the University of Tennessee that showed the variety’s exceptional wear tolerance. In fact, Berger included only this one natural grass variety in his presentation to Yurachek and Morris.
Dr. Karcher, a professor of turfgrass science at the University of Arkansas for nearly 20 years, recalls, “I started hearing rumors in late winter or early spring 2018 that our new coach, Chad Morris, was interested in going to natural grass. Te artificial turf was coming up on 10
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