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Is there a legitimate reason that Ole Miss uses turf on their field than grass?

Posted on 10/6/14 at 1:51 pm
Posted by ThaKaptin
The Sultan of Swag
Member since Nov 2010
21741 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 1:51 pm
I want to preface this post by saying I dont believe turf had anything to do with the loss saturday. We got our asses beat. Ole Miss was the better team Saturday and may be the best team period. I have said since week 1 that we were a 2-3 loss team and are a middle of the pack SEC west team. This post is purely about injuries and turf when players are not used to playing on it because the vast majority of college football fields in the country are natural grass.

Are they just too lazy to cut it or what? I can understand turf in domes and in certain climates where its difficult to keep grass looking presentable during the entirety of football season, but freakin Mississippi isnt one of them. You see a lot of turf in the NFL, and while I dont like it, at least there is enough of it in the league that the players are used to it and know how play on it without getting hurt. College players on the other hand not so much. I would bet a lot of money that Drakes injury Saturday wouldnt have been nearly as devastating if the surface had been grass. He still would have rolled his ankle im sure because of the way the defender rolled up on his leg (unintentionally of course) but his cleat would have been able to let go of the ground or at least tear some of the grass with it instead of being held in place by the turf and forcing the leg to get completely fricked. Same with Duvall's injury. The cleat stuck and the leg moved and it resulted in a sprain instead of just a simple rolled ankle that could have been taped and played on after a few minutes rest. I didnt get to closely see any of the rest of the injuries because I was watching from work so I cant speculate on them.

Every time we play on turf I get nervous about injuries, except at the Superdome. They use some kind of different turf Ive never seen anywhere else before and it doesnt seem to cause as many leg injuries as other places. (I may be completely off base on that but I just dont seem to notice as many turf related injuries in the Superdome personally.) But everywhere else, every time I see someone fighting for yardage or getting gang tackled I tense up.

So, back to my original question, is there a reason why Ole Miss has decided that not cutting grass is more important than leg injuries for opposing teams coming in that arent used to artificial turf?


ETA: Article talking about more frequent injuries on turf

"College football players suffer knee injuries about 40 percent more often when playing on an artificial surface compared to when they're playing on grass, according to a new study."

This post was edited on 10/6/14 at 2:42 pm
Posted by CauleyHog
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Member since Nov 2012
4618 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 1:52 pm to
to long
Posted by atlau
Member since Oct 2012
5264 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 1:52 pm to
Other than Ole Miss and Vandy, what schools in the SEC have artificial turf?
Posted by Cajun Coon
Member since Oct 2014
77 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 1:53 pm to
Mizzou has artificial turf
Posted by Broncothor
Member since Jul 2014
3050 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 1:53 pm to
Keeps the cheerleaders from grazing (oldie but goodie)
Posted by Henry Jones Jr
Member since Jun 2011
68438 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 1:53 pm to
We had mold issues with our grass IIRC
Posted by DrunkenStuporMan
The Mothership
Member since Dec 2012
5855 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 1:54 pm to
The South End Zone overhang keeps grass from growing down there at that end late in the year.
Posted by AUbused
Member since Dec 2013
7770 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 1:54 pm to
quote:

Keeps the cheerleaders from grazing


Ive somehow managed to never hear that one
Posted by GoldenSombrero
Member since Sep 2010
2651 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 1:56 pm to
quote:

Other than Ole Miss and Vandy, what schools in the SEC have artificial turf?


We have it cause of Petrino...wanted a faster surface. Im not a huge fan of it, but we're in a tough climate for grass turf. Right on the border of cool and warm season zones.
Posted by NEMizzou
Columbia MO
Member since Nov 2013
1369 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 1:59 pm to
We have turf because it's impossible to grow grass there (we have a great turfgrass program at Mizzou and they can't figure it out), something about the water table I believe. Anyway, we haven't had any more than our fair share of catastrophic lower body injuries with the exception of one game against Texas in Mizzou's last year in the Big 12, the last year we used that certain kind of turf. I think there were 3 blown knees that game, and that was the day Henry Josey tore three knee ligaments and basically was out 18 months.
Posted by TheJoseyWales
Missouri
Member since Dec 2013
155 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 1:59 pm to
Dont know but I imagine the root of all evil: Cost
Posted by ThaKaptin
The Sultan of Swag
Member since Nov 2010
21741 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 2:04 pm to
quote:

Anyway, we haven't had any more than our fair share of catastrophic lower body injuries with the exception of one game against Texas in Mizzou's last year in the Big 12, the last year we used that certain kind of turf. I think there were 3 blown knees that game, and that was the day Henry Josey tore three knee ligaments and basically was out 18 months.



When players are used to it and know how to play on it, its usually not a problem, so you wouldnt see a lot of injuries from the home team. Its generally the away team that has issues since they dont play on it all the time. I am aware that teams have indoor practice facilities that are turf but they generally only use them in bad weather conditions or when they are trying to recreate closed in spaces with lots of noise.
Posted by CauleyHog
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Member since Nov 2012
4618 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 2:07 pm to
has les tried turf? or is he only into organic?
Posted by Bought a Snead Jerse
Tennessee
Member since Nov 2013
515 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 2:11 pm to
The main reason was because we knew it would leave Bama at a disadvantage and possible lead to numerous injuries.

Not the only team in America with turf guys.
Posted by ThaKaptin
The Sultan of Swag
Member since Nov 2010
21741 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 2:13 pm to
didnt say you were, but the only legitimate reasons for a team to not use grass is if there is a reason why grass isnt feasible. Ole Miss is in the middle of the black soiled (racist?), fertile as frick south. Shouldnt be any reason to not be able to grow grass
Posted by Crowknowsbest
Member since May 2012
25871 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 2:16 pm to
I doubt there's a significant link between turf and leg injuries. If anything, you don't have inconsistencies and divots in the surface that could cause problems. Cleats can get caught it it though.

I always hated playing on sports turf because it made my knees and ankles sore and was really hot. I would guess most college players are used to it though. Most major programs have a turf practice field of some kind.
Posted by ThaKaptin
The Sultan of Swag
Member since Nov 2010
21741 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 2:16 pm to
quote:

The South End Zone overhang keeps grass from growing down there at that end late in the year.


I sell a fabulous turf type fescue blend at my feed store that grows really well in both the sun and shade. Yall should let me know if you need to buy some for that little problem area down there.
Posted by Funky Tide 8
Tittleman's Crest
Member since Feb 2009
52633 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 2:17 pm to
quote:

The main reason was because we knew it would leave Bama at a disadvantage and possible lead to numerous injuries.


Don't be sassy. No one is claiming that.

But, OM's field does suck, guys were slipping all over the place.

I am not at all blaming our loss on the field, I'm just saying that OM's turf sucks, and I do believe that it is conducive of injuries.
Posted by Bought a Snead Jerse
Tennessee
Member since Nov 2013
515 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 2:17 pm to
We may replace with Kudzu.
Posted by Thracken13
Aft Cargo Hold of Serenity
Member since Feb 2010
15915 posts
Posted on 10/6/14 at 2:19 pm to
he never said you were - no need to be a dick.
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