Notre Dame Stadium & Field Turf

[irishff1014]

You left out the final step.

Therefore...Obama is Hitler.

What in the hell does this have to do with the price of eggs in china.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

What in the hell does this have to do with the price of eggs in china.

Never mind. Just making a joke. Retracted.

 

[dshans]

Boom. Did I just go all Glen Beck on you or what.

That depends. Were you crying while you typed???

 

[irishff1014]

What in the hell does this have to do with the price of eggs in china.

No you were not yellig that poor old guys yells all the time.

 

[dshans]

Snow? What is this "SNOW" you speak of?

How quickly you snowbirds forget!!!

 

[TDHeysus]

We could have gold field turf...awesome

yea! and they can paint it every week, just like the helmets!

 

[Rack Em]

yea! and they can paint it every week, just like the helmets!

That just smells like my tuition would go up. F that noise.

Would be pretty sweet though.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Something that you guys may already know: when I was with the Virginia Tech coaching staff for some "private interviews" with my brother this summer, one of them said that having a Jumbotron really impresses some recruits, and stuff like that is more important to landing them than we'd ever suspect.[ Same thing about how the locker-rooms look, the weight rooms look, the "waiting pre-game" rooms look, etc.] I believe that I've also heard at least two potential recruits [not to ND] comment on how "cool" having a Jumbotron in the stadium would be for their games.

 

[BMT]

These items are in fact very impotrtant. I have watched games live at ND and when close plays are reviewed without a JUMBOTRON SCREEN fans are bored, you can bet your sweet..... at other stadiums crowd is going nuts at officials whether right or wrong and especially when wrong. Refs know at ND they can miss a call and most of the live fans wont have a clue! Also, the fans love replays, at least I do. This is a large part of why ND has almost lost its home field advantage-the crowd cant get all crazy with replays-just a fact!!!!! People that dont understand probably time to give your tickets up to the younger generation, thats also a big problem why ND has lost its home field advantage. Its like your at a game with a bunch of upper to high class executives-the wine and cheese and light on football crowd. Young players and recruits like jumbotrons big time.

Also, field turf does help a spread offense-no doubt about it-its called YAC -yards after catch, not slip or slow getting started after catch or out of breaks by WRs- remember the WR knows the route, the DBs dont. Games at ND stadium JUST SEEM SLOW for both teams except Denard and his backup.

 

[irishtrain]

This probably should be done, Just dont do anything with field makeup, leave the look just as it is. Keep the slashes in the end zone. This turf is better for what they want to do and the look will not change if they dont crap it up with all the jazz other places have. Leave it plain.

 

[NDTH91]

This probably should be done, Just dont do anything with field makeup, leave the look just as it it. Keep the slashes in the end zone. This turf is better for what they want to do and the look will not change if they dont crap it up with all the jazz other places have. Leave it plain.

Thank you.

I am a traditionalist, but I don't think having turf would hurt too much. However, let's not change the style. Seeing those slashes in the endzone was part of what Notre Dame football was for me growing up. When you turn on the TV and see those slashes you know exactly where you are (and yes an endzone that says "NOTRE DAME" in it would let you know that as well, but you get the point).

I agree that we can't stay in the 1920's, but at the same time Notre Dame is one of very few teams that I could still love when they're 4-5 and just lost to Tulsa, and I know that this has SOMETHING to do with all of the tradition here (including how the field looks). As much as I am in utter pain and agony at the recent state of Notre Dame football, I still get excited more than anything in the world for every home football weekend at Notre Dame, and I'm a student so I get to go to every one, so each game being so special means a lot. Tradition MAKES Notre Dame football. Turf I could deal with, but walking into Notre Dame Stadium with colored turf and lettering in the endzones just wouldn't be the same.

As for the other things, I think a scoreboard would also be ok IF it was done tastefully. Obviously it will have to be opposite of Touchdown Jesus, but anyone who has ever approached that stadium from the side opposite of Touchdown Jesus will tell you that it is a sight in itself. A huge, gaudy jumbotron could potentially run this. If the jumbotron was put in to blend with the rest of the stadium (which I think it would be were it to be done) I would reluctantly be in favor of it. For even though I don't particularly like change, I realize it is somewhat necessary in order to move forward.

Finally, in all seriousness I think that gold field goal posts could be pretty friggin awesome!

I wouldn't trade the feeling that Notre Dame football creates now for more wins and a mediocre atmosphere. No other team would have the fans or the atmosphere that we have after the last 22 years. You win games with players and coaches; not with colorful turf.

GO IRISH.

 

[irishtrain]

Thank you.

I am a traditionalist, but I don't think having turf would hurt too much. However, let's not change the style. Seeing those slashes in the endzone was part of what Notre Dame football was for me growing up. When you turn on the TV and see those slashes you know exactly where you are (and yes an endzone that says "NOTRE DAME" in it would let you know that as well, but you get the point).

I agree that we can't stay in the 1920's, but at the same time Notre Dame is one of very few teams that I could still love when they're 4-5 and just lost to Tulsa, and I know that this has SOMETHING to do with all of the tradition here (including how the field looks). As much as I am in utter pain and agony at the recent state of Notre Dame football, I still get excited more than anything in the world for every home football weekend at Notre Dame, and I'm a student so I get to go to every one, so each game being so special means a lot. Tradition MAKES Notre Dame football. Turf I could deal with, but walking into Notre Dame Stadium with colored turf and lettering in the endzones just wouldn't be the same.

As for the other things, I think a scoreboard would also be ok IF it was done tastefully. Obviously it will have to be opposite of Touchdown Jesus, but anyone who has ever approached that stadium from the side opposite of Touchdown Jesus will tell you that it is a sight in itself. A huge, gaudy jumbotron could potentially run this. If the jumbotron was put in to blend with the rest of the stadium (which I think it would be were it to be done) I would reluctantly be in favor of it. For even though I don't particularly like change, I realize it is somewhat necessary in order to move forward.

Finally, in all seriousness I think that gold field goal posts could be pretty friggin awesome!

I wouldn't trade the feeling that Notre Dame football creates now for more wins and a mediocre atmosphere. No other team would have the fans or the atmosphere that we have after the last 22 years. You win games with players and coaches; not with colorful turf.

GO IRISH.

No freaking Jumbotron

 

[NankerPhelge]

A boring fall Saturday with snow on the ground, so just had to weigh in on this topic with my thoughts, for what they are worth (not much, probably).

While I am very much a "traditionalist," sometimes I think that "tradition" is much more subjective to the individual and very hard to define as an overall, or objective, concept. For example, someone above mentioned, in his list of Notre Dame traditions, the music selection. I suppose some people younger than I would count the 1812 Overture as part of that tradition. I can't remember when the band started playing that, but I don't ever remember it during my time at ND (late 70's early 80's). Likewise that stupid (in my opinion) Darth Vadar theme they play when the defense makes a stop, which I personnally am sick of. But, I suppose some would say those are part of the tradition, and who am I to say they are not? How long does something have to continuously exist to become a "tradition?" 20 years? 30 years? Given the team's overall performance over the past 20 years, I guess some might say that mediocre football and losing games has become part of the ND tradition. When did painting the helmets become tradition? I don't think they painted those leather things they used to wear, although I could be wrong. Rockne's placing of football sized and shaped leather patches on the front of the jerseys to help fool the other team about who actually had the ball was, I guess, a short-lived tradition (until the NCAA outlawed that particular tactic, which I always thought was genius).

I really think that "Notre Dame tradition" is probably a bit different for each one of us depending on our personal perspectives. For me, it's kind of rough-shod, and not polished. Went to see the Irish play Michigan State away sometime back in the 70's, and remember being struck by the difference between the student section at the away game and our home games. The State cheerleaders actually held up SIGNS to tell the students what to yell and when (like at Notre Dame now). The ND tradition that I experienced was that we didn't need any stupid signs (we don't need no stinkin' badges)
to tell us to get fired up and rowdy at the game, and I don't ever remember us having any. The excitement was real, not scripted. Another "tradition" in the '70's was picking up any females who happened to be sitting in the student section and passing them up overhead with shouts of "over the wall, over the wall" while they screamed in mock or real protest. I remember counting no less than 25 going up at once one time. That "tradition" went by the wayside for obvious reasons, but it was there. Now, the students do pushups. Much less sexist, but surely not quite as wild. But, that is only my "tradition," and I am not sure how relevant it is to this amorphous concept of "Notre Dame" tradition.

On the other hand, I'm a little bit put out when I think about jumbotrons and the like. I remember going down to West Lafayette a few years back to see the Boilermakers put a hurtin' on the Irish. It seemed like the Purdue fans were prouder of that damned jumbotron than of anything else in the universe. Their cheers, etc., seemed to be scripted like robots. It struck me as all kind of corny.

What strikes me as more disturbing, though, is the idea that we need to count on "gimmicks" to attract recruits. I mean, if a guy decides to go some other place because they have a fricking jumbotron and we don't, is that really the RKG we are trying to recruit to ND? Seems like more of a shallow, spoiled, kind of guy, to me at least.

Sorry to ramble meaninglessly, just random thoughts that could go on for hours. Will spare you all that.

 

[Rocket89]

It would be nice to see Irish Players not slipping and sliding for a change.... or maybe help with injuries.... just a thought

Armando Allen's hips and groins are nodding quickly in approval.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I would not be a Notre Dame fan anymore if we got a gold or blue field. That's stupid as hell.

 

[Anchorman]

Pretty simple. Kelly wants a very fast, very aerial-oriented game. Grass, especially in poor weather, is not nearly as conducive as turf.

 

[goldenisthytate1]

My Opinion,
Get a field of 3 leaf clovers... Awesome

 

[NDMontana]

How about this:

Once Brian Kelly and the team:
a. Start beating teams they should beat;
b. Win 60%-70% toss-up games against equally matched opponents; and
c. Win 30%-40% against superior oppenents

then he can worry about the turf.

 

[Veer option]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I guess its better than a new thread. My question is, has there been a decision on whether ND stadium will get FieldTurf installed for next season? I remember this being talked about after the Utah game where the condition of the grass was less than ideal.

 

[irishff1014]

I doubt you will see turf there anytime in the near future.

 

[Rocket89]

Kelly is going to keep pushing for it.

I'm on his side.

 

[Irish Fam]

I would like to see turf. Not blue or gold, just regular green turf. I like the idea of the jumbotron and speaker system, but I would go for turf first. I think that the firm surface would be a nice addition to Kelly's speed orientated offense. Also we should leave the endzones as is.

Just my opinion

 

[IrishTimer]

I'd rather keep the grass.

Something about Notre Dame football to me is October and November games at home on fading green grass(tinges of brown). Etc. It just feels/looks right.


If they go field turf they need to go with duller green than waht you typically get. I hate field turf a lot because at times the color can seem "too loud"/bright.


What they need to do with the field is go back to the old block numbers like they had when Holtz was there. I hate the newer script looking ones.

 

[irishpat183]

A big "hell no" from me on the turf idea.

Remember the days when teams would actually complain about the turf at ND? They'd say things like "They're gonna let it grow this week, they play _____ who's faster and it'll even it out". It's in opposing teams minds. It's a part of ND. It's an edge like the pink locker rooms are in Iowa. We've won before on bad grass, we can win again.

What makes ND special, is ND. Not following what everyone else is doing.

 

[NankerPhelge]

I'm just old, I guess, but I don't like the idea of the Jumbotron or the speakers, whatever. If people can't get excited enough about the team without this perepheral crap, then it's really too bad.

On the other hand, I have figured out a way to make peace with my other personality if this ever happens by rationalizing it this way. ElectroVoice was founded by two guys in South Bend, and one of the first things they made was an electric megaphone for Rockne so he could order the players around at practice without straining his voice. Rockne called it his "electric voice," thus the brand-name ElectroVoice. Now, if you look at most professional bad-*** speaker systems in large applications throughout the world (stadiums, big concerts, etc.), you will see ElectroVoice speakers. So, if they put in a kick-*** speaker system at ND Stadium, I guess I could convince myself that it was just a carrying on of an old tradition, so long as they used EV.

Still trying to figure a way to rationalize the Jumbotron.

 

[Rocket89]

A big "hell no" from me on the turf idea.

Remember the days when teams would actually complain about the turf at ND? They'd say things like "They're gonna let it grow this week, they play _____ who's faster and it'll even it out". It's in opposing teams minds. It's a part of ND. It's an edge like the pink locker rooms are in Iowa. We've won before on bad grass, we can win again.

What makes ND special, is ND. Not following what everyone else is doing.

I don't have a problem with people wanting it because it's some sort of tradition.

But, the longer grass helps the slower teams. Notre Dame is not building a slow team, intent on growing the grass long to slow down the faster teams that come to South Bend or "get into their heads."

To me, thinking the long grass give us an advantage mentally or physically (by slowing faster teams down) is much worse than getting rid of the tradition in the first place.

What makes Notre Dame special are an entire host of reasons, of which a natural grass playing field is way, way down on the list. If you like it for the tradition fine, but to act like the essence of Notre Dame will be ripped away with FieldTurf, well it makes me laugh.

I don't think this has anything to do with what other people are doing. After all, we built Notre Dame Stadium to match the large venues around the country and specifically to be like Michigan's. Should we still be playing at Cartier Field so we're not like everyone else?

 

[twig21]

I don't want Notre Dame to change anything, leave the tradition alone. If he thinks he can't win games just because the field isn't turf then why did he want to come to Notre Dame? It does not make any difference if it's turf or grass. He sounds like a Ty Willingham when Ty suggested Notre Dame to schedule 9 home games every season. I remember he said that when Kevin White decided to set up a 7-4-1 schedule back in 2002 or 2003. Ty thought 9 home games would benefit Notre Dame to win games just like Kelly wanted to have turf on the field so he can win games. I am not buying it.

Wow, second guessing coach Kelly coming to ND because he suggests field turf. How can you say that? Maybe we can critique his recruiting class as well.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Just tell me what Kelly wants to maximize his team's success and I'll vote for it and suggest everybody else get out of the way. As long as we're on the right side of the rules and handle things with Notre Dame values, I'd prefer winning football games.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

Kelly green field, Interlocking ND at mid-field, then blue and gold diagonal lines in the endzone all on FieldTurf.


I'm all for Field Turf.

 

[Irish52]

What's happened to intelligent football discussion???