Notre Dame Stadium & Field Turf

[irishpat183]

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?

Ok. I can sort of agree. But like I said, the pink locker rooms in Iowa are there for a reason. You may not think they have anything to do with anything, but it's there, and visiting teams think about it.

And I'm not saying it's the end of the world if it does happen, but I'm against it.

Really, it is about what everyone else is doing. And building a new stadium is one thing (capacity reasons, structual reasons) so lets keep it apples to apples. Everyone else is going to field turf, because it's easier. That's the bottom line. The spread offense is the new hip thing, and somehow people are convinced that you can't run it on grass. That's what's laughable.

 

[irishtrain]

In my opinion this needs to be done. Keep the field exactly as it is, plain at mid field with slanted old time stripes in the end zone. The look doesnt have to change but the surface needs to come into modern advantages. Remember when the pants went to the micro fiber of todays game the same guys were questioning why, anything that brings the advantages of the modern game should be used. Just dont change the field's look. And skip the jumbo-tron.

 

[IrishLax]

In my opinion this needs to be done. Keep the field exactly as it is, plain at mid field with slanted old time stripes in the end zone. The look doesnt have to change but the surface needs to come into modern advantages. Remember when the pants went to the micro fiber of todays game the same guys were questioning why, anything that brings the advantages of the modern game should be used. Just dont change the field's look.

Yes, it is ironic that our lacrosse field is 10x nicer than the football field.

 

[irishpat183]

Also, turf is horrible on joints. Even the new field turf. Expect more injuries. That is one disadvantage that nobody talks about. I know that injuries can happen anywhere, but turf is a breeding ground for them.

 

[Rocket89]

Ok. I can sort of agree. But like I said, the pink locker rooms in Iowa are there for a reason. You may not think they have anything to do with anything, but it's there, and visiting teams think about it.

And I'm not saying it's the end of the world if it does happen, but I'm against it.

Really, it is about what everyone else is doing. And building a new stadium is one thing (capacity reasons, structual reasons) so lets keep it apples to apples. Everyone else is going to field turf, because it's easier. That's the bottom line. The spread offense is the new hip thing, and somehow people are convinced that you can't run it on grass. That's what's laughable.

Maybe it is easier, but so what?

And it's not just a spread offense thing either (think Ohio State). It's just a flat out better surface.

What's laughable is the amount of slipping at ND, PSU, Soldier Field, Heinz Field and the idea that it's somehow okay.

The title game this year was a complete joke too. Whoever put that grass in should be fired.

 

[Rocket89]

Also, turf is horrible on joints. Even the new field turf. Expect more injuries. That is one disadvantage that nobody talks about. I know that injuries can happen anywhere, but turf is a breeding ground for them.

Not necessarily true.

The NCAA and other plenty of companies (FieldTurf and Natural Grass) have done studies. Each surface has its own pitfalls and advantages.

I believe the most recent study by the NCAA had the natural grass surfaces rated as more dangerous.

 

[Jerry]

I don't know why more teams don't go with the synthetic mesh blended into real grass?? The Bronco's, Eagles and Packers have it and their fields hold up really well late in the season. It's not like ND couldn't afford it.

DD GrassMaster (Sports Products) - Surface Solutions North America

Also they put really good drainage and heating coils under those fields.

 

[Rocket89]

I don't know why more teams don't go with the synthetic mesh blended into real grass?? The Bronco's, Eagles and Packers have it and their fields hold up really well late in the season. It's not like ND couldn't afford it.

DD GrassMaster (Sports Products) - Surface Solutions North America

Also they put really good drainage and heating coils under those fields.

I've advocated for the synthetic blend too and honestly we'll probably see that before straight up FieldTurf.

But that stuff does require an entire overahaul of the drainage system which is costly. FieldTurf is slightly more convienent in that respect I would assume.

I'd like to know the timeline with all of the stuff underground at the stadium. I know they put in a new drainage system during the mid-90's renovations, not sure if anything new has been put in since then...which is kinda like still talking on those big Gordon Gekko cell phones these days.

 

[irishff1014]

Maybe it is easier, but so what?

And it's not just a spread offense thing either (think Ohio State). It's just a flat out better surface.

What's laughable is the amount of slipping at ND, PSU, Soldier Field, Heinz Field and the idea that it's somehow okay.

The title game this year was a complete joke too. Whoever put that grass in should be fired.

Thats what happens when you put the field down 7 days before they play on it.

 

[Jerry]

I've advocated for the synthetic blend too and honestly we'll probably see that before straight up FieldTurf.

But that stuff does require an entire overahaul of the drainage system which is costly. FieldTurf is slightly more convienent in that respect I would assume.

I'd like to know the timeline with all of the stuff underground at the stadium. I know they put in a new drainage system during the mid-90's renovations, not sure if anything new has been put in since then...which is kinda like still talking on those big Gordon Gekko cell phones these days.

Field Turf has to be much cheaper to maintain. The synthetic blend still has to be seeded, watered, mowed, ect. Just you would save a lot of time not having to re-sod. With Turf I think they just rake it, probably don't need a lot of workers for maintenance.

 

[irishff1014]

But the cost to put it in will be very expensive.

 

[irishtrinity]

this is notre dame no big logos just pure football on a real field.. a past student explained the system they have for the grass.. knowing notre dame no changes will be made.... to me that stadium should stay the same..

i say add more seats at least 100,000 the greatest team needs to have the stadium to match.. 80,000 in nice i'd love to see it with 20,000 more.. i'd pay more

 

[BGIF]

...
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.

And all this time I thought our 15 malaise was because Davie, Willingham, and Weis were NOT great coaches and the players didn't block, not that it was lack of block numbers.

The curse of the cursive numbers dedoded!

 

[irish1958]

We need to take advantage of the modern trends. If we have speed, we need the field to be as fast as possible.
What is wrong with this?
I was at the game where Tim Brown ran back two punts for TDs. What most people don't remember is that he had broken a third but slipped and fell on the bad turf. If I remember rightly it was about the twenty-five yard line on the Southeast side of the field. Over the years I have observed several slips and falls in that area.
I vote for field turf. Studies so far have not demonstrated any difference in injury rates.
The Solders Field in Chicago has heating coils but Carlson landed on the unheated, frozen sideline and was seriously injured. This is probably more dangerous than field turf.

 

[GreatGolson]

But the cost to put it in will be very expensive.

money is not an object in the Notre Dame football program

 

[Epitome]

money is not an object in the Notre Dame football program

This! Get r done

 

[IrishFBfanatic]

I don't mind upgrading the facilities while continuing to maintain the tradition. No matter what, Notre Dame will always be Notre Dame. Notre Dame is to football what the Yankees are to Baseball, and look at their stadium. They have jumbotrons and state of the art technology, but keep that traditional feel. When ND played in the stadium I recall many of the players explaining the amount of tradition that they felt while there. I don't think the upgraded stadium took away the great tradition, and I don't think it would hurt ND's tradition either. But that's just my opinion...

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

So many pros and cons to each surface. I remember reading one story where a DI team had an unusual number of knee sprains because the gription on the turf was "too good." I cracked my own helmet landing headfirst on short grass and hard dirt after getting my legs chopped out by a pretty good DB. I had sprinted past the line and there was nothing but endzone in front of me. Punk DB dove at my thigh from behind and knocked my leg out. Dammmit.... uh....ummm...I digress...

Same with BBall floors. Played on a surface at a school that was too slippery. People slipped often, game tended to slow down as a result. School replaced floor with super gription tartan type floor, and knee injuries increased.

Who knows?

 

[fla_ndfan]

Turf? We don't want stinking turf. I'll take the jumbo-tron though!

 

[irishff1014]

I know it doesn't matter what we think Coach Kelly will get what he wants. So look forward to seeing turf in the near future. I changed my thoughts about this after thinking about it. It will be good to see a field that isn't slushy when it gets wet.

 

[Veer option]

t
i say add more seats at least 100,000 the greatest team needs to have the stadium to match.. 80,000 in nice i'd love to see it with 20,000 more.. i'd pay more

Interesting. To the people who have visited and went to ND. In your opinion, could the surrounding facilities, hotels, restaurants, and bars of South Bend support say another fifteen thousand fans?

 

[IrishAlum1997]

You would also have to physically move the stadium to add that many more seats. It is so close to Juniper Road and the JACC already. But the more the merrier....

 

[irish1958]

Interesting. To the people who have visited and went to ND. In your opinion, could the surrounding facilities, hotels, restaurants, and bars of South Bend support say another fifteen thousand fans?

NO
I liked the 59,000+
With the extra 20,000 on hand, everything is too crowded now as it is.

 

[JayRock]

IIRC they built the origional 20,000 seat add-on with the capability to add more on in the distant future.

However, I've heard that the upper bowl is crushing the lower bowl, and that's why season tickets have the ridiculous stadium price tag added on the the price of the seats.

100,000 would be awesome, and as far as I know its plausible.

 

[Wolverine1997]

If there's one thing you guys need, it's a screen for replays on the scoreboards. I can't believe that a big time school like ND has no video screens, while Michigan just approved the $20 Million plan for new HD Video Boards at The Big House this season.

 

[JayRock]

If there's one thing you guys need, it's a screen for replays on the scoreboards. I can't believe that a big time school like ND has no video screens, while Michigan just approved the $20 Million plan for new HD Video Boards at The Big House this season.

Going to be some GREAT replays for your sub-.500 teams the next three years.

Enjoy.

 

[Wolverine1997]

Going to be some GREAT replays for your sub-.500 teams the next three years.

Enjoy.

Ooooo feisty eh? Like my sig?

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

If there's one thing you guys need, it's a screen for replays on the scoreboards. I can't believe that a big time school like ND has no video screens, while Michigan just approved the $20 Million plan for new HD Video Boards at The Big House this season.

I'm sorry you're going to have to see Brady Hoke's fat ass in HD.

 

[JayRock]

The part where Notre Dame outgained you.

Yeah!

I was at both of those games though. Brutal.

 

[Wolverine1997]

I'm sorry you're going to have to see Brady Hoke's fat ass in HD.

If he wins, I could care less what his appearance is. And I'm not one of those trolls from another team. Kinda been here awhile.

Why don't we stay on topic though since that's what I came here for?

I understand you guys are real big on tradition and everything staying the same. Independence, Grass field etc. But I think alot of the fans would appreciate being able to see the game up on the screen so when 6'8 Billy walks they don't miss the game winning TD.