Stadium turf needs altering

Note: For my first post on the new site, I went with probably the first column I was proud of from my Central Michigan Life days. This was published on Sept. 10, 2003:

As freshman running back Jerry Seymour shuffled his way through holes Saturday, Herb Deromedi had to be cringing slightly, despite his glee over the new star.

The CMU athletics director has to be thrilled about the emergence of the tailback and prospects of several years of a potent ground weapon.

But as Deromedi watches Seymour go to work on what should be his long term canvas, the former CMU coach knows the he has five more home games on the outdated Kelly/Shorts Stadium surface.

Five more games to watch would-be tacklers' knees buckle and turn every which way as their arms grab nothing but air. Five more games for Seymour to cut and twist, juke and jive on the ancient surface.

"We certainly feel like this will be the final year," Deromedi said.

It better be.




The artificial turn was laid down on CMU's football field in 1993 and in its 11th season looks more like an antique up against football fields of the new millennium.

The green of the turf is faded and inconsistent. The 'C' at midfield looks silly and discolored. The end zones simply spell out "CENTRAL" in the same out-of-place tone of yellow.

Coupled with the new-age uniforms the Chippewas have adopted, the combination looks awkward.

CMU athletics have explored two different kinds of playing surfaces, most notably FieldTurf, a blend of sand and ground rubber. Think of it as artificial soil around synthetic fibers that look like grass. Ford Field and Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor house the surface and the Chippewas and Wolverines raved about the turf after its debut 11 days ago.

Deromedi estimates the project will cost anywhere from $450,000-$550,000. Central received $450,000 of the gate of the season-opener in Ann Arbor this season. While that money will not go directly into the project, it is still fitting that the books will basically balance from the two figures when all is said and done.

FieldTurf has a life expectancy of eight-to-15 years and is used by 17 NFL teams and several major college teams as well.

Part of the financing of the project would go toward removing the old turf and using it for a separate field hockey complex near the Student Activity Center.

This solution also removes the awkward scene for the field hockey team. When a 30,199-seat venue is sprinkled with scattered students and parents, it provides an uncomfortable empty feeling, as the fans can never make their presence felt.

Yes, CMU is getting hip with the times and they should be commended when the plan is finalized sometime this winter. Deromedi and his staff have submitted a plan that proposes the change to university administration, and it is only a matter of time before the Chippewas literally begin burning rubber on the field.

This change should allow Seymour and his teammates to rest easier as the season continues. Provided, of course, that the old Kelly/Shorts surface does not swallow them whole in the meantime.