Comparing Turf

From http://fieldturf.com/news.cfm?newsID=1546

Camden County Noticing Positive Changes After Installing Artificial Turf

Oct 10, 2007The Brunswick Newsby Joe Overby KINGSLAND, Ga. (AP) --

After just three regular-season games on their new artificial turf at Chris Gilman Stadium, the Camden County Wildcats are already noticing positive changes.And the best part about that is they haven't had to make too cumbersome an adjustment to the new surface."It's pretty nice and really good to run on," said senior tight end Steven Pecko, who added that when he runs on the turf, it feels like he's not wearing shoes. "You feel like you're gliding on it."Camden County installed the new turf -- known as FieldTurf and similar to the surface the Wildcats have played on at the Georgia Dome -- this past May and the school held its graduation there at the end of the last school year.Twenty-one NFL teams and colleges like Georgia Tech, Nebraska and Michigan use FieldTurf, which according to research is said to be softer and results in fewer injuries than natural grass.Camden plans to use the football field as a multi-purpose facility, with other events like graduation, spring soccer, and recreation league games being held on the field.The county owns the stadium, and the Public Service Authority said in May the total cost of the project was $727,588.When the Wildcats began the season on the new surface, the benefits were especially noticeable. And Camden coach Jeff Herron said it doesn't affect the Wildcats' style of play."Quite honestly, I don't think there's any big adjustment. The surface is so close to being the real stuff," Herron said. "The only difference is it looks the same every time, it plays the same every time and you don't have to paint it."And that's more than can be said about natural-grass fields. Weather, rain, drought, and usage can wreak havoc on natural turf. Having an artificial field as an option, the Wildcats haven't had to put much wear and tear this season into their practice field, which is natural grass.For instance, on days such as Monday, when the clouds looked ominous, Herron said the team could practice on the game field to not destroy the practice turf."It makes a huge difference," Herron said. "We haven't had to tear up our practice field."The team practices on the game field on Wednesdays and Thursdays, which is part of their traditional routine, regardless.Even opposing coaches have noticed a positive difference. Groves coach Richard Redding and his Rebels ventured to Kingsland on Friday to play on the new field, eventually falling to the Wildcats 50-6. Though Redding said he would have liked to have seen a more favorable outcome for his Rebels, the field was a positive."It was a very nice surface. The surface was wonderful. No complaints whatsoever," Redding said.And getting a chance to play on a surface they weren't used to made for a change in pace for the Rebels."It was a great experience for the kids to get to play on a surface like that," Redding said.

Compare to other teams. (be sure to look at the date installed. Older dates are not the best turfs as the new turfs are much better and much more expensive. The Falcons turf cost $500,000)

http://fieldturf.com/football/highProfile.cfm

If you are wondering what this is about be sure to check Friday's Tribune.