WSR Gridiron Report

But the other thing I don't like about this is that the decision was made without consideration or feedback. I know that ultimately it is their decision to make and that is their responsibility, but if the decision has already been made don't say it's under consideration.

do you folks have a life? i like grass too, but the rest of the world is doing just fine with turf. as we speak my three dogs are out sleeping on my small patch of turf. as far as bacteria goes, i suspect our intense sunlight (uv rays) do a pretty good job of disinfecting. i cannot imagine any program, say in the sec or big 10, even listening to this droning.

No, I don't. You're clearly superior life and pets are the envy of the civilized world. The larger issue to me is how decisions get made. Everybody loves to bitch about how their political candidates turn out once in office; but few take the time to hold their personal choices accountable. Same thing happens in this realm.

If you point of your post was to register disagreement and your personal preference for the decision that has been made, point noted. If it was to show how witty and prescient you are, you need a life.

RickyK, no. No specific studies were suggested, but the invite was made for me to go visit the 40 yard field currently in use because that has the new rubber.

And I should take the opportunity once again to point out that this decision was a part of the process long before coach RR was hired, lest anyone think that RR is trying to ram rod this.

It was explained to me that once the stadium project was set in motion, the field replacement became part of the plan.

BM, now they are very careful to emphasize that this decision was part of a process long before RR was hired because they don't want us to think that RR is ramrodding this. But what did J.Jones say? "I called on this issue in January and was told this move not really very likely." Jim said that right here on this board in this thread. On this issue I will trust his powers of comprehension and ability to report on what he heard.

"We as fans must also buy in to what the coaches are trying to accomplish." Not me; that's just simply not so. A lot of people on a lot of boards were ready to hang Greg Byrne from the nearest tree based on some rumors of a supposed rift or distance between him and Coach Sean Miller (assistant's salaries, chartered flights, new contract extension etc.). Now, this year, people are expressing concerns about whether or not Miller should take Lyons from XU. Some have questioned his judgment in recruiting Sidiki and Turner. Interesting how the buy in depends on the year and sport. I don't think anybody bought into Mackovic. W.K. stopped buying what Mike Stoops was offering after the 2nd loss to UNM. While I oftentimes may have disagreed with W.K.'s reasoning or thought process I never posted nor believed that he should just shut up, put on the blinders and be a blind mouse. We are products of a university that taught us critical thinking, but when it comes to a decision of this nature, we put our reasoning processes aside and buy-in for the big picture? Not this Wildcat for Life.

I don't doubt what was told Jim.

I'm just reporting what was told me by the assistant AD who is over the entire construction process. Not sure who Jim's source is.

I'm definitely not in the camp of just accepting every decision no matter what. I HAVE invested mega thousands into the University and my wife works for the U of A. Many of us kind of have a stake in the whole thing. And it's fun to talk about and get other points of view.

spikesss,

Rickyk is seasoned fan of Arizona with a incredible history - he understands nuances and details about Arizona Athletics that few have or ever will have an understanding of. He has likely forgotten more about it than you and I will ever know. He is also urbane, erudite and gracious. As he noted, we often disagree, but I would always count him a friend here in this forum.

I think he laid out several excellent points and concerns in a solid manner, as did everyone else here and i am uncertain why it offended you that we were all talking about this. When former players talk about the way the grass smelled at Oregon or feeling connected to a place by playing on the surface at Arizona Stadium, that's real and those are subtle and sublime things that matter. Where great wine comes from, the PLACE and the elements that surround that place matter. The French call it Terroir and entire books have literally been written trying to explain it.

So to me, the conversations is fascinating and compelling and real, and that's why i am enjoying the thread. You are well within your right to criticize, but I think your criticism in this instance was unfounded and misplaced.

But then you wrote the post above.

If you did not learn critical thinking at Arizona, then that's your loss - the opportunity was there! I suspect you actually did, but have some sort of fear of appearing intelligent.

I learned to think critically at Arizona and I have occasionally been proud that I thought through the visceral, emotional choices and arrived at a better conclusion. For example, a decade ago in my industry we all had to decide if screw caps were going to fly or not. Those of us that got over the romantic notions of cork and thought critically about the technical and qualitative superiority of screw caps (Vino-Loc glass closures are actually the best) won the day.

Maybe that's where Byrne is. I bet if you asked the question cold, with no preparation to 100 people, and demanded an immediate response, 90 or more of them would chose grass. Sounds to me like that is where each and every person in thread went, initially. Does not mean it's the best decision.

cool.... but doesn't havinga bulldog requiore that you get nuance? Aren't they significanlty different than their reputation?

Well, let me thank Wine for a very generous post regarding my being Wildcat bred, Wildcat fed and I'll eventually be Wildcat dead--not mine, I borrowed it from Adam Hall's dad.

Secondly, has anybody read Byrne's email that went out today? I thought he was supposed to address the issue in-depth, but I can't find it.

Thirdly, I now understand the problem; the German Shepherd is the best dog in the world. When I lived in Tucson mine was named Manfred, so I could be true to his German roots and all my Mexican friends could call him Manny--is that nuanced? Great dog, who was director of in-home security and helped raise my son from when he was about 8 or 9 to 15.

Byrne addressed the issue a little and talks mostly about the availability of the field under hard use. I believe the decision that was made probably made good sense at the time and many of those on the coaching staffs or in the decision making portion of the athletic department don't have a long history here. I'll accept his answer because it is the answer.

As an aggie who was actually an animal science major I knew little about turf when I finished school. However, I've come to know that there is probably not a better turf school in the country. When it comes to golf courses I would be surprised if there is any other school that knows more about all of the strains of grass that work under the varying circumstances. Ask any top greenskeeper wherever you are and they will know about Arizona developed turf. When it comes to growing grass in arid regions with lots of heat and minimal water, Arizona is where you go to ask. When it comes to developing grasses for parks where there is steady use and needs to be used year round. Arizona is the spot.

I will still go watch games played on artificial turf. However, when you are the best at something, the departments need to talk and display what we are good at. For whatever the bottom line reason, I'm sorry we missed a chance to show off to the world that we know more about live grass on a football field than anybody else.

That park -- the surface -- was it grass or field turf?