SMU, as part of their renaissance, reinstalled natural grass at Gerald Ford Stadium, hopefully ending the grass vs. turf debate.
SMU Brings Grass Back, Opens Up Old Debate
As SMU installs its brand-new playing surface at Gerald Ford Stadium, it hopes to bring back the glory days of yesterday. Meanwhile, the unveiling of the new surface kicks off a new playing surface also restarted an age-old debate.
While people understand the need for artificial turf in many cases, grass, for a myriad of reasons, becomes the preferred surface for athletes and coaches. To hopefully once and for all put the debate to bed, let’s look at the history, circumstances and evolution of this debate.
Approximately 59 years ago, a company named ChemGrass invented turf to be used in large-scale projects. In Houston, Texas, in the Astrodome, an artificial playing surface lined the field of Astrodome.
View this post on Instagram
The surface, Christened AstroTurf, promises a reduction in maintenance costs. Texas summers, unforgiving in their brutal combination of heat and humidity, made outdoor grass untenable. To save money, stadiums went with the alternative that guaranteed savings.
From the 1970s, the proliferation of multi-use stadiums accelerated the process. Teams could roll up the baseball diamond and place the football rug down on the ground. People celebrated the innovation. Believe it or not, Astroturf actually owns a website that still touts the positives of the product.
“AstroTurf®, part of Sport Group, is the original inventor of synthetic turf, and the company has been at the leading edge of athletic surface innovation for almost 60 years,” according to an article on the Astroturf website. “AstroTurf® products have set the stage for some of the most iconic moments in sports history.
“They have served as the playing surface for 12 World Series, 11 Super Bowls, 10 Olympics, 8 Major League All-Star Games, and 34 NFL Pro Bowls. AstroTurf® is also a preferred turf for college athletic programs, high schools, and sports complexes across the United States.
“AstroTurf® has been at the forefront of that innovation, helping to revolutionize the field of play for sports worldwide and transforming sport and spaces where participants of every age and sport come to play.”
In a time when America moved towards working smarter but harder, artificial grass became a vital part of the sports experience. Barry Sanders set records on turf, and the Big Red Machine displayed baseball excellence and dominance on Riverfront turf.
The surface became not only a part of the American lexicon but a crucial part of the national consciousness; northern teams could roll it out and save money hand over fist while giving athletes a faster surface to play on. However, one fall day changed the narrative.
While SMU started to pull itself out of the NCAA-imposed death penalty, former Bears wideout Wendell Davis entered his prime looking for his big moments. On October 10, 1993, against the Philadelphia Eagles, Davis looked to track a vertical pass from Jim Harbaugh.
Davis’s cleats caught within a seam in the turf. Rupturing the patella tendon in both knees forces Davis’s kneecaps into his thighs. AstroTurf claimed a career on national television. From then on, the luster around AstroTurf dissipated. Stories of athletes breaking bines and destroying ligaments became commonplace.
KEEP READING: 3-Round 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Travis Hunter Lands with New York While Shedeur Sanders Falls to Legendary AFC Team
SMU really doesn’t possess any concerns about the price of installing grass. Remember, this is a program that willingly accepted foregoing their television rights fees over seven years to join the ACC. In order to bridge the 100-million gap, the football program met that goal in seven days.
To say that SMU has money longer than train smoke remains an understatement. Now, as part of a Power Four conference, the Mustangs can spend money wherever, whenever they please, without worrying about the NCAA. For those old enough, remember how dominant the school was.
SMU installing real grass looks like another sign of their upward ascension. After a trip to the College Football Playoff, the school endeavors to reclaim its long-vacated spot as a member of football royalty. Placing quality grass actually looks like quiet the financial flex. Always watch for the small details that give clues to the big picture.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
