Is artificial turf safer than grass fields?

[GoBoilers]

After watching my Boilers lose WR-Keith Smith (potentailly a 1st rounder) to a torn ACL, RB Bolden (935 yards last year) to an ACL tear in practice, and QB Marve tripping on the grass and tearing an ACL the last game, the Purdue board had someone post this study. Looks like new artificial turf may be safer at $1 million. http://www.fieldturf.com/images/downloa ... _Study.pdf

[WoVeU]

I know I quickly noted how bad LSU's field was last night....soft...terrible soft! I was watching a foot dig in and the mound created was more than twice the size of the foot, it looked sandy. I think that is how Noel strained his toe tendon...if the ground displaces greatly you could certainly over extend those tendons when attempting to push off.

I also note that there are only 3 ways I know to break your nose in football. A hand making its way through the face mask, a helmet being pulled down into the bridge of the nose from someone yanking it, and plowing the ground with the mask pulling it into the bridge of the nose. When Sanders busted his nose it appeared to be the latter. The softer the field the more likely this happens, less bounce and more drag. I was not at all pleased with that field last night...noting at first how much it could effect speed to be quite honest.

The big problem with turf years ago was it either felt like you were playing on a drive way or running on plywood. Later it often felt more like a thick foam rubber. The newer stuff is much better and it better matches the density and firmness/elasticity of natural ground and turf. "But what is natural?" When you get south of Northern South Carolina you get a lot of clay or sandy loam. Very hard and very soft respectively. In Florida, from what I remember, you can have both and really rich dark medium density soil like you see from NC to Jersey and across America I guess. I think the time has come for fields to be tested for various factors by the NCAA and the NFL, if the ground isn't acceptable, you should be fined every game until the condition is remedied. College is far worse!

[Spence]

Ohio State put the new surface in. I'm not sure if they had any less injuries, but it is true they have had fewer ACL/MCL type injuries. I still think grass is the best surface, but the new surfaces are softer. They feel real funny to walk on, I have never ran on one, but It seems to me that it would take some time before it felt normal.

[WoVeU]

Ohio State put the new surface in. I'm not sure if they had any less injuries, but it is true they have had fewer ACL/MCL type injuries. I still think grass is the best surface, but the new surfaces are softer. They feel real funny to walk on, I have never ran on one, but It seems to me that it would take some time before it felt normal.

We would not have accused you of running on the turf Spence!

[Spence]

I have never ran on the new rubber turf, but I run every day. Either 30 min or an hour, depending on what I have time for that day.

[WoVeU]

I have never ran on the new rubber turf, but I run every day. Either 30 min or an hour, depending on what I have time for that day.

I stick to a very strict regimen of working out every 19 years.

[Spence]

That would be my choice, but my family has a high probability of diabetes and high blood pressure, so it isn't really a choice for me.

[silverfox]

To me, no doubt about it. Turf. Grass is too darn unpredicatble. Unless you smoke it of course, then it is a moot point...

[WoVeU]

That would be my choice, but my family has a high probability of diabetes and high blood pressure, so it isn't really a choice for me.

Keep up the good work, I'll hold down the couch for the both of us! (I sit a fine couch.)

[billybud]

What? You haven't burned your couch?

[GoBoilers]

I still like grass fields. They still "feel" better and look better to me. Some of the "spongy" feeling rugs are nice also.

[billybud]

Please..somebody...fields should be some shade of green.

Red, blue, yellow, etc fields should be banned. Boise should have to rip up that blue turf. It will proliferate. One horrendously ugly field was a gimmick...now others will chime in.

Like Eastern Washington's bright red turf.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-1 ... field.html

What? Army to come out with camouflage uni's and a cammy field to match?

LSU with purple and yellow tiger stripes?

Penn State with a clorox bottle white field?

No, I tell ya. It has to be stopped.

[Eric]

Please..somebody...fields should be some shade of green.

Red, blue, yellow, etc fields should be banned. Boise should have to rip up that blue turf. It will proliferate. One horrendously ugly field was a gimmick...now others will chime in.

Like Eastern Washington's bright red turf.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-1 ... field.html

What? Army to come out with camouflage uni's and a cammy field to match?

LSU with purple and yellow tiger stripes?

Penn State with a clorox bottle white field?

No, I tell ya. It has to be stopped.

I like the colored fields. I was thinking Oregon State could pull off a black field with orange field numbers and white yard lines, but what do I know?

I was thinking though: I don't want to use this as an argument "against" Boise State, but with Oregon State painting their field blue, do you think the home team has a large advantage when they match their helmet, uniform, and pants with the bright color of the surface? Is there kind of a camouflage thing going on? I have to ask, because Eastern Washington upset Montana on their turf and then lost the next week on the road to Montana State 30-7.

[Spence]

I don't think so, it looks that way from the camera angles looking down at the field, but from field level, I don't think it camouflage's anything. It is a very different view from on the field.

[GoBoilers]

Please..somebody...fields should be some shade of green.

Red, blue, yellow, etc fields should be banned. Boise should have to rip up that blue turf. It will proliferate. One horrendously ugly field was a gimmick...now others will chime in.

Like Eastern Washington's bright red turf.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-1 ... field.html

What? Army to come out with camouflage uni's and a cammy field to match?

LSU with purple and yellow tiger stripes?

Penn State with a clorox bottle white field?

No, I tell ya. It has to be stopped.

I like the colored fields. I was thinking Oregon State could pull off a black field with orange field numbers and white yard lines, but what do I know?

I was thinking though: I don't want to use this as an argument "against" Boise State, but with Oregon State painting their field blue, do you think the home team has a large advantage when they match their helmet, uniform, and pants with the bright color of the surface? Is there kind of a camouflage thing going on? I have to ask, because Eastern Washington upset Montana on their turf and then lost the next week on the road to Montana State 30-7.

Wow pumkin colors for Oregon St. Kewl! I am starting to like this idea! Scarlet and grey, black and gold.