Fr. K
Junior
Will not this be a bold undertaking? Nevertheless, I will try it. -Benedict J. Fenwick
Posts: 39
|
Post by Fr. K on May 17, 2016 14:41:34 GMT -5
The turf has been completely removed from the football field as they start from fresh with the grass. Wish 'em well. The playing field had gotten a bit rough in recent years.
|
|
|
Post by rickii on May 17, 2016 15:05:55 GMT -5
Seemed to look fine via the in-season photo galleries but up close ? Musta been pretty bad to dig the whole surface up and lay down new top soil and sod. Any idea who's doing the work ? AIR, we had a poster/grad here who was/is in that biz.
|
|
|
Post by Pakachoag Phreek on May 17, 2016 15:45:00 GMT -5
Google satellite view, probably 3-5 years old. From the trees, late spring, early summer. [ Wonder if they are 'renovating' the softball field as well. I don't recall seeing mention of the promised improvements to that field.
|
|
|
Post by purplehaze on May 17, 2016 17:09:22 GMT -5
another long overdue project gets done, thanks to adnp. might i conjecture that the field they just tore up is the same that bill osmanski ran on '80 some-odd (?) years ago ? i always noticed when walking on field level that the field was not crowned at all. and puddles/mud etc.. in rainy weather would just remain in place. the field will now tolerate rainy conditions much better. sure it will look great for the home opener in 4 months
|
|
|
Post by sarasota on May 17, 2016 18:03:40 GMT -5
Missed opportunity to go to artificial surface. Especially useful given New England Fall weather. Shows up better on TV. We have never gotten a definitive answer from TPTB as to why no artificial and no lights. Why the secrecy. It's demeaning to fans that we're not worthy to get an answer. Fosters unavoidable conclusion that they have something to hide, e.g., crappy reasons.
|
|
|
Post by CHC8485 on May 17, 2016 18:08:56 GMT -5
If you're curious, why don't you ask and let us know?
|
|
|
Post by sarasota on May 17, 2016 18:24:21 GMT -5
I shouoldn't have to ask and I will not ask. These topics have been discussed in the past and I am sure TPTB know that questions have been raised. At least Dick Regan responded several years ago re the cost for one-time rental of lights.
|
|
|
Post by rickii on May 17, 2016 18:29:17 GMT -5
sota -
AIR, phreak id'd the probable road block to going FieldTurf as Fitton is in a designated flood zone.
|
|
|
Post by Pakachoag Phreek on May 17, 2016 18:32:14 GMT -5
The water table, because of the Middle River, is apparently quite high. A drainage system, which might require pumps, to support a field turf installation, could be expensive. When the field was first built over a century ago, the drainage area was probably more farms and open space, and flows in the Middle River were quite lower than today. Streets and parking lots replace fields, = more storm runoff. On the old board, I posted a flood plain map for this area; here it is again. If the Middle River floods, the water will rise to under the south stands. Field turf manufacturer may not warranty a product installed in a flood plain. IIRC, the striped and dotted areas represent water levels of flooding at different frequencies, the highest level of flooding would be a 1 percent annual chance of occurrence; a lesser risk would be a 5 percent annual chance of occurrence.
|
|
|
Post by lou on May 17, 2016 18:40:11 GMT -5
...and the answer to why lights aren't being installed is because lights at Fitton are very low on ADNPs priority list, if they're on the list at all
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on May 17, 2016 18:48:28 GMT -5
As I have posted many times over the years, in my conversation(s) with Tom Gilmore, he did not think that artificial turf would be an improvement for Fitton. He told me that the drainage was excellent and I think most coaches/players generally prefer grass to turf as I believe injuries generally are lower on natural grass, all else being equal. I am no expert on fields/drainage/football injuries. But my takeaway from talking to Tom was that we should not expect pressure put on Nate Pine from him to have an artificial field and presumably there was no pressure put on Dick Regan either. I think the coach would like lighting but he also made clear that lights would be "nice-to-have" but he had higher priorities with any money that went to the program.
As always, if someone wanted to donate the money for lights, Holy Cross would not turn him/her down.
|
|
|
Post by joe on May 17, 2016 19:33:55 GMT -5
Are we sure this will be grass? Who said so?
I like field turf but if we're going to re-sod and stay true to old school college football I'm down with it. But we definitely need some more night games.
|
|
|
Post by Crucis#1 on May 17, 2016 19:36:22 GMT -5
A higher priority at Fitton is the construction of new game day locker facilities for football, both home and visitors.
Also locker room facilities for baseball, tennis, softball and golf are needed.
Lights, as in the past, can be rented for that occasional night game. A comprehensive remodeling of Fitton Football Stadium will be substantially north of 20 million.
Hope the remodel will also include a large video board for the replays and a wi fi network to review the Campus Insiders broadcast.
|
|
|
Post by sarasota on May 17, 2016 20:49:10 GMT -5
In the big picture.....given all the money spent elsewhere.....the cost for permanent lighting for Fitton is chicken feed. Yes, the need for locker rooms, restrooms, concessions, press box, video scoreboard are pressing. But really....virtually nothing has been spent on Fitton fball stadium. It is our one athletic facility unparalleled in the PL. I continue to find it inexplicable how neglected it has been for years.
|
|
|
Post by joe on May 18, 2016 6:01:28 GMT -5
Basically with 'Sota on some level. It's just one of those details that should get done, if for no other reason than to re-emphasize HC's committmeny to the program. Granted this is not a small project by any means but not huge, just one that needs to go away as an issue. If we're keeping the infrastructure of Fitton please put the damn lights in and let's move on. We've done a few night games and they're freaking awesome. Let's do more, including another this season. Now!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by rickii on May 18, 2016 9:53:58 GMT -5
Google satellite view, probably 3-5 years old. From the trees, late spring, early summer. [ Wonder if they are 'renovating' the softball field as well. I don't recall seeing mention of the promised improvements to that field. If you think this is bad take a look at the softball field and the newer grass on the soccer field up top. There musta been quite a Spring/Summer drout 3-5 years ago. Wonder what the watering bills were back then ?
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on May 18, 2016 10:06:10 GMT -5
Hard to think of a field in a flood plain being effected by a drought.
|
|
|
Post by ts1970 on May 18, 2016 13:13:16 GMT -5
How about a nice reddish brick wall around the stadium to replace the old cyclone fencing I recall, but I guess that would just be window dressing compared to lights, new locker room facilities, restrooms, new concession stands, and a new video scoreboard board, etc. With unlimited funds HC could do it all, but such is not the case unfortunately.
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on May 18, 2016 13:21:16 GMT -5
The large video board at CCSU was most impressive. One at HC could be awesome - and it could be in the stadium end zone stands (opposite the scoreboard - where seats are currently covered with the HC logo).
|
|
|
Post by sarasota on May 18, 2016 14:13:01 GMT -5
Complete mystery how Fitton has been neglected.
|
|
|
Post by Pakachoag Phreek on May 18, 2016 15:25:36 GMT -5
rickii, looking at the rest of the campus in Google satellite, lots of cars in the lots, so the imagery is likely about this time in May. The dead spots are possibly crab grass or other annual grass that died off.
In other years, with commencement, you couldn't reseed until early June, which is late. So the new grass likely would get torn up during the season.
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on May 18, 2016 15:47:30 GMT -5
Complete mystery how Fitton has been neglected. I have to disagree with that. From what I have seen, the grounds people do a darn good job of keeping the field in a condition that is as good as possible (and playable) in all but the most extreme weather. At least, it used to be that way. Has it changed?
|
|
|
Post by Chu Chu on May 18, 2016 16:08:47 GMT -5
I am happy to continue with natural turf. It is a safer and more enjoyable surface to play on, with fewer injuries.
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on May 18, 2016 16:10:59 GMT -5
If the coach likes it, and there are other improvements that are more needed, such as lights and new locker rooms, I heartily agree.
|
|
|
Post by rickii on May 18, 2016 18:38:27 GMT -5
rickii, looking at the rest of the campus in Google satellite, lots of cars in the lots, so the imagery is likely about this time in May. The dead spots are possibly crab grass or other annual grass that died off. In other years, with commencement, you couldn't reseed until early June, which is late. So the new grass likely would get torn up during the season. Which reminds me, with Fitton under construction, where is graduation this year....or was it already held ?
|
|