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Post by HC92 on Jun 10, 2021 5:45:46 GMT -5
Can’t believe we’re arguing with a person who hates HC about whether we should feel badly about having a beautiful grass field that we use 6 times per year to host football games and graduation. We also have indoor and outdoor turf fields that we can use whenever we want for football practices. HC has problems. This is not one of them.
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Post by rgs318 on Jun 10, 2021 6:58:32 GMT -5
At one time I hoped HC would install an artificial field as so many local high schools have done (all of whom have lights). Now, after learning a good deal more on the subject (and on issues peculiar to HC), I can see why the coaches support natural grass. I hope that dies not change,. It is something of which HC and our alums can be proud. Of course there is at least one person who seems to hate HC and everything to him seems to be a negative...it is, after all, in the eyes the beholder. I take comfort in the fact that there seem to be so very few in that category. Now, about lights.... I can remember games at HC where it was wet and miserable and lights certainly would have helped. There are more uses for them than simply night games. But that is a topic for another day.
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Post by joe on Jun 10, 2021 7:05:11 GMT -5
Polar is nice for a one off game. But if we have 5-6 home games per year we should consider bringing in lights again for at least 1 or 2 of them and then if we host a playoff game we can do the same. Perhaps the financials are more favorable for any night games to be at Polar though.
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Post by sader1970 on Jun 10, 2021 7:16:04 GMT -5
For the football alums on the board, how many would prefer to play on a grass vs. artificial turf field?
Fitton grass field is darn close to perfect to the eye (as Crucis already posted, if you didn't know better you'd think it was turf). I will repeat myself from a number of years ago, Tom Gilmore said the drainage at Fitton was great and grass field was his preference. Top that with Holy Cross has arguably the best "landscapers" around any campus in the country. I can see the argument for lighting for night games but replacing the field with artificial turf just makes no sense to me.
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Post by hcfaninfl on Jun 10, 2021 7:57:38 GMT -5
For the football alums on the board, how many would prefer to play on a grass vs. artificial turf field? Fitton grass field is darn close to perfect to the eye (as Crucis already posted, if you didn't know better you'd think it was turf). I will repeat myself from a number of years ago, Tom Gilmore said the drainage at Fitton was great and grass field was his preference. Top that with Holy Cross has arguably the best "landscapers" around any campus in the country. I can see the argument for lighting for night games but replacing the field with artificial turf just makes no sense to me. I can tell you that the current players prefer grass.
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Post by alum on Jun 10, 2021 8:40:31 GMT -5
If the stadium was going to be used for multiple sports, or for practice, an artificial turf field would be necessary. This field is used at most 6 times per year (maybe more if we had home playoff games.) The College has an award winning grounds crew. Fitton Field can be kept as a grass facility (and, as I understand from PP, we really have no choice given the water table.) Soccer should also be played on a grass game only field like the current stadium. A warm weather team might be able to have a grass game only field for lacrosse, but that seems like it would not work in NE. My impression is that field hockey ought to always be played on artificial turf but I could be corrected. While I am not sure exactly how things are handled,it seems to me that the College's field needs are met (just barely) with existing facilities. I am not sure how the men's and women's teams coordinate field use. I would think an additional multipurpose practice field would be helpful to allow all teams to practice at once.
Father K field and the field inside the track should be the highest quality surfaces and replaced in line with the manufacturer's recommendation.
On the other hand, most high schools would benefit from having two artificial turf fields given the number of teams that typically share them and, here in NE, the effects of climate change on spring weather. I went to a summer lacrosse tournament at Greenwich High once. I think they had four.
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Post by rgs318 on Jun 10, 2021 8:43:56 GMT -5
On the high school level, I can remember when our school's players came back from their one game on an artificial field looking as though they had been in a wreck somewhere. They are covered with bruises and contusions along with multiple friction burns on any exposed skin. Of course, that was early astro-turf and current field turf has been developed and improved. There are still joint issues, that do not see to happen as often on grass. It is a tough choice, but the flood plain makes it very easy...go with grass.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Jun 10, 2021 9:31:50 GMT -5
The playing surface at Fitton is superb.
I hope one day to see Fitton once again renovated with ADA compliant seating, new lockerooms, new bathrooms, new concessions and a ADA compliant Press Box. After these upgrades have been completed, then lights should be added to the facility.
The playing surface at Fitton is not a current issue that needs to be remediated.
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Post by longsuffering on Jun 10, 2021 11:04:30 GMT -5
Would the allure of playing on real grass give HC a slight advantage in negotiating a home and home series with a top level FCS team as opposed to an away game only?
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Post by rickii on Jun 10, 2021 11:16:31 GMT -5
Why doesn't the mid line of the video board line up with the mid line of the field?... better for events that have a pavilion on the field?... like commencement? My guess is that the sight-lines are virtually 100% un-obstructed from the Home stands. And ain’t that the way we want it? Believe it dates waaaay back when there was a cinder track ( old baseball field configuration ) that looped into that endzone. Also note that the grandstand portals on the other endzone don't aline with the goalpost either.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Jun 10, 2021 11:45:01 GMT -5
Can’t believe we’re arguing with a person who hates HC about whether we should feel badly about having a beautiful grass field that we use 6 times per year to host football games and graduation. We also have indoor and outdoor turf fields that we can use whenever we want for football practices. HC has problems. This is not one of them. Words of wisdom.
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Post by football44 on Jun 23, 2021 4:52:06 GMT -5
Being on present day Fitton Field compared to when I played in the 70’s there is no comparison. Fitton was a “nice” field then but Fitton is beautiful now. Better than plush carpeting and greatly manicured. Kudos to the maintenance staff! Fitton is treated like the Holy Cross campus in general.
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Post by hc87 on Jun 23, 2021 20:59:37 GMT -5
As 44 said, the field at Fitton is measurably better now than it was in the 70s and 80s.....particularly at the end of the season. I remember large swaths of Fitton being dug out or browned out by the end of some seasons. If you look at the BC '77 game on youtube, the field is a mess in some places.
Probably improvements in field maintenance, turf growth etc ovah the decades have helped as well. It really is a beautiful field today, really second to none to other grass football fields around the country.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jun 25, 2021 10:08:20 GMT -5
As 44 said, the field at Fitton is measurably better now than it was in the 70s and 80s.....particularly at the end of the season. I remember large swaths of Fitton being dug out or browned out by the end of some seasons. If you look at the BC '77 game on youtube, the field is a mess in some places. Probably improvements in field maintenance, turf growth etc ovah the decades have helped as well. It really is a beautiful field today, really second to none to other grass football fields around the country. ADNP, with CTG's encouragement, had the old field replaced with new prescription turf about six years ago. This was not inexpensive. news.holycross.edu/blog/2016/10/18/photo-gallery-fitton-field-gets-makeover-with-new-sod/^^^ The link includes a photo from over 100 years ago, revealing that the field is indeed built on a flood plain, and the baseball field appears to have more seating than does football. The photo gallery, 20 images, shows the installation steps for the new field. IIRC, the company that supplied the grass turf also supplied turf for NFL and MLS stadiums.
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Post by sader1970 on Jun 25, 2021 12:00:32 GMT -5
I don't recall ever having seen this article, so even though it is "dated," thanks for sharing, Phreek. It was more than putting in new grass.
The folks who keep the campus looking great year round deserve all the plaudits they get. Fitton Field looks great. Too bad TG didn't get the full benefit.
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Post by timholycross on Jun 25, 2021 13:23:04 GMT -5
Tom Gilmore's current employer did a fantastic job on Goodman Stadium as well. Don't know if it's the surface laid down when it opened in 1988, but considering when the HC/Lehigh game was played, mid-March, the turf looked fantastic and held up well.
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Post by longsuffering on Jun 26, 2021 19:28:57 GMT -5
I don't recall ever having seen this article, so even though it is "dated," thanks for sharing, Phreek. It was more than putting in new grass. The folks who keep the campus looking great year round deserve all the plaudits they get. Fitton Field looks great. Too bad TG didn't get the full benefit. He'll be back every other year.
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Post by longsuffering on Jun 26, 2021 19:47:05 GMT -5
As 44 said, the field at Fitton is measurably better now than it was in the 70s and 80s.....particularly at the end of the season. I remember large swaths of Fitton being dug out or browned out by the end of some seasons. If you look at the BC '77 game on youtube, the field is a mess in some places. Probably improvements in field maintenance, turf growth etc ovah the decades have helped as well. It really is a beautiful field today, really second to none to other grass football fields around the country. ADNP, with CTG's encouragement, had the old field replaced with new prescription turf about six years ago. This was not inexpensive. news.holycross.edu/blog/2016/10/18/photo-gallery-fitton-field-gets-makeover-with-new-sod/^^^ The link includes a photo from over 100 years ago, revealing that the field is indeed built on a flood plain, and the baseball field appears to have more seating than does football. The photo gallery, 20 images, shows the installation steps for the new field. IIRC, the company that supplied the grass turf also supplied turf for NFL and MLS stadiums. Amazing it had not been resodded since it was built. The 1903 grounds crew deserve an award. I love learning there is a well. Why pay W&S bills to water the grass.
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Post by purplehaze on Aug 9, 2021 15:27:17 GMT -5
The Bison joining the new video board movement in the PL (and quite a total pledge !)
Bucknell today announced a pledge of more than $40 million from Michael Pascucci '58. The largest single pledge in Bucknell history will include $30 million in unrestricted financial aid endowment for the University, along with $10 million more directed toward enhancements in and around Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. In recognition of Pascucci's historic commitment to both financial aid and athletics, the area of campus that includes the stadium and the Christy Mathewson Gates will be named the Pascucci Family Athletics Complex. The complex's name will be displayed on a new video board at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, construction of which is also supported by more than $1 million in giving by additional donors. The new board will be operational this fall.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Aug 9, 2021 15:33:14 GMT -5
Congrats to our friends at Bucknell on the big donation and the new board coming. I'm looking forward to seeing replays on it of Crusaders crossing the Bucknell goal line.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Aug 9, 2021 16:15:07 GMT -5
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Post by bfoley82 on Sept 27, 2021 17:20:30 GMT -5
Nichols followed the footsteps of Holy Cross and put in a video scoreboard at the football field.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Sept 27, 2021 18:24:51 GMT -5
Nichols, like Holy Cross was fortunate to be able to install a video board this season. Do you know who is the manufacturer? Recently there seems to be a supply chain issue with Daktronics, as there has been a delay for the Hart installation for this upcoming season. Tufts with there renovation to Ellis Oval, also has had an issue with Daktronics and Musco for the completion of their renovations for this season. The video and lights are now delayed until the 2022 season. www.gotuftsjumbos.com/general_news/2021-22/oval_renovation
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