Dolphins-Steelers

[Sguse1]

Again this is Football. Not star wars. Not naval ships. American Gridiron Football.

Football is played in any kind of weather: Rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog...can't see the game, don't know if there is a game going on; mud on the field...can't read the uniforms, can't read the yard markers, the struggle will continue!

In baseball if it rains, we don't go out to play. "I can't go out! It's raining out!"

In football, the object is for the quarterback, otherwise known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his recievers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use the shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.

George Carlin.

[rams80]

Again this is Football. Not star wars. Not naval ships. American Gridiron Football.

Football is played in any kind of weather: Rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog...can't see the game, don't know if there is a game going on; mud on the field...can't read the uniforms, can't read the yard markers, the struggle will continue!

In baseball if it rains, we don't go out to play. "I can't go out! It's raining out!"

In football, the object is for the quarterback, otherwise known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his recievers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use the shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.

George Carlin.

This is and should be the case for football at most, lower, levels.

HOWEVER....once the NFL became a billion-dollar enterprise, certain things from the "days of leather helmets, fly-by-nighters, and franchise instability", such as the right to have garbage fields because it "fits the spirit of the game", are no longer appropriate. Essentially, now that serious money is riding on the line of these businesses, it's kind of important that the teams take as many steps as possible to ensure that the players they have spent millions of dollars on payment and development of don't fall victim to an avoidable playing surface problem, one that could be rectified with a relatively cheap investment.

If you want to watch football players roll around on a wet, muddy, garbage field, because that's how football is, go to a local semi-pro game, adult football, or high school game.

The NFL is not that anymore. Sumimasen

[maz]

If theres any benefit to palying on a bad surface constantly, is that you get used to it. Thats why bad weather (except for last night's mostrosity) rarely seems to hurt the Steelers. I say keep the grass and just fix it right. Too bad theres no more Pitt Stadium, then thered be no field problems with the Steelers being the only tennant at heinz field, and the WPIAL having anothe large stadium to have host their championship games.

[andrewharrington]

I'm neutral on the turf v. grass debate. Grass gets waterlogged in the rain, gets frozen in the cold. Turf gets unbearably hot in the heat, and has a less-forgiving cushion at times. Both surfaces have their ups and downs. What I would like to see is consistency. All grass or all turf someday. All domes or all open-air (or all retractable) someday.

[BBTV]

I think Rams is on-point here. Like it or not, it's not "just a game" anymore.

[Old School Fool]

When someone dies in a game like last nights, all you morons will be crying for Field Turf to be implemented for all stadiums. I don't like turf very much either, but damnit I don't want random NFL players dying because football traditionalists are being morons.

[ABCJr]

When someone dies in a game like last nights, all you morons will be crying for Field Turf to be implemented for all stadiums. I don't like turf very much either, but damnit I don't want random NFL players dying because football traditionalists are being morons.

I'm a bit confused by this... I was in attendance at the game last night and certainly would have known if someone had died.

As for how bad it was -- there was some of the worst rain I've seen since I've been in Pittsburgh. Any natural field would have been horrible.

[vicfurth]

The first step I believe needs desperately to be taken is ensure that no field is shared between MLB and NFL teams. That's where a lot of hazard is.

As with any other issue, the turf vs. grass debate could easily be appeased. Solution: develop a hybrid breed of grass that is either durable like a FieldTurf, or just grows together so tightly that it become [nearly] impervious to cleats. Maybe that'll be the next step after FieldTurf, much like it was the step after AstroTurf.

Think about it, an actual living grass (to satisfy the old-schoolers) that has the durability of a FieldTurf (for the modern fan). It would eliminate problems such as that that occured in Pittsburgh.

The only drawback, though, would be that we couldn't have hilarious moments like that punt that just stuck in the field.

[rainmaker17]

As with any other issue, the turf vs. grass debate could easily be appeased. Solution: develop a hybrid breed of grass that is either durable like a FieldTurf, or just grows together so tightly that it become [nearly] impervious to cleats. Maybe that'll be the next step after FieldTurf, much like it was the step after AstroTurf.

Think about it, an actual living grass (to satisfy the old-schoolers) that has the durability of a FieldTurf (for the modern fan). It would eliminate problems such as that that occured in Pittsburgh.

C'mon Vic....let us in. Your agro boys in College Station are perfecting it as we speak. Right?

[Gothamite]

When someone dies in a game like last nights, all you morons will be crying for Field Turf to be implemented for all stadiums. I don't like turf very much either, but damnit I don't want random NFL players dying because football traditionalists are being morons.

Knock it off.

There's no call for personal attacks, and they only diminish the point you're trying to make by making it appear you lack any substantive argument.

[IronChefShark]

When someone dies in a game like last nights, all you morons will be crying for Field Turf to be implemented for all stadiums. I don't like turf very much either, but damnit I don't want random NFL players dying because football traditionalists are being morons.

Knock it off.

There's no call for personal attacks, and they only diminish the point you're trying to make by making it appear you lack any substantive argument.

Why is it that every time someone speaks out against something that needs to be updated, whether it be uniforms, stadiums, or in this case a field, that you have to go on the defensive and accuse that person of a personal attack?

Its not as if you've never issued a personal attack on anyone who appreciates things that are innovative and contemporary.

You're like that bratty kid in the playground that causes problems with all the other kids and when the yard duty teacher comes to investigate its you crying and saying "he was being mean to me!"

so please, YOU knock it off.

[Sport]

I've been watching the Ohio high school state football playoffs on TV the last couple of days. My high school Dublin Coffman played St. Xavier at the University of Dayton's stadium which still has the old ancient astroturf (why they would ever schedule a semifinal playoff game there is beyond me) Some other games were played at Massilon's stadium which also has the old astroturf. I had forgotten what a drag it was to watch a game on the old astroturf fields. With that being said I am not anti-synthetic turf. I am anti astroturf. Fieldturf is great, it drains well, it's softer and safer and a lot of the time looks real. If you want football to be played in the mud all the time then you're an idiot. That game monday night was not an NFL game. If you want grass feilds and mud go watch the sec, but in the NFL there is too much for them to risk by playing on two levels of sod in a pouring rainstorm.

[Gothamite]

When someone dies in a game like last nights, all you morons will be crying for Field Turf to be implemented for all stadiums. I don't like turf very much either, but damnit I don't want random NFL players dying because football traditionalists are being morons.

Knock it off.

There's no call for personal attacks, and they only diminish the point you're trying to make by making it appear you lack any substantive argument.

Why is it that every time someone speaks out against something that needs to be updated, whether it be uniforms, stadiums, or in this case a field, that you have to go on the defensive and accuse that person of a personal attack?

Its not as if you've never issued a personal attack on anyone who appreciates things that are innovative and contemporary.

You're like that bratty kid in the playground that causes problems with all the other kids and when the yard duty teacher comes to investigate its you crying and saying "he was being mean to me!"

so please, YOU knock it off.

If I have ever given the impression of attacking somebody personally, I apologize. Don't think I have, certainly never intended to. I have attacked people's opinions, and their positions, and their politics, and their concepts, and even their fashion sense, but not them personally. There is a world of difference.

You and I have not seen eye to eye for a long time, Shark. But I have defended you and your posts on several occasions. Because it isn't personal. If I have somehow given you personal offense, consider this my sincere and heartfelt apology.

I certainly have never called anybody a "moron," much less several times in one post, which was my objection to Old School Fool's post. The point remains.

[Gothamite]

If you want football to be played in the mud all the time then you're an idiot.

Okay, mac. You too.

Can you make your point without the name-calling, please?

[Sport]

If you want football to be played in the mud all the time then you're an idiot.

Okay, mac. You too.

Can you make your point without the name-calling, please?

no, because that is my point.

[FiddySicks]

Seriously, why in the world is there such amazing opposition to FieldTurf? A surface has been created that makes playing the game in harsh weather conditions more feasable and safer, and in no way changes the overall integrity of the rules of the sport. Opposing it makes about as much sense as opposing decently paved highways in favor of dirt roads because it "Makes the driving experience more pure". Its called evolution people. It's put into place to make the game safer and more enjoyable for everyone. And as Rams stated earlier, this isn't "just a game" any more. You can argue the ethics of the commercialization of sports all you want, thats a different topic alltogather, but fact remains that it IS a business and owners are going to do whatever it takes to protect the well being of their multi million dollar investments. And if that means getting rid of a little bit of the mud to save a players limbs then so be it. FieldTurf is a great invention, it makes the gameplay fairly consistant DESPITE the weather, it works, it not only should but will be implemented into most stadiums, get used to it.

[DRutka]

Seriously, why in the world is there such amazing opposition to FieldTurf? A surface has been created that makes playing the game in harsh weather conditions more feasable and safer, and in no way changes the overall integrity of the rules of the sport. Opposing it makes about as much sense as opposing decently paved highways in favor of dirt roads because it "Makes the driving experience more pure". Its called evolution people. It's put into place to make the game safer and more enjoyable for everyone. And as Rams stated earlier, this isn't "just a game" any more. You can argue the ethics of the commercialization of sports all you want, thats a different topic alltogather, but fact remains that it IS a business and owners are going to do whatever it takes to protect the well being of their multi million dollar investments. And if that means getting rid of a little bit of the mud to save a players limbs then so be it. FieldTurf is a great invention, it makes the gameplay fairly consistant DESPITE the weather, it works, it not only should but will be implemented into most stadiums, get used to it.

Very well said.

[Luigi74]

If theres any benefit to palying on a bad surface constantly, is that you get used to it. Thats why bad weather (except for last night's mostrosity) rarely seems to hurt the Steelers. I say keep the grass and just fix it right. Too bad theres no more Pitt Stadium, then thered be no field problems with the Steelers being the only tennant at heinz field, and the WPIAL having anothe large stadium to have host their championship games.

If Pitt Stadium was still around there would be no Heinz Field. The Steelers would have never gotten the public funding for Heinz Field if Pitt wasnt part of the deal, hell they barely got it with Pitt as part of the deal.

The Rooney's were only willing to kick in $125 million for the stadium, the city and state were dragging their feet(only wanting to build a new baseball stadium) and trying to get the Rooney's to put the $125 million into improvements at Three Rivers Stadium. For years Pitt had been wanting to build a new basketball arena but they had no room in Oakland and the city blocked them any time they tried to buy land in the Hill District for one, Pitt also needed to make big time improvements to Pitt Stadium. The Rooney's got Pitt to move the football team to Heinz and sold the city and state on 17 football games a year(10 Steelers/7 Pitt) along with other events, they got the funding and Pitt was able to knock down Pitt Stadium to build the Peterson Events Center.

[Gothamite]

FieldTurf is a great invention, it makes the gameplay fairly consistant DESPITE the weather

That's a great reason to oppose it.

[maz]

If theres any benefit to palying on a bad surface constantly, is that you get used to it. Thats why bad weather (except for last night's mostrosity) rarely seems to hurt the Steelers. I say keep the grass and just fix it right. Too bad theres no more Pitt Stadium, then thered be no field problems with the Steelers being the only tennant at heinz field, and the WPIAL having anothe large stadium to have host their championship games.

If Pitt Stadium was still around there would be no Heinz Field. The Steelers would have never gotten the public funding for Heinz Field if Pitt wasnt part of the deal, hell they barely got it with Pitt as part of the deal.

The Rooney's were only willing to kick in $125 million for the stadium, the city and state were dragging their feet(only wanting to build a new baseball stadium) and trying to get the Rooney's to put the $125 million into improvements at Three Rivers Stadium. For years Pitt had been wanting to build a new basketball arena but they had no room in Oakland and the city blocked them any time they tried to buy land in the Hill District for one, Pitt also needed to make big time improvements to Pitt Stadium. The Rooney's got Pitt to move the football team to Heinz and sold the city and state on 17 football games a year(10 Steelers/7 Pitt) along with other events, they got the funding and Pitt was able to knock down Pitt Stadium to build the Peterson Events Center.

I meant my post hypothetically. Now, in a perfect world, thered be the pete, Pitt Stadium, and Heinz Field, but, unfortunately, as you said, it couldnt work out that way.

C'est la vie, i guess.