|
|
|
|
|
“It's very much like grass in a lot of ways,” confirms Helwig. “And it has a number of advantages over grass, too.” The surface, known as FieldTurf, is a hot new commodity on the market, having been selected as the field of choice for a host of universities, including Michigan, Missouri, Washington, and Oregon, as well as the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks. The UW paid some $735,000 to install its two fields, which were completed in August as part of the ongoing renovation of Camp Randall. “We think this gives us the best of both worlds,” says John Chadima, associate athletic director for operations, who helped select the new turf. “You can have a grasslike field but still have all the usage you want without wearing out the field.” Expect no elegies for the UW's five-year-old nylon carpet, which workers rolled up yard-by-yard in early July. That surface — upon which the Badgers rumbled to two Rose Bowl berths and Ron Dayne x'00 set an NCAA career rushing record — drew little love from players or coaches. Even during hot days in August, some players wore long-sleeved shirts underneath their jerseys to protect their arms from the painful burns and rashes that came from falling on it. And rug burn was the least of it. In an eighteen-month span, four Badger players tore knee ligaments while playing or practicing on the carpet — including All-American receiver Lee Evans x'04, who missed all of last season after falling awkwardly during the 2002 spring game. While no one goes as far as blaming the turf entirely for those injuries, “intuitively, you can probably say that the surface played some part,” Helwig says, adding, “I know I won't miss it.”
Donny Brady can attest to that. A member of the 1994 Badger team that won the Rose Bowl, Brady was working in the UW weight room when Chadima and Helwig recruited him to help evaluate turf choices. The three traveled to facilities around the Midwest to test-drive four leading brands of turf, with Brady serving as the literal fall guy. A veteran of three NFL teams who now plays professionally in Canada, Brady performed a battery of maneuvers that included a simulated slide and several hard cuts. These were workouts where the goal was not to feel the burn. Brady was looking for comfort and ease of movement, and FieldTurf earned his nod, not to mention his envy. “He was really excited knowing that our players would be getting the opportunity to play on this surface,” says Helwig. “And I think there was a little bit of jealousy there, too.” — Michael Penn Team Player — Jeff Mack
— Michael Penn If You Wanna Be a Rugger ... Football players aren't the only ones who tackle, pass, and run down the field during fall. The Wisconsin Rugby Football Club does all that, too. And if you've ever wondered what it's like to don the striped shirt and shorts, there's a chance to find out. For the second year, the UW-Madison club will host a free clinic for anyone interested in learning more about football's older sibling. Beginning at nine o'clock on October 4 at University Bay Field, would-be ruggers can learn the basics of the game and participate in a team scrimmage led by coaches Jeff Cement and Lisa Riehl. “We want to get more exposure for rugby and find new recruits for the team,” says club president Scott Martell x'05. No experience is necessary, and all ages are welcome. To find out more about the clinic, contact Martell at (608) 239-1476, or slmartell@wisc.edu. — Erin Hueffner '00
Circle the dates: September 19, Big Ten home opener against Indiana; October 19, at defending champion Penn State; November 6–9, Big Ten tournament, in Madison. Keep an eye on: Can you say reload? A huge class of eleven newcomers will join the roster this year. Leading goal scorer Jenny Kundert x'04 adds experience to that mix. Think about this: Wisconsin has made the NCAA postseason tournament twelve times, more than any other Big Ten school.
Beau Hoopman and Paul Daniels, members of the UW men's rowing team in 2003, also claimed gold at the Pan American Games. The rowers, who made up one-fourth of the winning U.S. crew in the men's eight race, added silver medals in the men's four. Tara Clack, a pole vaulter for the Badger track and field team, lifted herself onto the pages of UW history in her final season. On her way to winning the Big Ten title in the event, Clack cleared a school-record mark of thirteen feet, five and one-quarter inches, which earned her a place at the NCAA championship meet. A four-time member of the academic all-conference squad, Clack later joined UW basketball alumnus Kirk Penney as Wisconsin recipients of the Big Ten's award for outstanding sportsmanship. Dennis Tiziani, the long-time coach and main architect of UW's
golf programs, has hung up his spikes. Coach of
the men's team since 1977 and the women's team since
1989, Tiziani led the women's team to its first-ever NCAA
championship match this past season. Jim Schuman, the head professional
and director of instruction at Hawks Landing Golf Club in Madison,
will take over the men's team. Todd Oehrlein, who coached
the men's team at UW-Eau Claire for six seasons, will head
the women's squad.
|
|
Sports
Fall 2003 Features
Alumni News Regulars
|
|
Site Map | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | About uwalumni.com |
FieldTurf
is part of a new breed of turf systems engineered to look, feel,
and act more like grass. It consists of a mat of long, polyethylene
fibers, which are held in place by a two-inch-deep layer of sand
and rubber infill, a soil-like mixture from which the fibers protrude
like grass blades. Helwig, who tosses around terms like torque and
drag coefficient, says that FieldTurf should reduce the incidence
of injuries for two reasons: it doesn't hold on to a player's
foot when he turns or cuts, reducing the stress on bones and ligaments;
and, because it's thicker than the old turf, it will slow
players down, lightening the impact when they hit each other or
anything else.
Five
things to know about Jeff Mack, a senior captain of the Badger football
team: