To say that high school football in Texas is big is an understatement. To have played high school football in Texas is special and something one never forgets.
In the words of one of the fictional players from the movie “Friday Night Lights”, “It carries you forever.”
The memories of the players at Muleshoe High School will be cemented forever this fall as they take the field on the new AstroTurf® GameDay Grass™3D playing surface.
This year’s senior class carries an impressive record of 35-3, with a state championship in 2008, into the 2010 season. Their expectations for the 2010 season and the field are equally high.
In addition to expectations, there is a tremendous level of excitement.
“The kids are excited and the community is excited,” said Head Coach and Athletic Director David Wood. “We’ve played on a lot of turf fields, but none like this one.”
Wood said there were several reasons for selecting AstroTurf®.
First, according to Wood, there is a trend in Texas toward schools making the change to synthetic surfaces and they wanted the best product available.
Second, Wood says he expects fewer injuries. The NCAA conducted a study with schools across the country that compared injury rates between natural and synthetic turf. The injury rate in practice was 4.4% on natural turf, and 3.5% on synthetic turf. The rates during games were 11.5% and 11.4%, respectively. AstroTurf® has proven to be a safe surface and according to a Michigan State University study funded by NFL Charities, AstroTurf® performs most like natural grass.
Weather was another factor. Wood says that practices missed due to weather can set the program back in its development. AstroTurf® fields don’t have that problem.
Finally, location played a major role. The water table in the Texas panhandle is lower, so water usage to keep a field in pristine playing condition is limited. According to the Synthetic Turf Council, a well-maintained field can use 500,000 to one million gallons of water per year. AstroTurf® eliminates that need.
“We are proud to be partners with Muleshoe High School in providing this field for such a great team,” said Chad Feris, Director of Sales for AstroTurf®. “They are getting the best field on the market and we are looking forward to seeing the Mules achieve even greater success.”
The field and new track are expected to be completed in the next few days and Wood says he and his players can’t wait. As soon as the field is complete, he plans to have the Mules practicing on the surface for their next state championship.
The road to that title begins the last week in August and the Mules will play on their new AstroTurf® field for the first time against Portales, New Mexico, on September 6th.
About AstroTurf®
For many athletes and sport enthusiasts, the AstroTurf® brand has redefined the way the game is played. The company offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies, leveraging the industry’s only vertically integrated manufacturing system. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf®-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority and safety. Recent innovations from AstroTurf® include GameDay Grass™ 3D with RootZone®, a polyethylene/nylon hybrid system which most closely replicates natural grass; TurfAide™, a non-chemical antimicrobial shield protecting against MRSA and other infectious bacteria; and astroflect™ Technology which significantly reduces turf surface temperatures. To learn more, visit www.astroturfusa.com.
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