EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL GETTING NEW ASTROTURF FIELD

(CORDOVA, Tennessee) - Geoff Walters, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Evangelical Christian School in Cordova, knows a thing or two about balance and adjustment.

He’s been doing it as long as he can remember.  The former QB at Valdosta State University, transferred to Samford prior to his senior year, when Coach Terry Bowden took over the program.  Samford also had a successful QB named Jimbo Fisher, who is now the head coach at Florida State.

“When I saw him throw, I knew I needed to find a new position,” said Walters.

Walters moved to tight end, where he had a good senior season.  Balance and adjustment.

Most recently, Walters was hired at ECS in 2010, and has been tasked with building and maintaining a top high school sports program in a very competitive market and coaching a football team which has a tradition of winning.  After arriving, he started the ball rolling on getting a new synthetic turf playing field at the school, as well as number of other athletic renovations and additions.  

If all that weren’t enough, his oldest daughter, Tommi Lynn, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last year.

The University of Alabama student had choked on an almond and scratched her throat.  Following physician visits to an ENT and a thyroid specialist, she was diagnosed.  After having her thyroid removed and undergoing radioactive iodine therapy, Tommi Lynn was given a clean bill of health last month.

“It was a challenging time,” said Walters.  “Through a lot of prayer and God’s grace, everything is fine.”

Walters attributes maintaining the athletic programs at ECS to his tremendous staff, saying they took the reins and handled things during his absences to be with Tommi Lynn during treatments in Birmingham.

Again, balance and adjustment.

Walters is back at the helm, driving the new athletic construction projects with a determination enhanced, in part, by Tommi Lynn.  Doctors removed her thyroid on a Friday morning.  She was back in class at Alabama on Tuesday morning.

This week, Walters has been keeping watch over the installation of a brand new, state-of-the-art AstroTurf system at Legends Field.

Walters said that the synthetic surface became necessary as a result of the growing athletic needs of the school.  In 2011, there were 44 games played on the natural grass surface at Legends Field.

“You can imagine what it looked like after all those games,” said Walters.

The coach began putting out feelers about synthetic turf and shortly he was contacted by Keith Bonnell of AstroTurf, an old teammate from their days on the gridiron at Valdosta State.  The two hadn’t talked in 20 years.

“We researched a lot of synthetic turf,” said Walters.  “In the end, we knew that AstroTurf was the best product and we also had a great deal of comfort and trust in dealing with Keith and the people at AstroTurf.”

Walters said it was great to rekindle his old friendship and work with someone like Bonnell, but added that Bonnell played a pivotal role in his personal life, as well.  During Tommi Lynn’s struggle with cancer, Bonnell had his church youth group and entire church family in Georgia praying for her healing and recovery.

“Keith and a lot of people prayed for Tommi Lynn,” said Walters.  “We are big believers in the power of prayer.”

Now, months later, Tommi Lynn is working toward a degree in nursing and Bonnell and an installation crew from AstroTurf are putting the AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60 Xtreme surface in place.  The surface combines a monofilament Horseshoe fiber with a slit film product.  

The Horseshoe fiber has a shape like its namesake, which is more resilient and bounces back, staying upright longer.  It also reflects less light and heat.  That, in combination with AstroFlect heat reduction technology, can lower surface temperatures by as much as 18%.

The slit film offers the ultimate in durability.  The field features 60 ounces of fiber per square yard, the highest in the industry.  This adds to the durability provided by the fiber shape.

The field will also have a RootZone, a thatch layer which holds the sand and rubber infill in place for less splash and migration, making for a more consistent playing surface.

A study at Michigan State University, funded by NFL Charities, found that AstroTurf GameDay Grass systems looked and performed more like natural grass than any other synthetic product measured, also making it the safest option. 

“We’re getting the Cadillac of synthetic turf systems,” said Walters.  “We have great people and a great program.  Now we’re going to have the best facilities.”

“Coach Walters is a great man and ECS is a great school,” said Bonnell.  “This is a project that will make a difference in the lives of lots of people.  Professionally and personally, it’s made a huge difference in mine.”

The athletic project also includes a new press box, seating and a storage building at the track, lighting for the baseball field, as well as the possibility of new tennis courts.

Rex Jones, Director of Advancement for ECS, has guided the process for the new facilities.

“God’s grace has been great for the past 46 years at ECS,” said Jones.  “We had a donor who believed in our school and its mission and wanted to contribute.  When he did that, it just exploded.  This is a great marketing tool for our school and we are thankful AstroTurf has been there to help.”

He said the addition of the field will take the most protected two acres on the 40-acre campus and make it available five-and-a-half days a week, 24 hours-a-day to the football team, soccer team, lacrosse team, and other teams from both the middle and upper school.

“It’s going to expand the reach of our athletic program and our school, in general,” said Jones.

Jones’ son Barrett played at ECS and was this year’s Outland Trophy winner and starting tackle for the University of Alabama’s BCS National Championship team.

“I think the new AstroTurf field is an awesome addition.  I wish I could have played on it,” said the younger Jones.  “I know the AstroTurf fields play great, last a long time, and are always ready to go.  I believe it will help bring in more students and help the success of the ECS athletic program.  My brother will be a senior there next year, so he will get to experience it.”

The new field will be ready in the next few weeks and will host the ECS Eagles football team as they kick off the 2012 season.

Coach Walters will lead the team, seeking to claim another state title to add to those won by the team in 1983, 1999, 2000, and 2005.  

He plans to remain a coach and athletic administrator for a long time to come, but says that when that chapter passes, he’ll be coming to work for AstroTurf.

Balance and adjustment.