ERIC BERRY'S ASTROTURF PROJECT STILL PAYING DIVIDENDS GOING INTO THIRD YEAR

(FAIRBURN, Georgia) - As Eric Berry was cementing his name as one of the greatest safeties in the history of college football, the park where he learned the game was facing a crisis.

The city of Fairburn, Georgia, on the outskirts of Atlanta, had just a reached a population of 3,500.  State law required for Fulton County to halt maintenance on the park at that time.  Fairburn residents filled the gap and pitched in to help, but the park continued to decline.

As prospects of a professional career grew brighter, Eric Berry stepped in to help.  In a world where professional athletes increasingly lose sight of the team concept and exist with a sense of entitlement, Eric Berry is one of the good guys.

Eric, before ever playing a down in the NFL, launched the Eric Berry Foundation and committed to build an AstroTurf field at Clarence Duncan Park in Fairburn, a park managed by former University of Tennessee running back James Berry, Eric’s father.

“You won’t meet any finer people than the Berry family,” said Bryan Peeples, President of AstroTurf.  “This has been one of the most rewarding projects we’ve ever worked on.”

The field was built in 2010, with work commencing just days before Eric departed to don the uniform of the Chiefs.  Now entering its third year, the field at Duncan Park is still making a tremendous impact.

“It’s meant a whole lot to the kids in the area,” said the senior Berry.  “It’s just like a drawing card.”

James Berry says the field is being utilized anytime it’s available and that people come from around the metro are to see it and play on it.  He cites it as a real asset to the community.

Berry also says the field is a source for improved performance among the young athletes in the area and a tool to increase participation.

“Since this field has been installed, we’re getting better practices out of the kids and we’re getting more showing up that want to be there to participate in our program,” said Berry.  “I can see that participation has picked up, so overall, AstroTurf has done us a great favor by installing this field and just working with us in the community.”

Berry said installation of the field put a lot of activity into motion, which will help the Eric Berry Foundation achieve its long-term 6.5-year renovation goal at Duncan Park.  Berry says that because of the installation of the field, “we can actually see the park coming back to life.”

It goes without saying that James Berry has a tremendous amount of pride for his son on and off the field.

“It’s truly a blessing that the opportunity came along and that he really wanted to just give back to the community,” said Berry.  “This was one of the things he did.  We all feel blessed and privileged that he took the opportunity and showed us the love that he did by partnering with AstroTurf and bringing this field to us.”

For Eric Berry, it’s still not enough.  Improving opportunities for young people is a personal mission he carries far beyond Duncan Park.

"I wanted to be different,” said the younger Berry.  “I wanted to be the one who said I would come back after I made it and actually come back and show them. That's always something I wanted to do."

Berry recently completed a series of four youth football camps for kids in Fairburn, Knoxville, Kansas City, and Chattanooga.  The camps drew hundreds of kids and proceeds will go to the Eric Berry Foundation to help with projects similar to Duncan Park in areas like Knoxville and Kansas City.

Berry did football drills and talked with the kids about life lessons he has learned.  He also stayed afterward until every kid or parent got an autograph or a photo.

Molly Haynes, a Tennessee fan from Chattanooga, brought both her sons to the recent camp in Chattanooga.

“I’ve been really impressed that he stayed the entire time,” said Haynes.  “He was out there on the field with them and talking to them.  I think it says a lot about him in that he wants to give back to the community and that the cost was really low for the kids to get to do all this.”

His willingness to give is something he learned from his father.

"I've seen my dad do it. He didn't always have the money to give back but he always gave his time to the younger kids. He's always out in the community teaching them fundamentals and teaching them about life," said Berry.

Not only is the third year of the Duncan Park AstroTurf field approaching, but so is Berry’s third year in the NFL.  If his work ethic and desire to be a part of his community is any indication, Duncan Park, the NFL, and anyone who comes into Berry’s orbit will certainly benefit.

After completing the camp in Chattanooga, Eric returned home to Fairburn that night to visit with family before departing for training camp.

That night he posted a simple message on Twitter.  It said, “Back where it started from.”  Attached to the message was a photo of the AstroTurf field at Duncan Park under the lights.

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TEXAS’ BRYAN AND RUDDER HIGH SCHOOLS GET NEW ASTROTURF FIELDS AND EXPECT A MULTITUDE OF BENEFITS

(BRYAN, Texas) - Bryan and Rudder High School have now joined the trend of schools converting to AstroTurf sports fields.

Bryan High School, in addition to a new track, has added an all new AstroTurf field at Merrill Green Stadium.  Rudder High School, which is also in the Bryan Independent School District (ISD) has added a 65-yard AstroTurf practice field.

“We were one of the last to convert from natural grass,” said Bryan ISD Athletic Director Harry Francis.  “With AstroTurf, we will get more bang for our buck because we will be able to accommodate more kids and more activities.  We will also be in line to host more playoff games in football.”

The decision to convert was made after a great deal of research, according to Francis.

Burnside Construction strongly recommended AstroTurf.  

“We’ve done a lot of work with Burnside,” said Francis.  “They are very reputable and with us they have always on-task when it comes to project management and they don’t cut corners.  They’ve done a number of high school and collegiate fields, so when they recommended AstroTurf, that meant a lot.”

Francis also cited AstroTurf installations at Texas A&M, Allen Academy, and Brenham High School as playing a role in the decision-making process.

Francis cited a multitude of positives resulting from installation of the two fields.

“We can be on the field every day,” he said.  “This is Texas, and when you consider the weather, your time on a field can be affected.  It’s not always heat.  We’ve had a lot of rain this year.”

Francis said sports teams at the school would benefit, both during the season and in the off-season as a training tool.  He also said the band and other fine arts groups would benefit from use of the fields.

“These fields have created an edge of excitement,” he said.  “It provides momentum for our programs and the possibility to generate additional revenue.  This jumps us back up in the playoff business because we have an 11,000 seat stadium and we’re a mid-point for smaller school districts and communities such as Austin and Houston.”

“There is nothing like Texas when it comes to high school sports,” said Chad Feris, AstroTurf Regional Sales Manager.  “These are great facilities and we are looking forward to watching the programs at Bryan and Rudder grow over these next few years.”

The make-up of the AstroTurf system stands out.  This surface features the Horseshoe fiber.  This fiber is enjoying unprecedented success in the sports field marketplace, due to factors such as its unique shape.  The fiber’s horseshoe shape features two end columns with a thicker diameter.  The design imparts mechanical memory so that the fiber remains upright longer, unlike other fields whose fibers quickly flatten and split or shred at the spine.  The Horseshoe fiber continues to spring back to its original configuration, even after years of heavy foot traffic or exposure to ultra-violet radiation.

The Horseshoe fiber is in use on fields in Texas at places like Brenham and Muleshoe.  It’s also featured prominently at Kansas State University and with the Tampa Bay Rays.  Boston College is set to unveil its new field, made from the Horseshoe fiber, this fall.

The field also a face weight of 60 ounces of fiber per square yard, the highest in the industry.  This adds to the durability provided by the fiber shape.

The Horseshoe fiber’s shape also allows it to reflect light and heat away from the surface.  That, in combination with AstroFlect heat reduction technology, can lower surface temperatures by as much as 18%.

The field also has 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.

From a maintenance standpoint, the field will require periodic grooming, but maintenance efforts are greatly reduced.  This will be vitally important as it related to the amount of use the new field will get, but will not require the maintenance required by a grass field to accommodate this level of use.

Francis has estimated annual field upkeep costs for grass fields in the district at $25,000.  He figures maintenance on the new AstroTurf surfaces to be around $3,000.

Regarding safety, a study at Michigan State University, funded by NFL Charities, found that AstroTurf GameDay Grass systems had performance values more like natural grass than any other synthetic product measured, making it the safest option.  In extensive testing, the Horseshoe fiber performs most like natural grass from ball roll, to slide resistance, to the biomechanical function of cleats penetrating and releasing properly.  

From an aesthetics standpoint, the fields look amazing.  Making it even better is the fact that the football lines and logos are prefabricated and manufactured as part of the field, so the look is consistent.

There are a couple of added benefits.  One is the environment.  In 2010, BASF did a study comparing AstroTurf fields to natural grass fields.  In 11 environmental categories, AstroTurf had a lower environmental footprint than natural grass.  Factors contributing to this include reduced maintenance and mowing, which cause a variety of emissions.  Other factors include elimination of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the need for water.  AstroTurf fields also use soy-based polyols in the backing of products, reducing their dependence on foreign oil. 

From an economic standpoint, over 20 years, AstroTurf fields are, on average, 15% less expensive than natural grass fields, even when the cost of turf replacement is considered.

Finally, the biggest benefit seen by the most people will be the performance of the teams at Bryan and Rudder.

ASTROTURF OFFERS AND ENCOURAGES PRAYERS OF SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY OF AURORA, COLORADO

As our nation mourns over the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, the family at AstroTurf extends its heartfelt sympathies to all of the victims, their families, and the community which has suffered such as devastating blow.

At AstroTurf, we value community above all.  In our job of providing synthetic turf sports fields, we know how sports can build a community.  Communities come together to raise money, make the project happen, and build support for the effort.  We see, on a daily basis, how sports can bring a community together.

In this tragic situation, we know that the community of Aurora will somehow rally around each other in their grief.  They will provide each other with a shoulder to cry on.  We can’t possibly fathom what they are going through, but we know that, despite how it may feel in this moment, they will be stronger in the end.

While there will be those who make the Aurora shootings a political issue, we ask that you join us in making the aftermath about community, about making sure that every day we take time to reflect on what life is really about, and about showing love and kindness to one another.

In the days ahead, we will continue to pray for the people of Aurora, Colorado, and we ask that you do the same.

ASTROTURF INSTALLATION IS UNDERWAY AT THE DAKOTADOME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

(VERMILLION, South Dakota) - The University of South Dakota Coyotes football team will take the field this fall with two potent new weapons in its arsenal.

First, the team has a new coach in alumnus and Coyote Sports Hall of Famer Joe Glenn, a former player and assistant coach at USD.  In a coaching career that has spanned more than three decades, Glenn has 24 years as a head coach, with 14 consecutive winning seasons at Northern Colorado and Montana.  He won two NCAA Division II National Championships at Northern Colorado and won the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship with Montana in 2001.  Glenn plans on continuing his winning ways at South Dakota, as they compete in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

The second new weapon in the arsenal is the addition of a new AstroTurf field at the DakotaDome.  The Coyotes have played on an AstroTurf surface for years, in an on-campus facility which seats 10,000.

Athletic Director David Sayler knows that the addition of the new AstroTurf field will pay dividends to the athletic program and the university as a whole.

“The new AstroTurf field at the DakotaDome will give us an overall improvement in the football program and with our facilities,” said Sayler.  “It will also provide us with a new and improved level of safety and performance for our student-athletes, as well as demonstrate our commitment to the program.”

Senior Associate Athletic Director David Herbster was heavily involved in the decision-making process.

“We looked at numerous options,” said Herbster.  “We chose AstroTurf because of their breadth of experience and the facilities the product has been installed in.  Our confidence in their body of work was extremely important.  Also important were price and customer service.  We felt like AstroTurf provided us with exactly what we needed.”

Herbster visited several facilities, but was sold when he visited the indoor practice facility at the University of Kansas.  The Jayhawks had the same kind of system that USD was looking for.

“When we saw the field at Kansas, we knew we wanted to have that in the DakotaDome,” said Herbster.

The surface will be AstroTurf PureGrass, a tufted nylon product that provides exceptional, all-around performance.  PureGrass was designed as a premium, multi-purpose, extra-plush turf with a high fiber density.  The PureGrass system at the DakotaDome will not contain infill and is designed to be a portable system, which will rest on an 8mm pad.

The system will employee the AstroHopper conversion system, which is designed to allow for removal and storage of the field in a timely and cost-effective manner, to allow the DakotaDome to convert for other types of events.

The AstroHopper system rolls up field panels and maximizes storage capacity by eliminating wrinkles, bagging, or telescoping which can lead to increased surface wear, tear, and damage.

“The DakotaDome is a great venue and the University of South Dakota has a top-notch athletic program,” said Bryan Peeples, President of AstroTurf.  “David Sayler and Coach Joe Glenn have raised the bar and we are proud that they selected AstroTurf to serve the needs of their student-athletes.  We look forward to being a part of their success for years to come.”  

This summer, the three largest indoor sports facilities in the Upper Midwest are getting new AstroTurf surfaces.  Not only is the DakotaDome updating its AstroTurf surface, the FargoDome in North Dakota and the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D. are also getting new AstroTurf fields.

The DakotaDome project will be complete in time for the Coyotes to take the field for their home opener against Colgate on Sept. 8.

ASTROTURF PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN SOUTHEASTERN 7-ON-7

(DALTON, Georgia) - AstroTurf is playing a major role in what is fast becoming one of the country’s largest high school football passing tournaments at the Southeastern 7-on-7 this weekend.

The tournament took root last year when organizers from the Daily Citizen News, Dalton’s newspaper, hosted 20 teams at the inaugural event.

“We are proud and excited to be a part of this event,” said Bryan Peeples, President of AstroTurf.  “There will be over 1,000 football players here.  Not only will they all improve as teams, but they will get to experience the many performance attributes of playing on AstroTurf.”

This year’s event features 32 teams from seven states in the Southeast.  Teams of offensive and defensive skill players will face off in a passing tournament which consists of 30-minute games on 40-yard fields.  

On Saturday, teams will divide into pools of eight and each will face off in seven intense games which start at noon and end at 10:30 p.m. on eight fields.  The top four teams in each pool will move on to double-elimination championship bracket play on Sunday, while the remainder of the teams play in a consolation bracket.  Each team is guaranteed a minimum of nine games.

The event will also feature a camp for linemen and a skills combine, both of which will take place on AstroTurf fields.  The camp will be for linemen from all the schools which are participating in the tournament and is designed to improve skills at those positions.  The skills combine is free and will test any high school player in the 40-yard dash, pro agility test, cone drill, and broad jump.  The results can be used to help improve a player’s college recruiting prospects.

The tournament will also feature a special community day on Friday for teams to work together in volunteering at a Dalton-area non-profit agency.

These types of tournament competitions have grown increasingly popular in recent years due to practice time restrictions by state governing bodies, as well as the need for teams to evaluate and pinpoint areas of focus for the development of skill-position players.

Several of the coaches in the event were recently interviewed by the Daily Citizen News regarding their participation in the event.  Here is what several of them had to say:

“It’s a great way to cause your passing offense and passing defense to be judged in a competitive environment,” said Kevin Rose of Bob Jones High School in Madison, Alabama. “We do exactly what we do (during the high school season) in seven-on-seven.”

“How guys perform in seven-on-seven can give you a good idea how they may play in real games,” said Billy Gresham of George Washington Carver High School in Montgomery, Alabama. “We can see how they throw the ball, catch the ball, defend the ball in tough situations. These things are gauges for coaches in determining how guys can play at a high level against great teams.”

“I’m looking more to the defensive work we’re going to get more than the offense,” said Sean Gray , head coach at Southeast Whitfield in Dalton. “I’m looking more to make sure my kids understand the zones and man-to-man that we get. These types of competitions definitely give us a good idea of who we’re going to have as starting receivers, cornerbacks and even quarterbacks once training camp starts.”

“It’s all about reps and timing,” said Dante Ferguson, coach of Stone Mountain High School outside Atlanta. “If our guys continue to get those reps, they’ll become more confident.”

“Sometimes you stay in Florida and you see the same guys over and over again, so this was kind of a refreshing change,” said Josh Corey, head coach of Fletcher High School in Neptune Beach, Florida . “This was good to see so many teams from out of state. We want to go and get some good work against quality teams, but this is also like a reward for our kids, to take them out of state.”

Here are the schools which will be represented at the event:

ALABAMA

Auburn – Auburn – Coach Tim Carter

Bob Jones  – Madison – Coach Kevin Rose

Carver – Montgomery – Coach Alphonso Pugue

Florence – Florence – Coach Jamey DuBose

Luverne – Luverne – Coach Les Sanders

North Jackson – Stevenson – Coach Shawn Peek

ARKANSAS

Hardin Academy – Searcy – Coach Roddy Mote

FLORIDA

Fletcher – Neptune Beach – Coach Josh Corey

GEORGIA

Callaway – Hogansville – Coach Pete Wiggins

Cartersville – Cartersville – Coach Frank Bearden

Cedar Grove – Ellenwood – Coach Raymond Bonner

Christian Heritage – Dalton – Coach Preston Poag

Coahulla Creek – Varnell – Coach Jared Hamlin

Dalton – Dalton – Coach Matt Land

Griffin – Griffin – Coach Steve DeVoursney

Lafayette – Lafayette – Coach Tab Gable

Martin Luther King – Lithonia – Coach Mike Carson

Northwest Whitfield – Tunnel Hill – Coach Josh Robinson

Pace Academy – Atlanta – Coach Matt Hall

Pierce County – Blackshear – Coach Sean Pender

Ringgold – Ringgold – Coach Robert Akins

Southeast Whitfield – Dalton – Coach Sean Gray

Stone Mountain – Stone Mountain - Coach Dante Furguson

KENTUCKY

Bowling Green – Bowling Green – Kevin Wallace

Murray – Murray – Coach Steve Duncan

SOUTH CAROLINA

North Augusta – North Augusta – Coach Dan Pippen

TENNESSEE

Baylor – Chattanooga – Coach Phil Massey

Karns – Knoxville – Coach Derek Witt

McCallie – Chattanooga – Coach Ralph Potter

Riverdale – Murfreesboro – Coach Ron Aydelott

For more information on the event, visit www.southeastern7on7.com.

GROWTH IN ATHLETICS LEADS TO NEW ASTROTURF FIELD AT CENTRE COLLEGE

(DANVILLE, Kentucky) - Centre College is taking a big step toward enhancing its reputation of athletic excellence with the installation of a new AstroTurf field.

Centre is a top 50 liberal arts college, with just over 1,300 students enrolled.  The school boasts 23 intercollegiate teams and teams in 15 intramural sports program.  Within those programs, about 40% of the students participate in intercollegiate athletics and 80% participate in intramural sports.

Within the next few weeks, many of those athletes will be able to practice and play on the finest artificial playing surface in the world.

For years, the school has had to balance practice schedules of multiple teams on a field.  For example, the field hockey team would always have to wait for football practice to end before taking the field.  Now, those scheduling conflicts will no longer be part of the equation.

The new AstroTurf surface will accommodate field hockey, lacrosse, and soccer.  The field will also host early season softball practices and some intramural events.

“For us, the need for field availability was an issue,” said Brian Chafin, Athletic Director.  “The new AstroTurf field provides us with the solution of being able to offer more practice time, as well as a playing surface which is always ready to go and requires very little downtime.”

Chafin and Centre College officials looked at several turf options, but chose AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D52H.  

“The texture, performance, and durability of the field were important aspects,” said Chafin.  “We also looked at aesthetics.  In the end, AstroTurf was the choice for us.”

Most programs installing a synthetic surface look at five major categories when choosing a turf.  Those include availability, performance, maintenance, safety, and aesthetics.

“We understand the demands of all types of athletic programs,” said Pat Davidson, AstroTurf Sales Representative.  “We don’t subscribe to the one-size-fits-all philosophy and we worked hard to meet the individual needs of Centre College.  We’re excited to partner with them on this project and we’re proud to give them the finest playing surface on the market.”

AstroTurf fields offer more than four times the availability of grass fields.  The teams will be able to utilize the surface anytime, in most weather, for practice and games.

From a performance standpoint, the make-up of the AstroTurf system stands out.  This surface features the all new Horseshoe fiber.  This new fiber is enjoying unprecedented success in the sports field marketplace, due to factors such as its unique shape.  The fiber’s horseshoe shape features two end columns with a thicker diameter.  The design imparts mechanical memory so that the fiber remains upright longer, unlike other fields whose fibers quickly flatten and split or shred at the spine.  The Horseshoe fiber continues to spring back to its original configuration, even after years of heavy foot traffic or exposure to ultra-violet radiation.

The field also has a face weight of 52 ounces of fiber per square yard, one of the highest in the industry.  This adds to the durability provided by the fiber shape.

The Horseshoe fiber’s shape also allows it to reflect light and heat away from the surface.  That, in combination with AstroFlect heat reduction technology, can lower surface temperatures by as much as 18%.

The field also has 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.

From a maintenance standpoint, the field will require periodic grooming, but maintenance efforts are greatly reduced.  This will be vitally important as it related to the amount of use the new field will get, but will not require the maintenance required by a grass field to accommodate this level of use.

Regarding safety, a study at Michigan State University, funded by NFL Charities, found that AstroTurf GameDay Grass systems had performance values more like natural grass than any other synthetic product measured, making it the safest option.  In extensive testing, the Horseshoe fiber performs most like natural grass from ball roll, to slide resistance, to the biomechanical function of cleats penetrating and releasing properly.  

From an aesthetics standpoint, the fields look amazing.  The Horseshoe fiber is recognized as one of the best looking synthetic surfaces on the market.

There are a couple of added benefits.  One is the environment.  In 2010, BASF did a study comparing AstroTurf fields to natural grass fields.  In 11 environmental categories, AstroTurf had a lower environmental footprint than natural grass.  Factors contributing to this include reduced maintenance and mowing, which cause a variety of emissions.  Other factors include elimination of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the need for water.  AstroTurf fields also use soy-based polyols in the backing of products, reducing their dependence on foreign oil. 

From an economic standpoint, over 20 years, AstroTurf fields are, on average, 15% less expensive than natural grass fields, even when the cost of turf replacement is considered.

Finally, the biggest benefit seen by the most people will be the performance of the Centre College student athletes who use the field.

Sports Construction Management is managing the South Campus Fields project, which also includes a natural grass softball field, at Centre College and installation is expected to be complete by the end of summer.