In December, Georgia
Tech’s Russ Chandler Stadium was selected as the “Field of the
Year” for colleges and universities by the Sports Turf Managers
Association (STMA). It marked the second time Russ Chandler
Stadium was selected, with the field also being chosen in 2008 –
Georgia Tech and Nebraska are the only two-time winners since
the award was introduced in 1988.
The STMA presents the
annual award based on playability, appearance and utilization of
innovative solutions.
CBI caught up with
Jon DeWitt, certified sports field manager at Georgia Tech.
First Inning – How
does it feel to be named the best college baseball field for
2014 by the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA)?
I think it’s very important to note that it is not that our
field is the “best” in the country. Our field is maintained to a
very high standard despite the challenges that arise such as the
weather, scheduling, movie shoots and so on.
On a grading scale, a
baseball field has a maximum score of 100. We approached that
100 despite a snowstorm that paralyzed our entire city and much
of the state for several days.
Receiving this award
is very humbling because there are so many people creating the
same level of quality as ours without the recognition. The turf
industry is one that is generally only noticed when something
goes wrong.
Second Inning –
This is the second time Russ Chandler Stadium has been honored
(first time in 2008). What does that say about Tech's field?
It says that we are
committed to providing a quality surface. We take pride in
ourselves, and that is reflected in our work. Our team pushes
through whatever comes up to maintain a standard we can be proud
of.
The last time we won,
it was because of a 100-year drought that eliminated all
watering from city sources. We had to shift gears and hand-water
the field using a trailer where we sourced our water from a
spring-fed cistern system about 15 minutes off-site.
Third Inning – How challenging is the
Georgia heat?
The heat can become a
challenge when the season stretches into June due to postseason.
That becomes
difficult from not only the weather’s effect on the grass
directly, but also the extra traffic from the Regional format
play. It’s tough watching a hot spot appear shortly before first
pitch and knowing you won’t be able to do anything about it for
approximately three hours.
Fourth Inning – On average, how much time do you spend
working on the field during the season? How about the offseason?
We spend a lot of
time on the field. We dedicate two or three people to the field
year-round and add three more for game days. We’ve found it is
easier to keep in good shape rather than let it slip in the off
season. Field conditioning is also a good recruiting tool for
us.
Another issue is
where and how the field is situated on campus. It is easily
visible to campus guests, so we try to maintain a minimum
standard.
Even if the field
doesn't look great – usually around spring transition from
Rye to Bermuda –
we still work hard to
keep our edges intact. It's easy to slip into complacency in the
down times but we wash edges, broom after rains, etc.
Fifth Inning – How did you get started in this line of work?
I entered the
industry from the ornamental and commercial side, first working
for my dad’s lawn care company. Later, I worked at my high
school maintaining the general grounds and fields. Eventually, I
really developed a passion for sports fields, and I worked my
way through college maintaining that same facility. After
college, I went on to a full-time job maintaining school grounds
and fields then worked my up.
Sixth Inning – What other fields have you helped take care
of?
I have worked on all the fields at the Wesleyan School, a K-12
facility in Norcross, Ga. Robinson Field is special to me since
I also won STMA’s “Field of the Year” there too.
Additionally, I have
assisted with several temporary fields for soccer laying
thick-cut sod over synthetics or concrete. I was part of the
team that did it for the first time ever in the Georgia Dome and
that was very exciting! At the time, it was a novelty but it has
now become more common.
Seventh Inning –
Other than Russ Chandler Stadium, name three of your favorite
fields.
I am a Braves fan so
I am partial to Turner Field.
However, I also like
Bank of America Stadium in
Charlotte. I have
been on that field several times, and they hosted the ACC
Championship. It reminds me of Bobby Dodd Stadium with its
downtown location and skyscrapers overlooking the field.
Eighth Inning – What are three mistakes grounds crews or high
school coaches/crews make on their fields?
Many crews are caught up in trying to do too much. It is very
important to make sure all your basics are dialed in before
adding non-essential elements, like painting your logo behind
home plate. Another common pitfall is trying to do too much on a
wet field.
I have found it is
often better to let nature run its course. Sometimes, you should
just let the field sit. Raking and working it too soon can set
you back. Generally, you gain very little from a soggy practice
and the damage to the field can haunt you for the rest of the
season.
Caring is the biggest
thing you can do for your field. Putting the time in, sweeping
edges as well as making the field users care and respect the
field will do far more for you than a barn full of fancy
equipment.
Ninth Inning –
Complete the sentence...A baseball field is
The hardest field you
will ever maintain, but – in my opinion – also the most
rewarding.
