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A Lesson in Super Bowl Sports Turf12-30-05 | News

A Lesson in Super Bowl Sports Turf




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An Army veteran, William Ray is starting a career in sports turf management at a college in Tifton, Ga.


William Ray, a turf student at Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College in Tifton, Ga., is the winner of the fourth annual Toro Super Bowl Sports Turf Training Program. In January, Ray traveled to Detroit to help the grounds crew maintain the game field and practice facilities at Ford Field for Super Bowl XL.

The Toro Company and the NFL?EUR??,,????'???s Super Bowl grounds team collaborated to offer a program aimed at enhancing the skills of emerging sports turf professionals. The Toro Super Bowl Sports Turf Training Program provides hands-on experience in establishing and maintaining safe playing fields for football?EUR??,,????'???s highest level of competition?EUR??,,????'??+the Super Bowl.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Ray focused on his education to prepare for a career in sports turf management. ?EUR??,,????'??This profession not only focuses on the functional aspect of a well-kept playing surface, but on the aesthetic aspect as well,?EUR??,,????'?? Ray said.

Ray has also interned at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., which is home to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Gator Bowl. ?EUR??,,????'??Working on the turf at a major league stadium has been a great learning experience,?EUR??,,????'?? he said.

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