Steelers Players Rate Their Turf the Worst-Replace it with the Same!

A view of the hybrid turf at Heinz Field, Pittsburg. ?EUR??,,????'??We better get back to growing grass, the proper way,?EUR??,,????'?? says George Toma.

File this item under ?EUR??,,????'??things we don't understand.?EUR??,,????'??

The Pittsburg Steelers have been playing on a DD GrassMaster surface for several years. It is a hybrid of real grass reinforced with synthetic fibers. The Steelers players have rated their own field the worst in the league, so it is not surprising that the turf is being replaced. What is surprising, and seemingly inexplicable, is that it is being replaced by the same turf (DD GrassMaster).

We called George Toma, an authority on groundskeeping, a man who has prepared more Super Bowl turf than anyone.

?EUR??,,????'??Why would they replace the turf with the same turf??EUR??,,????'?? we asked.

?EUR??,,????'??Well, it's good advertising for artificial turf,?EUR??,,????'?? he began, although it would seem to be extremely bad advertising for such turf. ?EUR??,,????'??We've gotten too sophisticated for our own good, instead of just growing grass like we did in the old days,?EUR??,,????'?? he said.

Toma got his start in groundskeeping for Kansas City Municipal Stadium 39 years ago.

?EUR??,,????'??We grew grass and worked with an agronomist, James R. Watson. Pete Roselle called it the best football field he'd ever seen. We never resodded,?EUR??,,????'?? he noted. ?EUR??,,????'??Now fields are being resodded two, three times a year. We better get back to growing grass, the proper way. You need a little soil, pet moss. There are better fields in high school and parks than in the NFL today,?EUR??,,????'?? he added.