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Oxford Stadium's Swayze Field, home of the University of Mississippi Rebels.

ride and tradition - two qualities forward-thinking of plan- that are among the hallmarks of ners. A major highway over- Pthe University of Mississippi in looks the stadium, so the Oxford, a school that most people know whole community views the simply as "Ole Miss." Those qualities are facility year-round. found in the university's academics, Underneath the stadi- athletics and fields of play. um, players have a spacious Ole Miss fields "Rebel" teams, and locker room and their own weight room. Head Groundskeepr SteveHorner Rebel pride runs deep, right down to the A unique feature on the college level, an "Always leave the field a little bit roots of the turf at Oxford University indoor '' tunnel," also used for field- better than when you walked on it Stadium's Swayze Field. The Rebel base- ing and pitching drills, is large enough that morning." ball squad is entering its fifth year of play to accommodate a full-team practice. on the field, and the facility is well- Head Don Kessinger and his known as one of the best in the assistants have a separate office under Miss. Following graduation, he worked Southeastern Conference. That repu- the stands. The office is located next to as groundskeeper and football manag- tation may soon extend beyond the an all-purpose room, which serves as a er, moving to his current position in South, since Swayze Field has been player lounge and press interview area. July 1990. named 1992 College Baseball Diamond Winning Team "I didn't work on the field originally, of the Year. Maintaining every aspect of the facil- Ijust kind of hung around and tried to Roots of Success ity, inside and out, are Head help out the groundskeeper because 1 Construction of the stadium and field Groundskeeper Steve Home, along with found his work to be very interesting," was completed in October 1988. Oxford Assistant Groundskeepers Vincent says Home. ''When he decided to retire, residents voted to assess a 2 percent Buford and Darrall Buford. Horne is 1 was lucky enough to get the position. tourism tax to raise funds for the $3.75 assisted in all areas concerning turf by I'm basically self-taught, and 1 would million facility. Over time, proceeds Gary Morris, sports turf and golf never claim to be an expert in agronomy. from the tax will provide $2 million for course superintendent. 1 learned about maintaining a baseball the stadium. Ole Miss must pay the Horne took the position of field in bits and pieces, by listening to oth- remaining balance. groundskeeper/stadium manager three ers who had more experience in this A new on-campus location was select- years ago. He had served five years as area. 1 asked a lot of questions and built ed for the stadium, allowing for "grounds- football equipment manager while work- upon what 1 was told. Garry Morris has up" construction to accommodate the ing toward his degree in education at Ole been my biggest help." 8 sporlsTURF Morris is in charge of the Ole Miss golf same for his players." course and the football, baseball, and track The infield is made up of a mixture of OXFORD facilities. A member of the national clay soil and white sand, with Pro's STADIUM/SWAYZE FIELD Sports Turf Managers Association, he Choice Soilmaster added to help with credits learning opportunities and infor- drainage and texture of the soil. The SUPPLIERS AND mation exchanges between peers as a mound is maintained with Beam Clay MANUFACTURERS major factor in producing and main- mound mix, along with a top layer of Pro's The following is a list of manu- taining top-level sports turf. Choice Soilmaster. facturers and suppliers used at Oxford Prior to accepting the Ole Miss posi- The skinned area of the infield is Stadium's Swayze Field: tion four years ago, Morris spent 15 nail-dragged three times a week, then Agra Turf years in golf course maintenance and two raked by hand before games. A typical P.O. Box 1508, Searcy, AR 72143 years with the Miami Dolphins at Joe routine for a 7 p.m. game is to drag the (501) 268-7036 Robbie Stadium. He's no stranger to area around 9 a.m. then wet it to near- Autry's GoalLine big events, having been at the stadium saturation. Additional waterings are P.O. Box 205, Greenville, AL 36037 for Super Bowl XXIII. The opportunity done around noon and 3 p.m., apply- (800) 848-8462 to work with a variety of sports drew him ing less water each time. By 7 p.m., the Bob Ladd Inc. to Ole Miss. skinned areas are soft and workable. In 764 Scott St., Memphis, TN 38182 "All the credit for the award-win- the approximate 20-minute interval after pre-game warm-ups and work- (901) 324-8801 ning Swayze Field goes to Steve Horne Cooke, Douglass, Farr, Lemons, Ltd. and his tight-knit team," Morris asserts. outs are completed, Home and his crew move in for the finishing touches. They 3780 Interstate 55 North, Jackson, MS "These guys do a terrific job. I supply the 39211 fertilization and chemical schedules, wet the skinned area lightly and do the final hand-raking to keep the upper one (601) 366-3110 conferring with them on special needs, Cushman, Ransomes America Corp. and they take it from there." inch "soft and fluffy" and the lower sur- face firm. 7900 W. 78th St., Minneapolis, MN Meeting High Expectations Throughout the entire routine, care 55439-2525 (612) 829-1510 The field itself is built on the Champion is taken to ensure that the skinned area Earthway Products sub-surface system designed by Southern and bordering grasses meet on a level sur- P.O. Box 547, Bristol, IN 46507 Turf Nurseries of Tifton, GA. A net- face. To avoid creating lips, the crew (800) 678-0671 work of underground perforated piping uses a push broom or rake to move away Fountain Construction Co. Inc. lies below the entire field, covered by a any soil or infield mix on the grass that 1751 Morson Rd., Jackson, MS 39289 geotextile fabric. Above the geotextile is borders the skinned areas. The borders (601) 922-4162 12 inches of sand with a light overlay of are also washed down every day, during Partac Peat Corp (Beam Clay) peat to allow for maximum percolation the early morning session. The borders Kelsey Park, Great Meadows, NJ after rains and irrigation. The field has of the entire infield area edged every two 07838 a Toro underground irrigation system that weeks to keep tight, sharp corners. (800) 247-BEAM can be set on automatic timer or handled Following each game, the crews use PBIIGordon Corp manually. a push broom on the front of the mound P.O. Box 4090, Kansas City, MO The playing field is comprised of a thick and lip areas to remove any soil or mix, 64101 carpet of Tifway bermudagrass. is prior to morning wash down. It (816) 421-4070 overseeded with a mixture of perennial Horne adopted two procedures to cut Pro's Choice Products Inc. rye grass cultivars in the fall and winter down on the wear around the grass in P.O. Box 70, Barrington, IL 60011 months at a rate of 12 pounds per thou- front of the mound. First, the circular cut- (800) 648-1166 sand square feet. During the season, out in front is extended about 14 inch- Reeds Sports Nets the field is mowed basically every day. es toward home plate. This keeps the Hwy 49 West, P.O. Box 194, Belzoni, Mowing before every game is done in grass stronger and helps it stand up to the punishment of pitchers' spikes. The MS 39038 three directions to create a striping (800) 748-8692 effect. The outfield grass is mowed at 1 distance of the rubber to the plate, of Smithco 1/4 inches with a riding mower. The course, is regulation - only the circular 11 West Ave., Wayne, PA 19087 cutout. infield is mowed at one inch with a (215) 688-4009 walk-behind mower. During the off sea- "The pitcher rarely walks out much Terra International Inc. son, all the turf is maintained at 1 3/4 further than 14 inches when he steps 600 4th St, Sioux City, IA 51101 down off the mound," Home explains "So inches, with the mowing height slowly (800) 831-1002 lowered to reach in-season grass heights. many mounds at the college level are not kept up. There is usually just a rubber Toro Home must pay particular attention 5825 Jasmine Street, Riverside, CA to diamond's skinned areas. "We really and some dirt and that's about it. We take our mound to the next level. It is repaired 92504 have to stay on top of things when it comes (909) 688-9221 immediately following each game. The to the skinned areas because of Coach World Class Athletics Surfaces mound is shaped (sloped on the sides and Kessinger, who played 14 years as a 200 Washington Ave., Greenville, Major League ," he reveals. flat on top) and ready to go whenever our players walk out on the field." MS 38701 "He knows what a Major League infield (800) 748-9649 plays like and insists on having the continued on page 12 April, 1993 11 College Dfarnorrd of the Year ization schedule that requires light following two of the aeration treatments. continued from page 11 applications of granular fertilizer approx- In the past three years since Home has The second procedure happens at imately every two to three weeks before been head groundskeeper, the field has midseason, when Horne makes a light February and September. Horne and seen major additions. They include the application of pregerminated perennial Morris adjust this as needed according installation of a 12-foot dugout track, ryegrass seed every 10 games or so. It's to the look and wear of the field, as well walkways to home plate, fungo circle cut- a spot treatment for any weak areas, as weather conditions. Approximately 3/4- outs, and cut-out boxes for the coaches. which are usually centered in the front pound of nitrogen is included in each Home and his crew had help with the dug- part of the infield, such as around home application. Occasional applications of out track, but handled the other additions plat and the fungo circle areas. liquid fertilizer are used to augment themselves. These improvements were For creating lines on the field, Home this program. Any quick-release products not included in Swayze Field's original uses paint from World Class Athletic are followed by slow-release products. plan - they came from Horne and his Surfaces. "The paint is terrific," he Milorganite is used frequently to main- desire to make the field among the best asserts. "I only have to apply it once a tain the rich turf color. Soil tests are taken in the nation. week." twice a year to provide feedback on nec- "The field always had the makings of essary adjustments in the fertilization Brutal Schedule a beautiful facility, but it needed a few schedule. Liquid iron applications are Swayze Field hosts more than 300 fine tuning adjustments to bring out its made twice a year, and a lime applica- games and practices, both day and night, maximum beauty," says Home. ''We are tion usually once a season as necessary per year. The field is hosts Ole Miss currently working on changing the color to adjust pH. The winter fertilization pro- baseball team games and practices, and of the outfield fence from green to blue gram is adapted annually to meet field is shared in the summer months with (one of the Rebel colors) and adding a blue and weather conditions. Oxford Park Commission. Youth camps windscreen to the chain link fence that and tournaments are held on the field, Insect problems are usually mini- surrounds the field in order to promote as are special events hosted by the com- mal, especially when harsh winters cut an 'encased' look. Due to a limited bud- mission. In effect, the week after the col- down on populations. A preventative get, things must be done slowly." lege baseball season ends, the commis- fungicide program is used throughout the As for most college fields, funding is sion's events begin. season. tight. During the season, Horne usual- To keep the grass growing at an opti- The field is aerated four to five times ly puts in 70-hour weeks to keep the facil- mum rate to recover quickly from all this a year, and the resulting plugs are col- ity in mint condition. With the heavy-use activity, Morris has developed a fertil- lected. Topdressing is done twice a year, schedule of the field, its limited budget ~rlde6ss athleticsurfaces MANUFACTURERS OF ATHLETIC FIELD MARKING PAINT

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TENNIS COURT COATINGS TOO! 1·800· 748·9649 PRO'S CH~ICE soil conditi ners are designed and pr~cessed to Imp~ove infield playability by overcoming Wrlddnss drainage. compaction and moisture retention problems. athleticsurfaces SOILMASTER RAPID DRY o Improves soil structure 0 Absorbs standing water quickly Controls excess water Stabilizes muddy areas 200 Washington Ave. o a o Keeps soil compactlon-free Q Safe flnd easy to use Greenville, MS 38701 o Provides a safer playing surface 0 Long-lasting (601) 378-3151 MAKE PRO'S CHOICE YOUR CHOICE FAX # 601-378-3420 1-800-6,.8-1166 Toll Free 1-800-748-9649 Call for product literature and samples We make the game look better PRO'S CHOICE Products, Inc. Sports coatings are our only business P.o. Bo><70 • ~arrington. Il 60011

12 sporfsTURF Circle 105 on Postage Free Card Circle 106 on Postage Free Card and short two-month off-season, an organized plan, he says, is essential to WEST PALM BEACH MUNICIPAL STADIUM keep ahead of things. SUPPLIERS AND MANUFACTURERS Horne learned of the Diamond of the The following is a list of manu- (800) 321-5325 Year Award from Morris. It became one facturers and products used at West RSI Holdings of Florida of Horne's professional goals. Palm Beach Municipal Stadium: 901 NW 31st Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL "I wanted to win this award for our National Batting Cages 33311 school as well as for myself and my P.O. Box 250, Forest Grove, OR 97116 (800) 432-0066 grounds crew," he says. 'To have our field (800) 547-8800 John Deere designated as the best collegiate field in Custom Canvas Mfg. Inc. John Deere Road, Moline, IL 61265 the nation makes me feel as good as a 775 Seneca St., Buffalo, NY 14210 (800) 544-2122 national championshi p-winning base- (800) 221-5582 Covermaster Inc. ball coach. Kuranda USA 100 Westmore Dr., #ll-D "My philosophy is simple - I always 2014 Renard Court, Unit E, Annapolis, Rexdale, Ontario, Canada M9V5C3 give 100 percent every day and expect my MD 21401 (800) 387-5808 crew to do the same. I am always open (800) 752-5308 American Sign to learning better ways to do things. Jiffy Line Stripers (mfg. by Laurie 6301 Best Friend Rd., Norcross, GA You can't be set inyour ways in this type Carlson & Assoc.) 30071 of work. And always, always leave the field P.O. Box 35, Waunakee, WI 53597 (800) 541-0546 a little bit better than when you walked (800) 844-5002 Clay Products & Drying Agents on it that morning." 0 Missouri Paint PartaclBeam Clay 5818 Troost Kelsey Park, Great Meadows, NJ Editor's note: Bob Tracinski is the Kansas City, MO 64110 07838 manager of public relations for the (800) 426-0774 (800) 247-BEAM John Deere Company in Raleigh, NC, Musco Sports Lighting Inc. and public relations chairman for the P.O. Box 808, Oskaloosa, IA 52577 Editor's Note: This list was inad- Sports Turf Managers Association. The (800) 825-6030 vertently ommitted from last month's Diamond of the Year Awards are spon- LESCO Inc. feature on WestPalm Beach Municipal sored by Beam Clay, the national Sports 20005 Lake Rd., Rocky River, OH Stadium, 1992 Professional Diamond Turf Managers Association and 44116 of the Year. sports TURF Magazine.

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Circle 107 on Postage Free Card April, 1993 13