Sun Devils

Maintaining ASU's piece of heaven is a tremendous crew: Close to Heaven sitting, Brian Johnson; kneeling, Mike Tomah; standing, left to right, Brian Grot, Doug Pierski, Jeff O'Connor, Matt Hedrick, Scott Paulson, Pete Wozniak. Not pictured are Chris Wahl and Niyi Ibitayo. Photos courtesy: Brian on Field of Year Johnson.

By Bob Tracinski all the sports, from baseball and football to basketball, gymnastics and tennis. rizona State University's Sun Judges for For example, during the first baseball con- Devils baseball team spends a 1995-1996 ference series the first weekend in March, Agood part of each year close to we had four other events going on at heaven — playing on the precisely man- The Beam Clay Baseball Diamond the same time, the season's first track icured field of Packard Stadium — the of the Year Awards are sponsored meet, a tennis competition, women's 1995-1996 Beam Clay® College Base- jointly by Beam Clay, the Sports softball, and women's basketball." ball Diamond of the Year. Turf Managers Association and sports- Johnson stresses the crew's team Maintaining that piece of heaven in the TURF magazine in recognition of effort. He says, "Flexibility is the key to hot-house environment of Tempe, AZ, excellence and professionalism in making it work. We three full-timers' work is the daunting responsibility of Brian maintaining safe, professional quality well together, and we've had the same stu- Johnson, athletic facilities coordinator and diamonds. Winning diamonds are dents on the work team for a couple of head groundskeeper, and what he deems named in the professional, college, and years. In the past, we'd have a student for "a tremendous crew." high school/municipal/parks cate- one semester, and then start over with a Consider that Packard Stadium is gories. new student. With this core group of "just" one field within the multiple facility The following are the judges for the students, we're seeing real professional framework so typical of the university results. They care about field conditions sports scene. Besides Packard Stadium, Beam Clay Baseball Diamond of the and take pride in their work, and we the State University sports Year Awards for 1995-1996: really appreciate it. I'd put them up with system includes a second baseball field, Trevor Vance, head grounds- the professional spring training site the Sun Devils' football stadium, two keeper, Kansas City Royals, Kaufman staffs anytime. For them to juggle this with football practice fields, a softball field, the Stadium; all the classes and study is super." track facility, tennis courts and the bas- Clay Wood, head groundskeeper, With so much going on, the full-time ketball stadium. Add the pro football Oakland A's, Oakland Alameda staff meets at the beginning of every Arizona Cardinals to the picture and County Coliseum; week to develop a master plan. Field things become even more complicated. Gary Wahoff, field superintendent, and facility use schedules fluctuate "all Then consider that ASU has a total of Cincinnati Reds, Riverfront Sta- the time," and the student crew members three full-time employees for the majority dium; have classes, papers and projects to "fit of these athletic facilities. Johnson "runs" Mark Razum, head grounds- in." Johnson says, "We generally have a the baseball, track and tennis facility keeper, Colorado Rockies, Coors base crew scheduled for a few hours programs. Pete Wozniak covers the foot- Field. each day, but we have to be flexible. It's ball practice facilities, softball, and Sun a matter of seeing who is available and Devil Stadium. Mike Tomah covers the what's happening, and planning the day Sun Devil skyboxes and the University charge of the football playing field at accordingly. Activity Center. These three full-time . "We're pleased to have been selected facility coordinators have a "pool" of five As Johnson points out, with the mul- the Field of the Year, especially because to six students that work for them. The tiple and often overlapping sports pro- it's a confirmation of our sports turf only help they receive is from long-time grams, "Everyone does whatever it takes, management program. This is what the STMA member Don Follett, who is in anywhere, to get the job done. We cover field looks like. We didn't change our 8 sportsTURF FOR PRODUCT INFO FAXED TO YOU NOW! DIAL: 1(80OT817.1889

basic procedures or do anything special to prepare before submitting our entry." Opening day for Packard Stadium was Trouble in Paradise January 21, 1995, Packard Stadium isn't without when an alumni game problems. was played and Coach The stadium and original fieldwere con- 's number structed in 1974 on generally poor soil, was retired. The field with lots of clay and pretty poor drainage. was not overseeded In 1992, a sand based infield was installed. until November 26, Johnson says, "The original infield 1994, due to all the fall activity. soil was excavated to a depth of 2 1/2 feet and a hard-pan base prepared. The area was then filled with washed, medium- grade, mortar sand from a local source. use. Actual water use figures had never of and with, and autographs from, the There's no underground drainage system, been made available to us before. We're players. just the hard pan below the sand, but now getting figures that show what the Then there are the "occasional" events. there's enough sand that the natural allotment is for the year -"- and what is Johnson says, "This January, the base- drainage works. The infield was sodded actually being used. Obviously, we'll be ballteam went to the Oakland Ns facility with Tifway 419 Bermudagrass following tracking irrigation closely. The university to practice during all the activity sur- the construction. The outfield turf is also is considering building a lake for use rounding the Super Bowl. There were only common Bermudagrass. by the on-campus golfcourse - which will a few activities on the Packard Stadium "Prior to 1992, there was no sprinkler cut the total campus water use." field. The main one was the Nat Moore system. We just hooked the hose to a Sea of Bodies Youth Football Clinic, a Super Bowl two- quick coupler located behind the mound. In addition, Packard Stadium faces an day event. There were 26 football fields During the' construction, four sprinkler all-time high in field use. marked out and 3,000 kids and the NFL heads were installed in the infield, posi- There are 45 to 55 Sun Devils' home players instructing them. I was helping tioned halfway between the bases." games on the schedule. The team uses the paint the football field for the Super With Tempe's traditionally high tem- field for practice also. Practice begins Bowl, but did slip in one morning for a peratures and low humidity levels, right after Christmas and runs at least peek. I could hardly see the grass for Johnson and crews face a constant through May 31. Team preparations for all the bodies out there. It was an 'inter- struggle to keep things green. The poor Omaha's CollegeWorld Series in June can esting' experience, especially coming ten soil in the outfield creates ''hot spots" that push practice even later. Fall practices take days before the baseball season opener. require continual attention. In addition, "George Toma's crew supplied us with poor overlap of the sprinkler system place in August and September. This year, for the first time, a "devel- some pre-germinated seed. We put down puts too little water in some areas, too the seed immediately after the clinic much in others, causing further problems. opmental" game schedule has been added. These games provide experience for the and applied ammonium nitrate, and it But redoing the sprinkler system and came out looking great. reconstructing the whole outfield are younger players, and the coaches are enthusiastic about its beneficial effect on "We also hosted a special sales con- not in the plans. ference for Wilson Sporting Goods during Johnson says, "Irrigation starts in the program. However, it adds 32 games to the schedule - and they're all home 1995. They wanted a baseball atmo- earnest in April and May. Because of sphere to introduce some new products the high heat and low humidity combi- games. These games will take place on what would have been off days on last to their vendors. We painted their logo on nation, we have to 'flood' the field to get the field. They set up tents and arranged water to the turf roots. Lighter irrigation year's schedule. For the past four years, ASU has displays for a hands-on introduction. It simply evaporates before it can be went well." absorbed. Temperatures generally start hosted a college summer league following to cool off in September." the Sun Devils' season. This league plays Looking for a Break The university falls under state funding, a 49 to 55 game schedule, averaging With all this field use, there are few with only so much water allotted for use seven or eight games a week. windows for procedures. Johnson says, by the whole campus. Though athletic Also add in 20 days of baseball camps "There may be a month between the fields had traditionally taken more water for kids of all ages. Some of these days end of the summer college league and the than allotted, overall campus water use come in March, during spring break; start of the Sun Devils' regular practice had fallen within or a bit below the total some fit in just before and just after schedule. The second break is approxi- allotment. During the summer of 1995 the summer college league games; some mately 1 1/2 months, from the end of there were 20 consecutive days of tem- come in the fall, and the most extensive the Senior World Series games around perature highs at 110 degrees or higher camp is held during the week between November 15 to the Youth Camp right with very low humidity. Overall summer Christmas and New Years. Packard after Christmas. The team starts back on temperatures hovered in the 100-plus Stadium also hosts the 41 Senior World January 2 or 3. degree range. For the first time, total Series games each November. "We get ready for winter oversee ding campus water use exceeded the allotment. Once or twice each season Fan Photo immediately following the Senior World Johnson says, "The overage triggered Days fill the field with avid fans seeking Series. Normally that would-be done a look at athletic facilities and water an up-close opportunity for getting photos continued on page 10 Apri/1996 9 FOR PRODUCT INFO FAXED TO YOU NOW! DIAL: 1(800) 817-188 I College Diamond stadium and the angle of the sun at that applied fertilizer on Sunday night and continued from page 9 time of year, there are some spots that don't soaked it in, giving the field a day of no get as much sunlight. About two weeks activity following fertilization. This year here in mid-October, rather than after the initial application, we follow up we don't have that luxury. We'll ana- mid-November. By then it can get chilly with pre-germinated seed in the sparse lyze the fieldus e schedule and work in fer- here for perennial ryegrass germina- areas. I'll pre-germinate seed about once tilization where it fits best." tion. A couple of years ago we got to a week for the next month, continuing to Daily maintenance is done with two frost level shortly after the seed went down, supplement the seeding as the perennial staff members. There may be six or but it came out okay." ryegrass fills in and gradually takes seven people involved on game days. Johnson manages to work one core aer- over. We have until the Christmas break Johnson says, "On game days, we ification procedure into the late summer for the grow in." set up the batting cages and prep the schedule. Then, in mid-November, they The perennial ryegrass keeps going mound and plates in the early morning. core aerify in a couple of different direc- until mid-May. Then the Arizona heat We line the field with crushed marble tions and verti-slice, lowering the blades wipes it out, and the bermudagrass takes rather than chalk. There are no side to scalp the bermudagrass down to the dirt. over. Johnson says, "The turf looks uni- areas with fungo circles and no walk-ups They also pin-spike the field to create small form for most of the year. There's just a to home plate, so we lay down Enkamat openings so the seed can get down into the small transition at the beginning of each and cover it with geotextile material, and growing media. changeover." the players hit from that. We put a Johnson says, "We overseed both the Johnson works with Scotts on the fungo net in front of home plate. Then, infield and outfield turf. We usually nutrient program. They take soil samples after batting practice we pull it all off. get the first overseeding down around the every fall and draw up the annual program We drag the skinned area again, water 20th to the 22nd of November, using based on test results. Currently, they're lightly, and touch up the lines." Scotts Divine Perennial Ryegrass applied using an 18-9-18 fertilizer with selected with a Scotts hand spreader. We don't The logo is painted on the field for three minors. Johnson says, "111 look at the total or four series a year. Generally, the use pre-germinated seed for the first fertilization scheduled for the month application. crew brushes in the logo two days before and make half-rate applications as evenly the event and then fills it in with paint "We'll see a lot of growth within two spaced as possible. We want a steady on the first game day. to three weeks, depending on the weather. feeding, with no flush of rapid growth. 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College Diam.ond mend any holes with mound mix and continued from page 10 pack it all fumly. Itbothers me when sports turf managers don't take the time to do The university's physical-plant staffis that and the catcher and batter sit in holes. paid by the athletic department to mow I want our players to play on top of the the practice fields and the outfield of dirt, not down in it." Packard Stadium with a ride-on reel Johnson and crews do all the prep mower. Johnson's staff mows the infield work after every practice and after every with a walk-behind greensmower. game, not the following morning. He Johnson says, "We use John Deere's says, "When it's hot out, we have to run field rake on skinned areas. We do have the irrigation system. So we use a blower a hand drag and hand nail boards, and to blow offany skinned area material along I do like the fine finish you can get with basepaths and at all edges of the grass, them, but the field-rake results are quite then smooth the skinned area dirt, and good and lots faster. then run the sprinklers. I don't want to ''We do a lot of prep work on the infield water the skinned areas if the surface isn't dirt. We rework the skinned areas when in proper shape." ".:~: we rework the infield for overseeding. We There are 11 sprinkler stations that add new dirt, rework the areas with a big Jay Rapson blows dirt and clay cover the whole field. The few stations on leveling float board, water, and roll. I'm chunks off the grass - which is done the middle of the outfield that make full a big believer in keeping it nice and every post-game and every post- circles in the turf run approximately 45 level. We may also have to rework the practice. No sprinkler water is ever to 50 minutes during an average Mayor skinned areas half-way through the reg- run with dirt on the grass. June night. Those that are half circles, like ular spring season, depending on the those along the warning track, run a use schedule and field condition. players' spikes get a good hold, but aren't little less. "I believe in a nice hard base layer top- taking out big chunks of the dirt. We Johnson says, "The sprinklers are set dressed with a mixture of sand and Soil build the mound with a straight mound to come on at pre-set intervals during the Master for a little fluff on top. That layer mix. Daily and after every game we night. By spacing those intervals properly, should be about a quarter inch so the sweep out the mound and batters box, we can have the turf slightly damp in the

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morning. By two inthe afternoon, top evap- ball and turf care) and in post-graduation great working partner. Alan Sigwardt, who oration will have created dry spots." positions. During his last semester, is at Joe Robbie Stadium and was working Johnson says, "We cover the field Johnson served his internship at ASU, with the Cardinals at the time of our field with a tarp as necessary inthe spring when working at the recreation facilities. He vol- renovation, supervised the infield con- the game schedule is heaviest. But the tarp unteered a lot ofhours on the athletic fields. struction and was great to work with." is old and has some leaks in it. So, if the When a full-time position opened up at Another must for any sports turf man- tarp is going to be down for an extended ASU a year later, Johnson says, "They ager is a personal support team. Johnson period, with wet grass under it in our heat, tracked me down and offered it to me. I've says, "I'm usually the first one here and we'll use a granular fungicide as a pre- been at ASU since 1985, 11 years." the last to leave. My wife, Allison, has been ventive. Otherwise, the air here is so He was assigned to the baseball area extremely understanding and supportive, dry we have no problem with diseases. right away, working under Coach Jim and so are my sons, Austin, who's six, and Insects aren't a problem, either. We do Brock, who died last year. Brock had Travis, who's five." have a fairly bad nutgrass infestation. The the reputation of being "kind of hard" to Johnson understands that field care perennial ryegrass hangs on so long that work for, so it was a sink or swim position is a constant battle, a balancing act the nutgrass only looks bad during part with "lots of trial and error," but also a between use and maintenance. He says, of the summer, so we haven't done much great opportunity for learning. ''You work really hard to get the field to control it. Don will be using Manage Coach Pat Murphy was hired to looking great so the players have the for control at Sun Devil Stadium this replace Coach Brock. This is his second best possible surface for play. Then they year, and we'll try it in Packard Sta- season at ASU. do play, which tears up the field, and you dium in May." Johnson says, "Each coach has his go right back to working hard to put it in own philosophy and way of using the Constant Battle great shape again. I guess either you field for practice, so with a new coach there love doing it or you don't last in this Johnson always pictured himself will be different procedures and a lot profession." 0 "doing this." He attended college at of different things to learn. It's another Mankato State University, MN, and reason sports turf managers need Bob Tracinski is manager of public earned his bachelor of science degree in flexibility. relations for the John Deere Company in recreation. It was a flexible major, with "I've been lucky to have worked with Raleigh, NC, and public relations many opportunities both in special pro- people who willingly share their exper- co-chair for the national Sports Turf jects (most of Johnson's focused on base- tise and tricks of the trade. Don's been a Managers Association.

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