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In case you guys didn't know, EWU is getting red turf.

By Andrew Gaddess, FCS Assistant

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - In an effort to boost exposure, Eastern Washington University will literally go in the red this year, replacing the traditional grass surface of Woodward Field with red artificial turf.

The move is admittedly PR-driven, as athletic director Bill Chaves attempts to drum up interest in a program which averages around 5,000 attendees per home game.

"The uniqueness of the red field was able to generate an amazing amount of publicity," Chaves said after announcing his plan.

It is commonly believed in sports, however, that winning is the true elixir. The quality of the product on the field ultimately puts people in the seats. Is it possible then that Eastern Washington?s new "Red Zone" will serve not only as a marketing wonder, but also as a decisive in-game home field advantage?

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I can't even imagine that...I like Boise State with the blue turf but red? ...feel like it would burn my retina's.

it's just to bad the stadium is still a dump. but hey at least the field will be nice so it's a step in the right direction.

GRIZ MOBSTER wrote:it's just to bad the stadium is still a dump. but hey at least the field will be nice so it's a step in the right direction.

Yeah those HS bleachers need to go. A concrete structure the length of the home side built in their place would be awesome.

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:

GRIZ MOBSTER wrote:it's just to bad the stadium is still a dump. but hey at least the field will be nice so it's a step in the right direction.

Yeah those HS bleachers need to go. A concrete structure the length of the home side built in their place would be awesome.

Upgrade the stands and it might be taken a bit more seriously...but that stadium is just awful.


I mean, you gotta give credit for going to something like this and the flat out admission that it is just a marketing ploy...but red turf in an awful stadium is still red turf in an awful stadium.



For the record I'm one of few that probably hates Boise's blue turf. I still root for the Broncos more often than not since I love seeing mid-majors compete (as long as they're not Utah or TCU), but I hate watching games in that stadium since the field is so distracting. A red field isn't likely to fare much better, but then again how often will that field be on ESPN?


Aside from the opening game I hope it goes well for the Eagles though. If they're able to fill up the stands enough who knows, maybe that stadium improvement will become a reality, and in that case everyone wins.

Some cool news i think i just found out that i have a good chance of making it up there to watch SUU play the Eagles in their red turfed stadium. I hope that we wont shoot ourselves in the foot this year with turnovers and our defense can stop TJ so we can have a great matchup.

SUUTbird wrote:Some cool news i think i just found out that i have a good chance of making it up there to watch SUU play the Eagles in their red turfed stadium. I hope that we wont shoot ourselves in the foot this year with turnovers and our defense can stop TJ so we can have a great matchup.

Very cool Tbird! If I'm in the area I'll be at the game... hit me up and I'll buy ya a beer.

Hey, Eagle! The Griz (as always) are in your sights, but you'll have to get through the Hornets this year to have any shot at a BSC championship, red turf, or no. (I'm not a Hornets fan. Just looking at some realities. Even the Griz will have their hands full on green (as it should be) turf. Too bad you blew what little money you have on a gimmick.

GrizMadman wrote:Hey, Eagle! The Griz (as always) are in your sights, but you'll have to get through the Hornets this year to have any shot at a BSC championship, red turf, or no. (I'm not a Hornets fan. Just looking at some realities. Even the Griz will have their hands full on green (as it should be) turf. Too bad you blew what little money you have on a gimmick.

We dispatched them rather easily last year. Sac is good and on the rise, but until they get over the hump, I'm not too worried. MSU will be more of a challenge than Sac. The field was paid for by private donations. Gimmicky yes, but practical... we needed turf. Too bad the Griz have a new HC, and Off/Def schemes to learn. Not to mention a weak O-line.

Big McLargehuge wrote:
Upgrade the stands and it might be taken a bit more seriously...but that stadium is just awful.


I mean, you gotta give credit for going to something like this and the flat out admission that it is just a marketing ploy...but red turf in an awful stadium is still red turf in an awful stadium.

You're preaching to the choir, buddy. We know our stadium is busch-league. Until the University ponies up and follows through, not a whole we can do about it.

Big McLargehuge wrote:For the record I'm one of few that probably hates Boise's blue turf. I still root for the Broncos more often than not since I love seeing mid-majors compete (as long as they're not Utah or TCU), but I hate watching games in that stadium since the field is so distracting. A red field isn't likely to fare much better, but then again how often will that field be on ESPN?

The reason BSU's turf looks bad on TV is because of the material the turf is made of it reflects light and makes the field glare. They're replacing their turf this summer to fix that problem.. the new turfs don't glare, so EWU won't have that problem. The only point of contention will be the color, of which I love. Don't care if others don't. It's unique and gets our name out there. Most importantly though, it improves our playing surface from the god-awful grass come late October-November.

Big McLargehuge wrote:Aside from the opening game I hope it goes well for the Eagles though. If they're able to fill up the stands enough who knows, maybe that stadium improvement will become a reality, and in that case everyone wins.

That's the plan.

The rest of the conference will have a new offense to learn how to defend. By the time we play ya, we'll have had our reps in with it...you guys won't.

Even though the reasoning is excruciatingly weak, I love that you are sticking to it.

Good luck, and I would have TJ doing some major reps back at corner...you're gonna need him.

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:... Not to mention a weak O-line.

"new" doesn't necessarily translate to "weak", now does it? it does however allow for the tag, "unknown".

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:The rest of the conference will have a new offense to learn how to defend. By the time we play ya, we'll have had our reps in with it...you guys won't.

Even though the reasoning is excruciatingly weak, I love that you are sticking to it.

Good luck, and I would have TJ doing some major reps back at corner...you're gonna need him.

You're calling my reasoning weak? Take a look at your first statement buddy.

You can't pass the ball very well when your QB is always on the ground. You guys lost 3 starters on your OL, and even Ploofy says "it's a work in progress." Remember Peach in the 08 game? Good luck on stopping Renard Williams. He had 9.5 sacks from the inside last year. We're moving him to the outside. Have fun.

Montanan wrote:

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:... Not to mention a weak O-line.

"new" doesn't necessarily translate to "weak", now does it? it does however allow for the tag, "unknown".

Fair enough. They better get it right quick... only two games to do so before Williams gets to wreak some havoc.

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:The rest of the conference will have a new offense to learn how to defend. By the time we play ya, we'll have had our reps in with it...you guys won't.

Even though the reasoning is excruciatingly weak, I love that you are sticking to it.

Good luck, and I would have TJ doing some major reps back at corner...you're gonna need him.

You're calling my reasoning weak? Take a look at your first statement buddy.

You can't pass the ball very well when your QB is always on the ground. You guys lost 3 starters on your OL, and even Ploofy says "it's a work in progress." Remember Peach in the 08 game? Good luck on stopping Renard Williams. He had 9.5 sacks from the inside last year. We're moving him to the outside. Have fun.

My statement is perfectly fine. Yours is just wishful thinking. You have that at least though.

It is much more likely that your defense is gonna get the dogfuck kicked out of it than your D beating us up.

You are a joy to watch though. You say the silliest things and it gives me a genuine chuckle.

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:

Montanan wrote:
"new" doesn't necessarily translate to "weak", now does it? it does however allow for the tag, "unknown".

Fair enough. They better get it right quick... only two games to do so before Williams gets to wreak some havoc.

me thinks you drink to heavily from the pool of "wishful thinking", and getting it right is what the Griz do rather well!

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:
You're calling my reasoning weak? Take a look at your first statement buddy.

You can't pass the ball very well when your QB is always on the ground. You guys lost 3 starters on your OL, and even Ploofy says "it's a work in progress." Remember Peach in the 08 game? Good luck on stopping Renard Williams. He had 9.5 sacks from the inside last year. We're moving him to the outside. Have fun.

My statement is perfectly fine. Yours is just wishful thinking. You have that at least though.

It is much more likely that your defense is gonna get the dogfuck kicked out of it than your D beating us up.

You are a joy to watch though. You say the silliest things and it gives me a genuine chuckle.

How will UM's air attack be any different than PSU's or ours the last couple years (other than the Griz will execute it a hell of a lot better than PSU)(and yes I know it's not the same as the Run n' Shoot)? Either way, we'll have two games worth of film to watch before have to defend against it.

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote: My statement is perfectly fine. Yours is just wishful thinking. You have that at least though.

It is much more likely that your defense is gonna get the dogfuck kicked out of it than your D beating us up.

You are a joy to watch though. You say the silliest things and it gives me a genuine chuckle.

How will UM's air attack be any different than PSU's or ours the last couple years (other than the Griz will execute it a hell of a lot better than PSU)(and yes I know it's not the same as the Run n' Shoot)? Either way, we'll have two games worth of film to watch before have to defend against it.

Well you already provided the reason so I don't need to. This offense that will be coming is one of the most efficient offenses I've ever witnessed.

It's gonna be pure "base" type offense in the first couple games. Just enough so that your D can think they know what's coming out of each set and then get smoked because it wasn't what it looked like on film.

I could be wrong but I wouldn't count it if I were you but I know you will. You need to.

if ewu starts out 1-0 at home, beating UM, will this mean it was the red turf?

PS: when yall gonna bring back giacoletti?

Sure, there are lots of things I'd change at Woodward. Like the beer/food setup, and adding an outdoor venue to watch East coast games before kickoff. However, my friends, family and I still have a great time at each game. No one ever says "Wow this games great would be a lot more fun if they had a bear ride in on a Harley, a jug band, and a half-broken sound system blaring Thin Lizzy's Greatest Hits".

The NCAA (if that's the one that can do it) should rule no turf color other than green. Any other color is a gimmick.

blazerbird wrote:Sure, there are lots of things I'd change at Woodward. Like the beer/food setup, and adding an outdoor venue to watch East coast games before kickoff. However, my friends, family and I still have a great time at each game. No one ever says "Wow this games great would be a lot more fun if they had a bear ride in on a Harley, a jug band, and a half-broken sound system blaring Thin Lizzy's Greatest Hits".

Of course they don't say that. Having those kinds of amenities are way further down on a long list of things you first. The fans at EWU can be heard wishing for things like some new galvanized bolts for the stands and so forth.

I can't stop laughing about Thin Lizzys greatest hits!

GrizMadman wrote:The NCAA (if that's the one that can do it) should rule no turf color other than green. Any other color is a gimmick.

Would you like some cheese to go with that whine?

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:

GrizMadman wrote:The NCAA (if that's the one that can do it) should rule no turf color other than green. Any other color is a gimmick.

Would you like some cheese to go with that whine?

The last thing any of us needs is the NCAA stepping in to make these kind of decisions for us. Why the fuck would you want to line up with the NCAA having some control over what we deem OK in our conference?

Then maybe we could have them tell us what music to play, what ads to have up, when it's OK to play the music and so forth and so on.

If I want to my fucking Thin Lizzy then they can butt the hell out of our bidness!