Could the PIAA's move to 6 classes push the Rooneys' towards turf?

[Sean Miller Fan]

They can't do 6 games in 1 day and playing 6 in 2 days (maybe 7 if you throw in a Pitt or Steeler game) that late in the year is asking a lot.

I like grass but selfishly, I am hoping for convertible turf like they have at JerryWorld. They host a lot of HS and college games there and instead of repainting all the hashmarks and logos, they have 2 completely different turf systems that get interchanged.

Here's the link to a youtube video of the changeover



It would have had to have been changed over 10 times this season.

1. After last exhibition game on Sep 3 for YSU on Sep 5
2. After YSU on Sep 5 for 49ers on Sep 20
3. After the Ravens on Oct 1 for Pitt/UVa on 10/10
4, After the 10/10 UVa game for Steelers/Cards on Oct 18
5. After the Steelers/Cards game on 10/18 for Pitt/UNC on 10/29
6. After Pitt/UNC on 10/29 for Bengals on 11/1
7. After Bengals on 11/1 for ND on 11/7
8. After ND for Bengals on 11/7 for Raiders on 11/8
9. After Raiders on 11/8 for Louisville on 11/21
10. After Miami on 11/27 for Colts on 12/6

Even with no pre-planning, since I just made this up, the crew would have had ample time to make the changeover each time except ND weekend. They'd either have to pull an all-nighter or have Pitt request to play a noon or 3:30 game. Not that big a deal.

Artificial turf costs around a million. We'd buy ours, the Steelers would buy there's, then we'd split the labor/material/storage costs for the changeovers. Maybe we'd pay 70./30 or 80/20 since we stand to benefit the most.

I'm just thinking if enough people are in the Rooneys' ears about turf, maybe the PIAA changes will be what finally gets them to go ahead with it and if it happens, I really hope Pitt can convince them to invest in convertible turf. It could actually look like our field.

 

[Pittx9]

Your points make sense, but I went to Hempfield Area in Greensburg. One of the biggest schools in the WPIAL, they would surely move up in class. They continue to get pounded in AAAA though.

 

[ThePanthers]

Highly doubt it.

If anything, this may hurt having the games be played at Heinz. Some may move to Highmark or something IMO.

 

[Pittx9]

Some may move to Highmark or something IMO.

Possibility, probably the lower classes. AAA and AAAA would definitely stay at Heinz I think.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Personally, I think they should have separated the classes in a different manner.

2 classes for schools not bound by geography (Catholics, charters, private schools) and 4 classes bound by geography.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

nope

 

[Pittx9]

Personally, I think they should have separated the classes in a different manner.

2 classes for schools not bound by geography (Catholics, charters, private schools) and 4 classes bound by geography.

To me it never made sense the city schools were in their own class, but the catholic and private schools were in the WPIAL. It's no secret the recruiting that goes on at Catholic schools, and quite frankly it's not completely illegal. Borderline, but not completely illegal.

 

[NTOP]

Personally, I think they should have separated the classes in a different manner.

2 classes for schools not bound by geography (Catholics, charters, private schools) and 4 classes bound by geography.

I think that charter schools, which fall under the local districts "governance", are bound to that district. Could be wrong on that, though.

 

[Pittx9]

Another thing, does anyone really believe the PIAA could force the Rooney's to do anything? They will do what they want and they want grass. Might sound harsh, but I doubt they care if a high school kid gets hurt in the way Jordy Nelson did. The Steelers are Heinz Field's moneymaker, whatever they want goes, with some slight input from Pitt.
We don't rent Heinz Field by any means, it is the home to both of us the same way Oakland-Alameda was home to Raiders and A's for years. They built the stadium with Panther heads and Steelers logos on the seats! Rooney's have most of the say being the NFL team, but this is 100% a shared home by two great programs.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

No one is going to "force" the Steelers to do anything but with many complaints about their grass over the years, maybe the bad PR of having A and AA play at Pine-Richland or West Mifflin will do it.

And remember, there wont be a Super Bowl on grass in Pgh. It just might be the right time to do turf and if they do, please God, let it be what the Cowboys do so it looks like our field.

 

[Pittx9]

And remember, there wont be a Super Bowl on grass in Pgh.

That, and that only could lead to turf at Heinz Field. I don't understand the reason to not go turf though. It's not astroturf anymore, that would be an awful decision. The field turf now looks just like grass and really has no downfalls to having it.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Play some at PNC park.

 

[ThePanthers]

That, and that only could lead to turf at Heinz Field. I don't understand the reason to not go turf though. It's not astroturf anymore, that would be an awful decision. The field turf now looks just like grass and really has no downfalls to having it.

It catches on fire when you shoot fireworks off of it.

 

[Pitt79]

Turf makes too much sense. Traveling around local high schools this year watching my daughter play on her high school soccer team, the schools with turf fields have good surfaces for every game, no puddles, no mud after heavy rains, even, consistent conditions. So much better than the grass fields IMO. Sure this is high school and the Rooneys can spend more for maintenance, but it's almost a giant waste of money, and you won't have some of the embarrassing conditions we've seen in Heinz the last few years.

 

[Pghfan]

time to quit this nonsense of high school games at Heinz. go to highmark, it seats plenty enough.. parents can go get drunk at a bar in station square at halftime.. Parents from Rochester wont know the difference, they are just happy to get out of their town..South Fayette parents are too busy telling everyone how great living in south Fayette is, boring everyone with school taxes info, they won't notice either..

 

[Pitt79]

time to quit this nonsense of high school games at Heinz. go to highmark, it seats plenty enough.. parents can go get drunk at a bar in station square at halftime..

I disagree big time, since the Steelers got government money, they should be forced to support these events unless they pay the state back. Field Turf of course would make it a non-issue.

 

[Pittx9]

Rooneys can spend more for maintenance, but it's almost a giant waste of money

Good point as that's whats most baffling. Where else do you see owners, CEO's, managers, etc. choose a route where you're constantly spending more money? As I said, they had to go to grass because yes astroturf had some dangers. But, this new field turf basically mimics grass so I see no reason not to use it. The field would basically look exactly the same as it does at the beginning of current games, before it gets torn up.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Once again, Heinz Field has grass because overwhelmingly that is what the Stillers players want. When the Stillers players decide they'd rather play on turf then Heinz will get turf. They aren't going to piss off their own players to make some A or AA school district happy. They just aren't.

 

[NTOP]

I disagree big time, since the Steelers got government money, they should be forced to support these events unless they pay the state back. Field Turf of course would make it a non-issue.

Pitt gets gov't money, too.

 

[NTOP]

Another thing, does anyone really believe the PIAA could force the Rooney's to do anything? They will do what they want and they want grass. Might sound harsh, but I doubt they care if a high school kid gets hurt in the way Jordy Nelson did. The Steelers are Heinz Field's moneymaker, whatever they want goes, with some slight input from Pitt.
We don't rent Heinz Field by any means, it is the home to both of us the same way Oakland-Alameda was home to Raiders and A's for years. They built the stadium with Panther heads and Steelers logos on the seats! Rooney's have most of the say being the NFL team, but this is 100% a shared home by two great programs.

We PAY RENT to the Steelers. They pay rent to UPMC for the practice facility.

 

[Pittx9]

We PAY RENT to the Steelers. They pay rent to UPMC for the practice facility.

Wow, that is very odd then. Thanks for the insight, I just don't see how that makes any sense whatsoever.

 

[Pittx9]

Well, other than the fact that we are a college team. Much easier for an NFL team to essentially own a stadium that will be shared. I'm guessing this was just the route that made more sense for both teams, but it is our home venue just as well as the Steelers. There's a great relationship between the two, it's not like they just allow us to play there out of pity or anything.

 

[NTOP]

Wow, that is very odd then. Thanks for the insight, I just don't see how that makes any sense whatsoever.

The Steelers basically demanded a quid pro quo......they needed a practice facility, told UPMC they'd co-occupy the southside facility IF Pitt played at HF. I'm actually surprised at how much Pitt branding they allowed in THEIR stadium. They paid $60 million of the cost, I seem to recall. SP jumped on the deal, along with the Trustees. They wired the Pete $$$ from the State. Pederson thought so much of it he took credit as the originator. A cozy little setup.

 

[Pittx9]

The Steelers basically demanded a quid pro quo......they needed a practice facility, told UPMC they'd co-occupy the southside facility IF Pitt played at HF. I'm actually surprised at how much Pitt branding they allowed in THEIR stadium. They paid $60 million of the cost, I seem to recall. SP jumped on the deal, along with the Trustees. They wired the Pete $$$ from the State. Pederson thought so much of it he took credit as the originator. A cozy little setup.

Hahaha couldn't help but laugh. Of course Stevie took credit. I really think he smiles so much because he honestly believes he made Pitt Football a better place during his second tenure. His first tenure was great, but when he came back he was literally not far away from sending us back to where we were in '96.

 

[ThePanthers]

I guess I don't see the big deal with natural grass. 18 of the 32 pro teams have it in their stadiums. The ones that don't are mainly in domes.

Football was made to be played in the mud and dirt.

 

[Pittx9]

I guess I don't see the big deal with natural grass. 18 of the 32 pro teams have it in their stadiums. The ones that don't are mainly in domes.

Football was made to be played in the mud and dirt.

You know, I even agree with you too. It's just I don't understand how Heinz Field's grass clearly ends up so much worse than any other grass at any other stadium.

 

[ThePanthers]

While not perfect, I do think it has gotten better over the years. Those early years were an embarrassment.

 

[PittMan 72]

No idea as to the validity or veracity of this, but reports like this one could possibly be one reason why they won't. This issue is getting a lot of play in the mainstream media these days. Those tiny little rubber pellets that look almost like dust that you see flying up are apparently one of the chief culprits when they get inhaled or ingested.

http://www.ehhi.org/reports/turf/health_effects.shtml

 

[Pittx9]

No idea as to the validity or veracity of this, but reports like this one could possibly be one reason why they won't. This issue is getting a lot of play in the mainstream media these days. Those tiny little rubber pellets that look almost like dust that you see flying up are apparently one of the chief culprits when they get inhaled or ingested.

http://www.ehhi.org/reports/turf/health_effects.shtml

I do remember when Ford Field opened in Detroit that being a huge issue with players. I think it was Penn-Trafford in middle school or 9th grade I played a game there and they had the same thing. Those little pellets were rather annoying actually.

 

[PittMan 72]

I do remember when Ford Field opened in Detroit that being a huge issue with players. I think it was Penn-Trafford in middle school or 9th grade I played a game there and they had the same thing. Those little pellets were rather annoying actually.

Some medical researchers think they're more than annoying. They think they cause cancer.

http://www.ehhi.org/turf/turf_cancers.shtml

 

[pittdan77]

Does anybody really think the Rooney's give a darn about what the players want? Rooney's only care about the cash cow so long as it keeps giving milk.

They'll start whining about wanting a new stadium in the next five years or so anyway so at this point, it's probably not worth the argument.

 

[Pitt79]

Pitt gets gov't money, too.

So then Pitt shouldn't complain about the high schools playing there either.

 

[happjack]

You know, I even agree with you too. It's just I don't understand how Heinz Field's grass clearly ends up so much worse than any other grass at any other stadium.

Have you seen the grass fields at Levi's Stadium, FedEx Field and Solider Field? They're actually worse than Heinz Field.

 

[Panther Parrothead]

time to quit this nonsense of high school games at Heinz. go to highmark, it seats plenty enough.. parents can go get drunk at a bar in station square at halftime.. Parents from Rochester wont know the difference, they are just happy to get out of their town..South Fayette parents are too busy telling everyone how great living in south Fayette is, boring everyone with school taxes info, they won't notice either..

^^^This^^^ makes the most sense. Given the attendance at these high school playoff games, Highmark Stadium is plenty big enough. If we were in Texas, where a high school game can draw 30,000 (and more), it would be different. I think it's just another ploy to funnel people to the North Shore at a time of the year when there's not much going-on down there except a rare football game.

 

[zapirk]

Does anybody really think the Rooney's give a darn about what the players want? Rooney's only care about the cash cow so long as it keeps giving milk.

They'll start whining about wanting a new stadium in the next five years or so anyway so at this point, it's probably not worth the argument.

And at that point hienz becomes pitts stadium

 

[Burgh15]

The grass at Heinz Field really isn't that bad, especially compared to other NFL stadiums. It holds out pretty well until the WPIAL games and they get a brand new surface for the end of the season. Beyond that, the players have said they prefer playing on grass.