Ashland University athletic facilities recently replaced the turf on the Jack Miller Stadium-Fred Martinelli Field.

The installation process started the first week of June and was completed before summer football camps began in July. This is one of multiple renovations AU athletic facilities has in store for this year. Others being the dedication of the Reinhart Room and Mary C. Miller Room according to AU Athletic Director, Al King.

The field was primarily funded by emergency funds the university saves for renovations and quality of life updates to infrastructure.

According to Director of AU Athletic Communications, Dusty Sloan, a turf football field should be replaced about every ten years. With the old turf going into its 11th season, it was seamingly perfect timing for a fresh field.

Turf fields typically have tell-tale signs that indicate a replacement is needed. According to Astroturf.com, these include: frequently loose inlays that pose tripping hazards, splitting and shedding turf fibers, tired field appearance, infill on the sides of the field, and worn inlays and lines more worn than the turf in the body of the field.

“It was a safety issue for us,” King said. “Each year our trainers give me a list of new shoulder injuries, and you always look at your turf and what kind of condition it is getting in.”

The recent renovation is considered not only a worthwhile investment for the safety of players, but also for the image of the stadium.

“It looks sharp and dresses up the whole stadium. We put a lot of money into that stadium and we want to show it off. We have a lot of events there and it needs to look first class,” King said.

“As opposed to grass, turf will not only benefit athletes in terms of reducing injury, but also increasing speed and agility” Sloan said. “It could possibly be the difference between a win and a loss.”

Senior middle linebacker Clay Shreve explains that most fields are different in various minute details. However, improving the field will make it more consistent with what the team plays on a week to week basis.

“The turf feels good,” Shreve said. “It’s really high quality and feels softer and more modern than before.”

The new turf can be seen in action at the football team’s home opener on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. against Indianapolis.