In making SMU one of the most prestigious football programs inthe country, coach Phil Bennett went out last year and raised moneyto pay for the new ATurf field in Ford Stadium.

Installed this summer, the field is made of the same syntheticmaterial that is found on professional fields like Dallas andSeattle, as well as on various college and high school fields fromaround the United States.

One of its finest qualities, seen almost immediately, is thefield’s beautiful, natural appearance.

Unlike AstroTurf, a green, grass-like rug placed on top ofconcrete, ATurf has an almost soft, ground-like feel when playersland on it. This is partially due to what is below it, and alsowhat it is made out of.

ATurf has an underpad made from rubber with a layer of sandunderneath that helps absorb the impact when someone falls or istackled.

ATurf has synthetic grass, that is always green, never dead orbrown, always soft and never grows.

It is described as “a ‘fuller, more plush’product [that] provides better wear and greater infill stability,ensuring consistent footing throughout the surface, day in and dayout.”

What this means is that sports teams that play on the field inFord Stadium will be playing on the latest state-of-the-art turfthat doesn’t wear down or beat up on the human body. It helpsthose playing on the turf stay healthy and it keeps looking brandnew every time it is used.

The athletic department didn’t reveal the cost of the newfield but Brad Sutton in Sports Information said the school got a”good deal” on it because the school is the firstDivision I team to order from this company. �