Playing on Arkansas' Turf.(THE PLAYING FIELD)

By now it's no secret that Arkansas will be playing on a synthetic surface in Reynolds Razorback Stadium this season and beyond. What seems to perplex most folks we run into is exactly why UA coach Bobby Petrino decided to make the $1.1 million switch.

Here's the deal:

* Above all else, installing turf provides some consistency for the Razorbacks. Not all synthetic surfaces are created equal, but having a form of it at home will help since Arkansas plays 9 of its 12 games this year on non-grass fields.

Having a feel for the field is especially key for offensive players. Petrino's offense is predicated on precision and timing and it's easier to carry that over week to week if you're not consistently switching from grass to artificial turf to grass, back to turf and so on.

No matter how good a job the grounds crew did at Razorback Stadium, the climate in Arkansas makes the quality of grass go down late in the season. So, the players aren't on the same surface in November that they were on in September.

* Hugely beneficial will be the use of the stadium for practices. Arkansas can practice where it plays, further establishing a sense of continuity for players.

Safety is also an issue on the Razorbacks' practice fields. Some routes are difficult for receivers to run in the back of the end zones because the walls that surround the practice fields are positioned so close.

Who needs a wide receiver crashing into a concrete wall?

* A secondary benefit of outfitting the stadium with artificial turf includes added versatility for the facility.

Arkansas can now host non-football events without worrying about tearing up the field. Even football events like a preseason high school jamboree or summer 7-on-7 tournaments can be held.

And field turf might be just the beginning of the improvements for Reynolds Razorback Stadium in the coming years. Ribbon boards like those in Bud Walton Arena will be installed for 2009.

Eventually, the locker rooms and meeting facilities for the Razorbacks will be upgraded. That's likely not in the works for the 2009 season, but could be a reality soon.

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