With Ladnergate, September 2005 will not be remembered as AU's brightest historical moment. But, I'm getting sick and tired of hearing people complain about money misspent for things that don't affect the school. So, as a frustrated flag football player and president of Delta Tau Delta, I'm going to complain about the thousands of dollars AU did spend for a "good reason."
The AstroTurf brand field hockey/intramural field is a disaster.
Just over a week ago, a fraternity member let out a blood-curdling scream as he ripped his quadriceps muscle from the bone, requiring major surgery.
On the next field, another fraternity member lay on the ground clutching his knee. He got away lucky, with only a sprained medial collateral ligament.
Two major leg injuries in two minutes, all because of the shoddy AstroTurf on the intramural field.
Now, I'm not saying the turf isn't good for field hockey, where our nationally-known team finally has a home. In college hockey, there is more distance running and less harsh cuts. And the surface is conducive to a quick-rolling ball.
But there's a reason just two NFL stadiums use AstroTurf anymore. It's dangerous. I've seen too many Vinny Testaverde/Dan Marino torn ACL's, and too many Michael Irvin/Reggie Brown broken necks to ignore the surface's dangers, even for intramural football players.
The game rewards harsh, quick cuts to fake out defenders or jump a route. These must be done with precision by planting the foot into the ground and pushing to propel the body in another direction. AstroTurf doesn't allow the foot to properly push off, thus putting undo strain on the leg. When the body propels itself in one direction, the lack of give from the turf does not support the leg, and joints and ligaments are injured, like what has happened here.
Students have been thrust into danger. Aside from the ligament damage, bloody knees are commonplace on the intramural field. I know the intramural directors thought they solved this problem by eliminating all physical contact from the game, but spills still happen, and when they do, some of the nastiest rug burn scrapes I've ever seen occur.
What miffed me last week was the lack of compassion from an AU employee reacting to the man who tore his quad. He allowed the referees to tend to the injured player, while he fervently searched for the waiver form, double-checking to make sure no liability was on the school.
I know, by now you're asking, "Well, if not the AstroTturf, then what?" Glad you asked.
While it's convenient to have games on campus, I propose a temporary return to the Tenley fields. The venue may lack a picturesque view and use of multiple fields, but it makes up for those defficiencies in natural grass.
This next summer, the school should replace the AstroTurf with more modern field turf. If that doesn't work, maybe we can play Arena Football in Bender. That would surely spark some interest.
In all seriousness though, what has to happen for AU to realize the danger that is the current intramural field? I saw an ambulance come last week for a torn leg muscle. I shudder at the thought that one of my fraternity brothers, or myself, may be lying there with a broken neck waiting for the next ambulance.
In this rough time for AU as an institution, we must focus on the positives. But the danger of this turf may mean our executive troubles might not be the only bad press AU receives.
