NMSU Athletics considers artificial turf over natural grass

New Mexico State University football players can look forward to playing on plastic for their first home game August 28th.The university’s Board of Regents approved switching from grass to artificial turf Friday.

But some are telling ABC-7 this is a bad idea, especially for a school that takes pride in it’s agricultural department.

“If you come to a football game in November we’re having to paint the field green,” said Athletic Director Mckinley Boston

Boston said going from grass to turf will be a game changer. NMSUwill be able to better recruit because the field will be more attractive; the university will be able to host more community events, like band competitions, without worrying about wear and tear; and the costs associated with keeping up grass in desert weather will be cut in half.

“Our maintenance just hasn’t been able to keep up with what I call a quality Division 1 field,”Boston said.

But he’s sat in focus groups with agricultural professors who are not happy about the change.

“I was disappointed to put it mildly, I was almost angry,” said Associate Professor Dr. Bernhard Leinauser.

Leinauer is not only taking issue with an agricultural school losing a 120 year tradition of natural grass, but the numbers behind installing artificial turf.

Boston said it will cost somewhere around $1.3 million, amillion of which is coming from major athletics donor Stan Fulton. He said grass maintenance costs about $60,000-$70,000 per year. Turf on the other hand costs somewhere around $20,000-30,000. Turfs last up to 10 years. Broken down, Leinauer estimates that will be about $142,000 spent per year on the field. He argues that’s not cheaper than the $60,000 it costs to maintain grass.

“Clearly athletics rules,” Leinauer said.”What the coach wants the coach gets. I think bottom line, $1.3 million is not warranted on an institution like NMSU who hasn’t had a winning season in 13-14 years. I were to run an academic program with such an accomplishment rate, I would have been fired a long time ago.”

UTEP has to replace it’s turf every 7-8 years, according UTEP Athletic spokesman Jeff Darby. Their turf was installed four years ago and cost $500,000, but they said that’s still cheaper than keeping up grass in this climate.

Leinauer disagrees. But Boston is excited.

“I’m with coach I think it’s a game changer,” Boston said.

The school is still waiting on final approval from the state board of finance.If approved installation could begin as early as next month.