MTSU Football Soars, School Praises Sportexe Synthetic

February 6th, 2007

ROUND ROCK, Texas. Feb. 6, 2007 - Middle Tennessee State University is just settling into its new Sportexe PowerBlade turf system, the first Sportexe monofilament synthetic turf system installation in the nation, but it is already being heralded by the Blue Raiders athletic training department as "the best turf system" MTSU has played on.

"It is the first turf that plays like real grass that I have been associated with during my 27 years in the business," said Joe-Joe Petrone, Director of Sports Medicine at MTSU and former athletic trainer to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets. "The surface provides great footing and is easy on the legs."

As with many new technologies, Sportexe faced early challenges during the installation process, but quickly attacked any hiccups to provide a playing surface of unparalleled performance and quality.

"Sportexe has been very responsive in dealing with any hurdles we have faced with our new turf system," said MTSU Athletics Director Chris Massaro. "We have received positive feedback from our coaching staff and players regarding quality and performance."

The Blue Raiders, the largest undergraduate institution in the state of Tennessee with 22,863, is coming off its best season in program history. The Blue Raiders had an incredible turnaround from a year ago by going 7-6 overall and winning a school record six Sun Belt Conference games to earn a share of the league title.

"If you would have told me at the beginning of the season we would be conference champs and playing in a bowl game on ESPN I would have taken it in a second," said first-year MTSU head coach Rick Stockstill. "These kids deserve all the credit for a great year because they overcame a lot, believed in each other, and made plays when they had to in order to win games. It was a great year that will help our program immensely in the future."

"I think we are off to a tremendous start," said Massaro, who in just over one year hired Stockstill and spearheaded facility upgrades. "We have made some tremendous strides this season which validates us as a Division I-A program, including three national television appearances."

Middle Tennessee also earned its first visit to a bowl game as a I-A member but an early 14-point deficit proved too much to overcome in a 31-14 setback to Central Michigan in front of 54,113 at the 10th annual Motor City Bowl at Detroit’s Ford Field.

The Sportexe monofilament turf system features round edges that give the duo-tone “blades of grass” a softer and less abrasive feel. It is one of the softest and most durable products within the synthetic turf industry.

"Getting the new turf was extremely beneficial to our football program," said Stockstill, who captured both SBC and Tennessee Sports Writers Association coach of the year honors. "The turf provided us an edge at home because our players took a great deal of pride in the new synthetic surface and it has also impacted our recruiting as several players and families we have visited have brought it into the conversation. It is a great addition in the continuing upgrade of our facilities."

"The bottom line is that these kids are going to get hurt and they are going to bounce their heads off the field every game," concluded Petrone. "But the least we can do is give them the safest possible landing pad available and as far as I’m concerned that’s Sportexe."

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