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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 25, 1980)
^ Artificial turf It gives better traction, but athletes don't like it artists wj]j | ut we can cognition, says. P sofgoodqu “and thiil ect on prii .'fit of the u : advantage r lemon sup i normal, e. The ham vever, ise so prices* THE BATTALION FRIDAY APRIL 25, 1960 Page 11 Oilers to let Stabler keep his familiar jersey — No. 12 By RICK STOLLE Sports Reporter “e in the harder ‘"e.Coto, »ges, icntaryde, icckbootj keep up dto^EorE; This is the concluding arti )ur to then tof a two-part series. ne or 29 Ihe general opinion of trainers coaches from around the country ^artificial turf is that it has much *,er traction and consistency. t Tlie consistency of the surface is smain asset,” said Danny Poole, P gamer for Memphis State Uni- Jjjjy trainers and coaches also u that there are no more or less uries on artificial turf as there are «natural- They say that injuries will yppen regardless of the surface; it is ^contact on the surface that pro- fcces the injuries, not the surface in gs seflni ^ , , ists don't* Vet, different trainers and coaches s o, who iMtound the nation have different mdCraftiCi >al artists, i ; d worlcen Amencaa belongs about artificial surfaces j In ' - j gases, their veiws are reflected by ix turf their teams play on. Poole said artificial turf speeds up jjv but football is more enjoyable M natural turf. “A plush natural turf the finest surface to play football "hesaid. MSU has a natural turf field. Dean Weber of the University of jbfonsas said artificial turf is safer than natural because it can be con trolled as an environment. It can be improved upon in the future, he said, through technology and ex perimentation. Arkansas was one of the first Southwest Conference schools to have artificial turf. “Our kids got shin splints when we played on grass,” said Spanky Stephens, University of Texas train er. “We don’t have them when we play at home. ’ UTs Memorial Stadium was the first in the confer ence to have artificial turf. “It’s hard,” said Cash Birdwell, trainer for SMU, “and I wouldn’t want to fall on it. ” Yet, he said it is an asset to schools that would use it a great deal, because it is a constant, year-round surface. SMU plays on the Tartanturf at Texas Stadium. Jim Hochberg, coordinator of health services at Penn State Univer sity, said players have better body “We have a lot of slippage and often more abrasions on grass, ” — Ken Murray of Texas Tech. control on artificial surfaces due to the better traction. “It might be pyschological but the athletes feel quicker on artifical turf,” he said. He went on to say, however, that they do not like it because they feel it aggravates old injuries and brings on soreness and aching muscles. He said the turf does not compress enough. With the asphalt layer underneath, the hardness is a draw back. He said he feels artificial turf creates more problems than it solves. Penn State has natural turf. There are less major injuries on artificial turf, said Slap Cox, trainer for Baylor University. It produces a few more minor injuries, like scrapes and the like, he said, but they are easier to handle than a major injury. He said it takes only some bandages and disinfectant to take care of the minor ones. It may take surgery, a hospital and a long time to heal a serious knee or ankle injury. He said the only problems come with the players adjusting to the turf. “They have to get used to it and learn how to fall,” he said. Also, the surfa ce’s age is a factor to consider. He said the older a surface is the harder it is. “Have you ever fallen on a sidewalk?” he asked. “It’s kind of like that when you fall on an old artificial surface.” Cox said he perfers natural turf only if it is perfect. “With proper grooming, time and a lot of money, a natural turf surface is the best kind to play on,” he said, “but Baylor just doesn’t have that kind of money.” He said it is not worth it to Baylor to spend large amounts of money and time when artificial turf is available at a much cheaper overall cost. “This turf we had was eight years old and we are in the process of re placing it now,” he said, “but we feel like we have gotten our money’s worth.” {uiz fights to keep 1st place United Press International NEW YORK — Wearing her Bos ton Marathon medal and sobbing fre quently, runner Rosie Ruiz told re porters Thursday she intends to fight or her tainted prize. IS lational e 16th] 'hursday irofitsrose: I the gain prices, i bigge refited U.S. all profits! louncedl gainsf rio) posted i ease, o and Tei n had a: istantialp from the 1 :racts n value. ^ith : ood$. 0 P.M. Boston Celts ook forward o Game 4 United Press International 31 Fitch says his Boston Celtics | have already gotten over Wednesday it’s cliffhanging defeat to the Tiers and are looking forward to | Game 4 in Philadelphia tonight. And, the Celtics’ coach empha- ized, the team will be more than prepared. Game 4 is the key, and our team is going to be higher than ever, ” Fitch said after the 76ers scored a 99-97 triumph to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference champion ship series. “The pressure’s not there when it’s 3-1.” The Celtics could easily have been demoralized when they blew a chance to tie Game 3 in the final 16 seconds. M.L. Carr attempted to pass inside to Dave Cowens, but Caldwell Jones deflected the ball way with six seconds left. Maurice Cheelcs retrieved it for Philadelphia. Our mistakes last night were [mental as well as physical,” Fitch I taid We had our soup and we were i trying to eat it with a fork. ” Julius Erving scored 22 of his 28 K points in the second half to lead the .'hers, Philadelphia led, 90-76, with 16.10 left, but a Boston comeback was (then orchestrated by Larry Bird, I Erving $ defensive assignment, who [paced the Celtics with 22 points and [21 rebounds. Bird hit a 3-pointer with 39 j 'cconds left to bring the Celtics with- t m2points. Carr then misfired with [ms pass inside. Ruiz’ finish in Monday’s Boston Marathon has been heavily criticized by other runners, including second- place women’s finisher Jacqueline Gareau and men’s winner Bill Rod gers. Boston Marathon director Will Cloney said he met Thursday with Gareau, a resident of Montreal, who told him “she didn’t want to pressure us into a fast decision.” Cloney’s Boston Athletic Associa tion, which sponsors the annual race, is looking into reports from specta- . tors that Ruiz did not run the entire 26.2-mile course. They are review ing videotapes, photographs and talking to runners and checkpoint officials. Earlier in the day, Ruiz denied at a USED GOLD WANTE D! Cash paid or will swap for Aggie Ring Diamonds. w diamond brokers international, inc. w 693-1647 <j Butt* TupfnamBa Eddie Dominguez 66 Joe Arcmiega 74 nnef iny ••ut the real 1 "01 frozen or • We call It * n Food '* location-, •♦octhweat Hwy *70 <2 Tired of the Campus Confusion? apartments Enjoy Quiet Country Living In The City Year-round Shuttlebus SUMMER STORAGE $50-$75 Per Apartment Pre-leasing for Summer and Fall Friendliest Staff In Town 502 Southwest Parkway College Station 693-1325 Cox said the players did not like the natural turf they played on in the Jim Hochberg, coordinator of health services at Penn State University, said players have better body control on artificial surfaces due to the better trac tion. Peach Bowl last year. “It was at the end of the year and the surface was really worn down,” he said. He said the professional players he has talked to do not like the artificial surfaces because they feel it cuts their longevity. They believe it brings on an arthritic-type of condi tion, he said. Baylor will keep artificial turf, he said, because they feel it is the best for all involved. It is less expensive, easier to take care of and the players like it better. “An older artificial surface will have a sandpaper feel to it,” said Mark Stephans, trainer at Mississip pi State University. “The yardlines will feel like concrete because they have been painted so much.” He said artificial turf brings on tendonitis, or inflammation of the tendons, in his players because it takes a different style of running and body control on it. It does have an advantage as far as consistency and convenience go, he said. They very rarely treat a player for an abrasion except when they play on artificial turf, he said. “And our play ers simply enjoy natural turf more. ” Mississippi State has one of the finest natural turf stadiums in the nation. The prescription turf can drain up to four inches of water an hour from the surface. Ken Murray ofTexas Tech said the footing is treacherous on natural turf. “We have a lot of slippage and often more abrasions on grass,” he said. The Tech players are more comfort able on the artificial turf of Jones Sta dium due to better traction and body control, he said. Most of the injuries on artificial turf are during the transition phase, he said. Players are learning how to control their bodies on the surface, he said, and sometimes get hurt. All the professional players who have played for Texas A&M and have got ten hurt in the pros, were hurt dur ing the transition back to grass, he said. There is apparently no difference in the numbers of injuries on the different surfaces in football in America today. The debate of the safety of artificial turf will likely con tinue well into the future. Yet, until there is some concrete proof one way or the other, trainers and coaches will only be able to rely on their gut feelings and instincts to choose be tween artificial and natural surfaces. Studies will continue and prob ably never reach a conclusion be cause of the great diversity of opinion between people on the merits of arti ficial turf. It is up to the individual teams to decide what they would rather play on and what is the best surface for them. United Press International HOUSTON — Recently acquired quarterback Kenny Stabler is being afforded a favor which Earl Camp bell wasn’t when he joined the Hous ton Oilers. Stabler will keep his old familiar jersey No. 12 for his first season as an Oiler this fall in keeping with his college days at Alabama and pro career with the Oakland Raiders, an Oilers spokesman said Thursday. The club’s decision to give Stabler that number meant that 2-year Oiler veteran Guido Merkins had to give up No. 12. He will wear No. 19 next season. Before the 1978 NFL season, rookie Campbell was given No. 34 by the Oilers dter he had worn No. 20 at the University ofTexas. Defensive back Bill Currier was wearing No. 20 at the time. The decision may be more super stition than favoritism. Ten of the 14 Super Bowls have been won by teams with starting quarterbacks wearing No. 12. Stabler, Roger Staubach, Bob Griese, Joe Namath and Terry Brad shaw all wear or wore No. 12. FREE PREGNANCY TESTS • Immediate Appointments • Confidential Counseling • Birth Control Information • Termination of Pregnancy WEST LOOP CLINIC 622-2170 2909 WEST LOOP SOUTH HOUSTON, TEXAS 77027 New York news conference she had cheated in winning the women’s di vision. Ruiz is accused of jumping into the race 2 miles before the finish line. In addition, a Manhattan photographer has charged Ruiz did not finish last October’s New York Marathon. “If I thought this would have hap pened, I certainly would have known who was running next to me and have them vouch for me,” she de clared. Ruiz rejected an offer of $1; 000 from the New York Daily News to run another marathon within a half hour of her Boston time. She said it was too soon after the race to make such an attempt. AGGIES! DouglacS Jewelry WITH STUDENT ID (Cash Only Please) We reserve the right to limit use of this privilege. Downtown Bryan (212 N. 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