Sports
The Battalion
Page 5 • Thursday, July 15, 2004
Fields of green
Leo Goertz takes pride in keeping Texas A&M athletic fields perfect
1 Cinde
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By Jordan Meserole
THE BATTALION
As Leo Goertz stood on the lower deck of Kyle
^ Wf : ield, he slowly scanned from end zone to end zone,
^asi To the common eye, it just looks like a plain grass
1 ield with a few divots and dry spots. To Goertz, it
ooks like a blank canvas, waiting to be painted into
\ picture that will be seen by thousands. He stood
l(||| juietly for a moment as the hot sun reflected off his
;unglasses, as if the inspiration for his next piece of
work was already being formulated in his mind.
As he strolled on the field, his eyes were often
on the ground, looking for more imperfections.
“This grass didn’t quite come in like I wanted
it to,” said Goertz as he kicked at a small bare spot
near the 50-yard line.
For the past 25 years, this has been Goertz's
job — finding the smallest imperfections on the
athletic fields and maintaining them so as to keep
players, coaches and fans happy.
Goertz came to Texas A&M in 1978. He had
no serious aspirations then, he just knew he
wanted to go to the school that was close to his
MM manager of athletic facilities Leo Goertz stands with some of members of his crew on Kyle Field. Goertz
Ihas been working on A&M athletic fields since he began A&M in 1978 and has received many awards.
home of New Braunfels and where his brothers
had attended college.
Goertz was given a chance to work as a student
manager his freshman year for the baseball team
under then Head Coach Tom Chandler and happily
took the position. Little did he know it would be
the start of his career.
“When I started, Olsen had just opened and there
was no real field crew. The student managers and
turf students did most of the work,” Goertz said.
“I wouldn’t have ever believed coming out of high
school that I'd end up doing this 25 years later.”
Goertz graduated in 1985 from A&M and was
named supervisor of Olsen Field. He instantly
caught attention for his hard work, receiving
the first ever Diamond Dry Collegiate Baseball
Groundskeeper Award in 1985. Two years later, he
received another award for his on-field work from
the Beam Clay Company.
Goertz stuck around A&M despite calls
from other schools interested in his services. He
impressed enough that in 1996, he was named the
maintenance manager for Texas A&M athletics.
The title came bearing a heavy workload, as the
manager is responsible for the appearance of foot
ball, baseball, softball, track and soccer fields.
“When 1 started back in 1985, there wasn't a
whole lot of grass to take care of,” Goertz said.
“We had about four acres back then and now we’re
up close to 15.”
Goertz isn’t quick to take all responsibility for
the game day looks of the fields. He proudly spoke
of the work his crew does, as a father might brag
about his children. And that’s exactly how Leo
feels, shying away from the term boss.
“I’m not the boss as much as I’m the back-slap-
per and hand-shaker,” Goertz said. “My guys will
learn a lot more from their experiences if they help
make the decisions rather than me telling them
every single thing to do.”
Goertz manages a crew of nine, which con
sists of four full-time workers and five part-time
students.
Matt Raiborn, a mechanic on the crew, has
been working under Goertz since February and
said he has enjoyed every minute of his job,
mainly because of Leo Goertz.
“I’ve had jobs where bosses scream, holler and
throw stuff when they’re mad,” said Raiborn. “Not
Leo. Leo has no stress and pressure. And if he does,
he doesn’t show you. He keeps a relaxed environment
that makes it easy to get everything done right.”
Raibom’s observation is more than accurate;
when Goertz was asked about the hard aspects of the
job, he referred to them simply as challenges. Goertz
said the biggest challenge comes off the field.
“Fans expect to see the same things every time
they come to a stadium,” Goertz said. “People
notice if they come back and the field looks differ
ent from last time-if there’s divots or brown spots
or such. It’s a challenge trying to maintain the
field and keep it pleasing to the fans.”
A&M Athletic Director Bill Byrne has worked
at many schools and traveled to many stadiums,
and is quick to praise Goertz.
“Leo Goertz and our grounds-keeping crew are the
best in the country, hands down,” Byrne said. “Other
coaches that come in here and compete tell me all the
time it’s the best surface they’ve played on.”
Many people don't know Leo Goertz. They
wouldn't know about his extensive baseball hat
collection, his long list of awards or the multitudes
of stories he has about games and meeting future
superstar athletes. But if that person has been to
an A&M athletic event in the last 20 years, they’ve
most certainly seen his work.
“Mowing and painting is our artwork,” Goertz
said. “I want to improve on yesterday today. You
go out everyday with the intention of painting
something better than before.”
As the stands of Kyle Field sit silent, save the
flapping wings of a few pigeons, an artist and his
apprentices are hard at work, preparing to put the
final touches on yet another masterpiece.
SPORTS IN BRIEF
otelfc
ow lofi
Dikta won't run for
Illinois senator
CHICAGO (AP) - Former
Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka
said Wednesday he would not
run for the U.S. Senate, leaving
Illinois Republicans still without
a replacement candidate.
Ditka, who first told Illinois
Republican leaders of his deci
sion, made his announcement
outside his Chicago restaurant.
Republicans had hoped Ditka
would step in to replace Jack Ryan,
who dropped out nearly three
weeks ago over embarrassing alle
gations in his divorce papers that
he took his wife, "Boston Public”
actress Jeri Ryan, to sex clubs
before they split up. The party’s
top choices have refused to run.
There had been a growing senti
ment that Ditka was perhaps the
best shot for the Illinois GOP to keep
a seat that will be vacated in January
when Sen. Fitzgerald retires.
Lakers send Shaq
to Miami Heat
MIAMI (AP) - The Heat and
Lakers finalized one of the most
landscape-altering trades in NBA
history Wednesday, O’Neal going
to Miami in exchange for Caron
Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant
and a first-round draft pick.
“It's certainly a disappointing
day in a lot of ways in Los Angeles.
I can’t deny that.” general man
ager Mitch Kupchak said.
In stark contrast to the down
cast mood in Los Angeles, which
was fueled in part by lingering
uncertainty over whether Kobe
Bryant will also leave the Lakers,
the sensation in Miami was dia
metrically different.
"We feel that we have traded for
the best player in the NBA,” Heat
president Pat Riley said.
The deal had been on the verge
of completion since Saturday, after
O'Neal had spoken with Riley.
janizat
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