How Do the SCSU Coaches and Players Feel About Playing on Field Turf?

Listed below is a testimonial from Mike Bell about the importance of creating a Field Turf baseball facility in Central Minnesota.

---

As a player, coach, father, and mentor I support Field Turf on the MAC or any other facility in Central Minnesota. When Coach Dolan asked me several years ago about a Field Turf option in Central Minnesota, I simply told him “No.” I had many reasons at first but realized that none of those reasons gave kids a better opportunity than what I had growing up.

I was fortunate to have played baseball in the south for 4 years. (Iowa and North Carolina) All 4 years the teams I was on were ranked in the top 10 in the nation. Seldom were my teammates or myself in the gymnasium practicing because we were in the south where the climate was obviously warmer. The real question was how could we make things better, increase games, fall ball, hours of practice, camps, clinics, professional scout days, fundraisers, fall leagues and give the kids from ages 5 thru adulthood a better southern experience up north? Answer=Field Turf. What I found interesting was that the trend for southern schools and Universities was also Field Turf. Reason = opportunity, experiences, and more usage; which means more revenue/less expenses.

In the Fall of 2008 I listened to Coach Dennis Denning on his St. Thomas Field, which has Field Turf. Coach Denning gave several reasons why Field Turf was the best decision he had made in his long coaching career. Coach Denning believed so strongly about his change in opinion that he was willing and did a DVD for SCSU on the subject. I remember thinking Coach Denning must really love what Field Turf brings to kids to do a DVD for a competing University recruiting many of the same athletes. This love of the game and pure passion to get kids playing longer outside showed me why we need Field Turf in Central Minnesota. It was a class act all the way around and I learned a lot that day at St. Thomas.

The above is what changed my mind from a no to a yes on Field Turf. There are many more specific reasons such as cost efficiency/labor that also makes sense.

Best of luck to the area teams and kids that love the game that we love.

Let’s keep making the game better and giving the kids a great experience.

Mike Bell
Husky Outfielder Coach
Husky Dugout Club Board Member
Waite Park Babe Ruth Coach
Amateur Player for 23 years
FAN

St. Cloud State University Athletics on Facebook

 

Free E-Mail Updates

If you would like FREE e-mail updates about SCSU athletics, visit our Husky Sports Updates page for information on how to sign up to be on the listserv.