The University of Oregon Ducks have a “home field” advantage even in Arizona, as they practice on a field sown with Oregon ryegrass.
The University of Oregon Ducks have a “home field” advantage even in Arizona, as they practice on a field sown with Oregon ryegrass.
Russ Hayworth, one of the owners of Hayworth Seed in Harrisburg, been the turf manager for 19 years for the practice fields for the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, and now is in charge of the practice fields for the BCS championship.
Work began on the practice fields — Pinnacle High School for the UO and Phoenix Community College for Auburn — back in September, Hayworth said. He chose “Chaparral” perennial ryegrass grown by Egge Farms in Coburg for both practice fields.
“We apply grass seed every other week throughout the season,” he said. “Once the high school football season is over, we put the final application on, then we manage (the field), irrigating, mowing, fertilizing.”
Such care makes the fields look better, but it also is designed to replicate the field where the teams will play on Jan. 10, which also will have Oregon ryegrass, grown by an Arizona turf company from Oregon seed, Hayworth said.
Read more at The Register-Guard.
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