By Kyle Roberts
Nearly two-thirds of James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium now has the brand new turf installed, starting with the south portion of the field and extending past the 50-yard line.
Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said he is pleased with how progress is moving on the installation, even as rain has threatened momentum in construction.
“We were afraid that when we got rain for those few days that it was going to set them back,” Baugh said. “But it happened at a time when they could get some things done around that. This group has done a really good job. They’re here at eight (in the morning) and don’t leave until after five and they’re steadily getting after it.”
As the turf laying progresses, there will still be the Bearcat head logo, yardage and hash marks and the end zones to be laid down. Rather than painting those in, they, too, will be installed as turf.
“After they get everything out there in the base layer, they’ll come put the rest of the pieces to the puzzle together,” Baugh said. “They’re working really quickly.”
Ideally, Ruston will be able to return to its field for practice in July, though Baugh was understandably hesitant to offer a formal timeline.
Hellas out of Austin, Texas, is installing the turf. The company also installed the first turf at the stadium.
Capital improvements funds that are set aside by the Lincoln Parish School Board for upkeep projects such as this one will be used to pay for the turf and installation.
