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Finley Stadium work almost complete [Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn.](Chattanooga Times (TN) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 21--By the time Tyner and Howard take the field at Finley Stadium on Friday night, more than $100,000 will have been spent on improvements and maintenance to the facility in the past three weeks. Along with installing new speakers and amplifiers (price tag $47,000) to improve the sound system, Finley Stadium executive director Merrill Eckstein said $54,000 is being spent on leveling the artificial turf playing surface. All of the expenses are being paid for out of the Friends of Finley fund, which is comprised of donations from Finley supporters. While the new sound system will improve the fans' experience at games, the field maintenance was critical to the players because of the depressions on the playing surface that had developed over the years. When the turf was rolled back last Thursday, the sand surface beneath it looked like it had "moon craters," Eckstein said. Those low spots were created by sand escaping through the drainage system -- a problem exacerbated by this fall's heavy rains. Before replacing the sand with a crushed rock and artificial sand mixture, Eckstein said, Precision Sports Fields, the company doing the work, laid down a "geo-textile fabric" that will allow the field to drain without letting anything solid through. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga hasn't played at Finley since beating Wofford on Sept. 26. The Mocs play at No. 7 Elon on Saturday before finally returning to their home field on Halloween against Western Carolina. Samford gets a break At long last, Samford will finally get a chance to rest and heal this week. The Bulldogs, who have been injury-plagued since the preseason, have played seven straight weeks and coach Pat Sullivan said on Tuesday's Southern Conference teleconference that his squad is in desperate need of a break. Samford (3-4, 1-3) has had several starters out in every game this season, including seven in its 14-7 loss to UTC. Despite the injuries, the Bulldogs have been competitive in every game -- their four losses have come by a combined 26 points -- including last Saturday at Furman, when the Paladins blocked a late field goal to preserve a 26-24 win. "I guess what I'm hurting for is our kids just laid some much on the line and they need something good to happen to them," Sullivan said. "Hopefully we'll get two or three guys back after this off week and maybe two or three more the following week. "If anybody knows a faith healer, I sure would like to have one." Samford's schedule has made this season even more difficult since its opponent in all three of its SoCon losses -- Appalachian State, UTC and Furman -- had an off week before facing the Bulldogs. The same thing will happen again on Nov. 7, when Samford hosts Georgia Southern. To see more of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesfreepress.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |