Millsaps
College President Frances Lucas announced today that the national
liberal arts institution has received a gift of $575,000 be used
towards a new athletic field. Work will begin on Monday, March 29,
preparing Alumni Field for the installation of the Sprinturf surface.
“We are thrilled to have what will be the only new-generation
artificial surface in Mississippi that doubles as a playing field
for our men’s and women’s soccer teams in addition to
football,” Lucas said. She added that the anonymous gift, made
by a former Millsaps College athlete, will have an immediate impact
“not only for our student-athletes, but for our entire athletic
department and virtually all of the Millsaps College family.”
“The generosity of this donor is greatly appreciated,”
Lucas said. “The value for recruiting and retaining both student-athletes
and students simply can’t be underestimated.”
“The new Sprinturf surface will allow us to provide a consistent,
even surface for our competitive NCAA Division III teams,”
said Director of Athletics Ron Jurney. “And at the same time
we will be able to realize significant savings in maintenance costs
and countless hours of grounds keeping, while we forgo over $350,000
of necessary planned upgrades to our soccer field by using the Sprinturf
field for this sport.”
In addition, Millsaps College will now be able to host summer sports
camps over an expanded period. In the past, such activities had
to be curtailed in early July in order to perform the maintenance
necessary to prepare the natural turf for the upcoming football
season.
“This gift will also provide one of, if not the best, venues
in Mississippi for high profile sports camps, such as the one hosted
by New Orleans running back, Deuce McAllister,” Jurney said.
“We’ll also be able to host high school championship competitions
in men’s and women’s soccer in addition to football, not
to mention serve as a professional sports venue for soccer exhibitions,
football combines, and other sports which require a larger athletic
field.”
The new surface will be installed by Sprinturf, Inc., based in Wayne,
Pennsylvania. The new-generation artificial surface is a marked
improvement over older synthetic models, such as Astroturf. This
new surface, which appears almost natural, is more giving and is
safer for student-athletes than natural turf. Line markings are
done with water-based paints, which allow for relatively rapid reconfiguration
for both soccer and football.
Included in the installation is a full package of equipment needed
to maintain the surface, which will also allow it to be used for
intramural sports and recreational activities.
“It truly will impact everyone at Millsaps College who has
a need for an athletic surface,” Jurney said. “For jogging,
running or just playing, this will now be a field for all seasons
and for all reasons and in virtually all weather conditions.”
Millsaps will document the installation
of the Sprinturf surface online. Check back each week to see the
progress.
