The Wiz of Odds

NBC News Report Questions Safety of Artificial Turf

The popularity of artificial surfaces used on playing fields is at an all-time high. The surface is durable, requires less maintenance and over the long term is cheaper than a grass field. But NBC News asks if the material used between the pieces of artificial grass — a granular synthetic dirt — can be harmful?

Eastern Washington Rolls Out the Red Carpet

Move over, Boise State. Make way for Eastern Washington's Inferno.

The first truckload of red artificial turf arrived earlier this week in Cheney and officials are expected to have the installation completed by Sept. 3. The Division I-AA Eagles are scheduled to play their first game on the surface Sept. 18 against Montana.

Eastern Washington said the project will save the school nearly $12,000 in field maintenance and nearly 300,000 gallons of water annually. They have also set up a webcam to view the project and are conducting an online poll to name the field. Leading at the time of this post was Inferno. Other names include Red Sea, Red Zone, Big Red, Red Carpet, Ring of Fire and Lava Pit.

View other images of the installation after the jump.