MARSHALL – The black lettering with white piping sits perfectly on a red and green landscape. And it will remain perfect going forward as the new turf field will not be affected by constant mowing, weekly chalking or the variances from the sun and mud at the whim of Mother Nature.
It is the jewel of the Marshall High School athletic complex as the school’s new artificial turf field welcomed its first football practices to start this week.
With a big block red and black “M” at the 50-yard line and with black lettering and the word Marshall in red end zones, the new synthetic turf field had its final installations in recent days, allowing for the Redhawks to use the facility on the first day of preseason camp.
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“I think something like this motivates our team and can provide more energy around the program,” said Marshall football coach Scott Farley, as he scanned the new turf on the first day of preseason practice on Monday, Aug. 11. “A really important character trait that our team needs to have is gratitude. We have a tremendous amount of gratitude for the community for providing this. Just a really cool thing.”
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Teams across the area and the state were allowed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association to take the field for the first time officially on Monday, many opening traditional football two-a-day practices. Programs started getting ready for the start of the season with three days of mandatory conditioning practices without pads.
Most teams will be in pads by the end of the week and will hold scrimmages next week. Opening day for the high school football season is Thursday, Aug. 28, for most schools, with some playing on Aug. 29.
Farley, in his second season as head coach, was eager for practices to begin after a successful summer.
“We are way ahead of where we were last year,” Farley said. “What we have installed, strength and conditioning is going great. We still have a ways to go, but we are way ahead.”
The eagerness to take the field was high in Marshall as the new turf field brings the feeling of excitement around the Redhawks football program.
“Very excited when I head they were going to put turf in,” said Marshall senior Liam Scott. “I obviously wanted practice to start this year for my senior year, but seeing this wanted me to come out even more.”
Along with the new, there was a nod to tradition as well as the words ‘Rich Hulkow Field’ anchored the sideline about 80 yards away from where a new video scoreboard will be installed in the coming weeks. Officially named Rich Hulkow Field at MCCU Stadium, the turf field continues to honor the program’s legendary coach. Hulkow, who died during the offseason, was the most successful football coach at the school with 197 wins over 26 years, including two state titles.
“This new turf field energizes our entire Marshall community. Football, soccer, cheerleading and marching band – all benefit from this upgraded, modern space. Private investment makes it possible. We are proud and grateful of the support behind our upcoming season and the ability for the Redhawks to have this modern, upgraded space to call home,” Marshall Athletic Director Jesse Brinks said.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Marshall energized by new artificial turf field, with a ‘tremendous amount of gratitude’
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
