New turf muddies age-old football tradition

Romanticism and realism collided with Mid-Suburban League football the last two rainy Friday nights.

The West didn't have to worry their first two rounds of division games being run amuck on their new turf fields.

But the first two rounds of East games were a battle not only against Mother Nature but it's natural grass.

It was interesting to see both sides of the turf battles - two weeks ago on the new-school, mudless stuff at Barrington and last week on the old-school, mud-filled surface at Buffalo Grove.

Going back to Buffalo Grove in the rain evoked some interesting memories while watching Kevin Mulligan's reversed-field 49-yard punt return for a touchdown as defenders were slip-sliding away.

Part of me likes the old-school aspect of battles waged in mud-covered uniforms - although it's not the part trying to figure out the number of who has the ball in order to keep track of stats.

One can almost hear the distinctive voice of former NFL Films legend John Facenda describing the Bears' Gale Sayers or the Packers' Paul Hornung fighting their way through tacklers and slop in a mid-1960s highlight reel as George Halas or Vince Lombardi look on in admiration.

Back in 2001, Prospect and Buffalo Grove came into a highly anticipated Saturday afternoon showdown undefeated.

The miracle was that nearly 2,000 people still showing up in a day-long monsoon which not only turned the field into a quagmire but also flooded the parking lot north of the school as well as a lot of local streets.

The game turned into a battle to avoid a costly mistake after Prospect's Jason Rodriguez scored the only touchdown before field conditions really deteriorated.

Getting anything done on that day still would have been a chore on fake turf. But looking back, it would have been fun to see BG's Tommy Zbikowski against Prospect's stifling, title-bound defense on a better surface.

Inclement weather also wreaked havoc with games two weeks ago - but not so much at places with the new-style grass such as Barrington.

There weren't many slipups as Fremd rolled to a 35-14 victory. Rich Concialdi threw the ball effectively and Evan Wright continued to run the ball magnificently.

And Fremd could wear its white uniforms without worrying about permanent mud stains caused by the rain.

Barrington also didn't have to worry about its field being trashed.

It can hold all the football and soccer games and whatever else it wants on the new stuff.

Mix football, soccer and a few other events after some significant rain on a natural-grass field and the only way to keep things green would be with spray paint.

And coaches don't like things they can't control, so the vast majority would probably admit they would at least like to eliminate the mud element resulting from the elements.

Much as I enjoy the occasional mud bowls, I'll take the guaranteed green of the new age turf.

Plus there is no need to worry about ruining a pair of shoes.

Which probably means next I'll be scurrying for the press box and clamoring for domes the next time there's a drop of rain at game time.

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com