Artificial turf time at SU's Mumford Stadium?

Stump Mitchell had never seen A.W. Mumford Stadium when he agreed to take over as Southern football coach. When he got there, he quickly learned why some mockingly call it “Mudford.” On some mornings, when the sun rises over the eastside stands and rain hasn’t fallen in awhile, the field looks like a sea of emerald green. But on most mornings, after moderate rainfall and a smattering of cleat prints ... well, is this for college football or for farming?

That’s why Mitchell said he’d like to see artificial turf at Mumford. Though he said he’s trying to raise money for the project, Mitchell concedes it might not happen soon. The athletic department, already with a tissue-thin budget, dropped two sports last year in a money-saving move and instituted a hiring freeze. Then it bought out the final year of Pete Richardson’s contract (Richardson made $200,000 annually). On top of that, it takes more than a bake sale to pay for plastic grass.



Based on this 2009 video of the A.W. Mumford Stadium Expansion, you get a clear view of the brown areas on the Jaguars playing field from the Luxury Suites.

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