December 29, 2004
Liberty Bowl Coaches Complain About Icy Fields
Bowl games normally bring to mind visions of balmy tropical environments that provide a getaway from the chills of winter. However, that's not the case at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis these days. The city is recovering from a pre-Christmas ice storm and frigid temperatures that have left outdoor practice fields and the playing surface at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium iced over for several days.
Coaches for both Louisville and Boise State have complained about having to practice indoors, according to the (Memphis) Commercial Appeal, and indicated that they would have spent more days practicing on the their respective campuses had they been more aware of the situation.
Bowl officials, however, noted that the fields are being cleared and are thawing out, and that outdoor surfaces would be available for the teams today.
Comments:
Jeff said:
posted on December 29, 2004 11:27 AM — 24.159.172.38 — link — abuse?
Boise State officials complained about cold weather in Memphis?
I seem to recall a bowl game in Boise 2-3 years ago when the Clemson players rubbed a replica of Howard's Rock made out of snow as they ran onto the smurf turf.
Rob Knodell said:
posted on December 29, 2004 11:30 AM — 168.166.54.11 — link — abuse?
I don't think it has so much to do with not "planning the weather" as much as it does not covering the fields or alerting the teams of the conditions down there prior to them traveling to Memphis. Both teams could've practiced in Boise or Louisville for a couple more days rather than hurrying into Memphis and having to share a small indoor facility.
The good news is that weather forecast for Friday's game is in the 60's, as is the forecast for the Music City Bowl, which I'll be attending.
Rob Knodell said:
posted on December 29, 2004 11:37 AM — 168.166.54.11 — link — abuse?
I can't find anything on weather.com or the Weather Channel that indicates whether practice fields in Memphis or anyplace else will be properly covered or snow/ice properly removed following a winter storm. Perhaps you can post a link for that.
I don't think it's the weather that's the biggest issue. It's the availablity of usable practice fields.
Rob Knodell said:
posted on December 29, 2004 12:38 PM — 168.166.54.11 — link — abuse?
That's correct, especially with many of the thermal coverings and such that a lot of high schools and colleges can cover their playing surfaces with these days. Bottom line: the Liberty Bowl people got hit with a storm worse than what was forecasted and they failed to protect their fields or accurately inform the schools of the situation.
You can't treat an uncovered field with the same melting chemicals you can use on a highway. Especially when well shaded, it can take several days for a inch or two of ice to totally melt. Why the Liberty Bowl people didn't take this into account is beyond me.
Rob Knodell said:
posted on December 29, 2004 1:45 PM — 168.166.54.11 — link — abuse?
I've had personal and business dealings in Memphis as long as I can remember, and they generally get a couple of ice storms every year. Obviously, most football seasons conclude before the harshest months of winter, but certainly the Liberty Bowl games have been staged amidst some pretty rough wintery conditions so, yes, I would think there would be a degree experience there.
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schmed said:
posted on December 29, 2004 11:21 AM — 208.248.231.58 — link — abuse?Yeah, those Liberty Bowl boardmembers should've planned the weather better, but at least they didn't screw up as bad as the Independence Bowl on 12/31/1999. They coulda renamed the place "Lambeau Field South".