Citrus Bowl II (and something else)

As was discussed yesterday, the field at the Citrus Bowl was an unmitigated disaster for both the Champs Sports Bowl and the Capital One Bowl. Miami Hurricanes running back Graig Cooper injured his knee on a kickoff return. Money quote from the Miami Herald:

Cooper, a junior, had yet to have an MRI for his knee, which was injured on a 27-yard kickoff return just before halftime. Cooper slipped on the Florida Citrus Bowl stadium turf, which released bursts of sand into the air when players fell on it or cut sharply.

Let's have another money quote, this time from December 30th Orlando Sentinel:

"The turf was replaced, as is always done during the time between the high school games and the bowl games," said Heather Allebaugh , spokeswoman for Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. "Cold weather prohibited growing. It needed vertical and horizontal growth from the turf and that didn't really happen because of the weather. The field was in good playing condition, it just wasn't at the great level we have had in the past."

Let's leave the issue for now and end on a beautiful note. Is there a prettier setting for a bowl game than the Rose Bowl? I don't think so!

Until next time.