Penn Hills coach, players happy with new turf football field
When Penn Hills football coach and district athletic director John Peterman goes to bed at night, he said he thinks of one thing: the last time his team was on its old field.
As the Indians made a push into the 2011 WPIAL playoffs by winning their final four regular-season games, they were forced to move their opening-round playoff game to Mustang Stadium in Plum, because the grass field at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium was a muddy, unplayable mess. It ended in a lopsided loss to Seneca Valley.
That was 10 months ago. Last week, the Indians were practicing and playing on a new all-turf field. Peterman and his players cannot say enough good things about it.
“We have players returning (from last year), and I think they'll be amazed at what it's like,” Peterman said.
Prior to one of last week's workouts, senior kicker Peter Gula was on the field practicing field goals. He said the new turf is much nicer for him.
“Your plant (foot) is always perfect,” Gula said. “On the old field, if the grass was wet, you could slip, lose your balance. It's not like that with the turf.”
Senior running back Aaron Bailey, 18, agreed.
“It's a lot better for footwork,” Bailey said. “On the old field, it was treacherous. Now we can cut better and move better.”
The new field also will put Penn Hills on par with most of its competition. Bailey said the majority of the Indians' opponents now play on turf surfaces.
Senior wide receiver and linebacker Robin Hall said the new turf even has players in a better mood about going to practice.
“It makes me look forward to coming to practice,” Hall said. “It's just nice, lush turf. … You can tell people want to be here.”
It also might save equipment costs for some players. Hall said he has a pair of spikes he used to use on the team's practice field, but he'd never worn them in an actual game. Now he no longer needs them.
Peterman said he's happy that players enjoy the turf — but was more focused on upcoming games.
“Now that we have this great new field? Now we have to perform on it,” Peterman said.
The Indians' next game is at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Upper St. Clair. Penn Hills' next home game is at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 against North Hills.
Patrick Varine is an editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7845 or pvarine@tribweb.com.
